Understanding The Role Of Human Lens UV Filters In Age-Related Cataract
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$227,036.00
Summary
Cataract is the most common cause of blindness worldwide, The cause of cataract is currently unknown and the only treatment available at present is surgery. This represents a huge burden on the Health budgets of all developed nations, including Australia. It has been estimated that if a treatment could be developed that simply delayed the onset of cataract by 10 years, the need for surgery would be halved. The savings to the Health budget in the USA alone would be approximately $2 billion (US). ....Cataract is the most common cause of blindness worldwide, The cause of cataract is currently unknown and the only treatment available at present is surgery. This represents a huge burden on the Health budgets of all developed nations, including Australia. It has been estimated that if a treatment could be developed that simply delayed the onset of cataract by 10 years, the need for surgery would be halved. The savings to the Health budget in the USA alone would be approximately $2 billion (US). We believe, on the basis of our previous research, that human lens UV filter compounds play a major role in the protein modification that is the hallmark of age-related cataract and indeed may be the key factor in precipitating cataract. This proposal seeks to confirm this hypothesis. If this theory is confirmed, it opens the door to pharmacological intervention for cataract by, for example, treating patients (or possibly all people in middle age) with drugs that inhibit the synthesis of the UV filter compounds.Read moreRead less
The Molecular Processes Involved In Age-related Human Nuclear Cataract
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,750.00
Summary
This project seeks to understand the molecular basis for age-related nuclear cataract, and in particular the role of our UV filter compounds. By gaining an understanding of the mechanism of cataract we hope to be able to develop ways to interfere with the process and thus prevent, or at least delay, human cataract. Experiments will be undertaken to determine the extent of covalent binding of the most reactive UV filter, 3-hydroxykynurenine, to lens proteins (crystallins) isolated from normal hum ....This project seeks to understand the molecular basis for age-related nuclear cataract, and in particular the role of our UV filter compounds. By gaining an understanding of the mechanism of cataract we hope to be able to develop ways to interfere with the process and thus prevent, or at least delay, human cataract. Experiments will be undertaken to determine the extent of covalent binding of the most reactive UV filter, 3-hydroxykynurenine, to lens proteins (crystallins) isolated from normal human lenses of various ages, and from cataract lenses. In addition, the properties of lens crystallins that have been modified in model systems by kynurenine, 3-hydroxykynurenine and 3-hydroxykynurenine glucoside will be investigated. This will include examination of the impact of the UV filter modifications on the formation of protein radicals following exposure of the crystallins to UV light and an investigation of the hypothesis that the protein-bound UV filters act as sites for both complexing of metals and their chemical reduction. Oxidation is known to be involved in cataract and experiments will also be undertaken to measure the concentration of oxygen in the lens nucleus, so that the model studies more accurately reflect conditions within the lens, and to see if the levels of oxygen may inflluence the onset of cataract.Read moreRead less
The Centre for Research Excellence in Sun and Health (CRESH) aims to build an evidence base that will lead to the development of regionally appropriate public health guidelines that will balance the adverse and beneficial effects of sun exposure to optimise the health of the Australian community.
The Role Of Reduced Lung Volume In The Pathogenesis Of Asthma.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$275,095.00
Summary
Asthma is a disease for which the cause is not understood. This project is designed to examine the possibilty that breathing at low volumes causes an abnormality in the smooth muscle of the airways that predisposes them to the airway hyperresponsiveness of asthma.
Epidemiology Of Human Papillomavirus (Hpv), Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation In Relation To Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,000.00
Summary
Queensland epidemiologist, Professor Adele Green is the winner of an Australian-European Union medical research grant that she will use to investigate prevention of skin cancer. The prestigious NHMRC grant is intended to support Australian researchers involved in European collaboration, which will benefit the Australian community. Professor Green and her research group will use the grant to participate in a large consortium led by Dr Jan Nico Bouwes Bavinck from Leiden in the Netherlands, with t ....Queensland epidemiologist, Professor Adele Green is the winner of an Australian-European Union medical research grant that she will use to investigate prevention of skin cancer. The prestigious NHMRC grant is intended to support Australian researchers involved in European collaboration, which will benefit the Australian community. Professor Green and her research group will use the grant to participate in a large consortium led by Dr Jan Nico Bouwes Bavinck from Leiden in the Netherlands, with teams of researchers based in Germany, England, Italy and France. The work of the consortium will focus on finding out whether Human Papilloma Virus plays a role in causing skin cancer. Professor Green and her team are working to discover the relationship between Human Papilloma Virus, which is a common virus of the skin and the commonest types of skin cancer. If the papilloma virus is found to cause skin cancer, this will open up new avenues for prevention. Although Australia is a world hot-spot for skin cancer, the disease is of concern to Europeans because it is the most common form of cancer in white-skinned people.Read moreRead less