Research Project Grants Awarded - August 2007
At their meeting on 3rd August, the Members agreed to award Research Project Grants as indicated below:
£39,777 over 18 months to Dr James W. Dear (Clinical Pharmacology Unit, University of Edinburgh) and colleagues Professor David Webb (Centre for Cardiovascular Science), Professor D. Nicholas Batemen (Scottish Poisons Information Bureau, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary), Dr Ian Marshall (Medical Physics Department, University of Edinburgh) & Dr Kenneth J. Simpson (Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh) for the characterisation of paracetamol-induced acute renal failure, using dendrimer-contrast magnetic resonance imaging.
Improved treatment for the 50% patients suffering from a paracetamol overdose who go on to develop potentially fatal kidney damage is the eventual aim of this study. Using MRI scanning technologies it will test a new technique for imaging the pattern of organ injury, studying possible new treatments and also the role of the immune system in determining organ injury.
£149,841 over three years to Drs Mary Donaldson & Iain Morgan (Department of Pathological Sciences, University of Glasgow Veterinary School), to investigate the potential of TopBP1 to be a therapeutic target for human papillomavirus infection.
This project aims to improve understanding of how proteins and other cell components interact with viral proteins, specifically the human papillomavirus (HPV) which causes genital warts and cervical cancer. The aim is to find ways to disrupt the life cycle of the virus so it cannot cause disease. The new vaccines only prevent initial infection with HPV; people already infected might still develop cancer and there is currently no way to prevent this.
£141,071 over two years to Dr Shauna E. Culshaw (Centre for Biophotonics, University of Strathclyde) and colleagues Professor Paul Garside, Dr John Girkin, Professor Gail McConnell & Dr James Brewer (all of the Centre for Biophotonics, University of Strathclyde), to improve understanding of the basic mechanisms of the adaptive immune response to cariogenic bacteria in the oral cavity.
Oral health is a major component of general health, well being and quality of life. The social and economic costs of poor oral health are significant, but will only be reduced when new ways are found to prevent or treat the underlying dental decay. This fundamental study of the immune response to dental caries-causing bacteria aims to provide pointers to the best way forward.