MICROFABRICATED DEVICES: A SIGNIFICANT ADVANCE FOR THE DETECTION AND MOLECULAR ANALYSES OF CIRCULATING CANCER CELLS?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$422,107.00
Summary
Using advanced microfabrication concepts, this project aims to develop a platform technology able to capture tumour cells circulating in the blood of cancer patients. Although present only in extremely small numbers, these cells provide invaluable insights into the pathophysiology of the disease and consequently provide vital diagnostic and prognostic information. Molecular analyses of these cancer cells could ultimately enable the design of improved and personalized cancer treatment.
Improving Outcomes Of Radiotherapy Treatments Through In-vivo Dosimetric Verification
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$379,855.00
Summary
Radiotherapy remains an important non-surgical treatment for over 50 % of cancer patients. This project aims to develop methods that will enable the optimisation of the patients' treatment as it progresses by non-invasively measuring the radiation dose delivered each day. This will increase the likelihood of curing the patient as well as reducing the side effects experienced due to the treatment. This will improve the patients' quality of life post-treatment.
Effects And Mechanisms Of Direct Cardiac Compression In Interruption Of Myocardial Remodelling In Chronic Heart Failure.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$392,250.00
Summary
Heart failure (HF) is a disease where the heart pumping function is insufficient to provide adequate blood supply to the rest of the body. It is a highly debilitating disease affecting nearly 10 million people worldwide and has a <50% one-year survival in severe cases. Despite significant advances in pharmacotherapy, heart transplant is the only alternative for severe HF but is restricted by lack of donor organs to only ~ 5% of those requiring it. Research has shown that progression of HF is ....Heart failure (HF) is a disease where the heart pumping function is insufficient to provide adequate blood supply to the rest of the body. It is a highly debilitating disease affecting nearly 10 million people worldwide and has a <50% one-year survival in severe cases. Despite significant advances in pharmacotherapy, heart transplant is the only alternative for severe HF but is restricted by lack of donor organs to only ~ 5% of those requiring it. Research has shown that progression of HF is related to many subsequent changes after an initial insult. In addition to pumping failure, HF is associated with deranged compensatory responses such as neurohumoral over-activation, heart chamber enlargement, loss of functional cells, increase of inflammatory mediators and changes in cardiac skeleton (extracellular matrix). The changes in the heart are collectively known as remodelling. Mechanical heart assist is now considered a potential destination therapy for severe HF, superior to pharmacotherapy alone. Improvement of cardiac pumping function and even successful weaning from devices has been reported, along with observations of reverse remodelling. The success of this approach has been limited however, particularly with HF due to coronary disease, the most prevalent form. We developed a novel HeartPatch mechanical assist device to compress the heart from its outer surface. It gives support to both main chambers and avoids blood contact, a feature of currently available devices associated with complications such as blood clotting and infection. Our device has proved effective in animals with acute HF and even with cardiac arrest. We propose to study the effects of our device on the process of remodelling in HF with coronary disease in a controlled manner. The project will enhance understanding of the mechanisms involved in reverse remodelling and further the development of a device which may potentially benefit many severe HF patients.Read moreRead less
Development And Evaluation Of Teleophthalmic Systems For Screening Of Common Blinding Eye Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$263,918.00
Summary
Portable ophthalmic instruments will provide digital images for storage and telemetric transmission to a disease control centre. We will be assessing and developing new portable ophthalmic imaging instruments, and validating them for common blinding eye conditions. The aim is to assess the ability of various health personal to document glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, active trachoma, corneal scarring and cataract in rural screenings using digital imaging technology. A network of ophthalmologists ....Portable ophthalmic instruments will provide digital images for storage and telemetric transmission to a disease control centre. We will be assessing and developing new portable ophthalmic imaging instruments, and validating them for common blinding eye conditions. The aim is to assess the ability of various health personal to document glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, active trachoma, corneal scarring and cataract in rural screenings using digital imaging technology. A network of ophthalmologists, health department personnel and aboriginal health workers in Western Australia will be involved. The project will also examine the quality of images obtained by health workers with various levels of skills and compare this with conventional photographs currently obtained by the screening network. Finally, the project will demonstrate practicality of the large scale storage of digital images of patient eyes. Preliminary evaluations have been performed on our teleophthalmology system using different portable instruments namely a handheld fundus camera, slit-lamp and indirect ophthalmoscope. We have also tested our teleophthalmology system at the Dr. Soetomo Hospital (Airlangga University) in Surabaya, Indonesia. Images captured using the handheld fundus camera were successfully transmitted to Lions Eye Institute through satellite, mobile and Internet lines. This pilot project has been sponsored by the Western Australian Department of Trade and Commerce and Telstra.Read moreRead less