Novel 'Mechano-medicine' Combats Deadly Sticky Blood Clots In Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$760,684.00
Summary
This project aims to elucidate a novel biomechanical mechanism that associates with mechanical force generated by dynamic blood flow and leads to enhanced blood clotting in diabetes. The outcome may likely explain the reduced efficacy of current anti-clotting drugs (i.e. Aspirin, Plavix® or Brilinta®) in individuals with diabetes, which does not take the 'force effect' into account. Moreover, it will provide an innovative therapeutic strategy to reduce the sticky blood clots of diabetes.
Cells recycle old components using a system called the proteasome. Some people are born without parts of the proteasome, and they suffer from a disease associated with inflammation. We have identified the molecular trigger for this inflammation. Our findings are also relevant for patients being treated with proteasome inhibitors. In some of these diseases, such as lupus, inflammation can be a side-effect of proteasome inhibitor therapy, and we can now reduce this and make the treatments safer.
Identifying A Modifiable Risk Factor For PTSD: Insomnia-related Disruption Of Trauma Recovery Mechanisms
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,072,993.00
Summary
About 4.6 million Australians will experience PTSD during their life. Having insomnia before or immediately after trauma exposure makes it 2.5-3 times more likely someone will develop PTSD, but no one knows why. This project will, for the first time, propose and test a reason why insomnia increases the risk of PTSD. If successful, we will identify one of the few risk factors that can actually be modified in order to reduce the likelihood of developing PTSD after a trauma.
Biopsychosocial Risk And Protective Factors Of Trauma Exposure In First Responders: A Longitudinal Investigation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,137,427.00
Summary
Investigating individual differences in response to stress is crucial to improving both psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy for individuals at high risk for exposure to trauma. This world-first project will investigate pre and post-trauma psychological and biological trajectories associated with health outcomes in first-responders, contributing significantly towards our fundamental understanding of the biology of risk and resilience to trauma exposure, a key health issue.
Understanding Sex Differences In Alcohol Use Disorder: The Role Of Stress And Neuropeptides
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$692,106.00
Summary
Alcohol use disorders (AUD) are an emerging issue in women, yet there is little understanding of the how the male and female brains differ in response to excessive alcohol consumption. In pilot studies, we have found that deletion of a specific brain chemical causes differences in the way male and female mice consume alcohol in excess. We will further characterise this system and test new approaches to reduce the desire to consume alcohol.
Mammalian Endotoxin: Characterisation Of Highly Inflammatory Endogenous Material
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$915,859.00
Summary
Inflammation drives development of many common diseases including heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease and diabetes. We understand how bacterial molecules initiate inflammation during infections, but the nature of inflammatory stimuli that promote degenerative diseases of ageing has been elusive. In this project we will identify highly inflammatory molecules that have become altered in cells under stress. Knowledge of these pathways will promote new treatments for chronic diseases.