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Do Postjunctional Alterations Explain The Effects Of Diabetes On Neurovascular Transmission?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,886.00
Summary
Diabetes produces disordered skin blood flow that increases risk of skin ulcers and gangrene. The project investigates nervous control of skin blood vessels in diabetes. It is assumed that all affects of diabetes on nerve function are explained by loss of nerves. We hypothesize that some affects of diabetes are due to dysfunction of blood vessels and not to nerve loss. The objective is to identify drug targets to improve blood flow in skin and thereby reduce the risk of skin ulcers and gangrene.
Harnessing The Dual Roles Of Pericytes To Improve Stroke Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$853,943.00
Summary
Pericytes are cells that are in the walls of capillaries - the smallest blood vessels. Pericytes control blood flow and help promote recovery after injury. In stroke, pericytes squeeze the capillary shut, limiting the amount of energy getting to the brain. This proposal will use innovative techniques to understand how pericytes limit blood flow and also how we can utilise pericytes to improve brain recovery after stroke. This will allow us to identify new potential treatment options for stroke.
Pericyte Dysfunction Limiting Energy Supply In Alzheimer's Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$717,708.00
Summary
One possible cause of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) could be narrowing of small blood vessels (capillaries) within the brain, limiting blood flow and energy supply. Pericytes, a cell only on capillaries, maintain blood flow throughout the brain. I believe that pericytes may die in AD leading to an energy deficit and memory problems. I will test using human brains and animal models whether pericyte loss causes AD and how this is happening. Pericytes could provide a new therapy option for AD.
Peripheral Mechanisms Involved In Autonomic Hyperreflexia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$229,917.00
Summary
Bladder distension or minor unheeded injuries below the lesion in spinally injured people often lead to episodes of high blood pressure that may cause stroke or death. These events require emergency hospitalization and are expensive as well as dangerous. After spinal injury, the control of sympathetic nerves that supply arteries and regulate blood pressure is lost. However, the nerves below the injury remain in place and the spinal cord below the lesion contains connections that can activate the ....Bladder distension or minor unheeded injuries below the lesion in spinally injured people often lead to episodes of high blood pressure that may cause stroke or death. These events require emergency hospitalization and are expensive as well as dangerous. After spinal injury, the control of sympathetic nerves that supply arteries and regulate blood pressure is lost. However, the nerves below the injury remain in place and the spinal cord below the lesion contains connections that can activate them. Signals from the bladder or skin enter the remaining lower part of the spinal cord and activate the sympathetic supply generating a rise in blood pressure. This project will test the hypothesis that increased sensitivity of arteries to the chemicals released from the sympathetic nerves leads to excessive vessel constriction, contributing to the exaggerated increase in pressure. We will investigate arteries removed from rats with experimental spinal transection. We will test the contractions of the arteries (a) to sympathetic nerve stimulation and (b) to the chemicals noradrenaline, adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and neuropeptide Y that are normally released during nerve activity. We will determine whether release of noradrenaline and ATP from nerves is normal or augmented using electrochemical and electrophysiological techniques. We will compare the responses with those in normal arteries, those in arteries whose nerves have been silenced by removing all connections from the spinal cord and those in arteries that have lost all their nerve supply. This will enable us to identify whether the mechanisms for release of transmitter substances are modified and whether the arterial muscle is hypersensitive to these substances. The results will help in the design of safer treatment for these potentially lethal emergencies in spinal patients.Read moreRead less
Understanding The Likely Population Impact Of New And Improved Influenza Vaccines
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$358,678.00
Summary
Influenza causes a large burden of death and disease each year, as well as disruptive pandemics. Vaccines that could protect against more than one season�s flu strains (including new pandemic viruses) would be highly desirable, and may be on the horizon. Our aim is to understand the likely impact of these new vaccines on the way flu viruses spread between people, and change from one season to the next. This information is needed to justify their introduction, and inform their best use.
I am a molecular physiologist investigating the structure and function of the inhibitory neurotransmitter glycine receptor (GlyR) and GABA type- A receptor (GABAAR) chloride channels. We are interested in understanding how these receptors open and close
Tuberculosis - Transmission, Drug Resistance And Strain Emergence
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$290,652.00
Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) kills nearly 2 million people each year. The emergence of drug resistant TB in the Asia-Pacific region pose a particular threat to Australia, due to frequent population mixing and ongoing TB transmission that may facilitate its spread within vulnerable communities. The proposed study will develop advanced tools to monitor and limit TB transmission within Australia. It will also provide novel insight into the evolution of the global TB epidemic and key factors that sustain it.