New hope for debilitating conditions

Founded in 1984, the Rebecca L Cooper Medical Research Foundation has strict criteria for assessing grant applications. Projects must have an innovative concept, with the potential to unlock new knowledge or treatment with significant impact on people’s lives. 

“As testament to its quality and breadth of research, UTS received three out of the 34 grants awarded by The Rebecca L Cooper Medical Research Foundation in 2020,” says Leanne Arber, Executive Officer.

The Foundation has granted nearly $500,000 to UTS since 2013, supporting research in areas including lung disease and neurological sciences. And these scientists are discovering hope in the smallest molecules.

A blueprint for respiratory research

Each year around three to five million people develop severe reactions to the influenza virus, and up to 650,000 die [1].  People with chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma face a significantly higher risk of developing complications.

“It is estimated that by 2025 there will be an additional 165 million patients with chronic lung disease, all highly susceptible to infection,” says Dr Kamal Dua, Senior Lecturer in the UTS Graduate School of Health. “Without the development of more effective and efficient treatments, the social, environmental, and financial burden of influenza will be huge.” 

Thanks to the support of the Foundation, Dr Dua is studying why a rise in microRNAs (relatively small biomolecules) make the body more susceptible to infection and how to target these to develop an effective treatment. He is also looking at the most effective way to administer drugs for patients. 

“My aim is to not only reduce the prevalence and severity of the influenza virus infection, but also provide a blueprint for further medical research into other respiratory diseases.”

As testament to its quality and breadth of research, UTS received three out of the 34 grants awarded by The Rebecca L Cooper Medical Research Foundation in 2020.
Leanne Arber, Executive Officer at the Rebecca L Cooper Medical Research Foundation

New hope for MS patients

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) affects approximately 2.8 million people worldwide, with no known cure [2].  MS causes the immune system to attack cells, interrupting the flow of nerve impulses in the spinal cord and the brain. Symptoms can be varied and unpredictable, often leading to chronic pain and disability, and potentially death. 

For the past decade, Associate Professor Alessandro Castorina at UTS has been studying peptides in the body that protect neurons and support cells to prevent potential damage. His team has come up with an exciting theory that could change the lives of people living with MS. And thanks to the Foundation, he’s currently working on strategies to change the course of the disease.

“By treating an individual with these peptides, we think we can boost and protect supporting cells in the nervous system. We also hope to boost myelin generation, which can help reinstate depleted levels in MS patients – significantly improving quality of life.”

Associate Professor Castorina says while a cure isn’t here yet, new treatment can potentially delay the damage MS causes so people can enjoy a better quality of life, for longer. 

Thanks to the generosity of the Rebecca L Cooper Medical Research Foundation, the work of Associate Professor Castorina and Dr Kamal Dua has the potential to be genuinely life-changing for generations to come. 

[1] Global Influenza Strategy 2019-2030, World Health Organization
[2] Atlas of MS 3rd edition, MS International Federation