Towards A New Normokalemic Arrest Paradigm For Orthotopic Heart Transplantation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$489,634.00
Summary
Innovations from Nature to Heart Transplantation:a Real Heart Stopper Heart preservation is limited to 4-6 hours of cold-ischaemic storage (0 to 4 C). The risk of post-transplant death doubles if the donor heart is stored from 1 to 5 hours, and triples with 7 hrs storage times. We have developed a new preservation solution borrowing from natural hibernators that will permit organs to be safely stored for up to 15 hours, and offering new opportunities to organ donors and recipients worldwide.
Linking Early Heart Growth Stress And Adult Cardiopathology: A New Role For Autophagy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$524,013.00
Summary
An enlarged heart at maturity is a major risk factor. The goal of this project is to understand how cardiac growth abnormality in the neonate contributes to adult growth pathology. We have recently discovered that a type of stress-triggered cell death (autophagy) is increased in rodent neonatal hearts which later become enlarged, and that this cell death is regulated by the hormone angiotensin II. We will study the mechanisms involved to identify intervention opportunities to normalize growth.
Reduced Ischaemic Tolerance In The Aged Myocardium: The Role Of Adenosine And Adenosine Receptors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$470,250.00
Summary
Despite a decline in deaths rates due to heart disease over the last decade, cardiovascular disease remains the single greatest cause of premature death in individuals over 65 years of age. It accounts for a major and increasing portion of health care costs. Coronary artery disease affects 50% of those older than 65, and with the ageing of our population it is estimated that the elderly population will nearly double from 13-14% to 25% over the next 30 years. Unfortunately, it appears that the ag ....Despite a decline in deaths rates due to heart disease over the last decade, cardiovascular disease remains the single greatest cause of premature death in individuals over 65 years of age. It accounts for a major and increasing portion of health care costs. Coronary artery disease affects 50% of those older than 65, and with the ageing of our population it is estimated that the elderly population will nearly double from 13-14% to 25% over the next 30 years. Unfortunately, it appears that the aged heart is less resistant to disease and injury, contributing to the increase in mortality with ageing. The reasons are not known. This research project will attempt to identify molecular changes which occur in the heart during ageing which may lead to a decline in ability to withstand disease and injury. The research will specifically examine the possibility that a key protective response, known as the adenosine receptor system, is somehow impaired or abnormal in the cells of the aged heart. If it is found that this process is impaired, the research will attempt to rectify this abnormality using new genetic therapy techniques to switch on the heart's own intrinsic defense mechanisms. This may ultimately open up new avenues for specific therapeutic approaches to treatment of ischaemic heart disease in the elderly.Read moreRead less
A Temporal Profile Of Signaling Via Phosphorylation During Myocardial Ischemia - Reperfusion Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$369,641.00
Summary
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the major cause of death in Australians and sequelae post-myocardial ischemia - reperfusion (I-R) are responsible for the greatest proportion of CVD-related mortality. Despite this burden, there is little known of the molecular events that mediate I-R. This project will utilize cutting-edge technology to elucidate the molecular signaling events that lead to I-R injury, as well as determine the basis for protection afforded by clinical pre- and post-conditioning.
Neurotransmitters mediate the communication between nerve cells in the brain. Once released at the synapse - the contact site between nerve cells - neurotransmitters propagate signals to neighbouring neurons. To allow fast and accurate signal processing in the brain neurotransmitters must be removed rapidly from the site of action. This resets the signal transduction process so that the next nerve impuls can be transmitted. Removal of neurotransmitters is accomplished by transporters, which capt ....Neurotransmitters mediate the communication between nerve cells in the brain. Once released at the synapse - the contact site between nerve cells - neurotransmitters propagate signals to neighbouring neurons. To allow fast and accurate signal processing in the brain neurotransmitters must be removed rapidly from the site of action. This resets the signal transduction process so that the next nerve impuls can be transmitted. Removal of neurotransmitters is accomplished by transporters, which capture the neurotransmitters and bring them back into neurons and astrocytes, the two major cell types in the brain. Malfunction of these transporters can cause mood disorders, Parkinsons's disease and may play a role in the onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurodegenerative disorders. In this project we try to identify novel neurotransmitters transporters, which are likely to play an important role in neurotransmission. Previously, these transporters were assigned as orphan transporters to indicate our lack of understanding. However, recent results from our laboratory now allows to identify the function of these transporters. Elucidation of the physiological role of these transporter will provide the basis to study their function and role in health and disease.Read moreRead less