Inflammatory Cytokines As Causal Agents In Peri-conception Programming Of Offspring Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$604,046.00
Summary
Events at conception set the trajectory of fetal developmental that will determine health of children after birth and in later life. Susceptibility to obesity and metabolic conditions is established at this very early time. This project will define the molecular signals affecting the embryo in the event of maternal or paternal infection, diet and stress. The results will help us devise health advice for intending parents to improve child health and help prevent onset of metabolic disorders.
Linking Place To Metabolic Syndrome Via Behavioural And Psychological Antecedents: Levers For Public Health Intervention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$295,135.00
Summary
This collaboration involves the SA Health Department and community partners in analyses of local data from a 10-year biomedical cohort to (i) identify features of residential areas that are related to the metabolic syndrome and (ii) assess the mechanism by which area features influence metabolic syndrome through effects on behavioural and psychosocial mediators. The knowledge generated will inform policy intervention via urban planning and public health actions to support healthful lifestyles.
Life! Diabetes Prevention Program: A Randomised Cluster Control Trial Of Its Efficacy And Cost Effectiveness
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$866,066.00
Summary
Type 2 diabetes is a great and growing epidemic, and Australia's largest public health challenge. Life! is a diabetes prevention program for 25,000 Victorians. This proposal will look at its efficacy, effectiveness and cost effectiveness so that more improvements can be made.
Testing The Behavioural And Psychosocial Mechanisms Underlying Geographic Variation In Metabolic Syndrome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,457.00
Summary
This study seeks to assess the mechanisms that explain the link between residential area features and the metabolic syndrome (obesity and high blood pressure, lipids and glucose), related to cardiometabolic diseases. There is more metabolic syndrome in disadvantaged areas but the reasons for this have not been empirically established. We will evaluate behavioural and psychosocialmechanisms that might independently and jointly explain the association between place and metabolic syndrome.
Effects Of The Fatty Acid, Lauric Acid, On Energy Intake And Gut Motor And Hormonal Function In Health And Obesity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$744,645.00
Summary
Obesity is largely due to energy intake exceeding energy expenditure, thus, strategies that reduce energy intake will result in weight loss. We discovered recently that the fatty acid, lauric acid, markedly reduces energy intake. Our studies will determine the effects of lauric acid on energy intake and body weight reduction in obese subjects. The research is a new initiative and explores the potential of lauric acid as a novel, nutrient-based and side-effect free approach to obesity management.
Molecular Profiling Of The Immunoglobulin Proteome In Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$322,460.00
Summary
Primary Sjögren’s syndrome is a common autoimmune disease. The patients have high levels of circulating immunoglobulins (Igs) in their blood-a hallmark of the disorder. The applicant proposes to sequence these Igs and identify their so-called variable region molecular signatures. These signatures can then be used in a mass spectrometric-based diagnostic platform to identify unique clones in patients as early markers of the disease process, and hopefully lead to more relevant diagnostic markers.
Neuroimmune Interactions In Functional And Organic Gastrointestinal Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$419,180.00
Summary
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) are chronic, incurable diseases of the lower gastrointestinal tract with unknown causes and poor treatment options. Both the immune and nervous systems are altered in GI disease, but have traditionally been studied in isolation. My research investigates how the neuro-immune axis is altered in these diseases, using animal models and human tissue samples to identify novel treatment options for these debilitating diseases.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100403
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$468,582.00
Summary
Defining how gut bacteria regulate metabolism: a role for gut serotonin. This project aims to understand how serotonin-producing cells in the gut interact with gut bacteria (the microbiome), using a combination of cells in culture and live germ-free and genetically modified mice. This project expects to generate new knowledge regarding cellular interactions that underlie important physiological pathways, such as the control of blood glucose and fat storage. The intended outcomes of this project ....Defining how gut bacteria regulate metabolism: a role for gut serotonin. This project aims to understand how serotonin-producing cells in the gut interact with gut bacteria (the microbiome), using a combination of cells in culture and live germ-free and genetically modified mice. This project expects to generate new knowledge regarding cellular interactions that underlie important physiological pathways, such as the control of blood glucose and fat storage. The intended outcomes of this project are to identify how gut bacteria communicate with serotonin-producing cells to regulate metabolism, and whether diet acts via a gut microbiome-serotonin axis to impact physiology. The expected benefit of this project will be to provide a new understanding of highly complex physiological systems that regulate our health.Read moreRead less
Is Abdominal Discomfort A “colonic Itch”? Identification Of Itch Specific Pathways In The Gut In Health And Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$906,996.00
Summary
Chronic abdominal pain is a major worldwide problem. TGR5 and Mrgpr receptors are expressed by neuronal pathways innervating the skin, where they detect irritants and transmit itch. Our novel, innovative project shows a similar pathway exists within the viscera, which plays a major and unappreciated role in chronic abdominal pain. These receptors represent novel targets for therapeutic treatment, potentially creating multibillion-dollar savings to the Australian economy and healthcare systems.
EGF Peptide Signalling Improves Oocyte Maturation And Quality
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$586,891.00
Summary
Infertility is common and although IVF is widely accepted, the procedure is expensive and is associated with health risks. Using laboratory animals, we have developed significant new insights into mechanisms regulating egg quality. These insights have allowed us to develop a new approach to infertility treatment - crucially, one that eliminates the need for ovarian hormone therapy used in IVF. This project will investigate the basic mechanisms underlying our new approach to enable safe clinical ....Infertility is common and although IVF is widely accepted, the procedure is expensive and is associated with health risks. Using laboratory animals, we have developed significant new insights into mechanisms regulating egg quality. These insights have allowed us to develop a new approach to infertility treatment - crucially, one that eliminates the need for ovarian hormone therapy used in IVF. This project will investigate the basic mechanisms underlying our new approach to enable safe clinical implementation.Read moreRead less