The Role Of The Cytoskeleton In Communication Between The L-type Ca2+ Channel And The Mitochondria In Cardiac Pathology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$542,890.00
Summary
The L-type calcium channel is a protein in the membrane of heart muscle cells responsible for maintaining normal rhythm and contraction. We have shown that the channel can also regulate the function of the energy producing part of the cell (mitochondria). This occurs with the assistance of proteins that maintain cell architecture. We will test whether this association is altered in human disease where the cell architecture is disrupted to determine the mechanisms for poor energy supply.
Molecular Mechanisms Of Cardiac Function And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,053,131.00
Summary
Adult-onset heart disease remains the leading cause of death and disability in our society, with almost 2 million Australians affected. Furthermore, structural heart malformations are the most common type of abnormality at birth and the leading cause of deaths in infants dying from non-infectious causes. Many of these problems are due to defects in the development, repair and-or function of heart muscle cells or cardiomyocytes. Thus, we propose to understand, in fine detail, cardiomyocyte as wel ....Adult-onset heart disease remains the leading cause of death and disability in our society, with almost 2 million Australians affected. Furthermore, structural heart malformations are the most common type of abnormality at birth and the leading cause of deaths in infants dying from non-infectious causes. Many of these problems are due to defects in the development, repair and-or function of heart muscle cells or cardiomyocytes. Thus, we propose to understand, in fine detail, cardiomyocyte as well as integrated heart development, biology, physiology and function as a prerequisite for the development of major advances in the prevention and treatment of these disorders.Read moreRead less
I am a cardiology research scientist investigating the differences between physiological (“good”) and pathological (“bad”) heart growth- cardiac hypertrophy. In general, heart failure research and therapy has concentrated on identifying and inhibiting pathological processes. In contrast, my research is unique because it has focused on activating physiological pathways (elevated in the athlete’s heart) in the failing heart as a potential new strategy for the treatment of heart failure and atrial ....I am a cardiology research scientist investigating the differences between physiological (“good”) and pathological (“bad”) heart growth- cardiac hypertrophy. In general, heart failure research and therapy has concentrated on identifying and inhibiting pathological processes. In contrast, my research is unique because it has focused on activating physiological pathways (elevated in the athlete’s heart) in the failing heart as a potential new strategy for the treatment of heart failure and atrial fibrillation.Read moreRead less
THE ROLE OF DIFFUSE MYOCARDIAL FIBROSIS IN MYOCARDIAL STIFFNESS
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$545,126.00
Summary
In many cardiac diseases stiffening of the heart can occur, resulting in worsening symptoms of breathlessness, fatigue and even death. Whilst the exact cause of heart stiffening is not well known, fibrosis of the heart is believed to of prime importance. This research will examine the contribution of fibrosis to heart stiffening, using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) as a non-invasive means of assessing heart fibrosis.
Exercise Cardiac Imaging To Study Right Ventricular Functional Remodelling In Athletes With And Without Ventricular Arrhythmias
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$392,587.00
Summary
Extreme exercise results in heart remodelling for which the long-term consequences are incompletely understood. We have described transient reductions in heart function following endurance sport. However, we have also described a group of athletes with serious heart rhythm problems and sustained right heart abnormalities. Therefore, we hypothesize that extreme exercise can cause potentially serious heart changes in some athletes and that detailed heart assessment during exercise will predict tho ....Extreme exercise results in heart remodelling for which the long-term consequences are incompletely understood. We have described transient reductions in heart function following endurance sport. However, we have also described a group of athletes with serious heart rhythm problems and sustained right heart abnormalities. Therefore, we hypothesize that extreme exercise can cause potentially serious heart changes in some athletes and that detailed heart assessment during exercise will predict those at greatest risk.Read moreRead less
Single-Beat Preload Recruitable Stroke Work Measurement Of Cardiac Contractility In Three Mammalian Models.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$241,980.00
Summary
The accurate measurement of the inherent pumping capacity of the heart muscle is difficult because (i) most measurements currently in use cannot accurately discriminate between the contribution of the heart muscle and that of the vascular system to the results obtained, and (ii) the measurements which can discriminate currently require invasive measurements and procedures that frequently restrict their use. The overall purpose of this proposal is to more rigorously validate a promising method we ....The accurate measurement of the inherent pumping capacity of the heart muscle is difficult because (i) most measurements currently in use cannot accurately discriminate between the contribution of the heart muscle and that of the vascular system to the results obtained, and (ii) the measurements which can discriminate currently require invasive measurements and procedures that frequently restrict their use. The overall purpose of this proposal is to more rigorously validate a promising method we have developed that will (i) make accurate assessment possible from a single cardiac beat in both experimental animals and human subjects; (ii) reduce the number of experimental animals required for such measurements by permitting sequential measurements in the same animals; (iii) make it possible to perform such measurements non-invasively in human subjects.Read moreRead less
Finding New Evidence Based Therapies For Treating Heart Disease And Stimulating Regeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$11,088,182.00
Summary
Heart disease is the leading cause of death and disability in our society. This interactive team of clinicians and basic scientists will exploit the latest advances in genome technology and stem cell biology to gain greater insights into the genetic basis of heart disease, elucidate the molecular mechanisms of cardiac function and disease and translate these insights into the development of novel therapeutic approaches for the prevention and treatment of heart disease.
Genetic Basis Of Sudden Cardiac Death In The Young
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$574,500.00
Summary
Sudden cardiac death is a devastating complication of a variety of cardiovascular disorders. In the young, sudden cardiac death can be caused by both structural abnormalities of the heart, e.g. cardiomyopathies, and electrical abnormalities of the heart, such as familial long QT syndrome. In most young sudden cardiac deaths, these cardiovascular disorders are caused by underlying gene abnormalities which place individuals at a higher risk of sudden death. The aim of this project is to understand ....Sudden cardiac death is a devastating complication of a variety of cardiovascular disorders. In the young, sudden cardiac death can be caused by both structural abnormalities of the heart, e.g. cardiomyopathies, and electrical abnormalities of the heart, such as familial long QT syndrome. In most young sudden cardiac deaths, these cardiovascular disorders are caused by underlying gene abnormalities which place individuals at a higher risk of sudden death. The aim of this project is to understanding the genetic basis of sudden cardiac deaths in the young. In particular, the study will identify and characterise the specific genes which cause sudden cardiac death, and what the underlying mechanism is regarding how a single gene defect can lead to such a devastating clinical outcome. Understanding the various cardiovascular diseases that cause sudden death, clinically screening at-risk individuals, coupled with the initiation of appropriate therapeutic and preventative strategies such as implantation of cardioverter defibrillators will most likely reduce the incidence of sudden cardiac death in the young of our community. Elucidation of the underlying genetic defects which cause many of these cardiac disorders will substantially improve diagnostic accuracy, will be invaluable for genetically screening at-risk individuals and by making the diagnosis earlier in life, will create a larger therapeutic window to allow initiation of therapies to prevent complications of disease, including sudden death.Read moreRead less
Atrial Remodelling And Risk Of Arrhythmias In Endurance Athletes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,006,750.00
Summary
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a heart rhythm problem that is 3 to 5 times more common in male athletes than the general male population - the reasons for this excess are not known. We hypothesize that the cardiac enlargement that is caused by high intensity exercise training increases the risk of AF. We will assess heart structure and function in 420 athletes across the age spectrum and assess the degree to which sports-induced changes are permanent and whether this represents an AF risk.