The Role Of PI 3-kinase P110beta In Regulating Thrombus Porosity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$518,394.00
Summary
Blood clots blocking blood flow to the brain (stroke) are a major cause of death and disability. Safety concerns limit the use of current therapies to a small subset of patients, and there is an urgent need to identify safer, more effective drugs. Our studies show that inhibitors of the enzyme PI3Kbeta increase the breakdown of blood clots, without increasing bleeding risk. Our preliminary results raise the possibility that PI3Kbeta inhibitors may represent a safe and effective new approach for ....Blood clots blocking blood flow to the brain (stroke) are a major cause of death and disability. Safety concerns limit the use of current therapies to a small subset of patients, and there is an urgent need to identify safer, more effective drugs. Our studies show that inhibitors of the enzyme PI3Kbeta increase the breakdown of blood clots, without increasing bleeding risk. Our preliminary results raise the possibility that PI3Kbeta inhibitors may represent a safe and effective new approach for the treatment of stroke.Read moreRead less
Characterising The Role Of Streptokinase Polymorphism In Invasive Pathogenesis Of Streptococcus Pyogenes.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$480,535.00
Summary
Invasive bacterial pathogens such as Streptococcus pyogenes, can hijack host proteins and use them to facilitate the disease process. S. pyogenes secrete streptokinase to activate a host protease (plasminogen) which is used by the bacterium to invade through host tissue. This project will characterise the molecular mechanisms involved in streptokinase mediated activation of plasminogen which will assist the generation of novel therapeutics to treat invasive diseases.
Telehealth And Advanced CT Imaging Combined Study (TACTICS)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$979,270.00
Summary
This project aims to converge several acute stroke therapy systems of care to provide the best possible health outcomes for patients living in regional areas. We will implement a proven telehealth program with the aim of providing increased access to thrombolysis through screening with multimodal CT. During this project we will also undertake a nested randomised trial of advanced imaging to identify which is the most efficient imaging protocol to ensure the best possible patient outcomes
Imaging And Chemical Biomarkers For Assessing The Effectiveness Of Therapy In The First European Investigator-driven Clinical Trial Investigating The Benefits Of Hypothermia In Ischaemic Stroke Patients
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,048,570.00
Summary
Hypothermia, entering phase III trial in Europe, has the potential to slow brain injury after stroke. It will allow existing thrombolytic therapies which restore critical brain blood flow to be used in many more patients than currently possible. However, hypothermia will soak up valuable resources if non-selectively applied to the ~15 million patients who have a stroke each year. We aim to identify biomarkers to test which patients will benefit most and permit the best resource allocation.
Investigation Of A New Approach To Regulate Fibrin Clot Retraction And Arterial Thrombolysis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$483,171.00
Summary
Pathological blood clots are removed in patients by administering clot dissolving drugs (fibrinolytics). However these drugs are quite often ineffective and cause bleeding. We have identified a new platelet-mediated pathway controlling contraction of blood clots, important for clot stability. In this proposal, we will examine the potential for inhibitors of this pathway to loosen blood clots, and facilitate the actions of fibrinolytics to promote clot dissolution.
Talk Stroke: Developing Australia's First National Tele Stroke Framework And Communications Platform
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,164,847.00
Summary
Patients with a stroke in the regional areas are twice as likely to suffer significant disability compared to patients living in inner city regions. We propose to develop technology to close this gap, and guide its implementation with a national tele stroke policy framework. The technology we develop with our partner organisations will facilitate tele medicine to close the gaps in critical patient care.
Helping Stroke Physicians Choose Who To Thrombolyse - The Targeting Optimal Thrombolysis Outcomes (TOTO) Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,073,140.00
Summary
Thrombolysis using alteplase is one of the most effective treatments for stroke but is currently used in only 5% of stroke cases. A major barrier is a lack of tools to identify who will benefit from treatment, or who might have a major adverse event. In this study we will develop a clinical decision rule based on clinical data, advanced CT imaging, and blood biomarkers to help identify those who will benefit and those likely to bleed, to encourage wider use of this treatment in acute stroke.
Restoring Microcirculatory Perfusion In ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction: The RESTORE MI Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,274,537.00
Summary
Current heart attack treatments have focussed on re-opening the blocked coronary artery but despite this, many patients still suffer significant heart damage because of inadequate blood flow to the heart muscle due to damage to the small blood vessels - the microcirculation. This study seeks to identify heart attack patients with damage to the microcirculation and will conduct a randomised trial of clot busting medications to reduce microcirculation damage and to improve heart function.
Optimizing Stroke Therapy - Advanced Brain Imaging And Reperfusion Therapies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$419,180.00
Summary
Most stroke is due to a blocked blood vessel reducing blood flow to the brain. This research aims to optimize fast restoration of blood flow to the brain and improve patient outcomes. We will test potentially more effective clot-dissolving medication, examine potential benefits of redesigning pre-hospital ambulance transport systems and clarify the role of advanced brain imaging to maximize delivery of recently proven minimally invasive procedures to physically remove blood clots in the brain.