Pathogenic Role Of CDA1 Via Its Profibrotic Action In Diabetic Nephropathy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$483,737.00
Summary
We cloned a CDA1 several years ago and found that it played a major role in controlling a series of molecular events leading to production and accumulation of extracellular matrix causing scarring, as seen in diabetic nephropathy. This project aims to study the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of CDA1 in the context of diabetic nephropathy, hence allowing us to consider CDA1 as a molecular target for drug development to treat this condition and related complications.
A Randomised Trial Of The Effects Of Cholesterol Lowering Therapy Among Patients With Chronic Renal Impairment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$333,250.00
Summary
People with kidney disease are well known to be at high risk of developing major health problems earlier in life than people without kidney problems. In particular, people with kidney disease are more likely to suffer from heart attacks and strokes. For a number of other high-risk patient groups (such as people with heart disease), studies have clearly shown that cholesterol-lowering treatment can significantly reduce the risks of serious complications. However, until now, patients with kidney d ....People with kidney disease are well known to be at high risk of developing major health problems earlier in life than people without kidney problems. In particular, people with kidney disease are more likely to suffer from heart attacks and strokes. For a number of other high-risk patient groups (such as people with heart disease), studies have clearly shown that cholesterol-lowering treatment can significantly reduce the risks of serious complications. However, until now, patients with kidney disease have generally been excluded from such studies because of concerns about drug side effects. New, better-tolerated cholesterol lowering drugs now offer an opportunity to see if this highly effective treatment is also protective among people with kidney disease. The HARP (Heart And Renal Protection) trial is a large new study that will be done as a collaboration between Australian researchers and researchers from the University of Oxford in the UK. The aim of the study is to see if low doses of two cholesterol-lowering drugs can reduce the risks of stroke and heart attack. The study will include about 9,000 people with chronic kidney disease followed for an average of 4 years. It is hoped that by using low doses of two treatments, rather than a high dose of one, it will be possible to get substantial benefits without side effects. There are presently many tens of thousands of individual in Australia with chronic kidney disease and many millions of such individuals worldwide. The results of the HARP study will therefore influence the care of a very large number of people. If the results were positive, implementation of this new treatment would be expected to prevent many tens of thousands of premature strokes and heart attacks around the world each year.Read moreRead less
Benefits Of Intravenous L-Carnitine Supplementation In Long-Term Haemodialysis Patients
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$406,648.00
Summary
Carnitine allows the body to utilise fats in our diet, permitting normal functioning of the body. The applicants have shown that patients who receive long-term haemodialysis treatment have abnormal levels of carnitine and have demonstrated a link between these abnormal levels and some dialysis-related conditions. This study will determine whether supplementation with L-carnitine is beneficial in the treatment of some clinical disorders experienced by haemodialysis patients.
Effects Of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure On The Developing Kidney
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$602,636.00
Summary
Almost 50% of Australian women consume alcohol when they are pregnant. Although it is generally thought that low levels of consumption (one-two standard drinks per day) are not harmful to the fetus, no study has examined the effect of this level of alcohol consumption on the development of the kidney and the long term renal and cardiovascular function of the offspring. We shall identify if low levels of exposure to ethanol can alter kidney development and impact on long-term health.
Lefty - A Novel Anti-fibrotic Molecule For The Treatment Of Kidney Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,920.00
Summary
Patients with progressive forms of kidney disease go on to develop end-stage renal failure which requires intensive medical support of dialysis or organ transplantation. This is an increasingly common condition in Australia, and the Western world in general. It is devastating for the individual and it places an enormous economic strain upon our healthcare system. In addition, renal failure is a strong and independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Current treatments can at best slow the ....Patients with progressive forms of kidney disease go on to develop end-stage renal failure which requires intensive medical support of dialysis or organ transplantation. This is an increasingly common condition in Australia, and the Western world in general. It is devastating for the individual and it places an enormous economic strain upon our healthcare system. In addition, renal failure is a strong and independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Current treatments can at best slow the rate of progression of kidney disease, but cannot prevent the relentless progression to end-stage renal failure. Thus, there is a major medical need to be able to halt, and hopefully reverse, this relentless disease. Scarring of the kidney (termed fibrosis) is the common final pathway leading to end-stage renal failure regardless of the nature of the underlying kidney disease. Our preliminary studies have shown that a naturally occurring protein called Lefty can act to inhibit renal fibrosis in cell culture and animal studies. These very promising results have lead to the hypothesis that Lefty can halt, and perhaps even reverse, scarring of the kidney in progressive kidney disease. We will test this hypothesis by using Lefty as a treatment in animal models of renal fibrosis. Further cell culture studies are also planned to examine the mechanisms by which Lefty modulates renal fibrosis. If successful, these studies will provide critical data to support the development of Lefty as a clinical treatment for patients with progressive forms of kidney disease.Read moreRead less
Progression Of Kidney Damage In Indigenous Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$782,249.00
Summary
There is an overwhelming burden of chronic disease in Indigenous Australians. In order to attempt to improve kidney disease in this high-risk population, it is vital that we understand what factors contribute to rapid progression of kidney damage. This study will provide the evidence to design an intervention to slow progression of kidney disease in Indigenous Australians. It will also enable development of appropriate clinical guidelines for improved management of kidney disease.
