Exercise As Medicine For Heart Failure: A Novel Intervention To Improve Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$665,585.00
Summary
Heart failure (HF) is a common, debilitating and expensive disease; prognosis remains poorer than for the most cancers. 30,000 Australians are diagnosed every year and 300,000 live with the HF, at an annual cost of ~$1Billion. Exercise training is effective therapy in HF, because it reverses many of the problems that contribute to the reduced lifespan and impaired quality of life of patients with HF. We will test an exciting new type of exercise that promising greater benefit, at lower risk.
Developmental Origins Of Adult Cardiovascular Disease: Vascular Health In The Raine Cohort
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,087,427.00
Summary
The Raine study is a unique long term experiment that has collected extensive pre-birth and childhood data in ~3000 young Australians, who are now 27 years old. We plan to measure the artery health of 1200 of these volunteers and to determine what factors, both before and after birth, influence the presence of early atherosclerosis in humans. This study will guide strategies aimed at early prevention of heart attacks and stroke in humans, by defining the major risk factors.
Transcriptional Control Of Blood Vessel Development By Sox18
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$468,564.00
Summary
Blood vessels play an essential role in maintaining the supply of nutrients to every organ and tissue in the body. Improper development of blood vessels in the embryo can compromise survival of the embryo, and defects in the ability of blood vessels to grow, regenerate and adapt to change during adult life can be life-threatening. The growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) is also an important factor in the ability of solid tumours to grow during the progression of cancer. It is therefore of ....Blood vessels play an essential role in maintaining the supply of nutrients to every organ and tissue in the body. Improper development of blood vessels in the embryo can compromise survival of the embryo, and defects in the ability of blood vessels to grow, regenerate and adapt to change during adult life can be life-threatening. The growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) is also an important factor in the ability of solid tumours to grow during the progression of cancer. It is therefore of fundamental importance in the health sciences to gain an understanding of how blood vessels form and regenerate. As a result of our collaborative research efforts, we have discovered a gene, Sox18, that appears to regulate blood vessel development by controlling the formation and-or behaviour of endothelial cells, which line the blood vessels and make them impermeable. Our research so far indicates that MICE WITH DEFECTS IN SOX18 DIE FROM VASCULAR DEFECTS, underlining the importance of this gene. THIS PROJECT IS CONCERNED WITH FINDING OUT HOW SOX18 WORKS - exactly what goes wrong in mice lacking this gene, whether Sox18 can influence endothelial cell behaviour in cell culture, how Sox18 comes to be active in endothelial cells, what genes are switched on by Sox18, and what genes Sox18 co-operates with in its role in endothelial cells. The answers to these questions will not only provide fundamental basic information about how blood vessels development is controlled, but also sow the seeds for possible future therapies in which blood vessel development could be stimulated (eg in wound healing) or suppressed (eg in tumour progression) through pharmaceutical intervention.Read moreRead less
Rhinovirus impairs physiological and immunological lung development and causes exacerbation of allergic airways disease. Rhinovirus (RV) infections account for around 90 per cent of asthma exacerbations, yet the mechanisms behind this are unknown. This project will use mouse models to study the effects of early life RV infection and allergic sensitisation on respiratory and immunological development, with the expectation that early life RV infection disrupts anitgen presenting cell function.
Determining how calcium regulates mitochondrial function in models of cardiomyopathy. Heart failure is the leading cause of death in Australia. This project will determine the mechanisms by which the failing heart is associated with disorganisation of the cell and poor energy supply so that interventions aimed at reducing the development of heart failure can be developed.
