Sex Differences In Long-Term Outcomes Of Young Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$333,900.00
Summary
Young women (?55 years) are more likely to die after having a heart attack and face more difficult recoveries compared to similar aged men. However the cause of this difference is unknown. This project seeks to improve the prevention, care and longer term outcomes for young women following a heart attack. Information obtained from will provide evidence-based and actionable information for physicians to inform and manage their patients so that we may ultimately improve the lives of young women.
Generating New Evidence To Better Guide Stroke Management
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$568,293.00
Summary
I wish to produce sound knowledge on the management of blood pressure and nursing monitoring for patient affected by stroke. I plan to address gaps in stroke management that exist between men and women around the world in order for there to be equity of care and an ability for every patient to have the best chances of receiving proven therapies to optimise their chances of recovery. Finally, I will use data that considers patients’ own view of wellbeing that can be used to direct stroke care.
Morphometric Analysis Of Normal Airway Structure In Childhood And The Influence Of A History Of Asthma On This Structure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$186,113.00
Summary
The architectural structure of the airways of the lung is thought to have profound effects on airway function. Changes in this structure are believed to be partly responsible for limiting the flow of air into the lung in conditions such as constant wheezing, bronchitis and asthma. Pathological studies carried out on adult lungs have shown that the structure of the airways is indeed altered in patients with lung disease when compared with patients with no history of breathing difficulties. For ex ....The architectural structure of the airways of the lung is thought to have profound effects on airway function. Changes in this structure are believed to be partly responsible for limiting the flow of air into the lung in conditions such as constant wheezing, bronchitis and asthma. Pathological studies carried out on adult lungs have shown that the structure of the airways is indeed altered in patients with lung disease when compared with patients with no history of breathing difficulties. For example, the walls of the airways are much thicker in patients with lung disease. This thickening means that the airways are much narrower and therefore not able to carry as much air as in people with healthy lungs. In addition, the muscle within the airway wall, which is normally very sparse, is much denser in people with asthma and bronchitis. Thus, the airways can be squeezed closed more easily. It is not known if these changes are present in children who have lung disease. X-rays and sophisticated breathing tests suggest that these children may also have thicker walls and more muscle in their airways. The major difficulties in assessing whether such changes are present in children, is the lack of information on the normal structure in infants; how this changes as they grow to adulthood; or if there are any gender differences. This project aims to obtain this information from the airways of male and female children from 0-18 years. This information can then be used as a basis for comparison with the structure found in children with lung disease, in particular asthma, and therefore assist in making assessments as to the cause of their breathing difficulties. With more knowledge about these causes, we will be in a better position to design new and better treatments and produce ways of preventing them ever occurring.Read moreRead less
Investigating The Synergistic Role Of Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) And Estradiol On Parvalbumin-mediated Cognitive Function: Relevance To Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$589,644.00
Summary
Estrogen-based therapy may improve cognitive functioning in dementia patients. However, more detailed knowledge is required to ensure safe and effective targeted treatment is provided. I propose to examine, in mouse models, the mechanistic functioning of estrogen signalling in key brain regions involved in cognition. Unravelling the way estrogen impart its beneficial effect can lead to the development of effective treatments for dementia and many other devastating neurological diseases.
Fetal Sex: An Important Determinant Of The Placental Transcriptome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$553,574.00
Summary
There are fetal sex differences in pregnancy outcomes that place boys at greater risk than girls. These are likely caused by genetic differences in the placenta. We will use 21st century gene sequencing technology to obtain the complete sequence of placental genes in early pregnancy and normal term placenta to determine what the genetic differences are between male and female placentas. This may be important in developing future sex specific therapeutics for babies in the neonatal nursery.
Obesity ensues when calorie intake exceeds energy expended. Hitherto, up-regulating energy expenditure is a relatively unexplored avenue. This project will address 3 facets of energy expenditure (fat, muscle and neural control). Understanding how sex and steroids act in concert to regulate energy expenditure will pave the way towards developing novel anti-obesity agents. This work will delineate mechanisms that underpin gender differences in the regulation of body weight.
Novel DNA Modifications Underlying Sex Differences In Fear-related Learning And Memory
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$531,978.00
Summary
Women are at increased risk of developing fear-related anxiety disorders. We have recently discovered that there sex-specific regulatory mechanisms in the brain that are associated with differences in the control of fear. In this proposal, we will determine whether novel DNA modifications in the female brain are responsible for establishing sex differences in brain states that make the brain more or less responsive to fear-related learning.