Archived News for Research Sector Professionals
Professor Jiri Neuzil from the School of Medical Science and GHI is leading a research team that has developed anti-cancer agents derived from vitamin E (VE), with the capacity to induce programmed cell death, a process known as apoptosis.
"This (chemical modification) potentially represents a new paradigm in efficient anti-cancer therapy. It has a very solid scientific basis because it sends the compounds where they matter most," Professor Neuzil said.
"Thus, the process is much more efficient when the relevant drugs are targeted to mitochondria."
He explained that mitochondria are organelles inside cells that contain their own DNA. While they are essential to supply the cells with energy, mitochondria also contain proteins needed to kill cells.
Working initially with Professor Smith from Otago University in New Zealand and recently with Associate Professor Mark Coster from Griffith's Eskitis Institute, Professor Neuzil has successfully modified the VE-based drugs so that some 90 per cent of the agents localise to mitochondria, triggering the death of cancer cells much more efficiently than the non-targeted counterparts of the agents.
The process has been successfully tested on mice, focusing on breast and colorectal tumours.
"The new compounds don't harm good cells. And they're more efficient than (parental) compounds that don't target mitochondria directly.
"Its potential is huge. We now want to test these agents in other types of tumours, preferably those that are hard to treat."
Using this innovative approach, Professor Neuzil is attempting to 'outwit' cancer cells he describes as 'bloody clever'.
"When cancer cells are exposed to certain agents, their genes mutate as they learn how to resist the drugs."
However, by combining the vitamin E-derived agents with other therapeutic drugs, the cancer cell's attention can be effectively 'distracted', reducing its capacity to mutate.
This combinatorial and, potentially, intermittent form of treatment also serves to reduce negative side-effects through the positive synergy of two or more drugs that exert their cancer cell-killing activity by different mechanisms.
Professor Neuzil's pre-clinical research is also investigating if other recognised anti-cancer drugs are similarly effective in mitochondria when modified in a corresponding way.
To take the research to the important clinical stage, he is hoping to get the attentions and support of a benefactor.
Australian scientists to collaborate with Japanese synchrotron
Australian scientists are set to gain access to one of the world’s most powerful synchrotrons following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Japanese SPring-8 Centre.
South Australia developing STEM strategy
The South Australian Government is developing a cross-government strategy to increase the supply of people taking up careers in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields to meet the future needs of local industry.
$5 million gift to further nanoscience advances
A generous gift of $5 million from one of Australia's leading businessmen will enable the University of Sydney to make major advances in the field of nanoscience.
Ecstasy drug being explored as blood cancer treatment
The possibility of redesigning the illicit recreational drug ‘ecstasy' to treat blood cancers is being explored by a team of researchers from The University of Western Australia and the University of Birmingham in England.
Water scientists urge more research on CSG
A number of senior water researchers have warned of the possible effects of the coal seam gas (CSG) industry on water and salinity.
WA secures new grain research centre
Western Australia has announced that a National Centre of Excellence for grains research will be build in Perth following an agreement between the State Government and the Grains Research Development Council (GRDC).
Federal Government introduces R&D Tax Credit system
The Federal Government has introduced a new research and development tax credit system which will aim to assist small businesses offset the cost of conducting research in their respective fields.
New CSIRO-Macquarie University Chair in Wireless Coimmunications appointed
Leading expert Dr Stephen Hanly has been lured back to Australia as the inaugural CSIRO-Macquarie University Chair in Wireless Communications.
Field trials promise control of dengue fever
An international research project to eliminate dengue fever has reported successful results from a field trial in which 150,000 mosquitoes infected with a bacterium called Wolbachia that prevents the dengue virus from growing in the insect were released into two suburbs in Cairns.
Superdense aluminum discovered
An international team of researchers, including Australians, has pioneered a new method of producing superdense aluminum by simulating the conditions found at the centre of the Earth. The superdense aluminum is around 40 per cent stronger and denser than the conventional counterpart.
Call for comment on review of research income impacts
The Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research has called for responses to a consultation paper it released on its 2011 Review of HERDC Category 3 Income.
SIEF research endowments announced
Nine outstanding Australian researchers have been awarded John Stocker Postdoctoral Fellowships and Postgraduate Scholarships that will allow them to continue to conduct advanced research in their respective areas.
Thermopower research advances
Researchers at RMIT University have explored how thermopower waves in thermoelectric materials can convert heat in solid fuels into electrical energy.
Guideline to streamline health professional's access to research
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has introduced its new Standard for Clinical Practice Guidelines to streamline health professional’s access to diagnostic information and treatment.
VisLab to extend reach of Victorian researchers
A new Visualisation Laboratory (VisLab) has been launched at La Trobe University in Victoria, providing sophisticated visualisation technology that will allow researchers to run experiments remotely.
VisLab will link to the Australian Synchrotron and other local and international facilities, including those with existing La Trobe remote stations. It will link to analytical equipment at Berlin's BESSY Synchrotron, the Canadian Light Source at Saskatoon and Chicago's Argonne Advanced Photon Source machine. Within VisLab from their remote location, researchers are able to drive the instrument and perform experiments themselves. Alternately they can collaborate in real time with another team of researchers present at the instrument
VisLab also doubles as a classroom, promoting and teaching science and technology to high-school and university students.
VisLab was funded through the Victorian Government’s Victorian eResearch Strategic Initiative (VeRSI). New funding of $2 million for the initiative has allowed VeRSI's membership to expand to include all of Victoria's eight universities, as well as the Australian Synchrotron and the Victorian Government Department for Primary Industries.
VisLab is a collaboration between the La Trobe eResearch Office, the Centre for Materials and Surface Science at La Trobe University and VeRSI.
New Forensic DNA Laboratory for South Australia
A new Forensic DNA Laboratory dedicated to forensic DNA research has been opened at Flinders University in South Australia.
Victoria fails to monitor biotech spending: Auditor-General
The Victorian Auditor-General, Des Pearson, has release a report into public sector investment in biotechnology in Victoria, finding that the state government had spent more than $722 million to support the biotechnology industry over the last decade without adequate performance data on whether strategic aims had been met.
New US Solar Power Research Centre to be established
Arizona State University (ASU) will spearhead a new Engineering Research Center (ERC) aimed at creating high-efficiency solar technologies and manufacturing methods to increase solar energy uptake.
Conference to investigate new health research funding models
Senior medical researchers and those responsible for sourcing private medical funding will meet later this month with community and business leaders to discuss new ways for health and medical research to be funded.
Go8 opens European Fellowships
The Group of Eight (Go8) has opened applications for its 2012 European Fellowships that will be open to early career researchers from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Croatia, and, for the first time in the program’s history, Russia.