Prevention Of Stroke Caused By Carotid Atherosclerosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,062.00
Summary
Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability and a huge drain on health resources in Australia and worldwide. Carotid artery atherosclerosis (vascular disease) is an important cause of stroke. Currently surgery (with a significant risk of stroke-death) is commonly performed to prevent carotid stroke. My aim is to show that current best practice medical intervention is superior to surgery and to identify high risk patients for whom additional stroke prevention strategies may be justified.
The NanoNautilus : A Breakthrough In The Successful Treatment Of Strokes And Other Cerebrovascular Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$187,212.00
Summary
Strokes are one of the biggest killers of Australians and are becoming increasingly so every year. Bleeding from the brain involves extremely delicate and dangerous medical treatments. The development of NanoNautilus [TM]---a remote-controlled steerable microcatheterusing world-first miniaturization technology---will revolutionise current practises and greatly reduce the current risk with medical intervention.
A Randomised, Controlled Trial Of 10% Dextran 40 In The Prevention Of Stroke Complicating Carotid Endarterectomy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,667.00
Summary
The operation to remove blockages in the carotid arteries (carotid endarterectomy) is of proven benefit in the prevention of stroke. The procedure itself, however, unfortunately carries approximately a 1 in 20 risk of immediate and early postoperative stroke. Most strokes are caused by blood clots forming at the operation site, breaking off and travelling to the brain (embolism). The up front operative risk is usually accepted by most patients in order to achieve the significantly greater long t ....The operation to remove blockages in the carotid arteries (carotid endarterectomy) is of proven benefit in the prevention of stroke. The procedure itself, however, unfortunately carries approximately a 1 in 20 risk of immediate and early postoperative stroke. Most strokes are caused by blood clots forming at the operation site, breaking off and travelling to the brain (embolism). The up front operative risk is usually accepted by most patients in order to achieve the significantly greater long term benefits of future stroke risk reduction. This study is designed to test a medication (dextran) thought to possibly prevent stroke associated with the operation. Dextran acts in part, by preventing blood clots forming at the operation site . In a pilot study undertaken by the researchers, dextran significantly reduced the downstream shedding of small blood clots (microemboli) detected by monitoring brain arteries using specialised ultrasound techniques. It remains to be proven, however, whether this effect on microemboli actually translates into the prevention of stroke complicating surgery. The DICE (Dextran In Carotid Endarterectomy) Trial aims to assess whether dextran can reduce the risk of stroke associated with carotid surgery by 50% or more. It has important implications for the increasing numbers of Australians being offered this operation (5,000-6,000 each year). If the therapy is proven effective there will be the potential to prevent 350-450 strokes and stroke related deaths each year.Read moreRead less
Microwave And Laser Energies For Percutaneous Cardiac Ablation For The Cure Of Arhythmias
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$331,527.00
Summary
The commonest beating disorder of the heart is atrial fibrillation (AF). Whilst it can occur at any age it is more common in the elderly with 12% Australians over 70 y.o having it. AF is the cause of a third of all strokes and increases the risk of dying from any heart disease. Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is the commonest cause of death in the year after a heart attack. Currently these beating disorders are in most cases incurable and respond poorly to medications. We have developed an operatio ....The commonest beating disorder of the heart is atrial fibrillation (AF). Whilst it can occur at any age it is more common in the elderly with 12% Australians over 70 y.o having it. AF is the cause of a third of all strokes and increases the risk of dying from any heart disease. Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is the commonest cause of death in the year after a heart attack. Currently these beating disorders are in most cases incurable and respond poorly to medications. We have developed an operation for AF which is done by open heart surgery. It has been successful at curing some patients who suffer from AF and uses radiofrequency energy. The difficulty of radiofrequency energy is that it is not suitable in a large number of cases for this operation. We are developing Laser and Microwave catheters as alternatives to RF so that the success of the operation can be improved. These new microwave and laser catheters are being designed and tested to be used primarily in a minimally invasive procedure. They would be inserted via the veins with the patient under sedation. This would allow patients to go home sooner and have a recovery period of only a few days. As well as their application in the top chamber of the heart (atrium) for AF, these new energies will be adapted for minimally invasive operations in the ventricle (lower chamber) of the heart for the treatment of ventricular tachycardia. By developing a technique such as this, cure of AFand VT will be available to many more people, helping reduce the strokes, heart failure and premature deaths from these two heart conditions.Read moreRead less
Risk Stratification And Early Interventions In Pulmonary Vascular Disease: From Acute Pulmonary Embolisms To Chronic Pulmonary Hypertension
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$99,682.00
Summary
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common, potentially life-threatening condition with up to 50% of survivors developing long-term complications, which are associated with breathlessness, functional limitation and risk of premature death if not diagnosed and treated promptly. This project investigates the use of non-invasive scan techniques and exercise testing for early detection of these complications. The project will also explore new drug targets to treat these complications.
Establishing A Model Of Occlusive Middle Cerebral Artery Stroke In The Sheep
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$74,365.00
Summary
Stroke is the second leading cause of death and the highest cause of disability in adult Australians, however our lack of an animal model that correctly replicates the human condition has severely hindered our understanding and treatment of the disease. This research project aims to develop a model of stroke in the sheep using a surgical approach that future researchers may use and adapt to further explore the physiology of the disease and trial therapeutic techniques to treat stroke.
A Newly Identified Role For 14-3-3zeta Protein In Thrombosis And Platelet Procoagulant Activity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$556,327.00
Summary
Cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke is the major cause of death globally, and is responsible for the death of 50,000 Australians each year. Platelet activation and blood coagulation play an important role in these diseases and we have discovered that a protein called 14-3-3 zeta is important in the processes that result in thrombosis. We are studying the mechanisms by which this protein contributes to life-threatening platelet activation with the aim of developing new and m ....Cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke is the major cause of death globally, and is responsible for the death of 50,000 Australians each year. Platelet activation and blood coagulation play an important role in these diseases and we have discovered that a protein called 14-3-3 zeta is important in the processes that result in thrombosis. We are studying the mechanisms by which this protein contributes to life-threatening platelet activation with the aim of developing new and more effective anti-thrombotic drugs.Read moreRead less
An International Randomised Trial Of Low-dose Aspirin To Prevent Recurrent Venous Thromboembolism (INSPIRE)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,989,986.00
Summary
Patients who develop venous blood clots or pulmonary embolism, without an underyling cause, are at very high risk of recurrence once anticoagulant treatment (warfarin) is discontinued. The international INSPIRE trial is assessing whether low-dose aspirin treatment (a simple and cheap alternative to warfarin) is effective and safe in preventing further blood clots. If proven effective, aspirin could potentially prevent thousands of patients worldwide from experiencing such events.