Nanoparticle And Virus Assisted Targeting Of MicroRNA And DNA For The Treatment Of Atherosclerosis, Myocardial Infarction And Other Inflammatory Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$663,583.00
Summary
Inflammation is an underling cause or aggravating factor of many diseases, such as heart attack and atherosclerosis, but there is a lack of effective anti-inflammatory drugs that do not cause side effects. Using advanced biotechnology, we will use viruses and nanoparticles to selectively target gene therapeutics to areas of inflammation, resulting in high efficacy with low side effects. We will test these broadly usable therapeutics in mouse models of heart attack and atherosclerosis.
Antibody Targeted Virus Particles For A Gene Therapy Approach To Inhibiting Atheroschlerosis Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$95,313.00
Summary
I am a Biotechnologist and my research looks into ways of preventing Atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the build up of plaques in artery walls, and is the major precursor condition to stroke and myocardial infarction (heart attack). My project focuses on a preventative gene therapy which will be delivered specifically to early stage plaques. The gene will inhibit one of the earliest developmental stages of atherosclerosis: recruitment of immune cells to these sites, and so prevent their growth ....I am a Biotechnologist and my research looks into ways of preventing Atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the build up of plaques in artery walls, and is the major precursor condition to stroke and myocardial infarction (heart attack). My project focuses on a preventative gene therapy which will be delivered specifically to early stage plaques. The gene will inhibit one of the earliest developmental stages of atherosclerosis: recruitment of immune cells to these sites, and so prevent their growth.Read moreRead less
Targeting Critical Nodes On The IGF1-PI3K Pathway To Improve Function Of The Failing Heart
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$512,947.00
Summary
Heart failure is a major clinical problem which is becoming worse as our population grows older and comorbidities such as obesity and diabetes become more prevalent. Current heart failure therapeutics largely delay disease progression. This research proposal focuses on strategies designed to improve function of the failing heart, as opposed to simply delaying disease progression. This approach will lead to the development of new therapeutics.
PI3K-regulated Heat Shock Proteins And MicroRNAs As New Treatment Strategies For Atrial Fibrillation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$553,633.00
Summary
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia presenting in cardiology departments worldwide and is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. New treatment strategies are greatly needed. We have discovered that lower levels of a gene with protective properties in the heart causes AF in mice and is associated with AF in humans. This proposal will examine whether novel agents that target this gene can reduce or prevent AF.
Cell-targeted Gene Delivery Into Human Haematopoietic Stem Cells For The Treatment Of Thalassaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$171,208.00
Summary
Thalassaemia is the most common inherited single gene disorder affecting haemoglobin synthesis in red blood cells. It mainly affects people of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, African, South East Asian, Chinese, and Indian origin. However, large numbers of thalassaemia patients are found nowadays in Australia and other developed countries, due to large population movements in the twentieth century. Approximately 300,000 severely affected children are born each year with thalassaemia and various ot ....Thalassaemia is the most common inherited single gene disorder affecting haemoglobin synthesis in red blood cells. It mainly affects people of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, African, South East Asian, Chinese, and Indian origin. However, large numbers of thalassaemia patients are found nowadays in Australia and other developed countries, due to large population movements in the twentieth century. Approximately 300,000 severely affected children are born each year with thalassaemia and various other abnormalities of haemoglobin synthesis. If untreated, most thalassaemia patients will die within the first few years of life. The vast majority of thalassaemia patients depend on regular blood transfusions every two to three weeks, and on nightly infusions of an iron chelator (a drug for removing excess iron from the blood). These procedures place considerable burden on thalassaemia patients, their families and society, and expose them to blood transmitted infections. The only curative treatment for thalassaemia is bone marrow transplantation from a matching donor. However, the vast majority of patients do not have matching donors and thus the only prospect for them to receive such therapy is to replace in their bone marrow cells a copy of the normal set of genes for the synthesis of haemoglobin. The studies in this proposal are therefore designed to test gene therapy protocols on bone marrow stem cells derived from thalassaemia patients. A normal set of globin genes will be delivered to the bone marrow stem cells via non-viral delivery systems and examined for function in an immunodeficient mouse strain that can accept human bone marrow. This research may enable bone marrow transplantation to be applied for the therapy of most patients with thalassaemia, while it may also have a major impact on therapeutic approaches for other haematological anomalies.Read moreRead less
Next-generation Glioblastoma Multiforme Therapies Based On Multistage Delivery Nanovectors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,644.00
Summary
Nanomedicine provides novel therapies with enhanced treatment success and reduced side effects, which improve the patient’s quality of life. Drug delivery systems that are able to treat highly drug-resistant tumours such as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) are a key target for nanomedicine-based therapies. We will investigate a new GBM treatment by developing a multistage delivery nanovector to selectively carry and release a combination of chemical and physical therapeutics.
Achieving Targeted Delivery Of Drugs To Uterine Muscle In Women For The Prevention Of Preterm Labour
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$469,008.00
Summary
We have patented liposomes targeted to the uterus, which enable us to deliver drugs specifically to the muscle cells of the uterus, increasing safety. The liposomes can be loaded with drugs that either block or promote contractions, creating a versatile drug delivery system that could treat premature labour or postpartum haemorrhage which are major clinical problems. We seek support to demonstrate their effectiveness in mouse and primate models of preterm labour prior to human studies.
Delivering Nanoparticles To Prevent Rupture Of Unstable Arterial Plaques
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$613,652.00
Summary
The aim of this project is to develop an immune-mediated ‘smart bomb’ concept of drug delivery into atherosclerotic plaques for the prevention of plaque rupture. An overwhelming majority of fatal heart attacks and sudden death all over the world result from plaque rupture; making this research highly important in finding a bio-technologically advanced way of preventing heart attacks and sudden death in patients with coronary artery disease.
Preclinical Development Of A Therapeutic Anticancer Antibody To C-Met
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$435,530.00
Summary
Many common cancers cannot be effectively treated. A range of these cancers (e.g. gastric and lung cancer) display the molecule c-Met on their cell surface. c-Met promotes tumour growth; therefore, blocking c-Met is a promising strategy for treating these cancers. However, no antibodies or drugs that target c-Met have been licensed. The therapeutics that are being developed to target c-Met all have considerable limitations. Thus, there is an opportunity to develop a 'best-in-class' therapeutic.
Bioresponsive Nanocarriers For Controlled And Targeted Delivery To Efficiently Treat Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$316,449.00
Summary
Despite considerable progress in treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, current treatments suffer from many disadvantages such as side effects, lack of efficacy in many patients, and development of drug dependence. Using state of art nanotechnology, novel nanoparticles will be developed to enhance the delivery to the intestine and efficacy of Budesonide (an anti-inflammatory steroid). This research promises to find safer and more effective ways to treat these diseases.