Liver Injury And Iron Homeostasis In Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,370.00
Summary
Iron disorders and liver disease are a significant burden on society, affecting many in the prime of their life. Disordered iron metabolism also plays a significant role in many disorders and diseases including cancers, neurodegenerative and iron overload disorders, and anaemia associated with chronic disease. My objective is to understand the molecules and mechanisms involved, and to develop strategies and reagents to diagnose, prevent and treat liver and iron-related disease.
Resistant Hypertension: Causes, Consequences, And Novel Therapeutic Approaches
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$713,517.00
Summary
Two thirds of all strokes and half of all coronary artery disease world-wide can be attributed to uncontrolled blood pressure. Patients with resistant hypertension are at specifically high risk. While the exact reasons remain obscure, work from my group suggests that sympathetic nervous system activation represents a common pathway. Based on these findings the ultimate goal of my research program is to develop novel and more effective treatment strategies for resistant hypertension.
This fellowship support will allow A/Prof Xiao-Jun DU to pursue his recent pre-clinical research findings on novel therapeutic interventions for cardiovascular diseases. He will particularly focus on new treatment of accumulation of excessive scar tissues (fibrosis) in the heart and large arteries following disease and cardiac inflammation, factors knowing to play pivotal roles in progression of cardiovascular diseases.
Heart failure (HF) describes where the heart cannot pump adequately to meet the bodyÍs needs. Mortality remains high; therefore, there is an urgent need for new treatment approaches. The present grant aims to: (1) evaluate treatments for patients at high-risk for future development of HF (2) examine the ability to safely withdraw unnecessary HF drugs (3) focus on the effect of HF on the kidney via novel treatment strategies (4) examine the emerging role of cancer drugs in development of HF.
Improving Outcomes In Heart Failure Through Basic, Clinical And Translational Research
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$951,005.00
Summary
Heart failure (HF) is a common, chronic cardiovascular condition characterised by a reduced capacity of the heart to function. Patients with HF have a poor quality of life and significantly reduced survival. My proposed programme of research will improve the understanding of heart failure (HF) and lead to better treatments.
Helminth Secreted Proteins – From Anthelmintic Vaccines To Therapies For Autoimmunity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$739,893.00
Summary
Human helminths (worms) cause chronic disease in developing countries, yet their disappearance from developed countries has been accompanied by an increase in the prevalence of autoimmune and allergic diseases. My resesarch focuses on the proteins these worms secrete and their use in (1) the development of anthelmintic vaccines, and (2) the development of novel anti-inflammatory molecules to treat autoimmunity, particularly diseases affecting the gut.
This proposal is aimed at improving the health of people with “Disorders of Iron Metabolism”. It focuses on the iron-related diseases hereditary haemochromatosis and colorectal cancer, as well as liver disease, chronic kidney disease and malnutrition. Outcomes from these studies are expected to identify how iron metabolism is impaired, the clinical consequences and new strategies for the prevention and treatment of iron-related diseases.
Integrated Basic And Clinical Cardiovascular Research For The Development Of Innovative Approaches To The Treatment Of Heart Failure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$925,346.00
Summary
Heart failure (HF) is a common cardiovascular problem which causes disabling symptoms and reduces life expectancy. HF is the commonest cause or contributor to hospitalization in people over 65 years. For patients with advanced HF, survival is worse than that for aggresive cancers. At present, for patients with advanced HF and its complications, there are very few treatment options. Over the next 5 years I will conduct a comprehensive series of studies in animal models and in patients to develop ....Heart failure (HF) is a common cardiovascular problem which causes disabling symptoms and reduces life expectancy. HF is the commonest cause or contributor to hospitalization in people over 65 years. For patients with advanced HF, survival is worse than that for aggresive cancers. At present, for patients with advanced HF and its complications, there are very few treatment options. Over the next 5 years I will conduct a comprehensive series of studies in animal models and in patients to develop new treatment options.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms Of Hepatic Fibrogenesis In Chronic Liver Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$697,209.00
Summary
Despite advances made in understanding the mechanisms of liver injury, chronic liver disease continues to be one of the most rapidly growing causes of death in subjects aged <65 years. This is the result of uncontrolled wound healing and regeneration leading ultimately to cirrhosis and liver cancer. This research will identify and characterise pathways that control the wound healing response to liver injury, involving the processes of inflammation, scarring and restitution of normal liver mas ....Despite advances made in understanding the mechanisms of liver injury, chronic liver disease continues to be one of the most rapidly growing causes of death in subjects aged <65 years. This is the result of uncontrolled wound healing and regeneration leading ultimately to cirrhosis and liver cancer. This research will identify and characterise pathways that control the wound healing response to liver injury, involving the processes of inflammation, scarring and restitution of normal liver mass.Read moreRead less
Stress and obesity can lead to high blood pressure and greatly increase the risk of life threatening cardiovascular events. This application seeks to determine which chemicals and parts of the brain are responsible for amplifying the responses to repeated stress and during obesity in animal models leading to hypertension.