The Role Of Lycopene Supplementation In The Management Of Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$332,875.00
Summary
Asthma is a significant and increasing health problem for Australia and is now listed as a National Health Priority Area. There is immense community interest in dietary factors affecting asthma. This project examines the potential for dietary carotenoids to be used to manage asthma. Carotenoids are antioxidants that are found in orange and red fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, carrots and mangoes. Research suggests that dietary carotenoids may be protective against asthma symptoms and -or ....Asthma is a significant and increasing health problem for Australia and is now listed as a National Health Priority Area. There is immense community interest in dietary factors affecting asthma. This project examines the potential for dietary carotenoids to be used to manage asthma. Carotenoids are antioxidants that are found in orange and red fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, carrots and mangoes. Research suggests that dietary carotenoids may be protective against asthma symptoms and -or onset. It is also likely that increasing intake of carotenoid-rich foods may be more effective than taking dietary supplements, as the key nutrients or combination of nutrients may not be known. This project will examine whether carotenoids such as lycopene can reduce the tendency of asthmatic airways to overreact to common triggers. It also investigates whether carotenoids can be used to prevent or reduce the severity of asthma attacks. The project will determine whether tomato juice or lycopene capsules are more effective in this role. This work will provide the necessary information to develop a large trial testing the ability of carotenoids to improve quality of life for people with asthma. While there is evidence to suggest that carotenoids may be helpful in asthma, the data to date is inconclusive. This study provides a scientific approach to evaluating the potential for carotenoids to be used as a treatment for asthma.Read moreRead less
Targeting Oxidant-dependent Mechanisms That Drive COPD And Its Co-morbidities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$741,343.00
Summary
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease that is the 4th leading cause of death worldwide. There is currently no effective therapy to treat people with COPD, which costs the Australian community over $8.8 billion/year. Much of the disease burden and health care costs in COPD is associated with the management of its comorbidities (i.e other chronic medical conditions such as heart disease). This project will develop novel therapies to treat COPD and its comorbidities.
Role And Potential For Therapeutic Targeting Of Dysfunction, Oxidative Stress And Altered Metabolism In Mitochondria In The Pathogenesis Of COPD
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$720,338.00
Summary
Emphysema is a major cause of illness and death and there are no good treatments. It is caused by smoking that induces lung inflammation and disease but how this occurs is not well understood. Cellular respiration can become defective causing oxidative stress, altered metabolism and inflammation. We think that this drives emphysema. We will assess alterations in respiration, oxidative stress and metabolism in emphysema and see if we can reverse these changes with new potential treatments.
Targeting Oxidant-dependent Pathways To Improve Stroke Outcomes In COPD
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,069,574.00
Summary
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major incurable global health burden and is the 4th largest cause of death worldwide. Patients with COPD are at increased risk for stroke and this is even higher in the weeks following a lung viral infection. The reason for this is unknown so the aim of this study is to determine why people with COPD are at increased risk for stroke and then develop novel treatments to prevent or reduce stroke in COPD patients.
Targeting Oxidant-dependent Pathways To Treat Skeletal Muscle Wasting In COPD
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,089,054.00
Summary
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major incurable global health burden and is the 4th largest cause of death worldwide. A significant proportion of COPD patients have skeletal muscle wasting and loss of strength which severely impacts on their quality of life and survival. The reason for this is unknown so the aim of this study is to determine how skeletal muscle wasting occurs in COPD and to then develop new medicines to treat skeletal muscle wasting and dysfunction in COPD.
Interleukin-17A Promotes Cigarette Smoke-induced Lung Inflammation And Damage
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$650,590.00
Summary
Emphysema is a major global health problem and has been predicted to become the third largest cause of death in the world by 2020. Cigarette smoking is the major cause of emphysema and accounts for more than 95% of cases in industrialized countries. Cigarette smoke triggers cells in the lung to release substances which cause inflammation and "eat away" lung tissue. The aim of this project is to identify therapies to prevent and treat emphysema.
Macrophage Uncoupling Protein-2 Regulation And Expression In Inflammatory Joint Disease And Hyperoxic Lung Damage
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$270,013.00
Summary
Oxygen radicals (OR) are made by white blood cells (WBC) when they protect against microbes and cancer cells. However, excessive production also damages normal tissue, for example in lungs that receive too much oxygen (hyperoxic lung damage) or in inflamed joints. One type of WBC, the macrophage has a protein named UCP2, that limit the amount of OR formation. This project aims to find out how macrophages activate UCP2 and whether they do so in inflammatory arthritis and hyperoxic lung damage.