Understanding Vasoactive Hormone Pathways In Diabetic Complications
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$453,750.00
Summary
High blood pressure damages tissues. In clinical practice blood pressure is measured in large arteries, such as the brachial artery in the arm. However, it is the pressure within the organ such as the kidney that actually causes the damage. In particular, the sieving apparatus of the kidney (called the glomerulus), is especially sensitive to the effects of pressure. In diabetes, the pressure within the glomerulus is high because its outflow valve (called the efferent arteriole) is tightly constr ....High blood pressure damages tissues. In clinical practice blood pressure is measured in large arteries, such as the brachial artery in the arm. However, it is the pressure within the organ such as the kidney that actually causes the damage. In particular, the sieving apparatus of the kidney (called the glomerulus), is especially sensitive to the effects of pressure. In diabetes, the pressure within the glomerulus is high because its outflow valve (called the efferent arteriole) is tightly constricted. Therefore even if blood pressure is thought to be normal when measured in the arm, it may still be excessively high within the kidney. Studies have already shown that lowering within-kidney pressure may have a major impact on the progression of kidney disease in diabetes. However, to date this reduction of within-kidney pressure has been sub-maximal. The planned studies will involve the use of new compounds which have more powerful effects in reducing the formation or action of hormones which promote constriction of vessels in the kidney leading to elevated pressure within the kidney. Furthermore, some of these very new agents can open up or dilate these kidney vessels thereby achieving excellent reductions in the pressure inside the kidney. The proposed studies aim to examine new strategies for preferentially lowering pressure within the kidney down to these ideal levels. These hormones also have other effects which could be relevant to non-kidney sites of injury in diabetes including blood vessels and the retina.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Vasoactive Hormones In Progressive Liver Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$453,750.00
Summary
Cirrhosis of the liver is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in our community and its prevalence is rising due to the increasing impact of chronic viral hepatitis infection. While the advent of effective antiviral therapies will have some benefit in reducing this disease burden, there remains a major need to develop treatments that can prevent and treat cirrhosis of the liver and its clinical sequelae. We believe that overactive hormone systems may play a role in disease of the liver. Th ....Cirrhosis of the liver is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in our community and its prevalence is rising due to the increasing impact of chronic viral hepatitis infection. While the advent of effective antiviral therapies will have some benefit in reducing this disease burden, there remains a major need to develop treatments that can prevent and treat cirrhosis of the liver and its clinical sequelae. We believe that overactive hormone systems may play a role in disease of the liver. The planned studies will involve compounds that block the formation or the action of hormones which cause scarring of the liver. The results may lead to new treatments for cirrhosis of the liver.Read moreRead less
Intervention To Reduce The Risk Of Diabetic Retinopathy And Early Adverse Retinal Changes In Type 1 Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,294,846.00
Summary
The long term effects of young onset T1D may be devastating: diabetes is the leading cause of visual loss in young adults in Australia and other countries. We have the unique opportunity to investigate whether ACEI and statins will modify retinopathy through our collaboration with an already funded international multicentre trial. This study will treat adolescents for 4 years and will follow them for the next 5-10 years. We will use novel measures of retinal blood vessels size and fractals.