Establishing The Intrinsic Regenerative Capacity Of The Adult Human Heart In Health And Disease And The Use Of Recombinant Cellular Growth Factors To Reverse Heart Failure In Vitro
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$110,615.00
Summary
Heart failure is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Australia. We hope to change this bleak outlook by showing that the human heart can regenerate, thereby challenging the long-held dogma that our heart cannot regrow. Using human heart samples we will measure the intrinsic capability of these cells to regenerate in heart failure compared to what occurs in normal, healthy ageing. In addition, we will explore the use of extracellular growth factors to stimulate these heart muscle cells
Molecular And Structural Determinants Of Myocardial Dysfunction And Prognosis In Left And Right Heart Failure.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$124,608.00
Summary
The aim of this research is to investigate the role of inherited genetic variation on myocardial function and prognosis in patients with cardiomyopathies as well as pulmonary hypertension. Clinical, cardiac genomic and myocardial tissue studies will be undertaken in various patient cohorts. It is hoped that this research will provide new insights into disease mechanisms, and will contribute to new approaches to patient management and risk stratification.
Detection, Prevention And Treatment Of Failure Of The Fontan Circulation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$90,533.00
Summary
Children born with complex heart defects and only one pumping chamber can now live into adulthood with an operation called the Fontan procedure. As this operation has only existed for 40 years, the long-term expectations for these children and young adults are still unclear, and their population is growing every year. This project aims to answer questions about the follow-up and medical management of people living with a Fontan procedure.
Advanced Heart Failure Management With Ventricular Assist Therapy – Evaluating Australian Costs Of Care And Effectiveness From Implant To Transplant Or End Of Life
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$45,668.00
Summary
Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs) are implantable heart pumps that are increasingly being used to slow down the progression of end stage heart failure. This project assesses the costs and effectiveness of VAD therapy and advanced heart failure medical management in an Australian health care setting. The aim is to provide Australian clinicians and health decision makers access to current and relevant, clinical, cost and effectiveness data for advanced heart failure and VAD therapy.
Novel Cardiac Imaging Modalities And Biomarkers In Acute Decompensated Heart Failure.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$100,926.00
Summary
Heart failure (an inability of the heart to meet the bodyÍs metabolic requirements) is a major public health burden with high rates of death, hospitalisation, and reduced quality of life. Further research is required to investigate the underlying mechanisms. This project will analyse abnormalities in heart structure and function using new techniques in heart ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging, and blood tests. Findings in this study may help to guide the development of future therapies to ....Heart failure (an inability of the heart to meet the bodyÍs metabolic requirements) is a major public health burden with high rates of death, hospitalisation, and reduced quality of life. Further research is required to investigate the underlying mechanisms. This project will analyse abnormalities in heart structure and function using new techniques in heart ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging, and blood tests. Findings in this study may help to guide the development of future therapies to improve outcomes in patients with heart failure.Read moreRead less
Polypharmacy In The Heart Failure Patient: Are All Prescribed Drug Classes Required?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$134,110.00
Summary
This project investigates the issue of polypharmacy is heart failure. Polypharmacy is the use of four or more prescription medications, and heart failure patients take six on average. This project investigates the evidence for safe withdrawal of medications failure that have not been shown to prolong life in heart, doctor and patient attitudes to withdrawing medications, and then runs a series of three clinical trials, each withdrawing a different medication in heart failure patients and closely ....This project investigates the issue of polypharmacy is heart failure. Polypharmacy is the use of four or more prescription medications, and heart failure patients take six on average. This project investigates the evidence for safe withdrawal of medications failure that have not been shown to prolong life in heart, doctor and patient attitudes to withdrawing medications, and then runs a series of three clinical trials, each withdrawing a different medication in heart failure patients and closely monitors the effects.Read moreRead less
Platelet Derived Growth Factor Mediated Activation And Rejuvenation Of Endogenous Cardiac Stem Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$102,345.00
Summary
The burden of heart failure is underpinned by the heart’s limited capacity for self-repair after injury. Recent evidence shows that PDGF can improve heart function by activating and rejuvenating resident heart stem cells. This project will build on over a decade of preliminary work in mice, validating our results in a preclinical large animal model. Outcomes of this project include expedited progression of this promising therapy where thousands of heart failure patients could one-day benefit.
Recovery Of Left Ventricular Function After Insertion Of Left Ventricular Assist Device: Evaluation Of Echocardiographic Parameters And Longitudinal Analysis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$124,676.00
Summary
In some patients with severe heart failure, insertion of a mechanical pump to assist the heart actually leads to recovery of the heart's function. More understanding of this process is needed so we can better predict and identify it.This project aims to assess the usefulness of ultrasound (echocardiography) in measuring heart function in patients who have a mechanical pump. Once its usefulness is established, we will use it to evaluate and attempt to induce recovery in such patients.
Catheter Ablation For AF In Heart Failure: Can MRI Predict Benefit?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$143,676.00
Summary
This proposal aims to evaluate the role of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure. We hyopthesise that cardiac MRI will be a useful stratification tool in identifying which patients are likely to benefit from catheter ablation, namely by the absence of significant fibrosis. We propose a randomised cardiac MRI guided multi-centre trial to ascertain the benefit of catheter ablation as an effective treatment of heart failure in such patients.