I am a cardiologist with a research focus on discovering and evaluating new treatments and novel clinical strategies for implementing evidence-based cardiovascular disease prevention into routine clinical practice.
Impact Of The Extension Of The Sydney Light Rail System On The Prevalence Of Physical Activity Participation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$105,647.00
Summary
Regular participation in physical activity is associated with a range of physical and mental health benefits in adults, including reduced risk for cardiovascular disease, non-insulin dependent diabetes, overweight, hypertension, osteoporosis, some cancers and anxiety and depression. Regular participation in physical activity also improves the ability to meet the demands of work and to engage in leisure activities. Approximately half of all adult Australians are insufficiently active to gain the ....Regular participation in physical activity is associated with a range of physical and mental health benefits in adults, including reduced risk for cardiovascular disease, non-insulin dependent diabetes, overweight, hypertension, osteoporosis, some cancers and anxiety and depression. Regular participation in physical activity also improves the ability to meet the demands of work and to engage in leisure activities. Approximately half of all adult Australians are insufficiently active to gain the many health benefits associated with participation in regular physical activity. Modification of the physical environment is one avenue through which the prevalence of physcial activity participation might be increased. More specifically, there has been considerable speculation about the role of public transportation systems in increasing the proportion of adults who are adequately physically active, but no empirical evidence is available. This study will employ a quasi-experimental design to determine if the extension of the Sydney Light Rail System to Lilyfield results in an increase in the prevalence of physical activity (primarily walking) in the affected area, in comparison with a demographically similar area which is not affected by the light rail extension.Read moreRead less
Gastrointestinal Signals And Cardiovascular Regulation- Implications For Obesity-related Hypertension.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$486,886.00
Summary
Obesity is reaching epidemic proportions, and obesity-related hypertension is the leading cause of serious cardiovascular complications. Hormones released from the gut have been implicated in obesity, but their contribution to hypertension has not been studied. Preliminary studies in our laboratory have shown that these hormones participate in signals related to cardiovascular control by acting locally to relay signals to the brain, and may be more important in obesity than previously thought.
Collaborative Overview Of Cohort Studies Of Cardiovascular Diseases In The Asia Pacific Region
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$230,388.00
Summary
Throughout Asia and the Pacific, cardiovascular diseases are now a leading cause of death and disability. However, most information about the causes of these diseases comes from studies conducted in North America and Europe, and there are few data available from the Asia Pacific region. Because patterns of cardiovascular diseases and levels of risk factors are very different in the West and East, it is possible that important differences exist in the relative contribution of different factors to ....Throughout Asia and the Pacific, cardiovascular diseases are now a leading cause of death and disability. However, most information about the causes of these diseases comes from studies conducted in North America and Europe, and there are few data available from the Asia Pacific region. Because patterns of cardiovascular diseases and levels of risk factors are very different in the West and East, it is possible that important differences exist in the relative contribution of different factors to disease occurrence in different regions. For example, an earlier project, from which the current study evolved, demonstrated that the association of blood pressure with stroke was about two times steeper in China and Japan than in the West. The present project has been initiated to further investigate the causes of common cardiovascular diseases in populations of the Asia Pacific region. It will involve more than 40 studies conducted in at least 9 countries from the region. These studies include more than 500,000 individuals followed for an average of 8-9 years. Data from 30 studies involving 450,000 individuals has already been provided to the applicants. Analyses will be conducted to provide region-, age-and sex-specific estimates of the effects various risk factors on several types of cardiovascular diseases. The risk factors of interest include: blood pressure, total cholesterol and its subfractions, triglycerides, diabetes, obesity, alcohol consumption, occupation and education. In addition to providing more precise estimates of the effects of established risk factors such as blood pressure, this project will, provide new data on several other risk factors not well investigated in this region. The results should be of importance in determining priorities for cardiovascular disease prevention. They should also be of relevance for predicting changes in the extent of the cardiovascular disease epidemics facing countries in the region.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Seipin In Adipocyte Development And Lipid Droplet Formation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$376,258.00
Summary
The prevalence of obesity and its related disorders has reached an alarming level in Australia and other developed countries. Obesity is characterized by the accumulation of fully-differentiated adipocytes loaded with lipid droplets (LDs). We aim to characterize seipin, which regulate both lipid droplet formation and adipocyte differentiation. Results from our proposed studies may offer novel therapeutic strategies against human obesity.
Targeting Dysfunctional Mitochondria In Macrophages To Inhibit Atherosclerosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,009,796.00
Summary
The major contributing cells to heart disease are macrophages. These cells scavenge cholesterol, keeping the blood vessels clean and limiting heart disease. The macrophages must process and donate the scavenged cholesterol onto HDL-cholesterol that carries them back to the liver for removal. This process requires the powerhouse of the cell, the mitochondria to be functional. We have discovered that process fails and have novel drugs to re-instate this process of cholesterol removal.