Short Duration Hypothermia To Prevent Subsequent Intracranial Pressure Rise.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$436,453.00
Summary
Elevated brain pressure after stroke or other forms of brain injury can cause further injury and death. Body cooling to 32-33 C (hypothermia) for 12-24 hours saves lives after some forms of brain injury, but may have major side effects. We found that 2 hours hypothermia has a long-lasting effect preventing pressure elevation. We will determine the best temperature and duration of hypothermia in a stroke model and use imaging to confirm findings in patients, with a view to later human trials.
A New Paradigm To Prevent Intracranial Hypertension
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,388.00
Summary
Increasing brain pressure after stroke or other forms of brain injury can cause further injury and death. Body cooling by 4-5 0C (hypothermia) for 12-24 hours saves lives after some forms of brain injury, but may have major side effects. We found that 2 hour hypothermia has a long-lasting effect preventing pressure elevation. We will determine the best temperature and duration of hypothermia in a stroke model and use imaging to confirm findings in patients, with a view to later human trials.
Acute Stroke: Imaging The Ischaemic Penumbra With Perfusion CT
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$243,000.00
Summary
The burden of stroke is large. Clot-dissolving medication (thrombolysis) may dramatically improve the outcome of many patients with severe stroke by unblocking the affected brain artery. However, very few patients receive this medication, as the current approval is restricted to treatment within 3 hours of stroke onset. The major aim of thrombolysis is to rescue brain tissue with reduced blood flow (the ischaemic penumbra) from becoming irreversibly damaged (infarcted). The penumbra progressivel ....The burden of stroke is large. Clot-dissolving medication (thrombolysis) may dramatically improve the outcome of many patients with severe stroke by unblocking the affected brain artery. However, very few patients receive this medication, as the current approval is restricted to treatment within 3 hours of stroke onset. The major aim of thrombolysis is to rescue brain tissue with reduced blood flow (the ischaemic penumbra) from becoming irreversibly damaged (infarcted). The penumbra progressively becomes infarcted over the next 48 hours if blood flow is not restored by the blood clot in the brain artery being dissolved. Penumbral brain tissue cannot be identified with clinical assessment or standard CT scanning. New generation CT scanners are capable of assessing brain blood flow. Perfusion CT imaging (CTP) is well tolerated and time-efficient, and can be integrated into the brain CT scanning process performed on all stroke patients. Preliminary evidence suggests that CTP can distinguish between tissue that represents the ischaemic penumbra, and tissue that is already permanently injured. This project aims to validate the use of CTP in imaging the ischaemic penumbra. This will be based on testing the accuracy of CTP tissue signatures of the penumbra in predicting clinical outcome and final stroke size. This is the only national collaborative study planned worldwide for this relatively new but increasingly accessible imaging technique. The ability to rapidly identify under-perfused but still viable brain with CTP would add new and exciting management options to the routine emergency assessment of stroke patients. The results of this unique study could have a significant impact on the management of acute stroke worldwide. If validated, it is anticipated that CTP would be widely used to improve patient selection for stroke thrombolysis, especially in safely extending the time window so that a greater number of patients can be treated with better outcomes.Read moreRead less
Discovery To Therapy Implementation In Acute Stroke
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$585,269.00
Summary
Advances in acute stroke therapies are occurring rapidly but challenges remain in their safe and effective delivery to stroke sufferers. This research focuses on testing a potentially superior ‘clot busting’ drug therapy for acute stroke and on identifying reasons why one of the most widely used current therapies carries a risk of significant harm due to bleeding into the brain. The work also investigates how to better implement the newest form of acute therapy, mechanical blood clot extraction.
The Influence Of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation On Myocardial Structure And Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$110,218.00
Summary
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation has given options to elderly patients who were previously faced with an open-heart operation. Our research utilises CT scans to determine the anatomical and physiological effects this new technology has on the heart. This research will help to guide the ongoing development and refinement of this technology. The research has the potential to revolutionise how aortic stenosis is assessed and timing of intervention is determined.