In Search Of Airways Collapse - A Multimodal Device For The Diagnosis Of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$479,786.00
Summary
Using a combination of off-the-shelf and emerging technologies we will develop a multimodal diagnostic device that will identify and characterize the points of airway collapse that occur in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. Using this multimodal approach will allow sleep clinicians to recommend the best form of therapeutic intervention for each individual patient rather than the current strong reliance on positive pressure facemasks.
Development Of An Effective Therapy For Cheyne-Stokes Breathing In Heart Failure.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$604,030.00
Summary
During sleep, patients with heart failure often exhibit a cyclic pattern of breathing in which a period of regular breathing alternates with a period when breathing ceases. This breathing pattern is associated with increased mortality and reduced quality of life but to date no effective treatment for it exists. We have developed a method to calculate an exact level of carbon dioxide to stabilise breathing in each individual, offering the prospect of a better night’s sleep and a longer life.
Next Generation Hand-held Nebulisers For Aerosol Drug Delivery: Using Microfluidics To Tune Particle Size
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$726,160.00
Summary
Chronic respiratory diseases (Asthma, COPD) affect 14% of Australians with a greater disease burden felt by elderly and young patients. These patients experience more difficulty administering medication through conventional inhalers due to a lack of coordination and dexterity. We present a patented technology which improves the pulmonary delivery of medication through a microfluidic method, within a system designed specifically to improve user experience and patient monitoring.
The Development Of Human Hematopoietic Prostaglandin D2 Synthase Inhibitors In Allergic Asthma And Related Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$428,071.00
Summary
Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) is a key mediator of asthma and allergic rhinitis. We have developed drug-like compounds that block the synthesis of PGD2 by inhibiting the hematopoietic prostaglandin D2 synthase (HPGD2S) enzyme. This project aims to evaluate the potential of these compounds to treat asthma and to further optimize the drug-like characteristics of our lead molecules.
A New Approach For The Treatment Of COPD And Lung Cancer Using Inhaled Retrometabolic HSP90 Inhibitors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$638,310.00
Summary
The inflammatory lung disease Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major disease burden in Australia with over 1 million sufferers and being the fourth biggest killer. Lung cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to treat with 5-year survival rates being below 20%. There is a pressing need for new therapies to treat these diseases and this project will develop new drugs designed to inhibit an underlying mechanism present in both diseases, with minimal side-effects.