Regulation Of Heart Development And Regeneration By DNA Methylation.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$552,709.00
Summary
The adult mammalian heart has an extremely limited capacity for regeneration following a heart attack, which is in stark contrast to the robust regenerative capacity of the newborn heart. How and why mammals lose their ability to regenerate heart tissue after birth is not well understood. We propose a new approach to unravel the complex mechanisms that control gene expression during heart development in rodents and humans, which could provide new therapeutic avenues for heart regeneration.
Genome-wide Analysis Of Gene Regulatory Networks In Heart Development And Congenital Heart Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,263,954.00
Summary
Despite advances in surgical methods and hospital critical care, congenital heart disease (CHD) remains the leading cause of non-infectious death in children in the first year of life. Severe CHD requires multiple surgeries and a lifetime of emotional and financial burden. In this proposal we will use new molecular and genetic approaches to ask how the network of genes that normally participates in heart development is controlled by regulatory factors, and how the network is disturbed in CHD.
Probing The Cardiac Gene Regulatory Network In Development And Congenital Heart Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$518,118.00
Summary
In Australia, congenital heart disease (CHD) is the biggest killer of children under 5 years. Defects range from small holes to severe malformations requiring multiple surgeries and an uncertain future. Our appreciation of CHD mechanism is limited. Using cutting-edge technologies in genomics, biophysics and structural biology, we will study the mechanisms that lead to CHD at unprecedented resolution. Our project will progress the concept of personalized diagnosis and treatment of CHD.
METABOLOMIC INSIGHTS INTO THE PATHOGENESIS AND RISK ASSESSMENT OF UNSTABLE CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$876,896.00
Summary
Atherosclerosis (AS) is the single most common cause of cardiovascular disease and is the major contributor to the development of angina, heart attacks, coronary heart disease and stroke. Early identification and characterisation of the disease, is critical for effective treatment. In this project we will develop a new test to identify those individuals with unstable disease that are at greatest risk of a coronary event (heart attack).
Cardiac Fibrosis In Hypertensive Heart Disease: Cellular And Molecular Mechanism
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,979.00
Summary
Cardiac fibrosis due to excess collagen accumulation in the heart is a major cause of heart failure associated with high blood pressure and greatly increases the risk of sudden death. At present there are no effective therapies to prevent cardiac fibrosis. Understanding how fibrosis develops and identifying the cells and factors responsible will lead to development of novel therapies for cardiac fibrosis.
TEXTMEDS – TEXT Messages To Improve MEDication Adherence And Secondary Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,406,875.00
Summary
TEXTMEDS will evaluate a highly innovative strategy to improve cardiovascular disease secondary prevention using cheap and widely available mobile phone technology. TEXTMEDS is a randomised controlled trial of 1400 patients with acute coronary syndrome that will examine the effect of a semi-personalised secondary prevention support program sent via mobile phone text message on the proportion taking appropriate medications for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease and on cardiovascul ....TEXTMEDS will evaluate a highly innovative strategy to improve cardiovascular disease secondary prevention using cheap and widely available mobile phone technology. TEXTMEDS is a randomised controlled trial of 1400 patients with acute coronary syndrome that will examine the effect of a semi-personalised secondary prevention support program sent via mobile phone text message on the proportion taking appropriate medications for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease and on cardiovascular risk factors levels (e.g. cholesterol).Read moreRead less
Development Of A Preventive Strategy For Rheumatic Heart Disease Using An Experimental Model
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$370,846.00
Summary
Based on animal studies, we aim to demonstrate that the worsening of heart damage seen in patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is due to repeated infections with bacteria (group A streptococci: GAS). The heart damage is caused by continual immune damage to the heart and valves and this has adverse effects on heart function. We will also investigate a novel way to prevent the development of RHD.
Pharmacological Inhibition Of IRAP As A Novel Antifibrotic Strategy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,036,370.00
Summary
There are very few treatments that can reduce heart stiffening, called fibrosis, which is seen in patients with high blood pressure or in patients who have had a heart attack. This project will test new drugs that we have developed that act by a unique mechanism to reverse or prevent cardiovascular disease in patients with poorly-functioning hearts and blood vessels.
Interactions Between The Serotonin Transporter And Sympathetic Nervous Activation In Patients With Major Depressive Disorder - Understanding The Link Between The Brain And The Heart
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$527,109.00
Summary
There is evidence that patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) are at increased risk of developing heart disease. While the mechanisms responsible remain unknown we have previously demonstrated that cardiac sympathetic nervous activity in patients with MDD follows a bimodal distribution, with values in some patients being extraordinarily high. In this project we will determine the physiological consequences of sympathetic activation in patients with MDD.
Targeting A New Regulator Of Cardiac Pathology To Protect The Heart From Cardiac Dysfunction And Arrhythmia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$717,857.00
Summary
Heart failure is associated with high mortality, and treatment of this condition represents a major unmet need. We recently reported that specific lipid species are elevated in hearts of mice with heart failure. The goal of this study is to comprehensively examine the therapeutic potential of targeting these lipid species with drugs.