Vitamin D And Chronic Kidney Disease: The Effects On Mineral Metabolism, Vascular Calcification And Transplant Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$103,582.00
Summary
Kidney disease is a major health issue in the community. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with an increased burden of cardiovascular disease and mortality in these patients. Vitamin D also has been shown to have a significant role in modulating our immune system. This study aims to assess the potential of vitamin D therapy to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease and its effects on the immune function of renal transplant recipients in the laboratory and clinical setting.
Understanding And Optimising The Delivery Of Chronic Disease Care For Better Cardiovascular Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$483,402.00
Summary
The proposed research program will undertake research that utilises existing clinical information and structures. This information will provide evidence in a cost effective manner. A particular project will examine current treatment delivered to people with chronic disease. A second project will embed a study of the optimum level of sodium exposure in dialysis within routine clinical practice. The outcome will be a cost-efficient study that will potentially lead to improve outcomes.
Evaluation Of The Efficacy And Safety Of Health Service Dialysate Sodium Practice On Clinical Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,958,205.00
Summary
Concerns the delivery of haemodialysis may be contributing to sodium retention and poor outcomes has led many health services to modify practice. However this modification is occurring in an unmeasured and haphazard manner leaving the impact unknown. This simple, pragmatic research will generate definitive evidence on the effect of health service dialysate sodium practices on the key clinical outcomes of death and cardiovascular events as well as health service utilisation.
Evidence For Interventions That Improve Cardiovascular Outcomes In Chronic Kidney Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$421,747.00
Summary
The many Australians with kidney disease experience higher rates of cardiovascular events. Some of the highest rates of cardiovascular events and mortality are seen in people with kidney failure. Currently available treatments are inadequate at reducing this risk indicating an urgent need for new therapies. The program will investigate the effect of little used but readily available, promising interventions to assess their potential to reduce cardiovascular events for people with kidney disease.
IMPROVE-CKD Study: Impact Of A Phosphate Binder On Cardiovascular Disease In Chronic Kidney Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,596,698.00
Summary
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant health problem and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease. Vascular calcification and arterial stiffness (stiffening of the blood vessels and arteries) are very common in people with CKD, and are linked to increased death from CV events. This study aims to examine the ways in which treatment with a phosphate binder, Lanthanum Carbonate, may reduce vascular calcification and arterial stiffness to decrease CV events.
Cyclin Dependent Kinases As Drug-Targets To Reduce Renal Cyst Formation And Scarring In Polycystic Kidney Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$319,446.00
Summary
Polcystic kidney disease (PKD) is one of the most common genetic diseases in humans. The most common type (autosomal dominant-PKD) affects approximately 1:400 to 1:1000 individuals worldwide. Kidney failure is the most debilitating and serious complication of PKD, and it accounts for approximately 10% of the cases of end-stage kidney requiring artificial kidney treatment (dialysis) or transplantation. Over the last decade, major advances have been made in preventing kidney failure due to diabeti ....Polcystic kidney disease (PKD) is one of the most common genetic diseases in humans. The most common type (autosomal dominant-PKD) affects approximately 1:400 to 1:1000 individuals worldwide. Kidney failure is the most debilitating and serious complication of PKD, and it accounts for approximately 10% of the cases of end-stage kidney requiring artificial kidney treatment (dialysis) or transplantation. Over the last decade, major advances have been made in preventing kidney failure due to diabetic kidney disease, but these are ineffective for PKD. As such, currently, there is no treatment to prevent kidney failure due to PKD, and new therapies are needed. PKD is characterised by the development of multiple cysts in the kidney, which enlarge and destroy normal kidney tissue. The growth of the cysts is due to uncontrolled growth (cell division) of the cells of the kidney (epithelial cells), which causes cyst formation. In recent years, gene mutations in proteins called polcysytins are thought to be responsible for the cause of the disease. However, the genetic mutations in PKD are complex (>30 types for autosomal dominant PKD alone), and it is unlikely that gene therapy will be possible with current technology in the near future. A simpler approach is to develop 'drugs' that target the consequences of the mutation. This project will investigate the role of a group proteins, called cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) in PKD. CDKs which are enzymes that are critical in promoting cell division. Our preliminary data shows that CDKs are upregulated in PKD. The aim of this project is to establish the importance of CDKs in PKD, and examine the effect of new drugs (CDK inhibitors) in maintaining in preventing cyst growth and kidney scarring in PKD. CDK inhibitors are currently being tested in phase 1 and 2 clinical trials in patients with cancer, and this will facilitate the translation of the findings of this project to humans with PKD.Read moreRead less
Defining The Central Role Of Podocyte Depletion In The Development, Progression And Management Of Glomerular Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$690,855.00
Summary
Podocytes are key cellular components of the kidney’s filtration barrier. Podocyte depletion (cell loss or injury) is a key event in most forms of kidney disease. We will investigate interactions between podocyte depletion and two major risk factors for kidney disease (diabetes and hypertension), assess whether podocyte depletion influences therapeutic outcomes, and commence efforts to develop podocyte-specific therapies.
Generating Endogenous Antigen Specific T Regulatory Cells To Treat Autoimmune MPO-ANCA GN
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$885,566.00
Summary
Glomerulonephritis (GN) is an inflammatory disease that affects the filtering organs (glomeruli) of the kidney. The most severe and aggressive form is ANCA-associated GN resulting from loss of tolerance to myeloperoxidase (MPO). Current therapies are toxic. This study will develop new strategies to restore immune tolerance to MPO thus treating patients with this disease. We will use an animal model to provide proof-of-concept that these novel therapies can treat MPO-ANCA associated GN.
Through this project, I will determine how diet and physical activity can improve the health and quality of life of people suffering from chronic kidney disease. I will also assess whether lifestyle interventions have the potential to prevent chronic kidney disease. My results will directly impact the lives of people with kidney disease and could lead to public health interventions to prevent kidney disease.