ATP Release From Gastrointestinal Epithelium: A Potential Target For The Treatment Of Slow Transient Constipation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$317,775.00
Summary
Slow transit constipation (STC) is a severe condition of the colon, almost exclusively affecting reproductive age women with no effective treatment. We recently found an association between STC and defects in connexin proteins in the large intestine. We aim to reveal the role of connexins and female hormones in the maintenance of normal intestinal function and their involvement in STC. The study will provide completely new perspectives in the understanding of the functional bowel disorders.
Mechanical Factors In Normal Human Colonic Motility
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$650,023.00
Summary
Abnormal human colonic contractions cause significant medical, societal and financial burdens. Diagnosis and treatment of motility disorders requires an understanding of normal colonic contractility against which to measure dysfunction. Through state-of-the-art recording and analytical techniques, developed by the applicants, this project will provide the first clear description of normal human colonic motor patterns and how they are generated.
Neural Control Of Colorectal Function And Identification Of Sites Of Drug Action
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,489.00
Summary
Constipation is a considerable problem, especially in the elderly; it occurs in 20-25% of people over 65 and in about 50% of people in nursing homes. It is also a significant concern for children, with up to 30% being affected. There are no adequate treatments and the majority of people are dissatisfied with their management. We have discovered a class of compounds that stimulate defecation. In this project we will test the effectiveness of these compounds to relieve constipation.
TRANSCUTANEOUS ELECTRICAL STIMULATION TO TREAT CONSTIPATION DUE TO ANORECTAL RETENTION IN CHILDREN
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$635,320.00
Summary
If you don't poop, you die! Over 20% of older people have constipation. It starts in childhood in 1/100 people and lasts through life. At the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, we have been developing a physiotherapy method using electrical stimulation across the skin to treat long-term constipation. In this study we are comparing this treatment to current treatment in the most common type of chronic constipation in children.
Use Of A Novel Technique To Identify The Sensory Nerve Endings That Respond To Painful Stimuli In The Upper Gastrointestinal Tract And Characterize Their Mechanisms Of Activation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$353,243.00
Summary
Many people experience pain in their upper gastrointestinal tract. Unlike the skin, however, we have no idea where the sensory nerve endings that detect pain are located in this part of the body, and no clear understanding of how these nerve endings are activated to cause pain. This project will utilise a novel technique recently developed by the CIA to finally identify and record directly from the sensory nerve endings that detect painful stimuli in the upper gastrointestinal tract and characte ....Many people experience pain in their upper gastrointestinal tract. Unlike the skin, however, we have no idea where the sensory nerve endings that detect pain are located in this part of the body, and no clear understanding of how these nerve endings are activated to cause pain. This project will utilise a novel technique recently developed by the CIA to finally identify and record directly from the sensory nerve endings that detect painful stimuli in the upper gastrointestinal tract and characterise the mechanisms underlying their activation.Read moreRead less
Understanding How Inflammatory Bowel Disease Causes Hypersensitivity Of Colonic Sensory Nerve Endings And Increased Abdominal Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$589,466.00
Summary
Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) commonly experience increased abdominal pain. This project utilises two novel techniques developed by the Chief investigator, that allow us to understand how inflammation of the large intestine leads to increased pain sensations. This project will use these new techniques to identify, for the first time, the sensory nerve endings that detect painful stimuli from within the large intestine; and how these nerve endings become hyperexcitable during inf ....Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) commonly experience increased abdominal pain. This project utilises two novel techniques developed by the Chief investigator, that allow us to understand how inflammation of the large intestine leads to increased pain sensations. This project will use these new techniques to identify, for the first time, the sensory nerve endings that detect painful stimuli from within the large intestine; and how these nerve endings become hyperexcitable during inflammation to cause increased abdominal pain.Read moreRead less
HDAC3 As A Novel Orchestrator Of Lipid Oxidation In The Intestine And Potential Therapeutic Target In Obesity.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$526,365.00
Summary
This application will seek to determine whether blocking the HDAC3 protein, specifically in the intestine, represents a novel way of controlling obesity.
How Intestinal Motility Activates Sensory Pathways
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$555,875.00
Summary
Pain and discomfort from the gut are common and unpleasant. We understand how gut sensory nerve cells work, at the cellular, molecular and genetic level. However, movement of the gut wall and contents are the major cause of activation of sensory neurons. We know little about which particular patterns of movement cause pain. This is crucial information for accurately diagnosing human gut disorders, for monitoring effectiveness of treatments and for identifying potential new drug targets.
Importance Of CGRP Alpha In Pain Processing From The Large Intestine
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$548,289.00
Summary
This project will determine the mechanisms by which sensory nerve endings detect painful stimuli in the large intestine. The project will use a novel genetically modified mouse (that is only available in our laboratory) which allows us, for the first time, to visualize and record directly from the sensory nerve endings that detect painful stimuli and work out how this process occurs. We also identify a specific gene that is essential for detecting painful stimuli from this organ.
Role Of The EHF Transcription Factor In Regulating The Differentiation Status Of Colon Cancers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$621,950.00
Summary
New treatment strategies for colon cancer are urgently needed. This application will test a novel approach for treating colon cancer based on the re-induction of differentiation of colon cancer cells, by reactivating a gene called EHF. We expect this to reduce the propensity for colon cancer cells to spread to distant organs and to increase their sensitivity to chemotherpay. This has the potential to significantly benefit the clinical management of patients with this disease.