Share |

Home Next Level Research Next Level Successful Funding Next Level Research Grants Next Level 2011 Research Grants

Grants awarded for 2011

Inhibition of death-receptor triggered apoptosis by the Yes-associated protein (YAP) and its role in tumorigenesis

Chief Investigators: Dr Bernard Callus, Prof David Vaux
Associate Investigators: Prof Peter Leedman, Dr James Vince, Prof Lawrence Abraham

Abnormal increases in the activity of the Yes-associated protein (YAP) in the cells in
our body causes cancer. Preliminary work indicates that elevated YAP activity allows
damaged cells in our body to resist the signals that would normally tell them to die, allowing them to develop into a cancer. Our research is based on the hypotheses that this is a key aspect of YAP’s cancer promoting activity. This research aims to understand the molecular mechanism by which YAP causes cancer, and thereby facilitate the identification of new drug targets to treat cancer.

This project looks at the mechanisms by which the Yes-associated protein (YAP) may cause cancer with the intention of identifying new ways to treat cancer.

This research project is supported in the names of: Evelyn Diamond, Ladies Auxillary of
Cancer Council WA, Maslin Family, Peta-Kaye Grieve Memorial, Team Time Machine Grant

Back to the top of the page

The role of deregulated microRNA expression in the pathogenesis of medulloblastoma

Chief Investigators: Dr Peter Dallas, Dr Nicholas Gottardo, Dr Kim Carter, Dr Keith Giles
Associate Investigators: A/Prop Mirella Dottori, Dr Andrew Laslett, Dr Susan Hawes

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumour in children. One third of children with this disease will die, and most of those who survive will face significant long-term health issues associated with the aggressive therapies used to treat medulloblastoma patients. This project aims to generate a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular biology of medulloblastoma by studying the role of deregulated microRNA molecules in tumour development. Ultimately, this work may lead to better outcomes for children with this disease.

This research will investigate an important cell mechanism that may cause the most
common type of malignant brain tumours. Improving our understanding of how these
tumours develop will ultimately improve treatment and survival for children with this cancer.

This research project is supported in the names of: Fred and Libby Lucchini

Back to the top of the page

Improving exposure assessment in studies of shiftwork and flight crew work

Chief Investigators: Prof Lin Fritschi, Dr Deborah Glass, Dr Jane Heyworth, Prof Kristan Aronson, Prof Thomas Erren
Associate Investigators: Prof Michael Kimlin, A/Prof David Kennaway, Dr Thomas Behrens, Prof Wolfgang Ahrens, Mr Terry Boyle, Ms Jennifer Girschik

In 2007, the International Agency for Research in Cancer (IARC) classified ‘shiftwork which involves night work’ (including flight crew work) as a probable cancer-causing agent (carcinogen). There is good experimental evidence for this and at least 5 possible biological mechanisms have been proposed. However, the population-based evidence that would confirm which of these biological mechanisms were important in people has lagged behind the experimental evidence for several reasons, including the lack of valid questionnaires. Shiftwork and long distance air travel are essential for our society, and we need to understand which aspects of these jobs may be carcinogenic in order to develop preventive occupational health policies for the people who work in these industries. Studies in people are complex and if we are to disentangle what it is about shiftwork and flight work that increases cancer risk it is important to develop valid questionnaires that can measure all relevant aspects of this work. This project aims to establish the accuracy of new questionnaires which can measure all the relevant aspects of shiftwork and flight work.

This project will improve understanding of the relationship between shift work and cancer.

This research project is fully supported in the name of: Australia Post

Back to the top of the page

UV-induced vitamin D3 and control of skin inflammation and allergic airways disease

Chief Investigators: Prof Prue Hart, Dr Shelley Gorman, Dr Mark Fear
Associate Investigator: A/Prof Robert Tuckey

Exposure to sunlight, specifically the ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths stimulates the production of 80-90% of the vitamin D3 our bodies need to for good health. Vitamin D3 is important for bone and gut health and, like UV exposure, can also regulate our immune system, improving some cancer and asthma outcomes. Using a novel experimental system and mice that cannot make vitamin D3 in the skin, our research will try to find the difference between the effects of UV exposure on immune health that are dependent on UV-induced vitamin D3 and those that may be independent of vitamin D3 production.

This project will help us better understand the role of UV exposure and vitamin D3 in cancer.

This research project is supported in the names of: Australian Mushroom Growers Association, Edith Dorothy Chandler and Mandurah Murray Mayday Club (Inc)

Back to the top of the page

DNA methylation of normal colonic mucosa as a biomarker for development
of the CpG island methylator phenotype of colorectal cancer

Chief Investigator: Prof Barry Iacopetta
Associate Investigators: Dr Colin Stewart, Dr Benhur Amanuel, Dr Richie Soong, Ms Marie Loh

Approximately 12,000 people in Australia are diagnosed with cancer of the bowel each year. About one-fifth of these cases have distinctive changes in the tumour DNA that are referred to as hypermethylation. The aim of this project is to determine whether these changes also occur in the normal lining of the intestine. This research could help to identify healthy people who have a high risk of developing the hypermethylated type of bowel cancer. These people could then be recommended to modify their diet and to have regular check-ups to prevent the cancer from developing.

