Early Career Investigator Grants, 2nd Round 2008
The following Early Career Investigator Grants were funded for mid year 2008
Grief and Loss Counseling for people affected by cancer in Western Australia: Towards best practice
Chief Investigator: Lauren Breen
Associate Investigators: Dr Moira O'Connor, Associate Professor Elizabeth Lobb
Every year, thousands of Western Australians experience the death of a loved one as a result of cancer and a significant proportion seek the services of a counselor during this time. This study aims to identify the types of grief and loss counseling services that are available in the community to people affected by cancer and to determine how closely these services align with existing knowledge obtained from current research on grief and loss services. By informing the practice of bereavement support services, the research directly addresses the Cancer Council’s aim fo reducing the impact of cancer on Western Australians.
The Frank Hribar Research Grant Endowment and The Jordon Hills Research Grant Endowment proudly support this project
The Synthesis of the Active Constituents of Antrodia Camphorata
Chief Investigator: Scott Stewart
Associate Investigator: Dr Marta Polomska
Natural products usually derived from plants, animals, fungi or marine life have provided many drugs and drug leads for modern day medicine and healthcare. A traditional Taiwanese tribal medicine extracted from the fruiting body of the mushroom Antrodia camphorata used for the treatment of liver cancer and inflammation has recently been brought to the attention of the research community. This project will focus on the production of the natural products contained within the mushroom Antrodia camphorata as well as medicinal analogues. The pathway to efficient production of these compounds will utilize modern organic synthetic chemistry. Additionally, the analogues produced by this method will be immediately evaluated in liver cell lines (both tumorigenic and the non-tumorigenic) for their potential as medicinal agents.
The Ross Clark Research Grant Endowment proudly supports this project
Intratumoral targeting of IFN to pre-condition solid tumours for effective immunotherapy
Chief Investigator: Juliana Hamzah
Associate Investigator: Associate Professor Ruth Ganss
One way to fight cancer is to use immune cells to attack and destroy tumours. However, these immune cells often don’t reach the tumour site because abnormal blood vessels in tumours form a barrier. This project aims to alter these tumour blood vessels, which then will allow immune cells to enter and to destroy the cancer. We will use a novel tumour-homing strategy, to activate tumour blood vessels which in turn will “open” solid tumours for immune destruction. This study has the potential to make a substantial impact on cancer immunotherapy and will provide new insights into cancer biology.
The Ross Clark Research Grant Endowment. The Beryl Anne Keys Research Grant Endowment and The Pescha Wright Research Grant Endowment proudly support this project
Transcriptional control of CR2/CD21 by CBF1 and E2A and its significance to B cell differentiation and the development of B cell lymphoma
Chief Investigator: Mahdad Karimi
Associate Investigators: Dr Daniel Ulgiati, Dr Kevin Marchbank
CR2 is a gene that plays an important role in the generation of a normal B cell which is essential for an effective immune response. Changes in CR2 expression have been shown to alter B cell development and consequently how the B cells respond to foreign substances. Proteins that control CR2 expression and that also influence B cell development have been shown to play key roles in the development of several B cell lymphomas. This study will examine how CR2 is regulated which will be important in identifying regulators that govern B cell development and cancer.
