New modulators of voltage-gated sodium channel subtypes from Australian Tarantula venoms

澳大利亚狼蛛的毒液提供了一个独特的和未开发的生物活性分子来源。我们将利用大量的毒液库存，并与澳大利亚制药公司Xenome合作，开发一个适合药物筛选的毒液成分综合库。这项工作可能给国家带来的好处包括：一种治疗疼痛的新方法带来的医疗保健费用的大幅减少，以及药品销售带来的可观的版税回报。该项目的发现也可能会提高澳大利亚在神经科学领域的声誉，并促进新的诊断研究工具的发展。社区的主要利益将是减少慢性疼痛患者的痛苦。

The venoms of Australian tarantula spiders provide a unique and untapped source of bioactive molecules. From a large stock of venom, and in collaboration with Australian pharmaceutical company Xenome, we will develop a comprehensive library of venom components suitable for drug screening. Potential national benefits from this work include a huge reduction in the healthcare bill deriving from a new treatment for pain, as well as substantial royalty returns from drugs sales. Discoveries from the program are also likely to lead to an enhancement in Australia's reputation in the neurosciences and to the development of new diagnostic research tools. The major community benefit will be a reduction in the suffering of chronic pain patients.