Type 2 Diabetic Renal Complications And Microvascular Injury: Novel Predictors Of Onset And Progression, Mechanisms Of Association With Cardiovascular Disease And The Benefits Of Fenofibrate.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$84,448.00
Summary
We will investigate the mechanisms of diabetic complications related to kidney and blood vessel disease, focusing on identifying people at greater risk and ways to improve or prevent these complications. In addition, we will look at how diabetic kidney disease affects non-kidney related problems like heart disease and examine the benefit of fenofibrate on both. This greater understanding will aid further drug development in kidney and cardiovascular diseases.
Identifying Genetic Risk Factors And Elucidating The Underlying Mechanism(s) Of Parkinsons Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$85,855.00
Summary
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder affecting 1% of people over 65. This innovative research seeks to discover new genetic risk factors that affect disease development. This provides the capability for genetic screening to identify individuals at risk for PD so preventative measures can be employed at an earlier stage. This information will also provide insights as to how the disease occurs and suggest drug targets to improve current partially effective therapy.
The prevalence of maternal obesity is alarmingly high in Australia and the western world. However, there is little understanding of how obesity of the mother affects the development of the kidney of the fetus and, in turn, how this affects the risk of these offspring developing cardiovascular and renal disease in adulthood. I hope to address the gaps in this knowledge in my studies. This information is critical in order to develop appropriate health care to those born to obese mothers.
Brain diseases such as epilepsy and Alzheimer�s are linked to the activation of synapses, contact points between nerve cells. Synapses absorb and release neurotransmitters in the cyclic process of endocytosis & exocytosis allowing nerve cell communication. This study aims to identify the master controllers, protein kinases, which are essential to reset the process after each cycle. These proteins can be exploited as targets in drug discovery programs to treat common neurological diseases.
Identification Of Key Enzymes Required For Efficient Post-translational Modification And Multimerisation Of Adiponectin
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$92,364.00
Summary
Obesity is a major national and global health issue, with 62% of adult Australians being overweight/obese, associated with a number of diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Fat tissue secretes hormones and dysregulation of these hormones contributes to the development of obesity-associated disease. This project aims to define processes governing the secretion of one key hormone and ultimately to identify targets for the treatment of obesity-associated complications.