I am an academic clinician who has a principal interest in all aspects of diabetes, especially treatment and complications, and who is also involved in studies of antimalarial pharmacology.
Type 2 Diabetic Renal Complications And Microvascular Injury: Novel Predictors Of Onset And Progression, Mechanisms Of Association With Cardiovascular Disease And The Benefits Of Fenofibrate.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$84,448.00
Summary
We will investigate the mechanisms of diabetic complications related to kidney and blood vessel disease, focusing on identifying people at greater risk and ways to improve or prevent these complications. In addition, we will look at how diabetic kidney disease affects non-kidney related problems like heart disease and examine the benefit of fenofibrate on both. This greater understanding will aid further drug development in kidney and cardiovascular diseases.
Conventional And Unconventional T Cells In Interstitial Kidney Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$480,531.00
Summary
Acute damage to the kidney is a common life-threatening condition. Recent studies have shown that less well-studied types of immune cells contribute to kidney damage. However, how these cells enter and injure the kidney is unknown. In this project we will use a special microscope to look into the blood vessels of the kidney and visualise the cells inside kidney blood vessels in order to uncover their behaviour as they respond to acute inflammatory insult to the kidney.
The SNORE-ASA Study: A Study Of Neurocognitive Outcomes, Radiological And Retinal Effects Of Aspirin In Sleep Apnoea
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$886,692.00
Summary
Sleep apnoea is very common in the elderly, but it is uncertain whether it leads to a decline in mental abilities as it can in the middle-aged. Apart from fatigue, sleep apnoea also causes mental decline by affecting brain blood supply. This may be preventable with aspirin. We will track 3,000 healthy elderly for 4 years, after testing for sleep apnoea. Half will take aspirin. We predict that mental ability will decline faster with sleep apnoea, and that aspirin will partly reverse this.
Microvascular And Macrovascular Disease In Snoring And Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: A Mechanism For Increased Stroke Risk.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$679,744.00
Summary
This project will address the important question of the vascular risk of stroke associated with snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea, by using retinal photography of the eye to directly visualise the vascular changes in the cerebral circulation. Retinal photography may provide a useful clinical tool to help reduce the risk of stroke in patients with snoring and sleep apnoea.
Retinal Vascular Structure And Function As Markers Of Endothelial Dysfunction.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$104,664.00
Summary
Coronary heart disease (CHD) due to atherosclerosis (thickening of blood vessels) remains the leading cause of death in Australia, but visualisation of heart arteries usually requires invasive testing. Blood vessels in the eye (retina), can be viewed easily and may be indicative of blood vessel function in the heart and rest of the body. This study aims to explore the relationship between eye and heart blood vessels. Retinal imaging may thus enable earlier detection of patients at risk of CHD.
The Role Of Central Haemodynamics In Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus-related Brain Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$899,704.00
Summary
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is associated with stiffening of major blood vessels which may allow the transmission of harmful pressure to the small vessels of the brain. This may in turn be responsible for damage to brain cells and a greater risk of dementia. This study will use state-of-the art techniques to test this theory. If true, it may open opportunities to reduce the risk of brain disease in diabetes by using therapies to reduce arterial stiffening.
Do Retinal Microvascular Signs Predict Ischaemic Heart Disease Subtype? The Australian Heart Eye Study (AHES)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$65,532.00
Summary
Narrowing of the large vessels of the heart and abnormal function of the small vessels are both causes of coronary heart disease and chest pain.There are few non-invasive investigations to help differentiate between large and small vessel disease and assess one’s risk of developing disease in the future.The study uses retinal photography and coronary angiography to assess whether changes in the structure of the blood vessels of the eye may be used to identify the type of coronary heart disease a ....Narrowing of the large vessels of the heart and abnormal function of the small vessels are both causes of coronary heart disease and chest pain.There are few non-invasive investigations to help differentiate between large and small vessel disease and assess one’s risk of developing disease in the future.The study uses retinal photography and coronary angiography to assess whether changes in the structure of the blood vessels of the eye may be used to identify the type of coronary heart disease as well as the risk of future cardiac events.Read moreRead less