TRF2 Protein And T-loop Replication In Alternative Lengthening Of Telomeres
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$398,156.00
Summary
Telomere loss acts as a clock telling cells when to stop proliferating. Cancer cells ignore this clock and grow indefinitely by preventing the normal loss of telomeres. Little is known about one of the methods cancers use to preserve telomeres, called ALT, which is employed by some brain tumours and other cancers. We will determine if the TRF2 protein is involved in controlling ALT. This will lay the basis for future anti-cancer treatments targeted at ALT.
Hyperbaric Oxygen In Lower Limb Trauma: A Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$729,288.00
Summary
HOLLT is an international multi-centre randomised clinical trial aimed at assessing the impact of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) on acute complication rates and long term outcomes following severe musculoskeletal trauma. The study will enrol 250 patients with severe, open tibial fractures over a 2-3 year period. Enrolled subjects will be followed up for 2 years with radiological, clinical and quality of life measures.
The Effect Of Airborne Particles On Chronic Respiratory Disease And The Role Of Public Health Interventions.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$54,255.00
Summary
Chronic respiratory diseases place a significant burden on health services in Australia. Defining the role of airborne particles in the exacerbation of chronic respiratory diseases could enable many patients to control respiratory symptoms more effectively, thus improving lung function, reducing medication use and lowering the demand for non-urgent health services. Public health interventions, such as health-based air quality warning systems, could also play an important role in heightening awar ....Chronic respiratory diseases place a significant burden on health services in Australia. Defining the role of airborne particles in the exacerbation of chronic respiratory diseases could enable many patients to control respiratory symptoms more effectively, thus improving lung function, reducing medication use and lowering the demand for non-urgent health services. Public health interventions, such as health-based air quality warning systems, could also play an important role in heightening awareness of potential environmental triggers of respiratory symptoms, and assist people to manage their exposures and respiratory health more effectively. The project aims to: 1 _ to measure the public health impacts of airborne particulate matter and pollen, on chronic respiratory diseases in Australia. 2 _ to investigate public health interventions that may be used to reduce the number of people adversely affected, to reduce the severity of such effects and to enhance public awareness of the health impacts of environmental allergens.Read moreRead less
RISK AND PROTECTION FACTORS FOR NORMAL AND ABNORMAL BRAIN AGEING: A LONGITUDINAL EPIDEMIOLOGICAL MRI STUDY
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$153,020.00
Summary
Brain is considered the last frontier of medicine, and ageing the major challenge to health care in the 21st century. In this proposal, we bring these two challenges together in a major new longitudinal study of ageing in Canberra that has recently been initiated. This is a longitudinal study of a random community sample covering 3 age groups - 20-24 years, 40-44 years and 60-64 years, with at least 2000 participants in each age group - who are being assessed in 1999-2001, and will be followed u ....Brain is considered the last frontier of medicine, and ageing the major challenge to health care in the 21st century. In this proposal, we bring these two challenges together in a major new longitudinal study of ageing in Canberra that has recently been initiated. This is a longitudinal study of a random community sample covering 3 age groups - 20-24 years, 40-44 years and 60-64 years, with at least 2000 participants in each age group - who are being assessed in 1999-2001, and will be followed up at 4-yearly intervals for 20 years. The focus of the study is on neuropsychiatric disorders (anxiety, depression, substance use and cognitive disorders). In this application, we propose to perform MRI scans and blood tests on a quarter (n-500) of the 60-64 sample to obtain an epidemiological sample for brain morphology. Not only will we be able to study changes in brain morphology over time, and relate it with cognitive function and psychiatric disorder, we will also be able to assess the role of risk and protection factors. We are particularly interested in brain reserve, dietary factors (anti-oxidants, omega 3, wine and folate) and drugs (anti-inflammatory drugs, hormone replacement and vitamin supplements) as protection factors, and hypertension, homocysteine levels, white matter lesions on MRI and low hippocampal volumes as risk factors for cognitive impairment and dementia. We also want to study the brain morphological correlates of Depression in a community sample. The study will enhance our understanding of the ageing brain, both in health and disease, and identify factors that increase or decrease the risk of cognitive impairment and psychiatric disorder in old age.Read moreRead less
Preventing Prenatal Brain Injury In Fetal Growth Restriction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$511,294.00
Summary
Intrauterine fetal growth restriction (IUGR) is a serious complication of pregnancy associated with increased perinatal morbidity and mortality. In particular, IUGR infants have a high risk of perinatal brain injury which is likely to arise from damage before birth. Our aim is to use an ovine model of IUGR to define the causes of that brain injury and to develop new therapies that could be offered to women to protect their unborn baby.