Synchrotron X-ray Assessment Of Airway Surface Physiology For Cystic Fibrosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$778,228.00
Summary
We seek a cure or long-lasting therapy for the fatal airway disease in cystic fibrosis. Disease is caused by a shallow and dehydrated airway surface liquid (ASL), allowing bacteria to infect the lung. We can introduce a corrective gene into mouse airways where it can be effective for over 1 yr, but no fast, accurate and non-invasive measurement exists to test if treatments are successful. We will develop methods using synchrotron light to directly measure ASL depth changes in live mouse airways.
Determination Of Irradiation Dose Efficacy For Use In Impaction Grafting At Revision Joint Replacement
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$411,517.00
Summary
Primary hip replacement is a successful intervention for hip disease, but 10-15% of hip prostheses fail and require revision surgery within 10-15 years. At the time of revision, significant bone loss around the failed prosthesis is not uncommon. A bone reconstruction procedure, called impaction grafting, where donor bone is minced and placed in the areas of deficient bone before implanting the new prosthesis, has shown to give good results at more than ten years in some centres. A high incidence ....Primary hip replacement is a successful intervention for hip disease, but 10-15% of hip prostheses fail and require revision surgery within 10-15 years. At the time of revision, significant bone loss around the failed prosthesis is not uncommon. A bone reconstruction procedure, called impaction grafting, where donor bone is minced and placed in the areas of deficient bone before implanting the new prosthesis, has shown to give good results at more than ten years in some centres. A high incidence of early complications of this procedure have included loss of fixation within the bone. Fracture of the bone around prostheses has also reported in some centres. These events require more surgery, putting the patient at higher risk greater complications and longer rehabilitations. Recent improvements in surgical technique and donor bone preparation have improved results. A current debate questions whether the dose of irradiation can be reduced from 25 kGy, while maintaining sterility of allografts. The risk of bacterial contamination in allografts is low, and irradiation reduces the mechanical strength of the graft, contributing to complications when irradiated bone is used. The benefits of decontaminating the bone may be outweighed by the higher risk for failure due to poor bone quality and resulting prosthesis instability. We will use ISO standards to test the validity of radiation dose for sterilising bone ex vivo. In the absence of controlled human studies, our aim is also to compare the results of impaction grafting with non-irradiated bone versus bone irradiated at current doses used by Australian bone banks, and lower doses indicated by ex vivo testing. We will use a large animal model of revision hip replacement, with precise measures of prosthesis stability. The results of this study will guide clinical decisions regarding the efficacy of current bone graft preparation procedures and the use of irradiated bone in human hip replacement surgery.Read moreRead less
Improving Care Of The Dying With Chronic Heart Failure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$130,000.00
Summary
Chronic heart failure is increasing in prevalence and is primarily a condition of ageing. Although chronic heart failure has worse outcomes than many cancers, patients are often denied the benefits of palliative care with its emphasis on symptom management, spirituality, emotional health and focus on family issues. This project seeks to assess the state of knowledge in Australia related to palliative care in chronic heart failure. Guidelines and care maps appropriate to Australian conditions wil ....Chronic heart failure is increasing in prevalence and is primarily a condition of ageing. Although chronic heart failure has worse outcomes than many cancers, patients are often denied the benefits of palliative care with its emphasis on symptom management, spirituality, emotional health and focus on family issues. This project seeks to assess the state of knowledge in Australia related to palliative care in chronic heart failure. Guidelines and care maps appropriate to Australian conditions will be developed and their usefulness assessed in improving care of patients and their families.Read moreRead less
Three-dimensional magnetotelluric imaging of lithospheric-scale mineral systems from source to deposit. Geochemical studies indicate that world-class mineral deposits are partly sourced from fluids emerging from Earth's mantle and lower crust. Finding major mineral deposits in the future will therefore require knowledge of which parts of the crust and mantle yield the most prospective locations. However, there are few methods that can image deep Earth resources, and these can be very expensive ....Three-dimensional magnetotelluric imaging of lithospheric-scale mineral systems from source to deposit. Geochemical studies indicate that world-class mineral deposits are partly sourced from fluids emerging from Earth's mantle and lower crust. Finding major mineral deposits in the future will therefore require knowledge of which parts of the crust and mantle yield the most prospective locations. However, there are few methods that can image deep Earth resources, and these can be very expensive. We propose to develop the magnetotelluric method as a low-cost and rapid approach for delineating 3D information on deep mineral systems beneath existing major deposits, and adapting this to explore in greenfield locations.Read moreRead less
Predicting Renal, Ophthalmic And Heart Events In The Aboriginal Community: The PROPHECY Diabetes Multi-Omics Cohort Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,955,505.00
Summary
Diabetes is at epidemic levels in Indigenous Australians, impairing quality of life, and contributing to poor health. This is a result of rapid development of kidney, heart and eye complications. We have established a large long-term population study among Aboriginal communities within South Australia and will explore the burden, natural history and the social, psychological, environmental, clinical and genomic predictors of diabetes and its complications.
Conservation management of the endangered skink Liopholis slateri. Slater's skink was common in Central Australia 30 years ago, but is now endangered. The project will investigate the lizard response to changing environmental conditions and will develop biological insights that will be important for its conservation.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668155
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$350,000.00
Summary
Instrumentation for combined seismic and electromagnetic Earth sounding. The set of geophysical recorders will provide the means to enhance understanding of the structure of the Australian continent in 3-D. The interpretation of multiple images of Earth structure will help to link features in the crust and mantle beneath, and provide controls on the evolution and assembly of the present continent, with a major contribution to possible geotransects as recommended in the 2003 National Strategic Pl ....Instrumentation for combined seismic and electromagnetic Earth sounding. The set of geophysical recorders will provide the means to enhance understanding of the structure of the Australian continent in 3-D. The interpretation of multiple images of Earth structure will help to link features in the crust and mantle beneath, and provide controls on the evolution and assembly of the present continent, with a major contribution to possible geotransects as recommended in the 2003 National Strategic Plan for the Geosciences. Combining seismic and electromagnetic methods will provide both geochemeical and geophysical constaints, e.g., on zones of alteration and shear with the potential for deep mineralisation. Read moreRead less
Targeting RCAN1 To Treat Type 2 Diabetes And Obesity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$814,468.00
Summary
Obesity and impaired insulin secretion are significant contributors to Type 2 diabetes. In this project we demonstrate that a protein called RCAN1 contributes to both fat mass and insulin secretion and that this contribution is exacerbated in obesity and in Type 2 diabetes. We will identify how RCAN1 controls these major metabolic pathways with outcomes including the development of new therapeutics for obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
Adaptive Morphology and Evolution of Invasive Rabbits and Hares. This project aims to uncover the morphological variation that allows rapid adaptive evolution in two invasive species, the rabbit and hare. This project expects to generate new knowledge at the interface between invasion biology and evolutionary biology, using cutting-edge methods to phenotype widespread populations. This project will address key inter-related hypotheses of rapid adaptive evolution at temporal, spatial and phylogen ....Adaptive Morphology and Evolution of Invasive Rabbits and Hares. This project aims to uncover the morphological variation that allows rapid adaptive evolution in two invasive species, the rabbit and hare. This project expects to generate new knowledge at the interface between invasion biology and evolutionary biology, using cutting-edge methods to phenotype widespread populations. This project will address key inter-related hypotheses of rapid adaptive evolution at temporal, spatial and phylogenetic scales, particularly about changing morphologies involved role in locomotion and dispersal ability. Expected outcomes of this project include a comprehensive phenotypic database of these two species and identifying how these invasive species are adapting to the Australian landscape.Read moreRead less