Tubulointerstitial Epigenetics- The Underlying Basis Of Progressive Fibrosis In Kidney Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$378,940.00
Summary
Although the kidney has capacity to repair after mild injuries, ongoing or severe injury results in scarring (so-called fibrosis) and a progressive loss of kidney function. Understanding the mechanisms that regulate the transition from repair to fibrosis is important, because once fibrosis is initiated it can be extremely difficult to switch off or reverse.
TOWARDS IMPROVING EARLY PERITONEAL DIALYSIS OUTCOMES
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$189,384.00
Summary
The burden of kidney disease requiring dialysis is substantial in Australia. Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) is a cost effective method of performing dialysis, which provides greater quality of life and patient satisfaction than Haemodialysis (HD). Unfortunately PD is underused and has a high discontinuation rate among patients. This program of research will target important areas of PD practice aimed at improving the uptake and continuation of PD for patients with kidney disease requiring dialysis.
Conducting Clinical Research In Chronic Kidney Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$569,219.00
Summary
The burden of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is large, increasing, and ultimately unsustainable. One in ten Australians have CKD which puts them at higher risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, and a higher likelihood of an early death. CKD also has a negative impact on people's lifestyles and relationships. Practitioner Fellowship support will allow me relief from my clinical commitments to invest in promising lines of new enquiry to support people with CKD and their carers.
Randomised Controlled Trial To Determine Efficacy And Safety Of Prescribed Water Intake To Prevent The Progression Of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (PREVENT-ADPKD)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$746,751.00
Summary
Increasing the daily intake of water is well known to reduce the risk of developing kidney stones but there is growing evidence that it may also benefit other kidney diseases, particularly autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). This study will determine if adequate hydration can slow the progression of ADPKD, and could provide a relatively simple and cheap treatment for preventing the onset of kidney failure due to this disease.
The kidney is the major target when the immune system malfunctions and attacks blood vessels. This proposal will define the role of an immune triggering process, called the inflammasome in this severe type of kidney disease.
Lefty - A Novel Anti-fibrotic Molecule For The Treatment Of Kidney Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,920.00
Summary
Patients with progressive forms of kidney disease go on to develop end-stage renal failure which requires intensive medical support of dialysis or organ transplantation. This is an increasingly common condition in Australia, and the Western world in general. It is devastating for the individual and it places an enormous economic strain upon our healthcare system. In addition, renal failure is a strong and independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Current treatments can at best slow the ....Patients with progressive forms of kidney disease go on to develop end-stage renal failure which requires intensive medical support of dialysis or organ transplantation. This is an increasingly common condition in Australia, and the Western world in general. It is devastating for the individual and it places an enormous economic strain upon our healthcare system. In addition, renal failure is a strong and independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Current treatments can at best slow the rate of progression of kidney disease, but cannot prevent the relentless progression to end-stage renal failure. Thus, there is a major medical need to be able to halt, and hopefully reverse, this relentless disease. Scarring of the kidney (termed fibrosis) is the common final pathway leading to end-stage renal failure regardless of the nature of the underlying kidney disease. Our preliminary studies have shown that a naturally occurring protein called Lefty can act to inhibit renal fibrosis in cell culture and animal studies. These very promising results have lead to the hypothesis that Lefty can halt, and perhaps even reverse, scarring of the kidney in progressive kidney disease. We will test this hypothesis by using Lefty as a treatment in animal models of renal fibrosis. Further cell culture studies are also planned to examine the mechanisms by which Lefty modulates renal fibrosis. If successful, these studies will provide critical data to support the development of Lefty as a clinical treatment for patients with progressive forms of kidney disease.Read moreRead less
Long Term Sequelae Of Acute Kidney Injury: Identifying The Optimal Model Of Care And Intervention To Enhance Patient Outcome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$128,224.00
Summary
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with significant morbidity, mortality and health care costs. It is increasingly recognised as a key driver of progressive kidney disease, and no intervention has been shown to improve the long-term outcome of AKI survivors. This project identifies risk factors for chronic kidney disease, dialysis dependence and death after an episode of AKI, and examines the feasibility, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of early nephrology review in high risk individuals.
The Role Of Toll-like Receptors In Diabetic Nephropathy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$740,452.00
Summary
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease globally and the No.1 cause of kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplantation in Australia. We are unsure why kidney scarring and failure develops in people with diabetes. Because of this, we have no specific treatments. Our studies suggest an immune receptor present in the kidney may be important. We aim to see whether absence of these receptors can prevent DN, thus identifying a specific target for treatment.
Novel Signalling Pathways Leading To The Activation Of Glomerular Parietal Epithelial Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,768.00
Summary
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major health problem in Australia. CKD patients have very limited therapeutic options. The majority of diseases that lead to CKD are associated scarring of the renal filters. Parietal epithelial cells reside in these filters and play key roles in scarring development. However, the molecular mechanisms that lead to scarring in these renal filters remain unclear. This proposal aims to identify molecular pathways that may serve as future therapeutic targets.
Optimising The Therapeutic Efficacy Of Anti-inflammatory Macrophages For Use In Chronic Kidney Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$605,096.00
Summary
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major cause of death and morbidity in Australia. Current treatments that are able to delay progression for CKD are limited. As a consequence, more than 2300 additional Australians need kidney replacement each year and many more die of kidney failure. We have reduced and prevented injury in a mouse model of CKD by administering protective white blood cells - macrophages. This project will modify macrophages ex vivo to optimize them for use as a therapy for CKD.