Major health grants win for Victoria University researchers
VU researchers Professor Emma Rybalka and Professor David Bishop have received a combined $2.25 million to progress their health research.
Professor Rybalka’s grant will go towards treating AdenyloSuccinate Synthetase 1 (ADSS1) myopathy – a rare genetic disorder with only about 200 people around the world believed to be living with it.
ADSS1 involves progressive loss of muscle mass and function that is ultimately fatal. There is no cure or treatment.
Professor Rybalka and her team who have been working in this space for years are confident an existing drug is likely to be effective in treating ADSS1 myopathy. If successful, the drug may also be able to treat other diseases, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy – diagnosed in 20,000 children every year across the globe. However, an urgent clinical trial is needed.
“We believe we have found a way to provide quality of life back to those suffering. We’re excited about the possibilities a successful trial could offer not just to these families, but others affected by muscle-wasting diseases,” Professor Rybalka said.
Professor David Bishop wants to find out if exercise is an elixir to the burden of growing old. His research will focus on mitochondria, the energy “powerhouses” of our cells, and whether more could be done to maximise the function of these critical components of our cells as we age.
His NHMRC grant will, for the first time, provide clinical evidence on whether changes in our cell’s energy-producing powerhouses are inevitable with ageing or are linked to declining levels of exercise.
Working with international collaborators, Professor Bishop and his team believe the discoveries will be critical to developing better policy and therapeutic interventions to combat ageing, leading to improved clinical outcomes and supporting more efficient use of government spending on health.
“We live in a world that is rapidly ageing. This has major social, economic, and health impacts, and threatens our ability to maintain sustainable health and aged-care systems. We believe properly understanding the role of exercise could be a major breakthrough on how we manage our ageing population on a personal and community level,” Professor Bishop said.
The two grant wins come from four applications in this round of funding. VU’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research, Professor Andy Hill praised all applicants and their teams for the impressive result.
“To get a 50% strike rate is well above the national average for such competitive grants. Huge congratulations to all involved. I am very proud of our health research at VU and the impact we are having in improving the lives of communities around the world,” Professor Hill said.
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