Our goal is to discover new mechanisms involved in our cells’ delicate balancing act with respect to cholesterol levels. Understanding how production of cholesterol is controlled in our cells is key to developing new drugs aimed at preventing its excessive accumulation. This will have long-term benefits for health considering that a cellular imbalance in cholesterol is involved in two of the most common conditions threatening the health of Australians, namely heart disease and Alzheimer’s diseas ....Our goal is to discover new mechanisms involved in our cells’ delicate balancing act with respect to cholesterol levels. Understanding how production of cholesterol is controlled in our cells is key to developing new drugs aimed at preventing its excessive accumulation. This will have long-term benefits for health considering that a cellular imbalance in cholesterol is involved in two of the most common conditions threatening the health of Australians, namely heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease.Read moreRead less
Dangerous Dreams: The Next Era In Paediatric Sleep Research
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,238,220.00
Summary
The amount of time and the quality of our sleep affects every aspect of our health and well-being. The amount of time we sleep is maximal in infants and children because it is promotes normal brain development. Sleep problems affect nearly half of all children and adversely affect both learning and blood pressure. The proposed studies will identify and improve treatment of sleep problems to improve overall physical health and quality of life for these children and their families.
Effects Of Ghrelin Receptor Ligands On Cardiovascular Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$516,207.00
Summary
Ghrelin is a hormone that is known to control food intake and growth hormone release. Our recent work shows that compounds that mimic ghrelin�s actions influence blood pressure by their effects in the brain, the spinal cord and on arteries. We will investigate the potential of such compounds to treat blood pressure disorders
TreatOA4life (Treat OsteoArthritis4life) – A Sustainable Lifestyle Treatment To Improve Outcomes In Knee Osteoarthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$181,065.00
Summary
Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common cause of arthritis, was estimated to cost $3.75 billion AUD in 2012. It has no cure or effective treatment and its cost is escalating with the obesity epidemic. Education, weight management and exercise reduce pain and slow the disease process, especially used early in disease. TreatOA4life will provide this treatment in a simple easy to access form in primary care, designed to improve OA outcomes in a self-sustaining fashion from initial diagnosis.
How Does The Central Respiratory Generator Amplify Sympathetic Activity In Hypertension?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$290,113.00
Summary
High blood pressure causes many life-threatening cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure and stroke. The cause of most high blood pressure is not known. Using an animal model of high blood pressure we have shown that an interaction, in the brain, between the nerve pathways that generate respiratory activity and regulate blood pressure is altered. This occurs early in life and our evidence strongly suggests this may be a cause of high blood pressure.
A Factorial Randomised Trial Of Intensive Blood Pressure Lowering And Glucose Control In Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$303,330.00
Summary
People with diabetes are well known to be at high risk of developing major health problems earlier in life than people without diabetes. In particular, people with diabetes are more likely to suffer from heart attacks, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and leg ulcers that may lead to amputation. Studies of diabetics have shown that if blood pressure levels or glucose levels are uncontrolled, the risk of complications is much higher. Careful management of these two risk factors is therefore now a ....People with diabetes are well known to be at high risk of developing major health problems earlier in life than people without diabetes. In particular, people with diabetes are more likely to suffer from heart attacks, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and leg ulcers that may lead to amputation. Studies of diabetics have shown that if blood pressure levels or glucose levels are uncontrolled, the risk of complications is much higher. Careful management of these two risk factors is therefore now a cornerstone of diabetic care and there are well-established guidelines for treatment. However, there is new evidence to suggest that tighter control of blood pressure and glucose levels than is currently recommended might result in even greater benefits. ADVANCE (Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease) is a large new study that has been designed by Australian researchers based at the Institute for International Health in Sydney. The aim of ADVANCE is to see if treatment to control blood pressure and glucose levels more tightly than usual reduces the risk of complications among adult diabetics. The study will include 10,000 individuals recruited from about 20 countries worldwide that will be followed for an average of 4.5 years. The first participants will be enrolled in April 2001 and the study results should be available by the end of 2006. There are presently about 300 million people in the world with diabetes and this number is increasing rapidly. The results of ADVANCE will therefore influence the care of a very large number of people. If the findings of the study were positive, implementation of the new treatments could be expected to prevent many tens of thousands of premature heart attacks and strokes around the world each year.Read moreRead less
Respiratory Modulation Of RVLM Premotor Neurons: Role In The Sympathetic Over-activity Of Hypertension.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$338,605.00
Summary
Hypertension is a common health disorder in all societies and is a major risk factor for the development of life threatening cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure and stroke. Whilst some effective therapies are available, many patients are not adequately treated or have reduced quality of life due to serious side effects. There is a great need for alternative therapies. The central nervous system is clearly involved in hypertension although the level of that involvement is not well un ....Hypertension is a common health disorder in all societies and is a major risk factor for the development of life threatening cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure and stroke. Whilst some effective therapies are available, many patients are not adequately treated or have reduced quality of life due to serious side effects. There is a great need for alternative therapies. The central nervous system is clearly involved in hypertension although the level of that involvement is not well understood- i.e. is it a causal factor or just a contributor to the maintenance of established hypertension? The experiments outlined in this application are based on the observation that modulation of nervous activity to blood vessels is more influenced by the respiratory system in people with high blood pressure, than in normotensive people. We aim to test whether this increased respiratory modulation might be involved in the generation of the high blood pressure.Read moreRead less