Nanoengineered Bioelectronic Systems For All-Optical Control Of Neuron Growth And Stimulation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$757,452.00
Summary
Nerve cells are the primary signal carriers of the human body. When they cease to function normally, our bodies ability to function and sense the physical world is influenced catastrophically. We will develop a new bioelectronic system made by printing clever inks that can artificially stimulate nerve cells without the typical requirements for invasive metal electrodes or external power. These new scientific advances will revolutionize nerve cell repair and treatment of neurological disorders.
Developing Exon Replacement Gene Therapy To Cure Rett Syndrome: An Innovative Model For Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$475,105.00
Summary
There is no cure for neurodevelopmental disorders such as Rett syndrome which is caused by mutations in the MECP2 gene. Gene therapy is ineffective due to the 'Goldilocks' effect where too little, as well as too much expression of MECP2 causes disease. Here a gene editing therapy will be tested in patient cells and mouse model that will maintain the normal cellular expression of MECP2 by cutting out the mutated regions of the gene (exons) and replacing them with repaired copies.
Silencing Pulmonary Nociceptors To Treat Severe Respiratory Viral Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$534,173.00
Summary
The lungs receive a rich supply of nerve fibres, many of which play an important role in helping defend against pathogens, including viruses. When viral infections become severe, too much inflammation occurs in the lungs and this creates a serious and difficult to treat clinical problem. Hundreds of thousands of people each year die from the complications of severe lung infections. We are investigating a potential new therapy that targets the lung nerves and relieves excessive inflammation.
Innate Threat Detection Circuits In The Superior Colliculus Co-ordinate Respiratory And Cardiovascular Responses To Visual Stimuli
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$517,958.00
Summary
Our surroundings affect our bodies: light pollution, traffic, and aircraft noise all significantly affect cardiovascular health. This project will investigate interactions between brain systems that subconsciously scan our surroundings for interesting or threatening features, and those that co-ordinate the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. We will generate new knowledge that describes how the brain detects danger and translates this into signals that contribute to cardiovascular risk.
Vascular Changes Are A Key Contributor To And Novel Drug Target For Interferon-alpha Induced Neurological Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,245,401.00
Summary
Type I interferons (IFN-Is) contribute to wide range of neurological diseases including ageing and neurodegeneration. At its extreme IFN-I-mediated neurodegeneration is known as 'interferonopathy'. The mechanisms of how IFN-Is drive disease are unclear, making causal treatment difficult. We have recently uncovered ground-breaking evidence that abnormal blood vessels are a key contributor to the disease. Here, we will investigate novel treatment targets for patients with interferonopathies.
The LAPSE Study: Impact Of Local Sleep In The ADHD Brain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$621,113.00
Summary
Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterised by inappropriate levels of inattention. ADHD patients also frequently experience sleep disturbances and abnormal daytime sleepiness. We will examine to what extent sleep disturbances can account for ADHD symptoms by examining if the attentional deficits associated with ADHD can be explained by a phenomenon called local sleep, whereby parts of the brain spontaneously fall asleep in the context of a globally awake brain.
Improving Understandings Of And Responses To Alcohol-related Family Violence For Aboriginal People
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,294,735.00
Summary
Family violence and alcohol misuse contribute to many health and social inequities facing Aboriginal peoples. This Aboriginal-led project will investigate associations between alcohol and family violence in urban, regional and remote contexts to co-design improved interventions for Aboriginal peoples facing these issues. We will use an innovative approach combining participatory anthropological methods with network analytical techniques to address the gravity and complexity of the problem.
Harnessing Information Technology To Improve Self-management Behaviours And Health Outcome In People With Heart Failure: A Smarthome Ecosystem Living Lab Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,120,226.00
Summary
The burden of heart failure in Australia is substantial. Management of heart failure is complex and requires self-management of symptoms and behaviour change, which requires ongoing education and support to achieve. Current approaches for supporting self-management do not meet the needs of people with heart failure or the healthcare system. This Australian first project aims to co-design an intelligent smart home ecosystem (Smart Heart) to support the management for people with heart failure.