Projects

The blood-brain barrier is a selective and protective structure formed by tightly packed cells between the bloodstream and the brain. It serves to block harmful substances from entering the brain. However, this same barrier also prevents many therapeutic drugs, including cancer treatments, from reaching brain tissue. As a result, brain cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death among children and young adults.

Our project represents a significant advancement in brain cancer therapy. It aims to modify effective cancer treatment molecules so they can cross the blood-brain barrier, offering the potential to treat brain cancer and save many lives.

There are over 80 known autoimmune diseases affecting 10% of the world’s population through rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis (MS), celiac disease, to name a few. They result from the body’s immune system mistakenly attacking the body's own tissues. In MS this causes bouts of neurological symptoms and irreversible neurodegeneration over time.

Current MS drugs slow progression but do not distinguish between disease-related and healthy immune cells, leaving patients vulnerable to opportunistic infections.

Emerging from the discovery that blood cells known as platelets drive autoimmunity we established that blocking platelets prevents destruction of nerves and other brain structures, and targeting platelets has the potential to be a safer treatment strategy. Our project aims to develop a platelet-targeting drug which will address key aspects of the autoimmune process, limit tissue damage, and prevent disease progression. We also plan to generate proof-of-concept data to validate these candidates.

Tumour composition varies drastically, yet traditional diagnostic methods primarily target cancer cells, which comprise approximately 50% of the tumour. This narrow focus may result in an incomplete diagnostic perspective, thereby limiting the implementation of “Personalized Therapies” that could enhance treatment efficacy.

The new AI-Powered Diagnostic system developed by the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI) is being leveraged to harness all information within the tumour, enabling a tailored treatment for each patient.

Currently in advanced development, this method is potentially suitable for 15 different tumour types. By integrating patented biosensor technology, it delivers reliable results in a cost-effective and time-efficient manner, with a processing time of approximately two hours. The system is user-friendly, requiring no specialized expertise to operate, and ensures reproducibility. Additionally, when deployed via cloud-based platforms, it becomes easily accessible to medical services in both urban and remote regions worldwide.

This funding call will focus on colorectal cancer (CRC) to enable a prototype as the first phase of proving the system’s effectiveness in this fast-increasing global disease.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) receives significant attention for all the wrong reasons. With over 2.9 million people globally suffering from the disease increasing by an average of 52,000 per year. And because this is a progressive disease the treatment cost estimated at over $50,000 USD per annum continues for the life of the person.

Current treatment options are limited and tend to treat symptoms only giving the impression they slow down the development of the disease and the damage it continues to cause.

A molecule has been discovered which has been found to produce extraordinary results in MS animal trials where it appeared not only to halt the progress of the disease, but to repair existing nerve damage and restore mobility.

This project is open for funding or investment to develop this lead molecule into a drug candidate ready for commercialisation within two years, potentially bringing improvement to the lives of the 2.9 million people suffering from this disease.

The destruction of myelin, a protective insulation surrounding nerve axons, is the key cause of the nerve damage that underlies the accumulation of disability in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), and has recently been proposed as an early contributor to Alzheimer’s disease. Both diseases affect millions of people worldwide and are associated with enormous societal and economic costs.

An existing drug may provide a fast-track solution. In preclinical studies of multiple sclerosis nalfurafine was shown to induce remyelination and reverse paralysis when compared to placebo. Already proven to be safe for humans, a Phase 2 study of nalfurafine in people with multiple sclerosis is ready to proceed, with ethics and regulatory approvals in hand.

We seek initial funding to enable the team to explore the effects of nalfurafine in preclinical models of Alzheimer’s disease and if promising, will seek further funding to undertake a proof-of-concept clinical trial in people with Alzheimer’s disease.