Towards Predicting Brain Deformations For Image-guided Neurosurgery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$304,281.00
Summary
We will significantly improve the efficiency of image-guided neurosurgery for brain tumours by creating a novel system to improve intra-operative visualisation and navigation utilising realistic prediction of brain deformations based on a biomechanical model. The system will create an augmented reality visualisation of the intra-operative configuration of the patient's brain merged with high resolution pre-operative imaging data in order to better localise the tumour and critical healthy tissues ....We will significantly improve the efficiency of image-guided neurosurgery for brain tumours by creating a novel system to improve intra-operative visualisation and navigation utilising realistic prediction of brain deformations based on a biomechanical model. The system will create an augmented reality visualisation of the intra-operative configuration of the patient's brain merged with high resolution pre-operative imaging data in order to better localise the tumour and critical healthy tissues.Read moreRead less
Development And Validation Of A Finite Element Model For Orthopaedic Screw Insertion Into Trabecular Bone
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$420,454.00
Summary
Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones that results in reduced bone strength and susceptibility to fragility fractures. Due to the spongy nature of osteoporotic bone, surgeons face major difficulties in obtaining secure fixation of bone screws. Our aim is to develop and validate a computer model of orthopaedic screw insertion into trabecular bone based on micro-computed tomography image data. This will allow an assessment of the most appropriate screw designs for stable fixation of implants.
Development And Validation Of An Australian Diabetes Health Policy Simulation Model
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$400,396.00
Summary
Diabetes imposes a heavy personal, societal and financial burden on Australia and this is predicted to increase over time. The aim of this project is to develop a computer simulation model that can be used to inform clinicians and policy makers in efficient allocation of resources to improve the quality of diabetes care.
A Computer Simulation Model For The Evaluation Of Interventions For The Management Of Type 2 Diabetes In Austral
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$334,505.00
Summary
Diabetes imposes a heavy personal, societal and financial burden in Australia and this is predicted to increase over time. It has been estimated that one million people in Australia have diabetes and the annual cost of diabetes care is in the order of 3 billion dollars. Many studies show that the current quality of diabetes care in Australia is sub-optimal and therefore decisions must be made about prioritizing the allocation of limited resources to correct these deficiencies. This project invol ....Diabetes imposes a heavy personal, societal and financial burden in Australia and this is predicted to increase over time. It has been estimated that one million people in Australia have diabetes and the annual cost of diabetes care is in the order of 3 billion dollars. Many studies show that the current quality of diabetes care in Australia is sub-optimal and therefore decisions must be made about prioritizing the allocation of limited resources to correct these deficiencies. This project involves building a computer simulation model to inform clinicians and assist policy makers in the efficient allocation of resources to improve the quality of diabetes care in Australia.Read moreRead less
Hydrostatic Pressure Distributions In Peri-pharyngeal Tissues : Impact On Upper Airway Patency
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$508,935.00
Summary
The obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) refers to a condition in which throat blockage occurs during sleep leading to breathing difficulties, including cessation of breathing for short periods of time. OSAHS affects both men and women but is amongst the commonest of chronic disorders of adult males, occurring in ~4% of men over the age of 45 years. In the proposed studies we will develop a computer model of the function of the throat during breathing. A particular focus of our mo ....The obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) refers to a condition in which throat blockage occurs during sleep leading to breathing difficulties, including cessation of breathing for short periods of time. OSAHS affects both men and women but is amongst the commonest of chronic disorders of adult males, occurring in ~4% of men over the age of 45 years. In the proposed studies we will develop a computer model of the function of the throat during breathing. A particular focus of our model will be the influence of the properties of the tissue that form the walls of the throat. Our goal is to construct a computer model that will be useful in identifying specific features of throat function that make people susceptble to the development of OSAHS. In this manner we hope to provide a tool that can be used to develop new approaches to the treatment and prevention of OSAHS.Read moreRead less
Computational Study Of Selectivity, Gating And Mutation In The Acetylcholine Receptor And Potassium Channels
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$301,393.00
Summary
One way cells in living organisms communicate with each other is via the passage of charged particles across the cell membrane. This takes place through ion channels, large protein molecules that span the membrane and allow small molecules or ions to pass through a central pore. Malfunction of ion channels is known to underlie a variety of disorders including epilepsy, hypertension, kidney disease, heart attack, deafness. Channels also provide promising targets for making new broad spectrum anti ....One way cells in living organisms communicate with each other is via the passage of charged particles across the cell membrane. This takes place through ion channels, large protein molecules that span the membrane and allow small molecules or ions to pass through a central pore. Malfunction of ion channels is known to underlie a variety of disorders including epilepsy, hypertension, kidney disease, heart attack, deafness. Channels also provide promising targets for making new broad spectrum antibiotics and antivirals. This project aims to study two important types of ion channel: acetylcholine receptors that convey signals between nerve and muscle cells, and potassium channels that regulate the nerve impulses themselves. The binding of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine released from a nerve cell to acetylcholine receptors in the muscle cell prompts the opening of a cation conductive pore. The resulting influx of ions initiates a cascade of events ending in the contraction of the muscle fibre. However, the way in which this channel opening is initiated and how ions move into the muscle cell remain to be determined. Potassium channels are primarily used to rapidly 'switch off' nerve impulses so that subsequent messages can be passed through the nerve cell. To do this they have to be highly discriminatory, allowing only potassium to pass across the cell membrane and not sodium that would initiate another impulse. Although we now know what these tiny proteins look like, it is not clear how they differentiate between types of ions while still allowing many millions to pass each second. We will use computer simulations to study how these two type of channel open and close, and how they discriminate between different ion types. Using sophisticated computational techniques on Australia's most powerful supercomputers we aim to elucidate this fundamental area of human biology in the hope of deriving treatments for some debilitating neuromuscular diseases.Read moreRead less
How The Intestinal Microenvironment Controls Propulsion And Mixing Of Food In The Gut: Parallel Transduction Pathways
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,157,350.00
Summary
This project will identify the mechanisms that control the mixing of food with digestive juices, the absoprtion of nutrients from the gut to the blood stream and the excretion of waste. Disruption of these processes causes significant health problems and is associated with normal aging and many diseases. We will identify nutrients and other food components (eg spices) that switch gut from mixing to propulsion and hence identify targets to treat disorders of gut movement.
Migratory Cells To Ganglionated Network: Self-organization Of The Enteric Nervous System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$328,294.00
Summary
The intestine has its own nervous system. This develops from cells that wander into the intestine during early development and self-organize to form the functional nervous system . The correct organization of the cells of this nervous system is required for correct intestine function. How they self-organize is not known, and there are diseases in which the process is disturbed. Molecular and cell biology and mathematical modelling will be used to understand how this occurs.