Novel Statistical Methods For Genetic Epidemiology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$481,505.00
Summary
We are in the midst of a genomics revolution that is transforming epidemiology, medicine and drug discovery. However, the scarcity of sophisticated statistical techniques to deal with the complicated problems inherent in genetic investigations of complex diseases is currently the critical factor limiting the success of human gene discovery programs. Statistical genetic methodology is currently one of the fastest developing areas of epidemiology. In information-intensive' areas such as genetic ep ....We are in the midst of a genomics revolution that is transforming epidemiology, medicine and drug discovery. However, the scarcity of sophisticated statistical techniques to deal with the complicated problems inherent in genetic investigations of complex diseases is currently the critical factor limiting the success of human gene discovery programs. Statistical genetic methodology is currently one of the fastest developing areas of epidemiology. In information-intensive' areas such as genetic epidemiology, genomics, and proteomics, there is a high demand for data analysis and statistical skills. WA has some world class expertise in statistical science, both in academia and in industry. However, this expertise has not yet been applied in a system way to genetic data analysis. We propose to undertake advanced methodological research in statistical genetics and bioinformatics, to produce easy-to-use and accessible software tools and resources that allow methodological advances to be accessed by the Australian research community, and to apply our new methods and tools both to specific disease research and to the developing human genome epidemiology (HuGE) enterprise in WA. These new initiatives in methodological research will draw together a number of currently separate research strands and will provide new tools and resources that will allow applied Australian programs to improve the efficiency of their research into the causes of important. Methodological development in both bioinformatics and statistical genetics are recognized international areas of need.Read moreRead less
Detection and viability of waterborne pathogens using a gut-on-chip. This project aims to resolve a significant problem for water utilities. Microbial pathogens Cryptosporidium, norovirus and adenovirus are the main public health concern for drinking water in developed nations. Water monitoring is limited by the lack of fast, reliable detection methods and viability assays for these pathogens. This project will use a novel gut-on-a-chip to develop for the first time rapid infectivity assays for ....Detection and viability of waterborne pathogens using a gut-on-chip. This project aims to resolve a significant problem for water utilities. Microbial pathogens Cryptosporidium, norovirus and adenovirus are the main public health concern for drinking water in developed nations. Water monitoring is limited by the lack of fast, reliable detection methods and viability assays for these pathogens. This project will use a novel gut-on-a-chip to develop for the first time rapid infectivity assays for Cryptosporidium, norovirus and adenovirus. Significant benefits include improved diagnostics and water disinfection assays, improved water treatment and reduced costs with global impact.Read moreRead less
Domestic air quality: towards the setting of guidelines. Air quality standards have been developed to protect human health. Although people spend most of their time indoors there are no standards and only a few guidelines for indoor air pollution (IAP). The aim of this study is to investigate the levels of IAP that may worsen asthma in children. Childhood asthma will be used as a health indicator due to its high prevalence, cost to the healthcare system and implications for respiratory morbidity ....Domestic air quality: towards the setting of guidelines. Air quality standards have been developed to protect human health. Although people spend most of their time indoors there are no standards and only a few guidelines for indoor air pollution (IAP). The aim of this study is to investigate the levels of IAP that may worsen asthma in children. Childhood asthma will be used as a health indicator due to its high prevalence, cost to the healthcare system and implications for respiratory morbidity in adult life. We expect to identify levels of IAP that will represent a health risk as well as the factors that may contribute to increased IAP in homes.Read moreRead less
Improving Treatment Strategies For Chronic Alphaviral Arthritic Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$643,624.00
Summary
Chikungunya virus and Ross River virus cause epidemics of acute and chronic arthritic disease in humans, which is often poorly managed with current treatments. This grant seeks to understand the mechanisms that give rise to disease in order to identify improved treatment strategies. Both the persistence of viral replication in joint tissues and unnecessary inflammatory responses appear to be important factors driving chronic disease.
Modelling and Measurement of Flow-Structure Dynamics in the Human Upper Airway. Sleep disruption due to the common and disabling conditions of snoring and obstruction of the human upper airway can result in chronic fatigue, lost work and accidents caused by daytime drowsiness. To date the behaviour of the upper airway has not been adequately studied in terms able to reveal the mechanical causes of these conditions. This deficiency is addressed through the development and use of simulation tools ....Modelling and Measurement of Flow-Structure Dynamics in the Human Upper Airway. Sleep disruption due to the common and disabling conditions of snoring and obstruction of the human upper airway can result in chronic fatigue, lost work and accidents caused by daytime drowsiness. To date the behaviour of the upper airway has not been adequately studied in terms able to reveal the mechanical causes of these conditions. This deficiency is addressed through the development and use of simulation tools and measurement techniques that will elucidate the flow-structure dynamics leading to new diagnostic and improved treatment methods. Simulating the effect of treatment on any individual will permit it to be chosen to maximise its efficacy for a problem that costs the nation an estimated $2 Billion per year in lost productivity.Read moreRead less