Vascular Mechanisms Of Neurodegeneration: Drivers And Determinants Of Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$6,421,722.00
Summary
The evidence is compelling: vascular burden is the greatest determinant of late life cognition. The volume of evidence linking vascular risk and dementia is conclusive. All late-onset dementia syndromes, especially Alzheimer’s disease, are driven or exacerbated by vascular brain burden. We aim to examine how vascular burden causes dementia. Understanding the mechanisms means that we can prevent and treat the global epidemic of dementia.
Vascular Contributions To Dementia: Prevention In Those At High-risk
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$718,105.00
Summary
10,000 older adults undergo surgeries on their heart every year. These adults are at high risk for dementia, as the factors that bring them to cardiovascular surgery are the same as those that associate with dementia: hypertension, type II diabetes, etc. This population is in fact not only at increased risk of dementia due to vascular ill-health, but also because of undergoing the surgery itself. This project aims to prevent dementia in this vulnerable group.
Biomarkers For Risk And Outcomes Of Type 2 Diabetes: A Discovery And Validation Approach In Australian And Chinese Subjects
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$599,489.00
Summary
The aim is to make better outcomes for people with Type 2 diabetes in Australia and China, by exploring various tests to improve prediction of diabetes progression, complication risk and treatment response. The team has data and samples from the Fenofibrate Intervention and Event Lowering in Diabetes Trial and from the Shanghai Diabetes Study. This approach is very time and cost-effective. We will also study animal models to understand mechanisms of diabetes damage, and test new treatments.
Vascular Cognitive Risk Score: Quantifying The Vascular Burden In Alzheimer's Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$627,180.00
Summary
What causes dementia in a patient presenting to a clinic is often uncertain. While there are exciting potential treatments in the pipeline, we need to understand the cause of the disease in a specific patient to make correct treatment decisions. Stroke and other vascular diseases of the brain cause a significant proportion of dementia in the community. Using MRI scanning technology, this project will quantify this burden in a given patient by developing a ‘vascular cognitive risk' (VCR) score.
My research will explore the pathophysiological mechanisms that link disturbed sleep and circadian rhythm with cognitive impairment and dementia. I will explore how sleep and circadian disruption in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) impact on body and brain vascular function. I will also explore whether OSA treatment and light therapy in MCI patients can arrest or even improve brain vascular function through improved sleep/circadian function.
Implications Of Retinal Neurodegeneration In Alzheimer's Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$602,213.00
Summary
Recent research has shown that “early signs” of Alzheimer ’s disease (AD) can be detected in the eyes. My research focus is to determine which particular changes in the retina are associated with AD. I will also investigate if blocking the production of beta amyloids (proteins produced in AD) in the eye will indeed help reduce their load in the brain and hence delay the onset of AD. Results from this research maybe used for early diagnosis and future medicinal studies that target the eye in AD.
Improving Human FMRI Through Modeling And Imaging Microvascular Dynamics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$486,144.00
Summary
In this project we aim to establish a reliable vascular baseline to improve mapping of both small-scale functional architecture and large-scale brain networks in functional human brain mapping using MRI. By mapping the grey matter vasculature with high detail in both humans and animals, and by computing and matching of these atlases across species we will be able to validate this approach in vivo to confirm the better spatial specificity of the newly developed approach.
E-PREDICE Early Prevention Of Diabetes Complications In Europe
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$917,400.00
Summary
The e-PREDICE study will randomise 3000 people aged 45-74 with mild hyperglycaemia or early diabetes to treatment with intensive lifestyle modification alone, or plus metformin, or sitagliptin, or liraglutide, aiming to reduce diabetes eye, kidney and nerve damage. The Australian arm will be co-ordinated by the University of Sydney and other sites include Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Royal Melbourne Hospital, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne and Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital
A Suite Of Engineered Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines To Facilitate The Generation Of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$881,221.00
Summary
Our goal is to develop tools that address major bottlenecks that have prevented the generation of blood forming stem cells in culture for therapeutic use. We will generate human embryonic stem cell reporter lines that can be used to monitor key milestones in blood stem cell development. These lines will serve as tools to identify growth conditions to improve the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells to functional blood stem cells.
An Integrated Analysis Of Gene Expression And Chromosome Copy Number In Malignant Mesothelioma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$421,697.00
Summary
Mesothelioma is an aggressive, asbestos related cancer which causes more than 20,000 deaths worldwide per annum. Mesothelioma is characterised by a long latency between exposure to asbestos and development of the disease, estimated to be between 20 and 40 years. As such, the peak number of cases of mesothelioma is not expected in Australia until 2010, as asbestos use reached its peak in the 1970-80's. In 2010, deaths from mesothelioma will be more common than ovarian cancer and melanoma. This st ....Mesothelioma is an aggressive, asbestos related cancer which causes more than 20,000 deaths worldwide per annum. Mesothelioma is characterised by a long latency between exposure to asbestos and development of the disease, estimated to be between 20 and 40 years. As such, the peak number of cases of mesothelioma is not expected in Australia until 2010, as asbestos use reached its peak in the 1970-80's. In 2010, deaths from mesothelioma will be more common than ovarian cancer and melanoma. This study aims to explore the molecular defects that are involved in initiation and progression of mesothelioma. Using array comparative genomic hybridisation, a technique which allows comparison of the DNA of normal cells with that of cancer cells, we will classify chromosomal changes in the cancer cell and identify candidate genes which are involved in mesothelioma development.Read moreRead less