The Prevalence And Trajectory Of Kidney Disease In Urban Aboriginal Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$94,515.00
Summary
The Study of Environment and Aboriginal Resilience on Child Health is a major NHMRC funded project looking at the health and illness of urban Aboriginal children in Australia. By working together with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services across urban and large regional centres in NSW the study team hope to better understand the causes of common diseases such as kidney and heart disease, and whether these first begin in childhood.
Protective Mechanisms Of MAP Kinase Phosphatase 5 In Adipose Tissue Fibrosis, Hepatic Steatosis And Atherosclerosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$352,729.00
Summary
Obesity and associated complications such as diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis are a serious health burden. Recently, we found that MKP5, a molecule that restricts intracellular signaling, plays a central role in preventing these diseases. This collaborative project will elucidate how precisely MKP5 acts and explore how this molecule can be targeted for the development of novel therapeutic strategies in prevention and treatment of human metabolic diseases.
Probing The Gene-Environment Interaction In Metabolic Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$863,910.00
Summary
A major problem with modern medicine is it is based on the law of averages, assuming everybody responds in the same way to a drug or a diet. In view of the diversity between humans as a function of genetic, epigenetic and other factors this is not the case. In the clinic there is marked variation in the response to drugs commonly used to treat patients with type 2 diabetes. This proposal seeks to embrace this complexity to develop a precision medicine approach to future medical care.
Genetic Dissection Of A QTL Influencing The Development Of Type 2 Diabetes And The Metabolic Syndrome.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$129,875.00
Summary
Diabetes is usually associated with obesity and is often part of a wider disturbance affecting an individuals metabolism. These other factors include high blood pressure and the control of fats (eg cholesterol), and sugars (glucose) in the blood stream. Physicians have noted that these abnormalities often cluster together in individuals and have called it the metabolic syndrome, the main long term implication of which is to increase a persons risk of developing heart disease and disorders in blo ....Diabetes is usually associated with obesity and is often part of a wider disturbance affecting an individuals metabolism. These other factors include high blood pressure and the control of fats (eg cholesterol), and sugars (glucose) in the blood stream. Physicians have noted that these abnormalities often cluster together in individuals and have called it the metabolic syndrome, the main long term implication of which is to increase a persons risk of developing heart disease and disorders in blood circulation. The number of affected people with one the major components of the metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, has trebled since 1981 in Australia and is still increasing. Apart from individual suffering, this presents a major public health burden for the country (approx $3 billion annually). Currently available lifestyle based and pharmaceutical therapies appear inadequate to control the increasing numbers of affected individuals. Unfortunately the cause of disease is poorly understood, although genetic factors are known to be important, in other words it runs in the family. This project proposes to identify some of these factors (genes) and how they contribute to the disease. Using molecular flags on the DNA (like DNA fingerprinting) we have previously found that a small region on chromosome 3 is likely to carry one or more of these disease genes. But there are over 100 genes in the region, so to help choose the most likely candidates first for testing, we have developed an automated computer database searching program that narrowed the list to the six most likely genes. This project will determine which if any of these genes are involved. A successful finding means we will know more about the mechanism of disease development and be able to better develop new therapies for treatment and prevention. If none of these genes are the culprit, we would continue examination of the next set of genes likely to be involved and so on until we are successful.Read moreRead less
Translating Epilepsy Research Into Clinical Practice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$188,226.00
Summary
We aim to turn laboratory science into real improvements in the health of people with epilepsy. Firstly, a rise in the acidity of the blood from breathing less and a rise in carbon dioxide, may contribute to seizures finishing. We aim to develop a safe, rapid, non-sedating way to treat seizures using a small amount of carbon dioxide in oxygen. Secondly, inherited problems with transporting sugar from the blood to the brain are increasingly recognised as a cause of epilepsy. We will develop a nat ....We aim to turn laboratory science into real improvements in the health of people with epilepsy. Firstly, a rise in the acidity of the blood from breathing less and a rise in carbon dioxide, may contribute to seizures finishing. We aim to develop a safe, rapid, non-sedating way to treat seizures using a small amount of carbon dioxide in oxygen. Secondly, inherited problems with transporting sugar from the blood to the brain are increasingly recognised as a cause of epilepsy. We will develop a nation-wide program to identify and treat theseRead moreRead less
Functional Restoration Of OTC Deficient Primary Human Hepatocytes In A Xenograft Model Using An AAV Vector Uniquely Configured For Impending Clinical Trial Use.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$235,525.00
Summary
The aim of this project is to acquire preclinical data which will underpin an international gene therapy trial for severe ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency, the most prevalent urea cycle defect in infants and children. In most severe cases, liver transplantation is required for long term survival. We, with colleagues at Stanford University, have recently developed a novel gene therapy tool for optimal targeting of human liver cells which will be tested in a humanised mouse model.
Identification Of Key Enzymes Required For Efficient Post-translational Modification And Multimerisation Of Adiponectin
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$92,364.00
Summary
Obesity is a major national and global health issue, with 62% of adult Australians being overweight/obese, associated with a number of diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Fat tissue secretes hormones and dysregulation of these hormones contributes to the development of obesity-associated disease. This project aims to define processes governing the secretion of one key hormone and ultimately to identify targets for the treatment of obesity-associated complications.
Understanding The Unique Contribution Of Sedentary Behaviour To The Cardio Metabolic Health Of Women
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$83,149.00
Summary
The risk of heart disease for women increases significantly with the menopause. New evidence suggests that sedentary behaviour (too much sitting as distinct from too little exercise) is also related to heart disease risk. Ms Howard's PhD research will identify whether TV time and other prolonged sitting pose a particular risk for women during and after the menopause. Her studies will identify whether there is a need for women's health recommendations on reducing sitting time.
Disturbances Of DNA Regulation In Obesity, And Their Relationships To Metabolic Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$354,074.00
Summary
We have shown there exists significant differences in methylation patterns between Obese patients and healthy controls. In this study we will refine our understanding of the relationship between methylation and obesity. Our study will provide insight into how methylation changes observed in obesity influence downstream metabolic disorders such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Deciphering The Metabolic And Endocrine Profile Of Healthy Adipocytes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$563,194.00
Summary
Obesity is associated with the development of metabolic diseases, however, it is becoming clear that it is where the excess fat is stored that is more important when predicting the health risks associated with obesity. This project aims to identify whether adipocyte progenitor cells, which eventually become fat cells, are ‘preprogrammed’ and whether differences in these cells explain the generation of either healthy or unhealthy fat in different locations of the body.