A New Mechanism Of Tissue Fibrosis - A Small Peptide Regulator Of The TGF-beta1/Smad Pathway
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$768,757.00
Summary
Progressive scarring, or fibrosis, of organs leads to their loss of function. Fibrotic diseases are devastating to both the individual and our community and we lack effective therapies. We have identified a small protein, named SPRF, which represents a new mechanism in tissue fibrosis. These studies will examine the role of the SRPF protein in models of kidney, heart and lung fibrosis and its underlying mechanism of action. We will also test a therapy based on inhibiting SPRF function.
21,000 Australians receive kidney replacement therapy and many more die of kidney failure as a result of kidney fibrosis. TGF-?, a growth factor causing kidney fibrosis, is also anti-inflammatory and promotes healing. We aim to prove that targeting downstream messengers (Foxo/?-catenin) of TGF-? will prevent fibrosis while promoting TGF-?’s anti-inflammatory and healing actions. A successful outcome will lead to a novel cure for preventing kidney failure and failure of other organs.
The Role Of TGFB1 In The Pathophysiology Of Late Stage Schizophrenia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$612,961.00
Summary
Schizophrenia is triggered in people with a genetic predisposition by as yet unknown environmental factors. Having shown that changes in gene expression in the brains of people with schizophrenia vary as the disease progresses, this application seeks to understand the changes in a pathway regulated by transforming growth factor ?1 that occur late in the progression of the illness. Understanding the changes in this important pathway could affect how people with schizophrenia are treated as their ....Schizophrenia is triggered in people with a genetic predisposition by as yet unknown environmental factors. Having shown that changes in gene expression in the brains of people with schizophrenia vary as the disease progresses, this application seeks to understand the changes in a pathway regulated by transforming growth factor ?1 that occur late in the progression of the illness. Understanding the changes in this important pathway could affect how people with schizophrenia are treated as their disorder progresses.Read moreRead less
Therapeutic Potential Of Transforming Growth Factor-beta Proteins For The Diagnosis And Treatment Of Female Infertility
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$942,961.00
Summary
We discovered and manufactured a growth factor produced uniquely by the egg. We named this growth factor cumulin. It is a powerful regulator of ovarian function and egg quality. This project will study the basic mechanisms of how cumulin works in the ovary. We will then develop an assay to measure it as a biomarker of human egg quality and quantity. New approaches in fertility preservation for cancer survivors will be developed using cumulin.
Transforming Growth Factor Beta As A Causal Factor In Human Osteoarthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$634,359.00
Summary
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common painful degenerative disease of the joints, which constitutes a major and growing public health problem, and for which there are no effective therapies. Our exciting recent research in the mouse has found that TGFb over-activity in the bone has a critical causal role in OA pathogenesis. Because TGFb silencing in bone could provide an entirely new way to slow the progression of OA, we propose to investigate this pathway in human OA.