The Effect Of Aging On Cardiovascular Disease Prediction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$96,293.00
Summary
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death and disability in the elderly. We aim to investigate: (i) the ability of traditional CVD risk factors to predict major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in the elderly and their interaction with frailty (ii) the ability of plaque burden on CT coronary angiogram to predict MACE in older populations and its incremental predictive value compared to traditional risk scoring (iii) whether platelet activation pathways differ with increasing age
Remote Ischaemic Preconditioning And Its Effect On Coronary Physiology And Platelet And Leukocyte Activation.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$124,608.00
Summary
Remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) is a novel treatment which can improve patient outcomes after a heart attack, undergoing coronary stenting or bypass surgery. The mechanisms by which RIPC confers this cardio-protection is not clear. We will study the effects of RIPC on platelet activity and the flow of blood in the arteries that supply the heart. Understanding RIPC may open new avenues for treatment of patients with coronary artery disease, one of the major causes of death in Australia.
Physiology Of Acute Coronary Syndromes: Focus On Microvascular Dysfunction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$90,029.00
Summary
Heart attacks,caused by blocked coronary arteries are an important public health concern.There are patients who have a worse outcome due to damage of small blood vessels that cannot be visualised with normal testing. New blood tests and invasive technology are available that can assess these small vessels.We plan to use these techniques to observe the extent of small blood vessel damage in patients with heart attacks and hope this will lead to better understanding of heart attacks and improved t ....Heart attacks,caused by blocked coronary arteries are an important public health concern.There are patients who have a worse outcome due to damage of small blood vessels that cannot be visualised with normal testing. New blood tests and invasive technology are available that can assess these small vessels.We plan to use these techniques to observe the extent of small blood vessel damage in patients with heart attacks and hope this will lead to better understanding of heart attacks and improved treatments.Read moreRead less
Tissue factor is a central and major player in the clotting process. It exists in both active and inactive forms. The active form initiates clot formation. How it gets activated is one of the most important unanswered questions in this area of research. Our aim is to discover tissue factorÍs mechanism of activation. The outcome will provide more specific targets for therapeutic drug development for cardiovascular disease, strokes and deep venous thrombosis.
Transcriptional Control Of Peripheral T Cell Differentiation During Pathogen Infection And Autoimmunity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$92,314.00
Summary
White blood cells, specifically helper and killer T cells, play an important role in fighting infection. They are tightly regulated and if not properly controlled can lead to aggressive autoimmune diseases such as diabetes and multiple sclerosis. My studies will elucidate the mechanisms behind the regulation of T cells at steady-state and during disease. Insights gained from this project will have implications for the design of new approaches to combat infectious and autoimmune diseases.
BDNF Genotype And Emotional Memory In Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$108,902.00
Summary
This project addresses the question of why some people develop PTSD following trauma and others don’t. It will assess the influence of genetics (specifically a genotype that influences Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor) on emotional memory processes as distressing emotional memories are a core symptom of PTSD. If we find that people with a particular genetic profile have a greater risk of developing intrusive memories after trauma, this will help us better target treatment for those individuals.
Investigation Into Oral Cancer In Non-drinking And Non-smoking Females
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$109,358.00
Summary
There has been an increase incidence of oral cancer in female non-drinkers, non-smokers. The five year survival following diagnosis can be as low as 15-50% as most cancers are advanced at the time of discovery.Precancerous and cancerous oral lesions may mimic any number of benign oral lesions, and as such may be left without investigation and treatment until well advanced. Further investigations into the cause of oral cancer other than smoking and alcohol will aid in management.
Targeted Molecular Therapies And Predictive Biomarkers In A Novel Orthotopic Xenograft Model Of Oesophageal Carcinoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$120,253.00
Summary
Oesophageal cancer is the most rapidly increasing malignancy in Western society. This disease often presents in advanced stages with poor response to established medical and surgical therapies. Our aim is to develop a novel mouse model of oesophageal cancer, allowing us to tailor cancer-inhibiting molecular treatments to individual patients by predicting therapeutic success or resistance with the use of cellular markers identified in our animal mode.