Research Fellowship: Protection Of Myocardial Function In Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,010.00
Summary
Heart failure (HF) is a major cause of death in Australia. A/Prof Rebecca Ritchie heads Heart Failure Pharmacology at Baker IDI. Her research focuses on new drug strategies to maintain heart function in response to diabetes & heart attack, common precursors of HF. Many of the treatments discovered from this work are naturally-occurring antioxidants; enhancing their activity will ultimately reduce progression to HF & death in the >3 million Australians affected by these disorders.
Heart failure (HF) describes where the heart cannot pump adequately to meet the bodyÍs needs. Mortality remains high; therefore, there is an urgent need for new treatment approaches. The present grant aims to: (1) evaluate treatments for patients at high-risk for future development of HF (2) examine the ability to safely withdraw unnecessary HF drugs (3) focus on the effect of HF on the kidney via novel treatment strategies (4) examine the emerging role of cancer drugs in development of HF.
Biomarkers For The Diagnosis And Prognostic Analysis Of Male Infertility
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,370.00
Summary
Male infertility is a common condition, affecting 1 in 15 men. Although a standard semen analysis is often performed to test whether a man is infertile, it is far from definitive. We have developed a new approach, by looking at proteins that are commonly missing from infertile sperm cells. From this analysis, we can definitively diagnose male infertility and are beginning to understand why men are becoming infertile.
I am a reproductive biologist focused on women’s reproductive health. I am studying the reasons why some women are infertile have spontaneous abortions and pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia. My research will define the roles of molecules that are critical in the establishment of pregnancy and the formation of a health placenta and therefore a healthy baby.
Platelets are key blood elements that are essential for the prevention of bleeding in response to injury or infection. Overactive or spontaneously active platelets cause thrombosis and blood clot formation. My laboratory has identified new physiological pathways of activation of platelet metalloproteinases, the enzymes that regulate surface levels of the prothrombotic platelet receptors. By understanding this mechanism of receptor regulation, we can uniquely target platelet receptors in people w ....Platelets are key blood elements that are essential for the prevention of bleeding in response to injury or infection. Overactive or spontaneously active platelets cause thrombosis and blood clot formation. My laboratory has identified new physiological pathways of activation of platelet metalloproteinases, the enzymes that regulate surface levels of the prothrombotic platelet receptors. By understanding this mechanism of receptor regulation, we can uniquely target platelet receptors in people with prothrombotic pathologies.Read moreRead less
An inability to control human fertility is an issue of global significance. Frequently both unwanted pregnancies and infertility result from the same origin, a lack of understanding of how germ cells are produced. Within this fellowship I will define key processes involved in the manifestation of male fertility. Further I will extend these insights into both the fertility clinic but also into human health more broadly.
The genetic material is packaged in the cell nucleus with histone proteins. Modifications of histones determine if a particular area of the genome is active or repressed. We are investigating the roles of a family of histone modifying proteins, the MYST proteins. Mutations in these proteins cause intellectual disability and cancer. The research program will provide knowledge that may become the basis for the development of drugs for the treatment of cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.
It is clear that the health and disease burden of offspring can be programmed by events before birth. This project will answer questions as to how this programming occurs. My focus is to understand how the environment affects the oocyte, sperm and embryo and how this impacts on the offspring. We will specifically study the effects of obesity and nutritional status of the parents but also the in vitro environment with a view to improving IVF outcomes.
Determining recurrence risk in breast cancer is crucial, as more than half of all recurrences occur after 5 years. However, optimal management of breast cancer is hampered by the challenges in finding rational preventative and predictive targets. Our vision is to find targets responsible for progenitor cell expansion, as candidates for prevention, and to find markers of relapse, to predict early versus late responders to therapy.
Novel Methods To Study Structural-functional Connectivity In Epilepsy And Schizophrenia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$697,605.00
Summary
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive method that has revolutionised our understanding of clinical neuroscience. MRI provides not only high-contrast anatomical images, but also information on brain physiology and function. My primary goal is to develop and optimise novel MRI methods for a more accurate measure of brain structure and function. My research program will focus on the application of these methods to the investigation of epilepsy and schizophrenia.