Elucidating The Roles And Mechanisms Of Activation Of NLRP3 Inflammasomes And Developing Therapeutic Interventions For Severe Steroid-resistant Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$961,929.00
Summary
Severe asthma is a major clinical issue. There are no effective treatments because we don’t understand how it occurs. We have identified a factor called an “inflammasome” that we think causes severe asthma. We have produced a new inhibitor of this factor, and shown experimentally that it may suppress important symptoms of severe asthma. We now aim to work out precisely how this inflammasome causes severe asthma and progress our new inhibitor towards therapeutic development.
Gene Expression Profiling In Critically Ill Patients With Septic Shock: The ADRENAL-GEPS Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$863,304.00
Summary
Sepsis refers to a whole body inflammation caused by severe infection. Approximately one in three adults admitted with septic shock die within 28 days and it is unclear whether treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs is beneficial in terms of patient survival. The aim of this study is to develop a clinical test based on gene activity that can be used to predict patient survival and also determine what the best treatment might be for individual patients.
The effects of therapeutic glucocorticoid doses on carbohydrate and energy metabolism and cardiovascular risk have not been fully clarified. This PhD thesis will be based around two studies aiming to: 1.) Define mechanisms underlying the adverse effects of low dose prednisolone in patients with inflammatory rheumatologic disease and 2.) Improve treatment of prednisolone-induced hyperglycaemia in hospitalized patients.