Optimising Transfusion Support In Critical Illness And Haematological Malignancies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$262,251.00
Summary
Blood transfusion is commonly used for patient care. Improving our understanding about how to best use blood and blood products and finding ways to reduce the need for transfusion have been identified as important areas of national research. This fellowship aims to investigate interventions to reduce bleeding and the need for transfusion and improve the use of blood transfusion in two patients groups who are major users of blood: critically ill patients and patients with blood cancers.
Improving The Long-term Outcomes Of The Australian And New Zealand Fontan Population
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$89,836.00
Summary
The Fontan procedure is the last of a series of operations offered to children born with hearts with a single pumping chamber. Without this procedure these children would die, however, with this procedure their long-term expectations are still uncertain. This study will investigate the long-term outcomes of the Australian and New Zealand Fontan population and how these outcomes can be improved.
Understanding The Mechanisms Of Bleeding And Clotting Complications For Children On Extracorporeal Circuits.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,113,385.00
Summary
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is advanced life support, which can save critically ill children. Significant bleeding occurs in 39%; clotting in 31% of children on ECMO; stroke in 12%. The biggest barrier to reducing these complications is the lack of understanding of how the bleeding/clotting system works in ECMO. This unique proposal uses the largest paediatric ECMO population in Australia and a multidisplinary expert team to develop a mechanistic understanding of these issues.
The Impact Of Developmental Haemostasis On The Pharmacokinetics And Pharmacodynamics Of Heparin In Children.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$283,676.00
Summary
Unfractionated Heparin (UFH) is the most commonly used anticoagulant (blood thinning drug) in children. Despite this, the clinical evidence, in terms of reported treatment failures and bleeding complications, suggests the drug is used suboptimally in children compared to adults.This likely relfects the lack of specific studies of UFH in children. This study will, for the first time, define the pharmacokinetics-dynamics of UFH in children, allowing age-specific protocols to be developed. Pharmaco ....Unfractionated Heparin (UFH) is the most commonly used anticoagulant (blood thinning drug) in children. Despite this, the clinical evidence, in terms of reported treatment failures and bleeding complications, suggests the drug is used suboptimally in children compared to adults.This likely relfects the lack of specific studies of UFH in children. This study will, for the first time, define the pharmacokinetics-dynamics of UFH in children, allowing age-specific protocols to be developed. Pharmacological modelling of this data will likely have implications for the use of other anticoagulants in children.Read moreRead less
A Study To Determine The Effects Of Heparin/ Low Molecular Weight Heparin In Neonates And Children.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$193,000.00
Summary
Blood clots in newborns and children are becoming a more common problem. This is because many children with major illnesses are now surviving due to the remarkable advances in medical and surgical care. Blood clots in children can have devastating long term effects. Little is known about the best way to treat blood clots in children and most treatments are just extrapolated from adult treatment guidelines. This is unlikely to be the best treatment as the type and place of blood clots in children ....Blood clots in newborns and children are becoming a more common problem. This is because many children with major illnesses are now surviving due to the remarkable advances in medical and surgical care. Blood clots in children can have devastating long term effects. Little is known about the best way to treat blood clots in children and most treatments are just extrapolated from adult treatment guidelines. This is unlikely to be the best treatment as the type and place of blood clots in children are very different to adults. In addition, the blood clotting system in children is very different to that in adults. This is especially true for newborns. Over the last four years we have established the largest clinical treatment program for children with blood clots in Australia, and have completed the preliminary work that will enable us to now study a number of aspects of the treatment for blood clots in children. This project will specifically examine heparin and low molecular weight heparin which are the most commonly used antithrombotic (anti blood clot) drugs in children. We will determine the effect of age on the mechanism of action, the optimal drug level for treatment, the frequency of the most common side effect of heparin and do some preliminary work to determine alternative treatment options. Our study will provide the basis for more appropriate use of these drugs in children, which will improve the success of therapy and reduce the risk of complications, ultimately improving the survival and quality of life for sick children affected by blood clots.Read moreRead less
Tissue factor is a central and major player in the clotting process. It exists in both active and inactive forms. The active form initiates clot formation. How it gets activated is one of the most important unanswered questions in this area of research. Our aim is to discover tissue factorÍs mechanism of activation. The outcome will provide more specific targets for therapeutic drug development for cardiovascular disease, strokes and deep venous thrombosis.
A Multi-Centre Double-Blind Randomised Placebo-Controlled Trial Of Oral Anticoagulation In Systemic Sclerosis-Related Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,190,521.00
Summary
Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease that shortens life span by over 30 years. The main cause of death is pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a condition of increased pressure in the lung vessels. Even in the era of 'advanced' PAH therapy, only 50% of patients are alive beyond 5 years. Formation of clots in the small blood vessels of the lung plays a major role in the development of PAH. In this clinical trial we aim to determine whether anticoagulation (treatment to prevent clotting) improve ....Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease that shortens life span by over 30 years. The main cause of death is pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a condition of increased pressure in the lung vessels. Even in the era of 'advanced' PAH therapy, only 50% of patients are alive beyond 5 years. Formation of clots in the small blood vessels of the lung plays a major role in the development of PAH. In this clinical trial we aim to determine whether anticoagulation (treatment to prevent clotting) improves survival in scleroderma PAH.Read moreRead less
The Epidemiology Of Post Thrombotic Syndrome Following The Use Of Central Venous Lines In Paediatrics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$130,203.00
Summary
The association between central venous lines (CVL) and blood clots in children is well known. Possible consequences of CVL-related blood clots are line blockage, pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lungs) and post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). PTS symptoms can be physically limiting, painful and disfiguring. Yet as the incidence of PTS is unknown, the importance of treating CVL-related blood clots is unclear. This study will assess the incidence of PTS and the associated risk factors in children ....The association between central venous lines (CVL) and blood clots in children is well known. Possible consequences of CVL-related blood clots are line blockage, pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lungs) and post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). PTS symptoms can be physically limiting, painful and disfiguring. Yet as the incidence of PTS is unknown, the importance of treating CVL-related blood clots is unclear. This study will assess the incidence of PTS and the associated risk factors in children.Read moreRead less