Endothelial Development From Pluripotent Stem Cells As A Means To Study Pathology In Pulmonary Artery Hypertension
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$613,311.00
Summary
Pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) is a fatal disease primarily affecting young adults. It is caused by a defect in cells that form the vessel that carries blood from the heart to the lungs. We will use stem cells made from the skin of PAH patients to examine why the blood vessel cells from these patients fail to function normally.
Suppression Of NADPH Oxidase-derived Oxidative Stress By Anti-sense Probes And HDL In Human Vascular Endothelium
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$455,250.00
Summary
In Australia, coronary heart disease (CHD) causing heart attacks remains the largest cause of death, claiming a staggering 28,000 lives a year. Oxidative stress, resulting from increased production of oxygen free radicals in arteries, is an important cause of CHD, heart attacks and strokes. We seek to understand how such oxyradicals are produced in the key cells that form the lining of all arteries, known as the vascular endothelium. By using novel DNA-type molecules (known as anti-sense) develo ....In Australia, coronary heart disease (CHD) causing heart attacks remains the largest cause of death, claiming a staggering 28,000 lives a year. Oxidative stress, resulting from increased production of oxygen free radicals in arteries, is an important cause of CHD, heart attacks and strokes. We seek to understand how such oxyradicals are produced in the key cells that form the lining of all arteries, known as the vascular endothelium. By using novel DNA-type molecules (known as anti-sense) developed in our laboratory, which block a particular gene causing oxidative stress, we will determine whether this gene is responsible for the formation of oxyradicals in human and mouse cells grown in culture. In addition, we will explore whether this gene is turned on by factors known to be involved in CHD. Finally, we will also investigate whether the good cholesterol known as HDL can act to prevent oxidative stress in human cells, as we discovered it appears to do in living arteries in vivo. If we find it has the same protective effect in endothelium, we will determine how it does this, and which component proteins of the HDL particle are important. This might suggest new treatments to prevent acute events leading to heart attack and stroke, and possibly new applications where damage appears to result from acute oxidative stress, such as in the brain soon after a stroke has occurred. We also have a plan to develop antisense drugs that will target the important gene specifically in the affected endothelium. In addition, we have other specific new drugs that will block this system in arteries. Simultaneously we will be testing the role of this gene in mouse and rabbit models of artery disease, for both our types of drugs might provide valuable new therapeutic agents to target the underlying cause of CHD and not just its symptoms as current drugs do.Read moreRead less
Local Sleep In The Awake Brain: An Underlying Cause Of Neurobehavioural Deficits In Sleep Apnea?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$582,330.00
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder which significantly impacts daytime functioning leading to excessive sleepiness, and problems with attention and thinking. Currently, the causes for cognitive impairment in OSA (including attentional lapses and performance deficits) are poorly understood. In the awake state, groups of neurons can briefly go “offline” as they do in sleep. These periods of “local sleep” may explain impaired task performance in OSA.
Transdermal Testosterone Therapy: A Potential Treatment For Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)-associated Sexual Dysfunction In Women
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$241,351.00
Summary
Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is frequently reported with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) therapy and venlafaxine, these being the most common antidepressants used by Australian women. We have shown that testosterone therapy significantly improves sexual function in women with FSD. However SSRI-users have been excluded from these past studies. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of transdermal testosterone therapy for treatment of sexual dysfunction associated with SS ....Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is frequently reported with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) therapy and venlafaxine, these being the most common antidepressants used by Australian women. We have shown that testosterone therapy significantly improves sexual function in women with FSD. However SSRI-users have been excluded from these past studies. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of transdermal testosterone therapy for treatment of sexual dysfunction associated with SSRI therapy.Read moreRead less
Imaging Neutrophil And Endothelial Function In Acute Glomerulonephritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$545,517.00
Summary
The glomerulus is a group of small blood vessels which form the filtering component of the kidney. In many diseases, it can be the target of an inappropriate inflammatory response during which white blood cells accumulate in the glomerular blood vessels and cause damage. In this project, we will visualise the blood vessel lining of the glomerulus in order to understand how white blood cells damage this region and cause leakage of protein leak into the urine.
Transplantation of pancreatic islets is the only cure for type 1 diabetes (T1D). Unfortunately, many of the transplanted islet cells die quickly due to an inadequate supply of blood. Herein, we investigate a novel cell surface protein for its role in islet and blood vessel survival and function. Furthermore, we use nanotechnology to provide said protein to the islet cells during transplantation for increased survival and function. Ultimately, this work may cure more patients with diabetes.
New Generation Antiplatelet Therapies To Prevent Preeclampsia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$483,148.00
Summary
Preeclampsia, a major complication of pregnancy, affects around 3-8% of pregnancies. Sadly, there is no way to prevent or delay disease. We have uncovered antiplatelet agents, used to prevent heart disease and stroke, may provide health benefits to women at risk of developing preeclampsia. We will test whether these agents can prevent the pathophysiology of preeclampsia in specialized human & mouse models developed in our laboratory. This work may provide a prevention strategy for preeclampsia.
A novel sensory neural circuit has been identified innervating the airways and lungs. The anatomical organisation of this circuit has been described to some extent in previous studies, however there is a significant gap in knowledge with respect to its functional importance. This project will develop methods to address this knowledge gap and in doing so the project will firstly describe how this circuit controls breathing under normal conditions and secondly how this becomes dysregulated during
A Nurse Led Psychosocial Intervention With Peer Support To Reduce Needs In Women Being Treated With Radiotherapy For Gynaecological Cancer: A RCT
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,184,630.00
Summary
This study is to test the effectiveness of a nurse-led psychosocial intervention with peer support to reduce psychological distress, psychosocial needs, psychosexual difficulties and symptom distress and to improve quality of life and preparation for treatment of women receiving radiotherapy with curative intent for gynaecological cancer (GC) using a randomised controlled trial (RCT).
Motor Functioning In Young People With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – Combined Type: A Three-dimensional Motion Analysis Study.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$477,065.00
Summary
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder –combined type (ADHD-CT) is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder with a progressively devastating impact on psychosocial development. The first objective of this study is to use 3D-motion analysis to ‘probe’ the underlying brain dysfunction which characterises ADHD-CT. The second objective of this study is to improve our understanding of the link between movement problems, and (a) injury proneness, and (b) social-communicative problems, in children with AD ....Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder –combined type (ADHD-CT) is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder with a progressively devastating impact on psychosocial development. The first objective of this study is to use 3D-motion analysis to ‘probe’ the underlying brain dysfunction which characterises ADHD-CT. The second objective of this study is to improve our understanding of the link between movement problems, and (a) injury proneness, and (b) social-communicative problems, in children with ADHD-CT.Read moreRead less