Does N-3 LCPUFA Supplementation In Pregnancy Reduce Asthma And Allergies In School Age Children?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$443,833.00
Summary
We will determine whether supplementing the diets of pregnant women with fish oil can have long term effects on the development of the childÍs immune system and reduce the prevalence of asthma and allergies at early school age. The outcomes of our project will inform nutritional guidelines for pregnant women and, if successful, has the potential to significantly lower the costly burden of childhood asthma and allergies to families and the healthcare system.
Omega 3 Fats To Reduce The Incidence Of Prematurity: The ORIP Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,705,590.00
Summary
The most significant perinatal problem in the world today is early preterm birth with its consequent threat to life and life-long health in survivors. Fish oils have been suggested to overcome this problem. Encouraging results have been obtained from small trials that need substantiation in a large well designed trial. The ORIP trial, involving approximately 5510 women, will provide a definitive answer to the question of whether maternal fish oils supplementation reduces early preterm birth.
Does N-3 LCPUFA Supplementation During Pregnancy Improve The Intelligence Quotient Of Children At School Age?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$566,920.00
Summary
Pregnant women in Australia are being inundated by advertisements from health food companies and health organisations to increase their intake of fish oil to ensure that their babies will maximise their chance of achieving a high IQ. Our study will provide the first solid evidence to test whether these claims are true. This will help us frame nutritional guidelines in pregnant women.
Exploiting The Pharmacokinetic And Pharmacodynamic Properties Of Bile Acid Receptor Agonists To Treat Liver Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$653,952.00
Summary
We have generated preliminary data suggesting that chemicals made by the liver, called bile acids, act on fat cells to release a hormone called adiponectin. In liver disease adiponectin has favorable effects, including reducing liver inflammation and fibrosis (scarring). By using drugs that mimic the action of bile acids we expect that adiponectin production by fat cells can be increased, creating a new way to treat patients with chronic liver diseases.
Mechanisms Of Impaired Bronchodilator Response Associated With Fatty Acid Intake In Obese Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$694,365.00
Summary
Obese asthmatics typically have a high dietary fat intake, which reduces the efficacy of their asthma medications. We will determine which types of dietary fat affect asthma medications. We will also determine which asthma medications are affected by a high fat load. Finally, we will examine the mechanisms by which fatty acids affect the efficacy of asthma medications. This is will inform new treatment options for managing the many obese asthmatics who are not able to achieve weight loss.
Erythrocyte Membrane Fatty Acid Concentrations And Myelin Integrity In Young People At Ultra-High Risk Of Psychosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$406,831.00
Summary
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play an important role in many physiological processes in all organisms. Myelination is the process by which a fatty layer, called myelin, accumulates around nerve cells enabling nerve cells to transmit information faster. PUFAs are essential for myelination, and there is evidence documenting decreased PUFA concentrations and brain white matter (myelin) pathology in people with schizophrenia. The mechanisms underlying these abnormalities are not understood.
Impaired Respiratory Tolerance In Obesity - The Link With Asthma?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$667,294.00
Summary
Australia has one of the highest obesity rates in the world, placing a major strain on health budgets. Obesity increases the risk of numerous diseases, including asthma. Asthma is prevented in healthy people by the immune system. This project will investigate whether obesity-related dietary factors and/or gut microbes impair this immune-mediated mechanism. Outcomes will increase understanding of the effects of diet and obesity on asthma development, and lead to novel asthma therapies.
Treating Hyperglycaemia In Diabetes With Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Analogues
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$602,260.00
Summary
Diabetes, characterised by elevated blood glucose, has a major impact on affected children, their families and the community. Our preliminary evidence suggests that a newly developed polyunsaturated fatty acid normalises blood glucose levels in an experimental diabetes model. This research will attempt to provide evidence that we have discovered a fat which has insulin like action and which may be taken orally once every 3-4 days to treat the elevated blood glucose.
How Does Dietary Cholesterol Induce Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$802,600.00
Summary
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common liver disease that can progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis and liver cancer. Dietary cholesterol is a major risk factor for NASH. We can demonstrate that cholesterol changes the gut bacteria. These bacteria generate toxic chemicals (bile acids) that signal to the liver and induce NASH. In this project, we use novel ways to clarify the mechanisms of liver inflammation and test novel therapeutic approaches to reverse it.
Stem cell to differentiation occurs in a bi-directional fashion. Dedifferentiation which allows specialized cells to become stem cells has been found to be important in both cancer and regeneration. In this proposal, we will investigate the metabolic reprogramming of neuronal dedifferentiation. The findings from this study will better inform us on how to specifically target tumours that arise from dedifferentiation.