Central Aortic Blood Pressure In Children: Establishing A Gold Standard Non-invasive Assessment Of Cardiovascular Risk
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$694,342.00
Summary
The best way of assessing early risk of cardiovascular disease involves measuring blood pressure near the heart (central pressure), but existing devices used in adults for this purpose are inaccurate in children. We will develop a children-specific method and apply it to study early cardiovascular risk in a comprehensive health study of 2000 children Australia-wide. We will also investigate why children with congenital heart disease frequently develop ‘older-adult’ heart disease at a young age.
Unraveling Mechanisms Of Liver Transplant Tolerance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$694,822.00
Summary
Liver transplants are unique amongst solid organs as they are spontaneously accepted across different individuals and induce acceptance of other organs from the same donor co-transplanted at the same time. Using a new mouse liver transplantation model, this proposal will elucidate how the liver tissue performs this function and identify new markers associated with tolerance in the blood of mice. This knowledge will be used to identify liver transplant patients with reduced rejection risk.
The Clinical Utility Of Small Airway Function Tests In Paediatric Respiratory Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$64,631.00
Summary
Respiratory disease is an important child health issue with long term implications into adulthood. The evaluation of small airways involvement in disease processes, using an accurate sensitive measures of function, such as forced oscillation technique and multiple breath washout, potentially facilitates not only early detection of disease, but instigation of earlier treatment, better assessment of response to treatment, and ultimately better outcome.
Targeting PI3K-regulated MicroRNAs To Treat Heart Failure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$532,593.00
Summary
Current therapeutics largely delay heart failure progression rather than regressing it. New therapeutic strategies with the capability of improving function of the failing heart are thus greatly needed. The primary goal of this study is to determine whether novel regulatory genes can enhance cardiac function in a setting of heart failure. Ultimately, technologies that target these genes may lead to innovative pharmacotherapies in the clinical management of heart failure.
Creating A Culture Of Safety And Respect: A Controlled, Mixed Methods Study Of The Effectiveness Of A Behavioural Accountability Intervention To Reduce Unprofessional Behaviours
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$875,978.00
Summary
Unprofessional behaviours among health professionals are common and are associated with increased patient dissatisfaction and medicolegal risk. Addressing these behaviours is a national issue. Ethos is a structured accountability system involving a process of early, non-punitive and tiered intervention and will be introduced across four Australian hospitals. This research will be the first controlled study to assess the effectiveness of the Ethos program to improve patient safety in Australia.
Glucocorticoid Resistance In Paediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$394,721.00
Summary
Glucocorticoids are among the most effective drugs used in the treatment of many haematological malignancies, including leukaemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma. However, the development of tumour cell resistance to these drugs remains a significant problem, and clinically relevant mechanisms of glucocorticoid resistance remain poorly understood. This project aims to define mechanisms of resistance to glucocorticoids and develop new drugs to reverse resistance.
Mechanisms Of Glucocorticoid Resistance In Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$547,970.00
Summary
Glucocorticoids are extremely active drugs used in the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), yet a proportion of patients respond poorly to therapy and exhibit resistance at relapse. Clinically relevant mechanisms of glucocorticoid resistance are poorly understood, principally due to lack of appropriate experimental models. This project will reveal novel mechanisms of drug resistance in childhood leukaemia and lead to novel therapeutic strategies to improve outcome.
I-HEART - Implementation Of HEArt Failure Guidelines In Regional AusTralia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,266,173.00
Summary
Heart failure (HF) is a common disease of the heart with a high rehospitalisation and mortality rate. Regional HF patients rarely receive the full benefits of evidence-based care simply due to inaccessibility to a HF specialist team. This translational project will implement key recommendations from clinical guidelines in regional health services and improve access to specialist services. It has the potential to keep patients out of hospital and save lives.
TB is a global public health problem, responsible for the deaths of 2 million children and young adults annually. Drug resistant strains of TB are emerging and pose a threat even in countries where TB is well controlled, such as Australia. Research undertaken in this CRE will translate into improved treatments, diagnostics and strategies to prevent transmission. The CRE will build capacity for research on TB in our region and provide a legal framework to support public health policy.