How Does Sudden Cardiac Death Occur In Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,312,606.00
Summary
Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a leading cause of sudden cardiac death but the mechanisms for the induction of arrhythmia are unknown. This proposal has the potential to impact sudden death in the young and enable significant expansion of Australia’s research capacity into the treatment of familial hypertrophic heart disease in humans.
The primary aim of my research has been to understand how biological ion channels work. All electrical activities in the nervous system, including communication between cells and influences of hormones and drugs on cell function, are regulated by the opening and closing of ion channels. Thus, understanding how these ion channels operate will ultimately help us find the causes of, and possibly cures for, many neurological, muscular and cardiac disorders.
The L-type Calcium Channel In Cardiovascular Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,370.00
Summary
Calcium influx into cardiac muscle cells occurs via the L-type calcium channel. The channel is essential to life but when function is altered it can contribute to the development of sudden death and heart failure. I have made significant discoveries in understanding the role of the channel in disease and I have exploited this knowledge to design therapy including a novel class of calcium channel antagonists to prevent the development of heart failure.
Investigating CRAC Channel Assembly And Interactions Important In Immunity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$398,247.00
Summary
#ERROR: -Transmission and amplification of signals between subcellular compartments underpins cell function. Calcium ions are cellular messengers that can cross Membranes using specialised pores. CRAC Calcium channels in particular are critical for immune system function,and partner Proteins switch them on and off in a feedback response to compartmental Calcium levels. the objective of my research is to investigate how opening and closing of the CRAC pore is triggered at a molecular level.
I am a molecular electrophysiologist determining structure function relationships in cardiac ion channels and investigating the role of ion channel mutations in the pathogenesis of inherited arrhythmia syndromes
Venoms To Drugs: Translating Venom Peptides Into Human Therapeutics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$774,540.00
Summary
Many disorders of the nervous system, including chronic pain, epilepsy and the neuronal degeneration suffered following a stroke, result from malfunction of channels that ferry ions across neuronal cell membranes. There are very few drugs available for treating these disorders and they often have debilitating side-effects. We are developing potent and selective modulators of these ion channels as the next-generation of safe and effective analgesic, anti-epileptic, and neuroprotective drugs.