Breathing In Chronic Heart Failure: Is There Novel Pulmonary Compensation?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$312,021.00
Summary
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a growing modern epidemic and therefore a costly health burden in Australia. Not only is it associated with a high mortality rate, symptoms of CHF are a major cause of patient suffering. Shortness of breath and exercise intolerance are both indicators of a link between CHF and lung function. There are a number of different ways in which CHF may be impacting on breathing and in this project we will be utilising an animal model to examine some of them. Firstly, the l ....Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a growing modern epidemic and therefore a costly health burden in Australia. Not only is it associated with a high mortality rate, symptoms of CHF are a major cause of patient suffering. Shortness of breath and exercise intolerance are both indicators of a link between CHF and lung function. There are a number of different ways in which CHF may be impacting on breathing and in this project we will be utilising an animal model to examine some of them. Firstly, the lung secretes a substance called surfactant which assists in normal breathing by decreasing surface tension in the lung. Previous studies in our laboratory have suggested an increase in surfactant production during CHF. In this project we will further examine this process to see if increased surfactant can aid breathing by decreasing surface tension during CHF. Secondly, we will examine the contribution made by the chest wall, increased heart size, lung volume and blood pressure during CHF on breathing. Thirdly, one of the problems thought to inhibit breathing in CHF patients is an increase in fluid in the lungs. The final stage of this project will examine the trasport of fluid into and out of the lung during CHF. This project will not only increase our understanding of the processes affecting breathing in response to CHF, but will also provide information for the development of potential therapeutic targets.Read moreRead less
Risk Stratification And Early Interventions In Pulmonary Vascular Disease: From Acute Pulmonary Embolisms To Chronic Pulmonary Hypertension
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$99,682.00
Summary
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common, potentially life-threatening condition with up to 50% of survivors developing long-term complications, which are associated with breathlessness, functional limitation and risk of premature death if not diagnosed and treated promptly. This project investigates the use of non-invasive scan techniques and exercise testing for early detection of these complications. The project will also explore new drug targets to treat these complications.
Telemonitoring Of Lung Function Variability In Asthma And Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$419,180.00
Summary
In Australia, asthma is highly prevalent, while chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the fourth leading cause of male deaths; both are a significant burden on the health system. There are currently no objective ways to assess disease status or future risk of deterioration. I aim to use home telemonitoring technology and novel, sophisticated analysis methods to describe the variability of disease over time and potentially change the way we manage chronic lung diseases.
Pulmonary hypertension is a disease affecting the blood vessels in the lungs that causes severe shortness of breath and early death. Genetic mutations are known to cause this disease but the precise link between these mutations and the changes in the lungs are poorly understood. If we could understand this process better, we could design better treatments. This project will look at how the cells in the lungs communicate with each other and how this process is disturbed in pulmonary hypertension.
Exercise Cardiac Imaging To Study Right Ventricular Functional Remodelling In Athletes With And Without Ventricular Arrhythmias
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$392,587.00
Summary
Extreme exercise results in heart remodelling for which the long-term consequences are incompletely understood. We have described transient reductions in heart function following endurance sport. However, we have also described a group of athletes with serious heart rhythm problems and sustained right heart abnormalities. Therefore, we hypothesize that extreme exercise can cause potentially serious heart changes in some athletes and that detailed heart assessment during exercise will predict tho ....Extreme exercise results in heart remodelling for which the long-term consequences are incompletely understood. We have described transient reductions in heart function following endurance sport. However, we have also described a group of athletes with serious heart rhythm problems and sustained right heart abnormalities. Therefore, we hypothesize that extreme exercise can cause potentially serious heart changes in some athletes and that detailed heart assessment during exercise will predict those at greatest risk.Read moreRead less
A-Prof Greg King is a respiratory physician researcher whose studies are to define the mechanisms by which diseases, such as asthma and COPD occur. He has developed novel tools to measure lung disease, particularly complex lung function testing and lung imaging.
Invasive Assessment Of Pulmonary Vascular Physiology - Novel Methods For Early Detection Of Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$274,352.00
Summary
Pulmonary vascular disease (PVD) is a lethal condition characterised by progressive destruction of the lung blood vessels. One major problem with PVD is that diagnosis is often made very late in the illness, when the pulmonary blood pressure rises. This project aims to develop a novel method to detect the early and clinically silent phase of PVD, by assessing the lung's blood vessel reserves. Early diagnosis of PVD will enable earlier treatment thereby improving prospects for treatment.
Prediction Of Clinical Outcomes In COPD From Home Monitoring Of Lung Function Variability
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$513,102.00
Summary
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease affects close to 30% of the elderly and is the fourth leading cause of male deaths in Australia. There are currently no objective ways to assess disease status and predict future risk of deterioration. We aim to apply novel, sophisticated analysis methods to data from daily home telemonitoring, in order to describe the variability of disease over time and predict risk of exacerbations and quality of life.
Invasive Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing For The Evaluation Of Unexplained And Complex Multifactorial BREATHlessnEss (i-BREATHE)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$132,743.00
Summary
Breathlessness is a common symptom that can be caused by diseases of the heart, lungs or muscles. It is not uncommon that the cause is undiagnosed either because conventional tests do not yield a diagnosis, or because an individual suffers from multiple diseases. This research aims to use invasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing, a highly specialised test which simultaneously measures breathing, heart and muscle function, to improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients with breathlessness.