Motor Unit Synchronisation And Neuromuscular Performance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$198,500.00
Summary
The fine control of force is important for many everyday tasks such as writing, grasping objects between index finger and thumb, and fastening buttons. Factors that influence the ability to control force include the coordinated activation of groups of muscle fibres called single motor units. This proposal focuses on the concept that the coordinated activation of motor units is influenced by muscle activity and can impair the ability to produce finely controlled muscle contractions. The goal of t ....The fine control of force is important for many everyday tasks such as writing, grasping objects between index finger and thumb, and fastening buttons. Factors that influence the ability to control force include the coordinated activation of groups of muscle fibres called single motor units. This proposal focuses on the concept that the coordinated activation of motor units is influenced by muscle activity and can impair the ability to produce finely controlled muscle contractions. The goal of these studies is to explore the boudary conditions of the adaptive nature of the nervous system to examine how coordinated motor unit activity influences these aspects of neuromuscular performance. The outcomes of these experiments will identify if altering muscle activity influences the control of movement by altering single motor unit activity. These results will have direct application to the interpretation of abnormal movement control and tremor that is observed in certain neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, new information will be gained on the adaptability of the motor system and its role in the execution of fine motor tasks that may aid in the development of rehabilitation strategies following stroke or spinal cord injury.Read moreRead less
Preparing Australia For Genomic Medicine: A Proposal By The Australian Genomics Health Alliance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$25,000,000.00
Summary
The sequencing of the human genome brings the possibility of more accurate identification of the underlying basis of many diseases. This technology has moved so rapidly, however, that clinical access has been limited. In this application, a national alliance of clinicians, researchers, health economists and policymakers will evaluate the case for clinical genomics across inherited disease and cancer, determine how best to deliver this to the patient and train a capable workforce.
Electrophysiologic Phenotyping Of Non Ischaemic Cardiomyopathy To Predict Clinical Outcome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$374,676.00
Summary
Non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) is a common cause of heart failure and sudden death. Currently, the guidelines for the management are generalised and do not differentiate patients at high risk of disease progression and sudden death. This project aims to identify the electrical and structural properties of heart, to predict the clinical course in patients with NICM. Identification of high-risk patients will help allocate resources wisely and enable appropriate patient counselling.
Blood Protein Biomarkers For Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$184,305.00
Summary
This project will assess blood proteins as biomarkers for different pathogenic forms of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), one of the major neurodegenerative dementias with a very rapid disease progression (mean survival 3 years). At present, it is not possible to predict which pathological variant is present in any given patient. We plan to develop blood protein biomarker assays capable of diagnosing the pathology in vivo.
Study Of C-KIT Mutations In Familial Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours, Melanoma And A Novel Form Of Waardenburg Syndrome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$68,378.00
Summary
The primary aim of this research project is to study mutations in a cancer causing gene called c-KIT. We seek to identify tumour characteristics which are predictive for the presence of particular types of c-KIT mutations in melanomas and gastrointestinal stromal tumours. The detection of tumours harbouring these mutations will help in the treatment of cancer sufferers because this group of patients have been shown to respond very well to a class of drugs known as tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
SNAC2: A Randomised Trial Of Extending Sentinel Node Based Management To Women With Larger Or Multifocal Breast Cancers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,266,430.00
Summary
SNAC2 extends the work begun in SNAC1, which recruited 1,088 women over 4 years. SNAC1 will determine if sentinel node biopsy causes less arm problems than axillary clearance. The goal of SNAC2 is to establish the risk of local recurrence and long term safety of sentinel node biopsy, especially for women with larger or multiple tumours. SNAC2 is needed to determine whether the smaller operation gives cure rates as good as axillary clearance. If it does, then it will become standard practice.
Differences Between Physiological And Pathological Cardiac Hypertrophy Offer New Strategies For Treating Heart Failure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$335,473.00
Summary
The heart becomes large both in athletes as well as in patients with heart disease and failure. In the first instance, the large (hypertrophied) heart has normal or even increased pumping ability (function) whereas in the patient with heart disease the function is depressed and the heart may fail. My studies are directed towards finding out what is the difference in these 2 situations and what mechanisms are responsible for making one big heart pump well and the other big heart pump poorly. Spec ....The heart becomes large both in athletes as well as in patients with heart disease and failure. In the first instance, the large (hypertrophied) heart has normal or even increased pumping ability (function) whereas in the patient with heart disease the function is depressed and the heart may fail. My studies are directed towards finding out what is the difference in these 2 situations and what mechanisms are responsible for making one big heart pump well and the other big heart pump poorly. Specifically my project hopes to identify the genes and proteins responsible for the differences. I have already identified one such gene and I now plan to manipulate this gene by overexpressing it in animals (transgenic mice) with heart failure. I predict that overexpression of this gene will improve heart function in models of heart failure. If the hypothesis is correct, activating genes that are activated in the athlete's heart maybe a potential tool for improving heart function, quality of life and life span in patients with heart failure.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Integrins In The Regulation Of Scleral Remodelling During Pathological Myopia Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$234,750.00
Summary
Myopia (short-sightedness) is due to the eye being too long. It is a common refractive disorder, affecting some 25-30% of people in developed countries, and results in blurred distance vision. Most myopia is easily corrected with spectacles or contact lenses. However a small, but significant, group of individuals (in Australia, 1-2% of people) have high degrees of myopia. These enlarged eyes impose abnormal stresses on the structures inside, particularly affecting the retina which is the light s ....Myopia (short-sightedness) is due to the eye being too long. It is a common refractive disorder, affecting some 25-30% of people in developed countries, and results in blurred distance vision. Most myopia is easily corrected with spectacles or contact lenses. However a small, but significant, group of individuals (in Australia, 1-2% of people) have high degrees of myopia. These enlarged eyes impose abnormal stresses on the structures inside, particularly affecting the retina which is the light sensitive part of the eye. Any damage that occurs to the retina in these eyes is, at present, untreatable and irreversible and can result in blindness. In fact, myopia is the 2nd leading cause of blindness amongst adults of working age. In order for the eye to grow so large its white, outer coat (the sclera) must expand without allowing any leaks of the delicate structures and fluids inside. Although the sclera gets very thin as it expands, it has been shown that this process of expansion is not just due to stretching. Before any stretching can occur the biochemical structure of the sclera must change and this is a complex process, driven by the scleral cells and involving the synthesis of structural components and activity of enzymes which breakdown scleral structure. The aim of this project is to investigate the role of specific scleral proteins (integrins) in high myopia. Integrins reside on the surface of the scleral cells and communicate information about the changes going on in the surrounding sclera. We predict these proteins are important in keeping the cell informed of the local biochemical and biomechanical changes in the sclera and in driving the cell to rapidly adapt to these changes. The project will provide a greater understanding of the process of scleral thinning in high myopia and allow us to test the potential of integrins as therapeutic targets in the sclera, thereby giving us the opportunity of preventing blindness in a number of highly myopic individuals.Read moreRead less