Hybrid radiofrequency/optical catheter for effective atrial fibrillation ablation. This research project aims to advance engineering knowledge by applying an innovative, fibre-optics-based discrete optical coherence tomography to technology used for atrial fibrillation catheter ablation. RadioFrequency catheter-based ablation is far superior to cardiac drug therapy for atrial fibrillation patients. RadioFrequency catheters are not equipped with real-time lesion formation monitoring means, which ....Hybrid radiofrequency/optical catheter for effective atrial fibrillation ablation. This research project aims to advance engineering knowledge by applying an innovative, fibre-optics-based discrete optical coherence tomography to technology used for atrial fibrillation catheter ablation. RadioFrequency catheter-based ablation is far superior to cardiac drug therapy for atrial fibrillation patients. RadioFrequency catheters are not equipped with real-time lesion formation monitoring means, which enable the assessment of continuity-transmurality and prevent extra-cardiac complications, such as steam pops. Optical Coherece Tomography enables non-invasive, microscopic lesion formation assessment in real time during atrial fibrillation ablation procedures. The expected outcomes of this project are to develop a new hybrid fibre-optic/RadioFrequency catheter system and user-friendly driving software that will enable cardiac electrophysiologists to perform three key tasks not previously available.Read moreRead less
New Materials for an Implantable Blood Pump. Rotary blood pumps are at the leading edge of heart assist technology. VentrAssist has developed an innovative rotary blood pump with a hydro-dynamically suspended impeller. Advanced surface modifications will enable the device to be fabricated from polymers; this will make the device light, more compatible with the human body and less costly to produce. Surface treatments and coatings will be applied using ion implantation, to impart the required ....New Materials for an Implantable Blood Pump. Rotary blood pumps are at the leading edge of heart assist technology. VentrAssist has developed an innovative rotary blood pump with a hydro-dynamically suspended impeller. Advanced surface modifications will enable the device to be fabricated from polymers; this will make the device light, more compatible with the human body and less costly to produce. Surface treatments and coatings will be applied using ion implantation, to impart the required dimensional stability, impermeability and wear resistance. Following sophisticated experiments of modified materials, the best candidates will be used in prototype devices, for final selection of the optimal materials for the new device.Read moreRead less
Identification of Australian-bred apple and plum varieties with enhanced health attributes. Improved prevention could save Australia $4 billion annually in health care costs, mainly in the area of cardiovascular disease. A higher flavonoid intake has been estimated to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by about 20%. Apples are important sources of flavonoids in the diet. The proposed project involves collaboration between the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia and the U ....Identification of Australian-bred apple and plum varieties with enhanced health attributes. Improved prevention could save Australia $4 billion annually in health care costs, mainly in the area of cardiovascular disease. A higher flavonoid intake has been estimated to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by about 20%. Apples are important sources of flavonoids in the diet. The proposed project involves collaboration between the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia and the University of Western Australia. The aim is to identify progeny of both the apple and plum breeding programs that have elite levels of flavonoids and to demonstrate health benefits of a high-flavonoid apple. This could lead to significant benefits to Australian horticulture and to population health.Read moreRead less
Hydrodynamic Stability of the VentrAssist Blood Pump, an Experimental and Numerical Investigation. This project will investigate, both numerically and experimentally, the stability of the impeller-bearing system of a rotary blood pump and will make recommendations about the optimum bearing configurations. Findings from this project will contribute to the commercialisation of the blood pump undertaken by the research Group formed by the staff from UTS, UNSW and VentrAssist Pty Ltd - the first of ....Hydrodynamic Stability of the VentrAssist Blood Pump, an Experimental and Numerical Investigation. This project will investigate, both numerically and experimentally, the stability of the impeller-bearing system of a rotary blood pump and will make recommendations about the optimum bearing configurations. Findings from this project will contribute to the commercialisation of the blood pump undertaken by the research Group formed by the staff from UTS, UNSW and VentrAssist Pty Ltd - the first of its kind in Australia. Rotary blood pumps are at the leading edge of cardiac assist technology worldwide and an investigation of the impeller dynamics will add greatly to the understanding of the related important factors in blood pump design.Read moreRead less
Noval design of a Bi-Ventricular Assist Device (BVAD) Centrifugal Heart Pump as an Implantable Total Artificial Heart. In Australia, 40%(50,797) of all deaths each year are related to heart disease and accounted for 12% (A$4Billion) of total recurrent health expenditure. This innovative research aims at developing a single biventricular assist device (BVAD) driven by a magnetically suspended double-sided centrifugal pump impeller. Current techniques require two implantable devices, thus preventi ....Noval design of a Bi-Ventricular Assist Device (BVAD) Centrifugal Heart Pump as an Implantable Total Artificial Heart. In Australia, 40%(50,797) of all deaths each year are related to heart disease and accounted for 12% (A$4Billion) of total recurrent health expenditure. This innovative research aims at developing a single biventricular assist device (BVAD) driven by a magnetically suspended double-sided centrifugal pump impeller. Current techniques require two implantable devices, thus preventing smaller patients from access to BVAD technology. The expected outcomes will be a significantly small and compact device and provide an alternative to open-heart transplantation, thus helping to alleviate the demand on donor hearts, as well as the strain on the Australian Heath Care System caused by cardiovascular disease.Read moreRead less
