Mechanisms Underlying The Generation Of Spontaneous Contractions In Human Uterine Muscle: Potential Therapeutic Target For Dysfunctional Labour
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$496,901.00
Summary
Successful labour outcome is critical for the health of mother and offspring. Contractions too soon, or when they fail during labour, have significant short and long term consequences for mother and baby. Our recent studies on tissue from women in labour suggested new possible mechanisms underlying the initiation of uterine contractions. We will now test these ideas with a view to identifying new therapeutic targets for manipulating labour contractions.
Novel 'Mechano-medicine' Combats Deadly Sticky Blood Clots In Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$760,684.00
Summary
This project aims to elucidate a novel biomechanical mechanism that associates with mechanical force generated by dynamic blood flow and leads to enhanced blood clotting in diabetes. The outcome may likely explain the reduced efficacy of current anti-clotting drugs (i.e. Aspirin, Plavix® or Brilinta®) in individuals with diabetes, which does not take the 'force effect' into account. Moreover, it will provide an innovative therapeutic strategy to reduce the sticky blood clots of diabetes.
Targeting The NLRP3 Inflammasome And Interleukin-18 In Hypertensive Heart Failure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,241,115.00
Summary
Heart failure is a common complication of hypertension and a major cause of death and disability worldwide. This project will characterise a newly identified inflammatory pathway that we believe to be a major cause of the enlargement and scarring of the heart that accompanies hypertension. We will also trial drugs that block this inflammatory pathway to determine their suitability as future therapies for this devastating disease.
ASIC1a, A New Therapeutic Drug Target For Cardiac Ischemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,382,224.00
Summary
Cardiovascular disease is the biggest killer in the world, in large part due to the lack of drugs to protect the heart from the damage caused by injuries such as heart attack. Our team of world-leading scientists and clinicians has identified a novel therapeutic target (ASIC1a) against which drugs could be targeted to protect the heart against these injuries. The aim of this project is to develop novel cardioprotective drugs that target ASIC1a so we can test them in human clinical trials.
Structure And Mechanism Of Activation Of The Mechanosensitive Ion Channel TACAN
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$997,537.00
Summary
We propose to determine the structure and mechanism of activation of TACAN, a recently identified ion channel that defines a novel and uncharacterised class of channels. TACAN is specifically involved in sensing mechanical pain and contributes to mechanosensitive currents in the pain-receptor type of neurons. Our studies will increase knowledge of this novel class of proteins that will allow for the future development of treatments for several chronic pain conditions including arthritis.
Bivalent Analgesics: Rational Design Of Selective Ion Channel Inhibitors With Optimised Mechanism Of Action
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$904,890.00
Summary
The so-called 'opioid crisis' leading to the death of millions of people worldwide has highlighted the urgent need for development of novel safe and efficacious pain killers without addictive potential. This proposal aims to rationally design novel analgesic compounds by linking different classes of ion channel modulators with desirable properties.
Influenza A Viral Infection And Pregnancy Complications
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,346,858.00
Summary
Pregnant women who contract influenza are 5 times more likely to be hospitalised than the general population. Babies of mothers with influenza are also associated with increased perinatal mortality rates. We hypothesise that influenza infection in pregnancy significantly impairs the maternal vascular system resulting in maternal and foetal morbidity. Outcomes from this research may change current treatment modalities to improve maternal and foetal outcomes complicated by influenza infection.