Resolvin E1 Is A Novel Anti-inflammatory And Anti-fibrotic Lipid Mediator For The Treatment Of Chronic Kidney Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$519,246.00
Summary
This project will ascertain whether a naturally occurring compound, Resolvin E1 with potent anti-inflammatory properties, can effectively halt the progression of experimental kidney disease. We will also test whether Resolvin E1 can exert other potential benefits in suppressing progressive fibrosis of the kidney. The outcome of this study will allow us to evaluate the therapeutical potential of Resolvin E1 for the treatment of acute and chronic kidney diseases.
Molecular Mechanisms Of Macrophage-mediated Renal Injury.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$59,756.00
Summary
The complete loss of kidney function means that survival of the patient is dependent upon lifelong dialysis or a kidney transplant. Dialysis patients have a poor quality of life, and the provision of dialysis and transplantation treatments are very costly. Our current therapies reply upon steroids and cytotoxic drugs. These therapies have only limited efficacy and are associated with significant side-effects. Therefore, we need to develop new and specific approaches to the treatment of kidney di ....The complete loss of kidney function means that survival of the patient is dependent upon lifelong dialysis or a kidney transplant. Dialysis patients have a poor quality of life, and the provision of dialysis and transplantation treatments are very costly. Our current therapies reply upon steroids and cytotoxic drugs. These therapies have only limited efficacy and are associated with significant side-effects. Therefore, we need to develop new and specific approaches to the treatment of kidney disease. To do this, we need to begin by understanding the way in which the kidney is damaged in disease. Our studies have shown that white blood cells, called macrophages, enter the kidney in large numbers during disease. Indeed, the greater the number of macrophages within the kidney, the more severe the kidney injury. We believe, one the basis of animal studies, that these macrophages cause kidney injury. However, we do not know the mechanisms by which this happens. To address this question, we have developed a rat model of kidney disease in which we can take macrophages, which we have cultured in the laboratory, and inject them into animals and they will enter the kidney and cause injury. This allows us to modify specific macrophage functions in culture and then determine whether this affects the ability of these macrophages to cause kidney injury in the animal. In this way, we will be able to understand the mechanisms by which macrophages cause kidney injury. We hope that these studies will enable us to develop new and specific approaches to the treatment of human kidney disease.Read moreRead less
Getting Better At Chronic Care In North Queensland: A Cluster Randomized Trial Of Patient-centred Care Delivered By In
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,781,988.00
Summary
The life expectancy gap for Indigenous people in Australia is 13-17 years and most of this gap is due to preventable chronic disease (diabetes, heart, lung and renal problems) in adults. Once people have these conditions diagnosed, many complications can be prevented with good primary-level chronic care. This project will trial an intervention of intensive chronic care management delivered by Indigenous health workers to Indigenous adults with diabetes in 12 rural communities in north Queensland ....The life expectancy gap for Indigenous people in Australia is 13-17 years and most of this gap is due to preventable chronic disease (diabetes, heart, lung and renal problems) in adults. Once people have these conditions diagnosed, many complications can be prevented with good primary-level chronic care. This project will trial an intervention of intensive chronic care management delivered by Indigenous health workers to Indigenous adults with diabetes in 12 rural communities in north Queensland.Read moreRead less
Detection And Assessment Of Kidney Disease In Indigenous Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$279,916.00
Summary
There is a huge burden of kidney failure in Indigenous Australians. In an attempt to improve this, it is vital for us to understand contributing factors to progression of kidney damage. This study will provide the evidence to design an intervention aimed at slowing progression of kidney disease. It will also lead to the development of clinical guidelines for improvement of kidney disease for Indigenous Australians.