The role of SGK-1 and SGK-2 in hypertension and nephropathy in diabetes mellitus. The key objective is to define the suitability of the serum glucocorticoid regulated kinases -1 and -2 (SGK-1, -2) as novel drug discovery targets. A specific inhibitor targeting SGK-1 and -2 will be tested to determine if it reverses the enhanced sodium reabsorption and extracellular matrix production characteristic of progressive renal failure in in vitro models models of renal disease. These inhibitors present a ....The role of SGK-1 and SGK-2 in hypertension and nephropathy in diabetes mellitus. The key objective is to define the suitability of the serum glucocorticoid regulated kinases -1 and -2 (SGK-1, -2) as novel drug discovery targets. A specific inhibitor targeting SGK-1 and -2 will be tested to determine if it reverses the enhanced sodium reabsorption and extracellular matrix production characteristic of progressive renal failure in in vitro models models of renal disease. These inhibitors present an opportunity to control hypertension whilst simultaneously limiting fibrosis in the kidney. Renal failure is steadily increasing and is now the single largest health care cost to the community. These studies will provide the proof of concept required to ultimately bring this novel preventative therapy to the community.Read moreRead less
A randomised controlled trial of motivational interviewing as a tool to enhance secondary prevention strategies in cardiovascular disease. While there is increasing evidence for the efficacy of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in reducing mortality and morbidity, adherence to risk factor modification strategies are problematic for many CR patients. This project will evaluate in a randomised controlled trial the benefit of motivational interviewing (MI) in enhancing secondary prevention strategies in ....A randomised controlled trial of motivational interviewing as a tool to enhance secondary prevention strategies in cardiovascular disease. While there is increasing evidence for the efficacy of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in reducing mortality and morbidity, adherence to risk factor modification strategies are problematic for many CR patients. This project will evaluate in a randomised controlled trial the benefit of motivational interviewing (MI) in enhancing secondary prevention strategies in CR patients. Given the role of self-efficacy in predicting adherence, MI needs to be evaluated in CR. This study is significant in terms of preventative health, and its potential to improve the design and delivery of CR programs and increase patient adherence. Expected outcomes include increased adherence to cardiovascular risk modification and improved psychological well-being.Read moreRead less
Development and evaluation of a remote monitoring system and its application to cardiac rehabilitation and occupational health. This project further develops and evaluates a system developed by the Industry Partner which permits real-time remote monitoring of a person's cardiac activity, position and velocity via GPS, and selected aspects of motion and posture using accelerometry. The study has three aims: to enhance the system's capacity for remote monitoring of human motion and physiology; to ....Development and evaluation of a remote monitoring system and its application to cardiac rehabilitation and occupational health. This project further develops and evaluates a system developed by the Industry Partner which permits real-time remote monitoring of a person's cardiac activity, position and velocity via GPS, and selected aspects of motion and posture using accelerometry. The study has three aims: to enhance the system's capacity for remote monitoring of human motion and physiology; to test its ability to support cardiac rehabilitation for those unable to access hospital-based programs; and to evaluate its application to the monitoring of workloads in physically demanding tasks associated with cardiovascular ill-health and musculoskeletal injury.Read moreRead less
Analysis of non-invasive central aortic pressure using a Web-based international database. Blood pressure is measured conventionally with a cuff around the upper arm. A marked difference exists between pressure at the heart (central aorta) and that in the arm. Technology developed by the industrial partner allows non-invasive measurement of aortic pressure, a value relevant for many forms of heart conditions. We will develop a web-based system and software protocols to provide a facility for epi ....Analysis of non-invasive central aortic pressure using a Web-based international database. Blood pressure is measured conventionally with a cuff around the upper arm. A marked difference exists between pressure at the heart (central aorta) and that in the arm. Technology developed by the industrial partner allows non-invasive measurement of aortic pressure, a value relevant for many forms of heart conditions. We will develop a web-based system and software protocols to provide a facility for epidemiological analysis of aortic pressure. This facility will provide, for the first time in the history of epidemiology of blood pressure in humans, the means to relate normal and abnormal aging changes to pressure at the heart.Read moreRead less
Structure-activity relationships in the development of new bioactive isoflavonoids. This project aims to develop new chemical substances based on the structure of a group of naturally occuring compounds called isoflavones. Biological activity related to chronic inflammatory (eg arthritis) and heart disease will be examined in cells and animal models. This information will be used to design compounds with enhanced activity. The eventual aim is to develop potential therapeutic agents to treat chr ....Structure-activity relationships in the development of new bioactive isoflavonoids. This project aims to develop new chemical substances based on the structure of a group of naturally occuring compounds called isoflavones. Biological activity related to chronic inflammatory (eg arthritis) and heart disease will be examined in cells and animal models. This information will be used to design compounds with enhanced activity. The eventual aim is to develop potential therapeutic agents to treat chronic inflammatory and cardiovascular disease.Read moreRead less