The Homer Hack Research Grant Scheme
The Homer Hack 2024 Research Grant Scheme is Now Open
Research grants to investigate the disease association or function of the Homer1 gene and related molecular pathways
The Homer Hack is a registered charity made up of a broad group of individuals who have a keen joint interest in the effects of human Homer gene variants and related scaffolding genes on day-to-day functioning in people’s lives. The Homer Hack aims to transform the lives of people living with Homer gene variants, and their families, by enabling innovative and high quality research to build evidence of the impacts of, and therapeutic interventions for, Homer gene variants.
This is an open and competitive call for Homer Hack grants valued between AUD$40,000 and AUD$80,000 (excluding GST) per grant application, which will be made available in 2024.
Applications are invited for Australian and/or international research projects that focus on any aspect relating to human Homer gene variants and related scaffolding genes research. In 2024, the Homer Hack will provide grant funding investing in research projects that examine the mechanism and impact of, and/or improve outcomes for, people with Homer gene variants. Please note, the accepting institution for each grant must have an ABN, be based in Australia and be able to issue a tax invoice for the grant amount approved by The Homer Hack. Projects must be completed within 18 months of the project commencement date.
Questions about this granting round will be accepted via email sent to admin@thehomerhack.com up until 5pmAEDT on Monday 25/3/24. No late applications will be accepted after the grant submission deadline. Applicants will be advised of the outcome of this granting round via email by late April 2024. Thank you for your interest in The Homer Hack and Homer research.
Professor Terence O’Brien
Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee, The Homer Hack
Successful 2023 Grant Recipients
The Homer Hack announces two successful grant recipients as part of the 2023 Homer Hack Small Research Grant Scheme. Congratulations to Dr. Muhammad Javaid from the Department of Neuroscience Monash University Alfred Centre and Associate Professor Wah Chin Boon, BSc (Hons), from the The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health as the inaugral successful grantees.
Dr Mahammad Javaid will be exploring "drug screening using Homer1 patient’s iPSCs-derived neurons for clinical trials of precision medicine."
The main objective of this project will be to develop effective treatments for neurological conditions linked to the abnormal function of HOMER1. The discovery of new effective medicines requires pathophysiological-matched disease models, ideally those based on affected individuals. Patient-specific stem cell-derived in vitro neuronal models can adequately recapitulate the pathophysiological and pharmaco-responsive properties of the ‘Homer-brain’. The drugs that are found to restore normal function in these models will also be used as targeted precision medicines to treat the neuronal complications associated with Homer variants. The proposed outcomes will reveal the drug targets that can not only be targeted to restore normal neuronal function in Homer1 patients but may also be used to treat other neurological diseases involving anomalous calcium signalling and mutant scaffolding proteins. Furthermore, an FDA-approved drug will be identified to treat Homer1 complications in the index patient for “n of 1” clinical trial.
Associate Professor Wah Chin Boon will be exploring the "Inhibitory effects of prenatal exposure of plastics on Homer genes and a potential therapeutic reversal".
This project aims to investigate whether (1) Homer 1 gene expression is reduced by prenatal DEHP exposure; (2) Homer 1 gene is hypermethylated by prenatal DEHP exposure; and (3) Homer 1 gene expression can be restored by 10HDA treatment, using a mouse model. It will explore the possible epigenetic effects of this exposure refering to long-term modifications of gene expression without altering the basic structure of DNA or DNA sequences.
It has been proposed that neurodevelopmental disorders (including autism spectrum disorder) caused by man- made chemicals operating on key genes have created a silent modern pandemic. Epidemiological data indicates likely prenatal epigenetic programming of neurodevelopmental genes such as Homer 1 genes and other scaffolding genes that a prospective association between prenatal phthalate exposure and adverse neurodevelopment may exist. This project will increase knowledge on HOMER gene function and related therapeutic approaches down- regulated HOMER gene function.