Remodelling In Cardiac Hypertrophy: Implications For Arrhythmogenesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$48,361.00
Summary
High blood pressure (HBP) affects 1 in 3 adults. Cardiac hypertrophy (thickened heart muscles) is a common condition seen in HBP. This research seeks to study the underlying changes in electrical, structural and molecular properties of the heart that may contribute to the increased sudden death and atrial fibrillation (irregular heart rhythm) associated with both HBP and cardiac hypertrophy. The new understanding may identify new treatment targets to reduce these life-threatening conditions.
Understanding Factors Involved In The Development Of Hypertension
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$757,492.00
Summary
High blood pressure is a major cause of cardiovascular diseases. Currently intervention occurs after the cardiovascular system is damaged. Our interest is in the development of high blood pressure, to determine whether early intervention could stop its progression. We identified that excitation of the sympathetic nervous system by the circuits that control breathing is important. We seek to further understand this interaction to identify novel approaches to treat high blood pressure.
INTERACT: A Randomised Trial Of Intensive Blood Pressure Lowering In Acute Intracerebral Haemorrhage
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,680,868.00
Summary
Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) is a serious type of stroke affecting thousands of Australians and 2-3 million people in the world each year, with most either dying or left disabled. There is no proven treatment for ICH, although surgery is sometimes used and early injection of a special clotting factor may improve outcome. One potential simple therapy is the rapid control of elevated blood pressure (BP) which occurs commonly and predicts a poor outcome in ICH, possibly by increasing bleeding an ....Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) is a serious type of stroke affecting thousands of Australians and 2-3 million people in the world each year, with most either dying or left disabled. There is no proven treatment for ICH, although surgery is sometimes used and early injection of a special clotting factor may improve outcome. One potential simple therapy is the rapid control of elevated blood pressure (BP) which occurs commonly and predicts a poor outcome in ICH, possibly by increasing bleeding and swelling in the brain. There is much uncertainty as to the optimal management of elevated BP in ICH. This study, called INTERACT, aims to determine the balance of benefits and risks of a management strategy of early rapid BP lowering in 2000 patients with ICH randomised from 100 clinical sites in Australia-Asia.Read moreRead less
The Structural Basis For The Control Of Cardiac And Skeletal Muscle By The Troponin Complex
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$369,003.00
Summary
Many key physiological processes are controlled by large, multi-protein complexes. These molecular machines ensure that signals transmitted in the body are correctly interpreted and amplified so as to control key body functions. The Troponin protein complex is one such large multi-protein complex which is the switch used to control both heart and skeletal muscle contraction in the body. The Troponin complex responds to increasing cellular calcium levels, switching the muscle on at high calcium. ....Many key physiological processes are controlled by large, multi-protein complexes. These molecular machines ensure that signals transmitted in the body are correctly interpreted and amplified so as to control key body functions. The Troponin protein complex is one such large multi-protein complex which is the switch used to control both heart and skeletal muscle contraction in the body. The Troponin complex responds to increasing cellular calcium levels, switching the muscle on at high calcium. When calcium returns to its normal basal level, the Troponin complex switches the muscle off. Naturally occurring genetic errors can lead to the malfunction of the Troponin complex. This, in turn, can lead to severe and possibly fatal diseases of the heart and muscle systems. To gain an understanding of these molecular diseases, it is important to understand the structure, dynamics and function of the Troponin complex. This project will use a newly-developed magnetic resonance method to monitor changes in the Troponin structure as a function of calcium level. Each component of the Troponin complex will be labeled with magnetic tags, allowing the determination of both structure and dynamics of Troponin, both in solution and in active muscle fibres. The study will result in a molecular understanding of how the Troponin switch works. This will give great insight in how mutations result in cardiac and muscular diseases.Read moreRead less
Research Fellowship: Protection Of Myocardial Function In Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,010.00
Summary
Heart failure (HF) is a major cause of death in Australia. A/Prof Rebecca Ritchie heads Heart Failure Pharmacology at Baker IDI. Her research focuses on new drug strategies to maintain heart function in response to diabetes & heart attack, common precursors of HF. Many of the treatments discovered from this work are naturally-occurring antioxidants; enhancing their activity will ultimately reduce progression to HF & death in the >3 million Australians affected by these disorders.
Dissecting The Pathogenesis Of The Severe Neurodegenerative Disease, Friedreich’s Ataxia: Development Of Novel Therapeutics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$316,449.00
Summary
Friedreich’s ataxia is a devastating neuro- and cardio-degenerative disorder which does not have an effective cure. The studies proposed in this Fellowship are crucial for understanding the progression of this disorder and the development of excitingly new therapeutics.
Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DiabCM) is common in people with diabetes. It predisposes to heat failure. Its cause remains unclear and there is no specific treatment for DiabCM. Inflammation is a fundamental tissue response to a metabolic insult and it occur in DiabCM. The central hypothesis in this work is that inflammation through myocardial macrophage cells contributes to DiabCM. This hypothesis will be tested in animal models and also in cell culutre studies.
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