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Obesity Induced By Chronic High-Energy Diet: Central Influences In Development And Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$221,210.00
Summary
This project is about the study of central regulation of energy balance contributing to prevention or development of chronic high-energy diet-induced obesity. Obesity is a major predisposing factor for a variety of life threatening diseases such as type II diabetes, hypertension, and coronary heart disease with their enormous costs both socially and economically. Development of human obesity and its related metabolic disorders generally develops over a long period and eventually becomes a chroni ....This project is about the study of central regulation of energy balance contributing to prevention or development of chronic high-energy diet-induced obesity. Obesity is a major predisposing factor for a variety of life threatening diseases such as type II diabetes, hypertension, and coronary heart disease with their enormous costs both socially and economically. Development of human obesity and its related metabolic disorders generally develops over a long period and eventually becomes a chronic condition. Generally, chronic consumption of high-energy food in excess of expenditure leads to excessive fat accumulation and promotes the development of obesity. However, under these conditions, some individuals become obese, while others remain lean indicating that variation in susceptibility is an important determinant of the development of obesity. It is apparent that those individuals resistant to obesity have a more effective defence system against excessive fat accumulation. Using the animal models developed in our laboratory, the proposed research aims to search for the differences in the central regulation between the mice resistant or susceptible to the development of obesity. The outcomes we expect to achieve include: 1) better understanding of central factors controlling energy balance, 2) clarification of the central factors responsible for dysregulation of this system by chronic consumption of a high-energy diet, and 3) identification of those factors contributing to prevention against such dysregulation. Further, according to our previous study [XFH1, 2, 3], we propose to use the drugs targeting on the specific receptor subtypes to test reversibility of chronic high energy diet-induced obesity.Read moreRead less
Obesity: The Role Of Neuropeptide Y, Melanocortin And Serotonin Systems In Development And Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$258,000.00
Summary
This project is about the study of central regulation of energy balance contributing to protection or development of chronic high-energy diet-induced obesity. Obesity is a major predisposing factor for a variety of life threatening diseases such as type II diabetes, hypertension, and coronary heart disease with their enormous costs both socially and financially. Development of human obesity and its related metabolic disorders is a long term process generally develops over a long period and event ....This project is about the study of central regulation of energy balance contributing to protection or development of chronic high-energy diet-induced obesity. Obesity is a major predisposing factor for a variety of life threatening diseases such as type II diabetes, hypertension, and coronary heart disease with their enormous costs both socially and financially. Development of human obesity and its related metabolic disorders is a long term process generally develops over a long period and eventually becomes a chronic condition. Generally, chronic consumption of high-energy food in excess of expenditure leads to excessive fat accumulation and promotes the development of obesity. However, studies on both humans and experimental animals have revealed that not all individuals become obese on a high-energy diet; thus, individual susceptibility is an important phenomenon allowing us to search for the genes contributing to the individuals' susceptibility or resistance to diet-induced obesity and to identify for effective targets for both prevention and treatment of obesity. Using the animal models developed in our laboratory, the proposed research aims to demonstrate the differences in the central regulation between the mice resistant or susceptible to the development of chronic high-energy diet-induced obesity. Outcomes of this project will provide us with: 1) better targets for the prevention of diet-induced obesity; (2) more effective treatments for the late stage of obesity and its related metabolic disorders; and (3) a better understanding of the individual susceptibility to diet-induced obesity.Read moreRead less
Improving Physical Health Outcomes For Young People With Psychotic Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$189,384.00
Summary
Enduring psychotic disorders are associated with a reduced life expectancy by 25 years, which is mainly due to cardiovascular disease. This project will produce a training package that will improve clinician’s skills and knowledge of screening and treatment for physical health risk factors in young people with psychosis. This project will result in the development of an intervention for reducing the prevalence of these cardiovascular risk factors known to contribute to this early mortality.
Cardiometabolic Health Of People With Severe And Persistent Mental Illness
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$187,322.00
Summary
People with schizophrenia have much higher rates of smoking, obesity and diabetes. To date, psycho-social interventions to reduce these physical health risk factors have had limited success. This research aims to conduct clinical trials among people with schizophrenia of 1. a novel diabetes medication to help people lose weight and gain better control of their sugars, and 2. newly developed vaporised nicotine products to help reduce cigarette smoking.
How Does Exercise Ameliorate Programming Of Metabolic Dysfunction In Offspring Of Obese Mothers?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$524,121.00
Summary
Obesity is a worldwide disease, reflecting an interaction between our environment (diet, physical activity) and genes. We know that a mother's unhealthy diet can predispose offspring to diabetes, and exercise can improve this, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here we will examine how exercise can benefit offspring of obese mothers, and test a drug that mimics the effects of exercise. The proposed research will provide insight into ways of reducing the obesity epidemic.
Interaction Between Sleep Apnea And Metabolic Syndrome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$423,650.00
Summary
In this proposal, we will study possible ways in which sleep disordered breathing (snoring sickness or sleep apnea) may cause or worsen metabolic syndrome. Sleep apnea is a common disorder frequently linked to metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of health risk factors including increased risk of diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and excess fat around the abdomen. Metabolic syndrome is an important cause of increased death from cardiovascular disease and affects abou ....In this proposal, we will study possible ways in which sleep disordered breathing (snoring sickness or sleep apnea) may cause or worsen metabolic syndrome. Sleep apnea is a common disorder frequently linked to metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of health risk factors including increased risk of diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and excess fat around the abdomen. Metabolic syndrome is an important cause of increased death from cardiovascular disease and affects about 3 million Australians. Our theory is that lack of oxygen during sleep and disruption of normal sleep patterns leads to increased activity of the body stress handling systems and damage to the lining of the body's blood vessels. In turn, this may promote high blood fat levels and cause excess fat deposits in muscle and liver. We will measure blood, muscle and liver fat changes with treatment of sleep apnea. We believe that by damaging the lining of blood vessels, sleep apnea will also cause an inability of the body's arteries to relax properly. We will measure sleep apnea and the ability of the body's arteries to expand using novel techniques before and after treatment of sleep apnea. We will also take people off treatment to see if these changes get worse. Part of the proposal includes investigating whether snoring and lack of oxygen during sleep leads to increased blood fat levels. Finally, in another study, we will measure the change in metabolic syndrome related disorders in people with sleep apnea losing weight.Read moreRead less
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects a striking 9-21% of women of reproductive age. PCOS is an important health problem and can affect menstrual cycles, fertility and increase risk of diabetes and mood disorders. There is a lack of longitudinal studies that women with PCOS over time to examine the key determinants of PCOS, long-term impact of obesity and factors contributing to PCOS complications.
The Nutritional Geometry Of Ageing In A Rodent Model
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$979,269.00
Summary
A central belief in ageing research is that eating fewer calories prolongs life, and that the source of calories (carbohydrate, fat or protein) is irrelevant. However, a critical assessment indicates that this conclusion is premature. We will use recent techniques in nutrition to define for the first time in mammals the relationship between diet and ageing in a normal and a prematurely ageing strain of mice. The project will provide a novel nutritional approach for promoting healthy ageing.
Nuclear Receptor 4A3 Signalling In Skeletal Muscle
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$475,745.00
Summary
Nuclear receptors regulate hormonal control of reproduction, endocrine physiology, and metabolism, and are very important in human health. NR4A3 function in peripheral tissues remains illusive. However, it is expressed in skeletal muscle, a tissue that (i) modulates blood lipids, insulin sensitivity and energy balance, and (ii) has an imortant role in diabetes and obesity. Understanding NR4A3 function in metabolism provides a potential platform for therapeutic intervention.