Prof. M. Walker (UOW)
A/Pr Victor Nizet; Prof. Gursharan Chhatwal; Prof. Malak Kotb
Associate Investigator(s):
Dr Jason McArthur; Dr Marie Ranson (UOW)
2007
2008
2009
Total $
$207,250
$187,250
$187,250
$581,750
Title:
Unified model for group A streptococcal invasive disease initiation.
Summary:
Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus; GAS) is a bacterium that causes human skin and throat infections as well as highly invasive diseases including necrotising fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock-like syndrome. We have recently discovered the trigger mechanism for GAS invasive disease. We hypothesise that the initial host response at the site of infection selects for a GAS "invasive phenotype". We propose to examine the chain of events which result in tissue invasion in order to understand these disease processes and allow the development of future therapeutic interventions.
Dr Nadia Solowij (UOW)
Dr Marc Seal; Dr Daniel Lubman;Prof. Philip McGuire
Associate Investigator(s):
A/Prof. Brin Grenyer; A/Prof. Steven Roodenrys (UOW)
2007
2008
2009
Total $
$157,250
$200,750
$139,250
$497,250
Title:
Quantifying the neurocognitive impact of cannabis across the life span: The evolution of memory deficits.
Summary:
Cannabis is the most widely used illicit substance, and its use is particularly prevalent during adolescence and young adulthood. Adolescence is also a period when the brain undergoes significant structural and functional change, and there is growing evidence that the brain may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of addictive substances during this developmental stage. There is increasing evidence that long term or heavy use of cannabis impairs learning and memory. It is thought that the continued bombardment of the brain's own natural cannabis-like neurotransmitter system by the active chemicals within cannabis disrupts critical aspects of brain function. This research seeks to improve our understanding of the way that cannabis use affects memory and how these problems might develop or worsen from adolescence to adulthood. This project will investigate memory processes in cannabis users using functional brain imaging techniques. This will allow identification of regions of the brain that are not working efficiently when cannabis users attempt to memorise and recall words from a list and recognise patterns. The project will examine how different levels of cannabis use (long term vs. short term and heavy vs. light) may affect brain function during learning and memory, and determine if the observed memory problems depend upon the age at which cannabis use began and the gender of the user.
Dr Peter Lewis; A/Prof. Elizabeth Harry
Prof. Nicholas Dixon (UOW)
Lead Institution
University of Newscastle
Title:
Nucleic Acid Synthesis and Cell Division in Model Pathogenic Bacteria
Summary:
The rise of antiobiotic resistance, particularly in hospitals, over recent years represents a huge financial burden on the health system, in addition to the personal costs to the patient infected. Over the last 60 years, we have become accustomed to the availability of antibiotics that can effectively treat most, if not all, bacterial infections. Today, this is not the case, and some bacteria in hospitals are resistant to all therapeutically useful antibiotics.
We propose to identify and validate the use of key essential biological processes as targets for the development of new antimicrobial agents in two important hospital pathogens.
