Targeting Prevention And Treatment Of Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$774,540.00
Summary
Hypertension, high blood pressure, is a major global health burden. It contributes to heart disease, stroke and kidney failure, and as such is a major cause of premature death worldwide. Advances in the treatment of hypertension has meant that more people are living with disabilities associated with cardiovascular disease. Our work focuses on identifying new treatments to prevent the devastating effects of hypertension on organ function to improve quality of life in men and women.
Imaging Atlases Of The Brain Of Humans And Experimental Animals
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$808,375.00
Summary
This project uses imaging techniques and molecular genetics to produce the next generation of brain maps. It will advance our understanding of the organisation and structure of the brain and spinal cord of humans and experimental animals – paving the way for the development of psychotherapeutic drugs and more accurate interventions on the human brain. The new maps will help those who study the brain of patients with diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s or animal models of these diseases.
Hypertension is the major driver of cardiovascular disease affecting over a billion people. The cause is increasingly lifestyle related (obesity and stress) and activation of the nervous system is a major contributor in all cases. My vision for the next 5 years is discover the key underlying mechanisms within the central nervous system and the kidney that are primarily responsible for increasing nervous activity and blood pressure.
Associate Professor Kate Denton is an internationally recognised cardiovascular researcher. A focus of Dr Denton’s research is to find out why women do not respond to current treatments as well as men, and how factors in pregnancy (nutrition, stress, alcohol) drive the development of cardiovascular disease in offspring. Dr Denton is also leading research to understand why a new high blood pressure treatment (blocking nerves to the kidney) is proving more effective than expected.
Diabetes Target Discovery And Drug Development In Mice And Primates
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$705,501.00
Summary
1.7 million Australians have diabetes, only ½ are diagnosed, and the incidence is increasing. Diabetes imposes high economic and social costs in Australia and globally. Diabetes is often not well managed with current therapies, and there is a strong need for new drugs to treat diabetes. This research project will search for new drug targets, to develop better medicines to treat diabetes.
Modulating Pathogenic Signalling Towards The Prevention Of Diabetic Complications
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$622,655.00
Summary
Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of heart attacks and kidney failure. There remains an urgent need for new targets and therapies for preventing, arresting, treating and reversing these diabetic complications. My research directly focuses on identifying and validating these targets treatments, building on strong preliminary data and understanding of the molecular mechanisms set off by high sugar levels.
I am a neurochemist-clinical research scientist investigating the interaction between, in particular, brain monoaminergic activity, autonomic function and physiological responses. My studies are largely focussed on determining the aetiology and consequenc
3D Histological And MRI Atlases Of Brain And Spinal Cord For Research And Clinical Practice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$876,005.00
Summary
This project uses imaging techniques to produce the next generation of maps of the central nervous system. It will advance our understanding of the organisation and structure of the brain and spinal cord of humans and experimental animals, paving the way for the development of psychotherapeutic drugs and more accurate interventions on the human brain. The new maps will help those who study the brain of patients with diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or animal models of these diseases.
Interactions Between Vasoactive, Epigenetic And Immunogenic Pathways In The Development Of Diabetic Retinopathy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$664,584.00
Summary
In our community, diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of vision loss in people of working age. As the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy increases, there is an urgent need to understand the factors that cause its development in order to develop new treatments. This proposal will explore the contribution of hormones, the memory of retinal cells to high glucose and stress, and the immune system to diabetic retinopathy. The goal is to develop new and improved treatments for Australians.
Regulation And Mechanisms Of Cytotoxic Lymphocyte Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,010.00
Summary
The immune system is the essential complex barrier that protects the organism for infections and some malignancies. Despite considerable efforts, the mechanism by which immune cells kill dangerous unwanted cells is poorly understood. This project will investigate the mechanism of action and the role in human pathologies of a key component of the immune system, a toxic protein perforin.