Therapeutic Approaches To Circumvent NO• Resistance In The Type 2 Diabetic Heart And Vasculature
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$563,337.00
Summary
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is Australia’s fastest growing chronic disease, affecting almost 2 million Australians (who face poor cardiovascular health outcomes). We have discovered an exciting new avenue that may potentially more effectively counteract heart and blood vessel disorders in T2D patients in an acute cardiovascular emergency, of substantial clinical importance.
NOVEL CGMP-BASED THERAPIES PREVENT LEFT VENTRICULAR REMODELLING
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$533,433.00
Summary
Over 300,000 Australians are affected by heart failure. Current drugs for cardiac remodelling (the decline in heart pumping function and changed structure that precede heart failure) slow but not reverse disease progression. We have identified a new, nitrovasodilator-based therapy superior to those currently available. We propose it represents a more effective treatment for reversing abnormalities in both structure and function in the remodelled heart, preventing or delaying heart failure.
Benefit Of 2D-strain Surveillance In Improving Cardiovascular Outcomes In Cancer Patients Undergoing Cardiotoxic Chemotherapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,391,979.00
Summary
Cancer survivors are susceptible to heart failure (HF) caused by heart muscle damage from chemotherapy. The current testing for this problem is based on a measure that cannot identify minor changes of cardiac function. Cardiac strain is a sensitive new marker of cardiac function which is predictive of overt dysfunction & HF. This study seeks to identify whether strain can be used to assign treatments that lead to improved cardiac function and are eventually associated with a reduction in HF.
Clinical Utility Of New Non-invasive Assessments Of Left Ventricular Function.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$48,361.00
Summary
This project involves a series of studies that investigate the use of new ultrasound measurements of heart function in order to assess whether or nor they make a meaningful contribution to patient management, both in terms of diagnosis and monitoring of treatments. Major studies include: 1) Detection and prevention of early heart disease in patients who are undergoing toxic chemotherapy for cancer; and 2) Investigation and treatment of patients with a high blood pressure response to exercise.
I am a cardiology research scientist investigating the differences between physiological (“good”) and pathological (“bad”) heart growth- cardiac hypertrophy. In general, heart failure research and therapy has concentrated on identifying and inhibiting pathological processes. In contrast, my research is unique because it has focused on activating physiological pathways (elevated in the athlete’s heart) in the failing heart as a potential new strategy for the treatment of heart failure and atrial ....I am a cardiology research scientist investigating the differences between physiological (“good”) and pathological (“bad”) heart growth- cardiac hypertrophy. In general, heart failure research and therapy has concentrated on identifying and inhibiting pathological processes. In contrast, my research is unique because it has focused on activating physiological pathways (elevated in the athlete’s heart) in the failing heart as a potential new strategy for the treatment of heart failure and atrial fibrillation.Read moreRead less
TARGETING ROS-INDUCED DAMAGE RESCUES THE DIABETIC HEART
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$487,669.00
Summary
Over 1 million Australians have diabetes. Many of these patients die from cardiovascular disease. We have identified free radicals as a major cause of decreased pumping function and impaired recovery from each heartbeat in the diabetic heart. Stronger antioxidant approaches and-or activation of protective protein pathways is a more effective treatment for reversing impaired function in the diabetic heart, preventing or delaying heart failure in patients with diabetes.
Formyl Peptide Receptor Biased Agonists As Novel Cardioprotection From Myocardial Infarction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$948,291.00
Summary
Heart attack is caused by a blocked heart blood vessel. Current therapy focuses on rapid reopening of the vessel, to allow blood supply to return. However, even if this is successful, affected patients are often left with impaired heart muscle pumping function, ultimately progressing to heart failure. We have discovered an exciting new mechanism to protect heart muscle from injury and preserve its function, and we plan to develop new drugs for heart attack based on this mechanism.