Monitoring Of Leucocyte Cytokine-chemokines To Improve Morbidity And Rejection Rates In Lung Transplant Patients
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$373,973.00
Summary
Lung transplantation has become established therapy for many serious lung diseases. The early success rate is now very good, but at five years after transplant the survival rate is only around 60%. This problem is largely due to chronic graft failue as a result of chronic rejection or bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. This project will specifically investigate the causes of BOS and thereby provide new information on how we may best treat this problem. An improvement in this area is critical.
Protecting The Endothelial Glycocalyx To Improve Transplant Rates And Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$725,180.00
Summary
A tiny, previously overlooked, structure called the endothelial glycocalyx (EG) is now known to ‘waterproof’ blood vessels. This grant extends our exciting preliminary data in the field of lung transplantation, where we have shown that EG loss is the main cause of a poorly functioning organ, to develop new tests of lung and kidney function, as well as treatments to resuscitate marginal organs outside the body, so improving access to and the safety of transplantation.
Conquering The Final Frontier In Lung Transplantation - Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy For Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,887,790.00
Summary
Lung transplantation remains the only treatment option for an increasing number of Australians with end-stage lung disease, however long-term outcomes are severely compromised by the almost universal development of chronic rejection. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) hold great promise in treating rejection, and in a world-first we have recently demonstrated that this approach is safe. In another world-first, this randomized, controlled study will determine whether MSC therapy is effective.
Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is a heart/lung machine that replaces blood CO2 with oxygen, giving organs a chance to rest after injury due to infection or trauma. It saved many lives in the swine flu outbreak. Blood moving across foreign surfaces causes inflammation, cell injury and a need for transfusions. This study aims to identify which part of the ECMO causes injury and how. This will to improve survival rates of the most severe forms of cardiac and respiratory disease.
Improved Gene Therapy Strategies For Primary Pulmonary Hypertension
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$370,517.00
Summary
Many people develop problems with the blood vessels in the lungs, which then leads to a narrowing of these vessels and consequently a back-pressure strain on the heart. These disorders can arise from inherited diseases of the blood vessels themselves, or from accquired lung disease (for example due to smoking or chronic infections). At present there are few treatments which have any benefits for these patients and many must undergo lung or heart-lung transplantation. This project is desigened bo ....Many people develop problems with the blood vessels in the lungs, which then leads to a narrowing of these vessels and consequently a back-pressure strain on the heart. These disorders can arise from inherited diseases of the blood vessels themselves, or from accquired lung disease (for example due to smoking or chronic infections). At present there are few treatments which have any benefits for these patients and many must undergo lung or heart-lung transplantation. This project is desigened both to find out new information about the disease process that affects the lung blood vessels and to offer a strategy for new treatments. The project will use a crippled form of the cold virus to deliver genes to the lining of the lung blood vessels, then see what impact that has on the pressure within the vessels and the ways in which they respond to certain stresses. These studies will be carried out using laboratory animals. If successful, it may be possible to eventually design such viruses to deliver genes which have a helpful therapeutic impact on the disease in patients.Read moreRead less
I am a pulmonary physician-gene therapist persuing new therapies for pulmonary vascular disease, lung cancer and mesothelioma, COPD and lung transplant rejection
Systematic Expansion Of The Clinical Evidence Base In Opioid Prescribing For Refractory Dyspnoea At The End Of Life
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$414,535.00
Summary
Morphine can relieve breathlessness in the palliative setting. But many important questions remain. What is the best dose, should the dose change over time, do different medications provide the same relief, and how common is dyspnoea in the general population? This three part project will extend our knowledge to answer these questions. Population data will provide critical background to plan best care for future palliative patients distressed by breathlessness.