Physiology And Pathophysiology Of Disorders Of The Musculoskelatal System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$926,980.00
Summary
This application for a Senior Principal Research Fellowship is to enable me to address the enormous burden of musculoskeletal conditions - an important, but understudied and underfunded area of health/medical research. My focus is the most costly and prevalent musculoskeletal conditions of low back pain and osteoarthritis, and other neuromuscular conditions such as incontinence. My aim is to improve outcomes by discovering how to apply the right treatment to the right person at the right time.
I am an aged care rehabilitation researcher seeking to minimise disability and prevent falls in large numbers of older people. I am particularly interested in the role of exercise in falls and disability prevention.
Biomarkers For The Diagnosis And Prognostic Analysis Of Male Infertility
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,370.00
Summary
Male infertility is a common condition, affecting 1 in 15 men. Although a standard semen analysis is often performed to test whether a man is infertile, it is far from definitive. We have developed a new approach, by looking at proteins that are commonly missing from infertile sperm cells. From this analysis, we can definitively diagnose male infertility and are beginning to understand why men are becoming infertile.
I am a neurophysiologist who examines the neural control of movement and the interaction of sensation and movement in human subjects. I study cortical and motoneuronal events during exercise and muscle fatigue, how cortical connections to the motoneurones change with practice of motor tasks, and whether they can be changed artificially. I also study proprioception i.e. the sensations related to relative position and movement of parts of the body and the production of muscle force.
Physiology And Pathophysiology Of Disorders Of The Musculoskelatal System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$898,008.00
Summary
I am a neuroscientist and physiotherapist focussed on the conservative management of disorders of the musculoskeletal system. My research aims to uncover the mechanisms underlying musculoskeletal pain and other disorders such as incontinence, to develop and refine treatments for these conditions, and to understand the mechanism for efficacy of these treatments.
I am a reproductive biologist focused on women’s reproductive health. I am studying the reasons why some women are infertile have spontaneous abortions and pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia. My research will define the roles of molecules that are critical in the establishment of pregnancy and the formation of a health placenta and therefore a healthy baby.
Platelets are key blood elements that are essential for the prevention of bleeding in response to injury or infection. Overactive or spontaneously active platelets cause thrombosis and blood clot formation. My laboratory has identified new physiological pathways of activation of platelet metalloproteinases, the enzymes that regulate surface levels of the prothrombotic platelet receptors. By understanding this mechanism of receptor regulation, we can uniquely target platelet receptors in people w ....Platelets are key blood elements that are essential for the prevention of bleeding in response to injury or infection. Overactive or spontaneously active platelets cause thrombosis and blood clot formation. My laboratory has identified new physiological pathways of activation of platelet metalloproteinases, the enzymes that regulate surface levels of the prothrombotic platelet receptors. By understanding this mechanism of receptor regulation, we can uniquely target platelet receptors in people with prothrombotic pathologies.Read moreRead less
An inability to control human fertility is an issue of global significance. Frequently both unwanted pregnancies and infertility result from the same origin, a lack of understanding of how germ cells are produced. Within this fellowship I will define key processes involved in the manifestation of male fertility. Further I will extend these insights into both the fertility clinic but also into human health more broadly.
The genetic material is packaged in the cell nucleus with histone proteins. Modifications of histones determine if a particular area of the genome is active or repressed. We are investigating the roles of a family of histone modifying proteins, the MYST proteins. Mutations in these proteins cause intellectual disability and cancer. The research program will provide knowledge that may become the basis for the development of drugs for the treatment of cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.