Beta-Adrenergic Activation: A Double-edged Sword On Cardiac Angiogenesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,126.00
Summary
We will test our hypothesis that activation of beta-adrenergic receptors (b-AR) regulates significantly on growth of blood vessels in the heart. While initialy promoting vessel growth, prolonged stimulation of b-AR, a situation seen with diseased hearts, suppresses vessel growth thereby promoting disease progression. This hypothesis is strongly supported by our recent experimental findings and would have important clinical implication on the treatment of patients with heart disease.
Epithelial - Stromal Interactions In Pancreatic Cancer: Role Of Pancreatic Stellate Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,750.00
Summary
The pancreas is the major digestive organ in the body. It is located in the abdomen, draped across the spine behind the stomach. Pancreatic cancer is a leading cause of death in this country and in Western Society in general. Most patients with this disease survive only a few months after diagnosis. Even for those in whom a curative operation is undertaken, survival is poor. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy (alone and in combination) result in, at best, limited benefit. Clearly, there is a need for ....The pancreas is the major digestive organ in the body. It is located in the abdomen, draped across the spine behind the stomach. Pancreatic cancer is a leading cause of death in this country and in Western Society in general. Most patients with this disease survive only a few months after diagnosis. Even for those in whom a curative operation is undertaken, survival is poor. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy (alone and in combination) result in, at best, limited benefit. Clearly, there is a need for novel approaches to this lethal disease. The proposed project involves an examination of the local tissue reaction around pancreatic cancer. This tissue reaction is usually prominent and the cells involved may determine the extent of local and distant spread of the cancer. Modulation of this tissue reaction may limit pancreatic cancer growth and thus improve outcome.Read moreRead less
Cellular And Molecular Mechanisms Of Human Choroidal And Retinal Vascularisation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$288,210.00
Summary
The abnormal growth of new blood vessels is a major cause of blindness in people of all ages. In premature infants, changes in retinal blood vessels results in Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) the leading cause of infant blindness in the world. In older adults with age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), vessels in the choroid can grow into and under the retina where they can cause catastrophic loss of vision. This association of abnormal vessel growth with the most common causes of blindness h ....The abnormal growth of new blood vessels is a major cause of blindness in people of all ages. In premature infants, changes in retinal blood vessels results in Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) the leading cause of infant blindness in the world. In older adults with age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), vessels in the choroid can grow into and under the retina where they can cause catastrophic loss of vision. This association of abnormal vessel growth with the most common causes of blindness has motivated the search for a better understanding of how blood vessel growth in the eye is controlled in healthy tissues and how these controls fail in disease. Our proposal addresses this issue directly. Recent work shows that this neovascularization is not only a response to a rise in the local concentration of molecules that induce such angiogenesis, but also requires a fall in the levels of endogenous molecules that inhibit angiogenesis. Our study will investigate the expression of newly identified angiogenic growth factors (VEGFs) and their receptors as well as angiogenic inhibitors (VEGI and PEDF) in the developing and adult human retina and choroid. We will examine the mechanisms by which the human choroid is formed. Our preliminary results suggests the novel insight that vasculogenesis (the formation of blood vessels via transformation of vascular precursor cells) plays a major role the formation of both the human retina and choroid. Further, these exciting results suggest involvement of novel growth stimulators and inhibitors previously not known to play a role in these processes. Our studies will lead to new insights regarding the vascular growth factors and inhibitors that drive this process, thus leading to a rational basis for new therapeutic targets for the treatment of ARMD. The rapid aging of the Australian population and the consequent predicted doubling of ARMD incidence in the next 20 years demonstrates the urgency of our studies.Read moreRead less
Rationale For Non-invasive Treatment Of Retinopathy Of Prematurity: Dark Rearing As A Means Of Mimicking Physiological Vascularisation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$413,900.00
Summary
We aim to develop a new, non-invasive and cost-effective treatment for the disease Retinopathy of Prematurity, the leading cause of childhood blindness across the globe. We intend to test our hypothesis that raising neonates in conditions of total darkness and high oxygen will closely mimic conditions for inducing normal retinal vascular development, and thus prevent the initiating event of the disease. Ultimately, the project intends to lay the groundwork for a translation to the human conditio ....We aim to develop a new, non-invasive and cost-effective treatment for the disease Retinopathy of Prematurity, the leading cause of childhood blindness across the globe. We intend to test our hypothesis that raising neonates in conditions of total darkness and high oxygen will closely mimic conditions for inducing normal retinal vascular development, and thus prevent the initiating event of the disease. Ultimately, the project intends to lay the groundwork for a translation to the human condition.Read moreRead less
NADPH Oxidase In Pathological Angiogenesis In Solid Tumours And Retina
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$581,989.00
Summary
Understanding blood vessel growth has profound clinical implications for many diseases. Blocking vessel growth is a promising strategy for treatment of cancer and eye complications accompanying diabetes, whereas treatments to stimulate new vessel growth will treat ischemic disorders ie. heart attack and stroke. Here we investigate whether targeting an enzyme that grows blood vessels has potential for making drugs to stop tumor growth or eye damage that occurs with diabetes and premature births.