Examining Genome Wide Gene Expression Changes During Cardiac Injury And Regeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$351,852.00
Summary
Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in Australia. Following a heart attack, the loss of beating heart cells is replaced with a permanent scar and this limits the heart from functioning properly. The zebrafish can uniquely recover from a heart attack. New heart cells are generated rather than scar formation. This project will use the zebrafish to identify new signals that promote heart regeneration and can potentially be applied in human hearts to reverse the damage following injury.
The Cellular Origin And Nuclear Signaling Mechanisms Of Cardiac Stem Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$383,893.00
Summary
Stem cells have special characteristics; they are able to be grown quickly and they have the potential to turn into different types of cell. These two characteristics indicate the potential to use these cells to repair diseased organs. Heart disease is an ideal area to investigate the use of such cell-based therapy options. This is because a weakened heart muscle is very common (especially as we age) and because without assistance, the body is not able to repair a weakened heart.
Plasma Metabolomic Profiling Of Patients With Serial Coronary Atheroma Progression For Predicting Myocardial Infarction And Death
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$373,114.00
Summary
Heart attacks are the leading cause of death, and half of all 1st heart attack victims have </= 1 known risk factors for coronary heart disease. There is an urgent need to better predict heart attack risk, and to develop new drugs to combat atherosclerosis. This study will involve a more advanced technique of identifying new molecules found in people who demonstrate progression of coronary atherosclerosis, heart attack and death, in the setting of a large-scale clinical trial testing a new ag ....Heart attacks are the leading cause of death, and half of all 1st heart attack victims have </= 1 known risk factors for coronary heart disease. There is an urgent need to better predict heart attack risk, and to develop new drugs to combat atherosclerosis. This study will involve a more advanced technique of identifying new molecules found in people who demonstrate progression of coronary atherosclerosis, heart attack and death, in the setting of a large-scale clinical trial testing a new agent that dramatically lowers cholesterol.Read moreRead less
The Impact Of A Public Awareness Campaign On Cardiac Arrest Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$163,596.00
Summary
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is the most common cause of death from heart attacks. Although victims of OHCA typically experience hours of warning symptoms, the majority underestimate their significance and fail to take early action. This research explores whether a public awareness campaign can help to prevent OHCA by increasing public knowledge of the warning symptoms and the importance of accessing ambulance care. The findings will help shape the direction of future campaigns.
Enhanced Vascularisation And Growth Of Stem Cell Derived Human Myocardial Grafts
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$382,346.00
Summary
300 000 Australians currently have heart failure with 400 new cases weekly. New therapies are urgently needed. We can now create heart muscle grafts that can be transplanted after ñheart attackî but graft survival in this hostile environment is low. This project will investigate use of different combinations of human cell types that will cooperate together to improve survival/function of heart muscle grafts, advancing this promising strategy towards being a viable new treatment for heart failure
Assessment Of Microcirculatory Impairment In Reperfused Acute Myocardial Infarction By Invasive Coronary Hemodynamic Measurements And Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Modulation By Exenatide
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$388,752.00
Summary
This study aims to assess the health of small blood vessels of the heart muscle during and following a heart attack by measuring blood flow with a pressure wire and with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Small blood vessels within the heart muscle may become injured due to lack of oxygen and white cell activation during a heart attack. This study investigates the effect of a new agent, exenatide, on small blood vessels and white cells and determines whether it might lessen the degree of damage ....This study aims to assess the health of small blood vessels of the heart muscle during and following a heart attack by measuring blood flow with a pressure wire and with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Small blood vessels within the heart muscle may become injured due to lack of oxygen and white cell activation during a heart attack. This study investigates the effect of a new agent, exenatide, on small blood vessels and white cells and determines whether it might lessen the degree of damage to heart muscle and small blood vessels.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Diffuse Myocardial Fibrosis In Myocardial Stiffness
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$378,032.00
Summary
Collagen, a major component of scar, accumulates in some hearts and we may expect this to increase stiffness, threatening heart function. We have shown poor heart relaxation correlates with increased collagen on heart magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We aim to establish a link between MRI findings and direct measures of heart stiffness, a link between degree of stiffness and amount of collagen and effects of anti-fibrotic therapy on heart collagen; aiding diagnosis, prognosis and outcome.
Assessing Efficacy Of Polyfunctional Nanoparticles Engineered For The Delivery Of Multiple Therapeutics In Reduction Of Cardiac Ischemia Reperfusion Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$317,678.00
Summary
A reduction in heart muscle damage after a heart attack is associated with a reduction in heart failure and an increase in life expectancy. However to date many therapeutic agents are not successful at reducing muscle damage because of difficulty in delivering the drugs to the target site. This project will address these delivery issues by making use of multifunctional nanoparticles which will allow for targeted delivery and release of therapeutics directly to damaged tissue following injury.