Regulation Of Inflammatory And Epithelial Responses In An Experimental Model Of Chronic Human Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$164,061.00
Summary
This project examines how chronic inflammation and scarring develop in the walls of the airways in asthma. The particular role of allergic mechanisms and of specific types of cells that are involved in allergic inflammation will be tested, using a much-improved mouse model of asthma. In this experimental model, which was developed by the investigators, sensitised mice are chronically exposed to low concentrations of aerosolised egg white protein. The proposed studies will involve comparisons wit ....This project examines how chronic inflammation and scarring develop in the walls of the airways in asthma. The particular role of allergic mechanisms and of specific types of cells that are involved in allergic inflammation will be tested, using a much-improved mouse model of asthma. In this experimental model, which was developed by the investigators, sensitised mice are chronically exposed to low concentrations of aerosolised egg white protein. The proposed studies will involve comparisons with animals that are genetically deficient in their ability to produce certain inflammation-related molecules, as well as with mice treated with antibodies to block the action of other such molecules.Read moreRead less
The Relationship Between Airborne Particle Exposure, Incident Respiratory Symptoms And Decline In Lung Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$315,497.00
Summary
Air pollution has been consistently identified as the environmental health problem of greatest concern to the general public in Australia. Yet hard evidence of adverse health effects from air pollution in Australian cities and towns is limited to date. It has been estimated that high levels of particles in urban air could be responsible for as many as 2,400 deaths nationally, costing approximately $4,300 million each year. This study will follow two groups of young Melbourne adults recruited som ....Air pollution has been consistently identified as the environmental health problem of greatest concern to the general public in Australia. Yet hard evidence of adverse health effects from air pollution in Australian cities and towns is limited to date. It has been estimated that high levels of particles in urban air could be responsible for as many as 2,400 deaths nationally, costing approximately $4,300 million each year. This study will follow two groups of young Melbourne adults recruited some years ago for studies of respiratory health. They will be a sent a questionnaire by mail and invited back to our laboratory for breathing tests. We will obtain routinely collected air quality data and measure fine particles < 2.5 thousandths of a mm in outdoor air. A subgroup of 100 subjects will also participate in some measurements of indoor air pollution. The analysis will look for relationships between particles in the air, new symptoms and changes in lung function over time. Comparisons will also made with other centres doing a very similar study in Europe. Reviews commissioned by the National Environment Protection Council have highlighted the lack of Australian data to assist in setting standards for particulate air pollution. The proposed study would provide some of the necessary local data and assist in the development of new health based environmental protection measures for fine particles. Once these measures have been implemented, we would expect to see an improvement in the respiratory health of the Australian population.Read moreRead less
Understanding The Opposing Roles Of SWI-SNF In The Control Of Gene Programs For Pathological Cardiac Hypertrophy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$476,258.00
Summary
Following the success in decoding human genome, i.e. DNA sequence, a major task is to understand how the activity of genes with consequent changes in respective proteins. As proteins are an important component for cell structure and function, such changes in quantity and quality of proteins will play a pivotal role to affect disease development and progression.
A Multicentre Randomised Clinical Trial Of Physical Activity For The Treatment Of Patients With Alzheimers Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$773,752.00
Summary
The number of older adults living with Alzheimer's disease (AD) will increase from 26.6 million to 106.2 million by 2050. In the absence of curative treatment options it is important to focus on non-pharmacological interventions such as physical activity. We propose to investigate whether a home-based physical activity program of 24 weeks for patients with AD can successfully decrease the rate of cognitive and functional declince and improve quality of life and psychological well-being.
