Ventilation Heterogeneity And Airway Remodelling In Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$522,586.00
Summary
Asthma is a common and important as a cause of significant symptoms and even death. Associated with asthma is narrowing and stiffening of the arways which causes uneven ventilation of the lungs and reduced lung function. We have developed a new technique of imaging the lungs, as well as new lung function tests which measure uneven ventilation and stiffening of airways. This will help us design better medications, and help predict those who are at risk or severe asthma and death.
Identifying The Microbiological Risk Factors For Acute Lower Respiratory Infection In Indigenous Children To Inform Future Intervention Strategies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$495,745.00
Summary
Lung infections such as pneumonia are common in Indigenous children, and can lead to repeated hospitalisation and permanent lung damage. They are also an important cause of preventable death in children. This study will look at the role of bacteria and viruses in lung infections, and will inform interventions to reduce the burden and consequences of lung infections in Indigenous children.
Revolutionising The Diagnosis And Monitoring Of CF Lung Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$818,391.00
Summary
Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease starts early in childhood and relentlessly progresses, with early death a common outcome. There is currently no method capable of detecting very early disease onset nor directly assessing the effectiveness of putative treatments. This project will apply our globally unique X-ray imaging tools, which are capable of imaging lung function at any point across the entire lung, for the very early detection of CF and assessment of clinically applicable treatments.
Cell Surface Mucins In Gastrointestinal Infection, Inflammation And Cancer Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$469,627.00
Summary
Cell surface mucins are protective molecules that line all the wet surface of the body, including the gastrointestinal tract. Our research has uncovered that mucins regulate cell growth and cell death. Inappropriate control by the mucins, could lead to chronic inflammation and formation of cancers. We will test how important these molecules are in the development of cancers in the intestine, and further explore the mechanism of action.
Optimising Non-invasive Ventilation At Birth For Preterm Infants
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$735,912.00
Summary
Infants born very premature require respiratory support at birth to make the transition to newborn life. As these infants are very immature and prone to injury, modern respiratory care strategies utilise the least invasive approaches mainly applied using a facemask. However, we have discovered that the larynx is closed at birth and thereby prevents air from entering the lung. This application is focussed on optimising the efficiency of facemask ventilation at birth and stimulating breathing.
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Phenotypes And Treatment In Quadriplegia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$599,635.00
Summary
Losing function in your arms and legs after an injury (quadriplegia) is a catastrophic event. Quadriplegia also results in obstructive sleep apnoea; a condition where the throat closes repeatedly while asleep causing sleepiness, poor concentration and cardiovascular diseases like stroke. Despite most people with quadriplegia having this disease, the cause is unknown. This project will thoroughly investigate obstructive sleep apnoea causes in people with quadriplegia and test a possible treatment
Evolution And Function Of A Novel Lateral Flagellar Locus, Flag-2, In Pathogenic Escherichia Coli
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$465,158.00
Summary
This project will study how the bacteria that cause infant diarrhoea colonize the intestine and induce disease. We have identified a novel genetic region that allows E. coli to survive and persist in the intestine. Similar genes are also present in closely related organisms. This project will help us to undestand how new diseases evolve and emerge and may lead to the development of new vaccines to protect against infant diarrhoea.
This research is directed by a team of medical and basic scientists with expertise in mechanisms of inflammation relevant to human disease. The program will investigate the molecular and cellular events that are responsible for inflammation in the kidneys, joints and blood vessels which lead to diseases such as glomerulonephritis, arthritis and atherosclerosis. The aim of the research is to find new therapeutic targets which may be specific to certain organs or disease processes, in order to dev ....This research is directed by a team of medical and basic scientists with expertise in mechanisms of inflammation relevant to human disease. The program will investigate the molecular and cellular events that are responsible for inflammation in the kidneys, joints and blood vessels which lead to diseases such as glomerulonephritis, arthritis and atherosclerosis. The aim of the research is to find new therapeutic targets which may be specific to certain organs or disease processes, in order to develop more effective and selective treatments ofchronic inflammatory disease in humans.Read moreRead less
ASPREE-D; Aspirin In The Prevention Of Depression In The Elderly
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$796,784.00
Summary
The ASPREE (ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) study is a 5 year RCT of aspirin (100mg daily) or placebo in 19,000 healthy people over 70. We aim to augment the existing infrastructure of ASPREE in order to confirm the utility of aspirin for the prevention of depression in the elderly (ASPREE-D). The primary aim of ASPREE-D is to determine if use of low-dose aspirin reduces the incidence of de-novo episodes of depression in healthy individuals over 70 years of age.
Imaging Neutrophil And Endothelial Function In Acute Glomerulonephritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$545,517.00
Summary
The glomerulus is a group of small blood vessels which form the filtering component of the kidney. In many diseases, it can be the target of an inappropriate inflammatory response during which white blood cells accumulate in the glomerular blood vessels and cause damage. In this project, we will visualise the blood vessel lining of the glomerulus in order to understand how white blood cells damage this region and cause leakage of protein leak into the urine.