This project will help identify people at risk of developing a common subtype of bowel cancer and reduce their risk of the cancer occurring by early intervention.

This research project is supported in the names of: Australia Post, Esperance Fundraising Committee, Nancy Psaltis, Swan Athletic Seniors, The Women of the Greek Community, Western Australian Ostomy Association

Back to the top of the page

Fibroblast Growth Factor 9: A novel target in mesothelioma

Chief Investigators: Prof Gary Lee, Prof Jenette Creaney, Prof Bill Musk
Associate Investigators: A/Prof Bruce Robinson, Prof Paul Bass, Dr Georgios Statholoulos

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is the aggressive and incurable cancer of the chest wall that kills 800 patients every year in Australia. MPM has no cure, is difficult to diagnose and how a patient’s disease will progress is difficult to predict. Identifying the key molecule(s) governing the development of MPM would provide novel therapeutic target(s) and potential adjunct diagnostic and prognostic marker(s). This study aims to establish the potential therapeutic and diagnostic roles of a protein called fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-9 in MPM. Having compared the proteins in human MPM samples with proteins produced by normal lung (global gene profiling) our research has identified that FGF-9 is more common in MPM. Preliminary laboratory work shows that FGF-9 causes cell division and the release of other factors that may be involved in MPM cancer progression. This project will build on these exciting findings to fully characterise the biological role and clinical relevance of FGF-9 and will provide proof-of-concept for FGF-9-directed therapies in MPM.

The intention of this project is to improve the understanding of the growth and spread of the asbestos-induced cancer, mesothelioma, with the hope of improving diagnosis and treatment options for people with this deadly disease.

This research project is supported in the name of: Edith Dorothy Chandler

Back to the top of the page

The balance of proliferation and cell death signalling in growth, differentiation
and transformation of liver stem/progenitor cells

Chief Investigators: Dr Roslyn London, Prof David Vaux
Associate Investigators: Dr Bernard Callus, Prof George Yeoh, Prof Andreas Strasser,
Dr Clare Scott

Puma and Noxa are proteins in our body that cause cell death. Preliminary results show that when Puma and Noxa are made inactive in mice, the mice have many more bile ducts in their liver than normal. As increased growth of bile ducts can lead to cancer, our belief is that the loss of Puma and Noxa in mice will make the mice more likely to develop liver cancer. Our research will investigate this idea to see if Puma and Noxa deficient mice are a good model for studying liver cancer that involves the bile ducts. Understanding how this process works could ultimately lead to the development of new cancer therapies targeting liver cancer.

This work aims to contribute to our understanding of how a certain type of liver cancer develops, and could potentially lead to the development of successful liver cancer treatments.

This research project is fully supported in the name of: Tilly

Back to the top of the page

Efficacy and safety of high versus low intensity resistance exercise, with and without compression for management of lymphedema in breast cancer survivors

Chief Investigators: Prof Robert Newton, Dr Sandi Hayes (QLD), A/Prof Daniel
Galvao (WA), Dr Dennis Taafe (WALD), A/Prof Bruce Cornish (QLD), Dr Prue
Cormie (WA), Prof Kazunori Nosaka (WA)
Associate Investigators: Prof Nigel Spry, Dr Kathryn Schmitz, Ms Hildegard Reul-Hirche,
Ms Christine Smith

Lymphodema is chronic swelling of the arms or legs that occurs due to damage to fluid drainage channels of the body’s lymphatic system (part of our immune system). Cancer and its treatment can damage the lymphatic system, causing the lymph fluid to collect in the body and not drain away properly. Lymphoedema is a side effect of some breast cancer treatments and presents as the chronic swelling of the hand, arm and shoulder. The development of lymphoedema after breast cancer treatment occurs in about 20% of breast cancer survivors and causes significant impairment of physical function, pain depression that has a profound impact on a person’s quality of life. This project will investigate whether resistance exercise can be used to manage lymphodema in breast cancer survivors.

This project is looking at ways to improve the quality of life for breast cancer patients.

This research project is supported in the names of: Australian Mushroom Growers Association and Fred and Libby Lucchini

Back to the top of the page

Determining the phenotype and function of cells in the tumour environment that
suppress CD8 T cell function and proliferation during anti-PD-L1 tumour therapy

Chief Investigators: Prof Bruce Robinson, Dr Amanda Cleaver, Prof Richard Lake,
A/Prof Amanda Marzo
Associate Investigators: Dr Andrew Currie, Dr Raymond Steptoe, A/Prof Gordon Freeman

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that is caused by asbestos exposure. Current treatments are largely ineffective, highlighting the need to develop better treatment options. New treatments aim to boost immune cells in our body that destroy the cancer cells. However, there are other cells in our body that suppress this response and can limit the effectiveness of these new treatments. Our research aims to specifically identify these suppressive cells and determine how they affect anti-tumour immune responses, and prevent them from functioning and improve treatment of mesothelioma and other types of cancer.

The aim of this project is to help improve the effectiveness of cancer treatments that target anti-tumour immune responses.

This research project is supported in the names of: Fortescue Friends, Frank Hribar Endowment, Giles Jones Real Estate and The Leah Jane Cohen Fund

Back to the top of the page