Defining The Role Of VEGF And Vascular Formation In Craniofacial Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$636,417.00
Summary
Aberrant neural crest cell development gives rise to common congenital malformations such as cleft lip and/or palate and cardiac outflow tract defects that effect over 1% of all births. As the aetiology of these disorders are largely unknown it is critical to understand the cell and molecular mechanisms coordinating NCC development such that alternative therapies may be devised to target the underlying pathological defects and to provide definitive diagnostic / prognostic tools.
Pulmonary hypertension is a disease affecting the blood vessels in the lungs that causes severe shortness of breath and early death. Genetic mutations are known to cause this disease but the precise link between these mutations and the changes in the lungs are poorly understood. If we could understand this process better, we could design better treatments. This project will look at how the cells in the lungs communicate with each other and how this process is disturbed in pulmonary hypertension.
Local Sleep In The Awake Brain: An Underlying Cause Of Neurobehavioural Deficits In Sleep Apnea?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$582,330.00
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder which significantly impacts daytime functioning leading to excessive sleepiness, and problems with attention and thinking. Currently, the causes for cognitive impairment in OSA (including attentional lapses and performance deficits) are poorly understood. In the awake state, groups of neurons can briefly go “offline” as they do in sleep. These periods of “local sleep” may explain impaired task performance in OSA.
Endothelial Development From Pluripotent Stem Cells As A Means To Study Pathology In Pulmonary Artery Hypertension
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$613,311.00
Summary
Pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) is a fatal disease primarily affecting young adults. It is caused by a defect in cells that form the vessel that carries blood from the heart to the lungs. We will use stem cells made from the skin of PAH patients to examine why the blood vessel cells from these patients fail to function normally.
Modulation Of Vegfc/Vegfr3 Signaling At The Extracellular Matrix During Embryonic Lymphangiogenesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$570,928.00
Summary
Lymphatic vessels play important roles in vascular diseases and cancer. However, we are yet to understand how they form during development and disease. We recently identified the gene CCBE1, essential for the formation of lymphatic vessels and responsible for lymphatic dysplasia in humans. This study aims to understand the molecular pathway in which CCBE1 acts. This work aims to characterize new molecular pathways in lymphatic vessels in order to identify new therapeutic targets in lymphatic dis ....Lymphatic vessels play important roles in vascular diseases and cancer. However, we are yet to understand how they form during development and disease. We recently identified the gene CCBE1, essential for the formation of lymphatic vessels and responsible for lymphatic dysplasia in humans. This study aims to understand the molecular pathway in which CCBE1 acts. This work aims to characterize new molecular pathways in lymphatic vessels in order to identify new therapeutic targets in lymphatic disease and cancer.Read moreRead less
Regulation Of VEGFR Trafficking And Signal Transduction By The Ubiquitin Ligase Nedd4
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$388,347.00
Summary
Our recent work has discovered that the Nedd4 gene is crucial for the growth and development of blood vessels and lymphatic vessels. Our data suggest that Nedd4 controls vessel growth by regulating the levels and signalling activity of the key vascular growth factor receptors VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3. The goals of this proposal are to define precisely how Nedd4-1 regulates the activity of these receptors and how VEGFR signalling could be better targeted to treat vascular disorders.
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in Australia, accounting for 36% of all deaths in 2004-05. Diseased blood vessels are its most common form, and the underlying process is atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is characterised by plaque formation in blood vessels. Plaque formation is problematic, and may lead to blood vessel blockage. We aim to identify novel targets that prevent plaque formation.
Investigating The Mechanisms That Increase Nerve-evoked Vasoconstriction Following Spinal Cord Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,547.00
Summary
People with spinal cord injury not only lose control of their arms and legs but also lose control of their bladder and bowel. They also have poor control of blood pressure and an overfull bladder or bowel can lead to dangerously high blood pressure. In this project, we are investigating how this abnormal high blood pressure is generated. The aim is to develop treatments which target the mechanisms which increase the blood pressure responses elicited by the bladder and bowel.
Uncovering A Novel Genetic Interaction That Governs Blood Vessel Development In Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$626,557.00
Summary
Blood vessels are a vital component of the cardiovascular system. Abnormalities in the growth and development of blood vessels are associated with human disorders including cardio-vascular disorders, cancer and inflammatory diseases. The focus of this application is to determine the molecular events that direct the construction of the blood vascular tree, with the aim of identifying targets to which novel therapeutics for the treatment of blood vascular diseases could be generated.
Protecting The Endothelial Glycocalyx To Improve Transplant Rates And Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$725,180.00
Summary
A tiny, previously overlooked, structure called the endothelial glycocalyx (EG) is now known to ‘waterproof’ blood vessels. This grant extends our exciting preliminary data in the field of lung transplantation, where we have shown that EG loss is the main cause of a poorly functioning organ, to develop new tests of lung and kidney function, as well as treatments to resuscitate marginal organs outside the body, so improving access to and the safety of transplantation.