Understanding Corticosteroid-sensitive And -insensitive Pathways In Airway Remodelling
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$299,270.00
Summary
Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are chronic disorders of the airways affecting millions of people worldwide. Airways become remodelled, or thickened, resulting in airway obstruction and decline in lung function. Approximately 400 asthmatics and 6000 COPD sufferers die in Australia each year. Worryingly, COPD is currently the fourth highest cause of death in Australia and this number is predicted to increase in the future. Unfortunately, the drugs currently available for c ....Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are chronic disorders of the airways affecting millions of people worldwide. Airways become remodelled, or thickened, resulting in airway obstruction and decline in lung function. Approximately 400 asthmatics and 6000 COPD sufferers die in Australia each year. Worryingly, COPD is currently the fourth highest cause of death in Australia and this number is predicted to increase in the future. Unfortunately, the drugs currently available for combating these diseases have limited success. We need to understand how to control airway remodelling to be able to improve treatments for asthma and COPD. But first we require a greater understanding of the molecular mechanism-s underlying the development of airway remodelling. With this proposal we will increase our knowledge of the mechanistic basis of asthma and COPD and may elucidate novel therapeutic targets for future pharmacological intervention.Read moreRead less
Transcriptional Regulatory Complexes Associated With Cardiac Hypertrophy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$474,517.00
Summary
Following the success in decoding human genome, i.e. DNA sequence, a major task is to understand how the activity of genes with consequent changes in respective proteins. As proteins are an important component for cell structure and function, such changes in quantity and quality of proteins will play a pivotal role to affect disease development and progression. It has been well known that a group of genes are altered (up or down) in the heart under conditions such as heart muscle overgrowth (ie ....Following the success in decoding human genome, i.e. DNA sequence, a major task is to understand how the activity of genes with consequent changes in respective proteins. As proteins are an important component for cell structure and function, such changes in quantity and quality of proteins will play a pivotal role to affect disease development and progression. It has been well known that a group of genes are altered (up or down) in the heart under conditions such as heart muscle overgrowth (ie hypertrophy), aging or of abnormal beating function. The reasons for such altered gene activity remain poorly understood. Although recent studies from research on genetics or cancer have revealed the important role of the DNA and DNA-bound proteins (called histone) in the control of gene activity, this has rarely been studied in the heart. In this project, we will test our hypothesis that DNA-histone structure is a key factor that control gene activities in ageing and diseased heart. This proposal is supported by our recent findings showing that in the hypertrophied heart, such DNA-histone structure did alter in such a way that fits well with alterations in gene activity. We have planned a series of studies to test this hypothesis in a systematic fashion. A number of sophisticated and cutting-edge techniques and experimental models of heart hypertrophy will be used. We will analyse changes in activities of a number of selected genes in the heart and also analyse changes in DNA-histone structures and chemical modifications at particular regions. These changes will then be linked together. We will also explore the possibility of modulating DNA-histone structure, thereby controlling the degree of cardiac hypertrophy. This project is the joint efforts of scientists with substantial experience in research on gene activity and heart diseases, and is highly likely to generate novel information to and hold significant therapeutic potential.Read moreRead less
Eco-RESIDE: An Economic Evaluation Of Urban Design As A Means Of Promoting Physical Activity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$422,612.00
Summary
The significance of this project lies in the health problem that it seeks to address and the intervention that is being evaluated. Physical inactivity ranks second only to tobacco use in terms of the costs of diseases associated with behavioural risk factors. Declining rates of physical activity have been associated with increasing rates of obesity and overweight in Australian children and adults. The association that one sees between features of the urban environment and physical activity level ....The significance of this project lies in the health problem that it seeks to address and the intervention that is being evaluated. Physical inactivity ranks second only to tobacco use in terms of the costs of diseases associated with behavioural risk factors. Declining rates of physical activity have been associated with increasing rates of obesity and overweight in Australian children and adults. The association that one sees between features of the urban environment and physical activity levels suggests that urban planning guidelines may be a cost-effective means of promoting health and achieving other social objectives such as sustainable use of natural resources. Furthermore, not enough is known about the economic value of investing in health promoting interventions and this project is among the first to measure the costs and benefits of intervening at the environmental level. The information that it provides will be highly useful for local government and health service planners alike.Read moreRead less