Development Of An Experimental Aquaculture Facility (EAF) Specific Amoebic Gill Disease (AGD) Challenge Model That Can Reliably Evaluate Treatment Interventions To Support Industry Focused AGD Studies
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$250,000.00
Summary
Commercial in confidence. To know more about this project please contact FRDC. Objectives: Commercial in confidence
This is an application for reappointment as a Principal Research Fellow. My primary area of research is preclinical studies of addiction, with a particular emphasis on relapse. I am increasingly engaged in translational studies.
Short Duration Hypothermia To Prevent Subsequent Intracranial Pressure Rise.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$436,453.00
Summary
Elevated brain pressure after stroke or other forms of brain injury can cause further injury and death. Body cooling to 32-33 C (hypothermia) for 12-24 hours saves lives after some forms of brain injury, but may have major side effects. We found that 2 hours hypothermia has a long-lasting effect preventing pressure elevation. We will determine the best temperature and duration of hypothermia in a stroke model and use imaging to confirm findings in patients, with a view to later human trials.
A New Paradigm To Prevent Intracranial Hypertension
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,388.00
Summary
Increasing brain pressure after stroke or other forms of brain injury can cause further injury and death. Body cooling by 4-5 0C (hypothermia) for 12-24 hours saves lives after some forms of brain injury, but may have major side effects. We found that 2 hour hypothermia has a long-lasting effect preventing pressure elevation. We will determine the best temperature and duration of hypothermia in a stroke model and use imaging to confirm findings in patients, with a view to later human trials.
Improving Outcomes In Heart Failure Through Basic, Clinical And Translational Research
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$951,005.00
Summary
Heart failure (HF) is a common, chronic cardiovascular condition characterised by a reduced capacity of the heart to function. Patients with HF have a poor quality of life and significantly reduced survival. My proposed programme of research will improve the understanding of heart failure (HF) and lead to better treatments.
Practicing Aquatic Animal Welfare: Identifying And Mitigating Obstacles To Uptake And Adoption By The Australian Fishing Industry
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$100,100.00
Summary
Recent research shows general public support for Australia’s fishing industry (Sparks 2017; Voyer et al 2016) that depends on people’s assessments of industry’s commitment to implement best practice and demonstration of being effective environmental stewards (Mazur et al 2014). The FRDC has recognised external pressure for the fishing industry to move beyond compliance with environmental and other regulations and improve its performance in key areas, including animal welfare. As noted above, th ....Recent research shows general public support for Australia’s fishing industry (Sparks 2017; Voyer et al 2016) that depends on people’s assessments of industry’s commitment to implement best practice and demonstration of being effective environmental stewards (Mazur et al 2014). The FRDC has recognised external pressure for the fishing industry to move beyond compliance with environmental and other regulations and improve its performance in key areas, including animal welfare. As noted above, the FRDC has provided support for a range of research and industry initiatives to achieve positive aquatic animal welfare outcomes. The FRDC also recognises that further improvement to the seafood industry’s aquatic animal welfare practices are required.
Recent FRDC project investments has produced valuable knowledge about how when change is called for it is very important to recognise that multiple factors influence – positively and/or negatively - people’s decisions to take up those new, innovative, and/or different practices (i.e. 2017-133, 2017-046, 2017-221). These factors typically include personal values and belief systems, access to different kinds of resources required to make changes, particular features of the recommended practices, as well as a range of macro-levels factors that while they may be outside of people’s direct control still affect their choices. FRDC Project 2017-133 generated important insights about how and to what extent these kinds of factors have been keeping the seafood industry from making more substantive progress towards building greater stakeholder and community trust (Mazur & Brooks 2018).
Further work of this nature is now needed to shed greater light on aquatic animal welfare in the seafood industry (FRDC 2017-221). In particular the research should be focused on identifying the particular features of ‘best care’ for aquatic animals, the range of factors that may be obstructing industry members’ use of those practices, and examples of recent (extension) initiatives used to encourage better aquatic animal welfare.
Objectives: 1. Identifying best practice in (aquatic) animal welfare. 2. Identify the extent to which fishers and finfish aquaculture farms are applying best practice in Australia 3. Identify factors impeding the uptake and adoption of a selection of recommended aquatic animal welfare practices in wild-catch commercial fishing and finfish aquaculture 4. Identify appropriate strategies to mitigate obstacles to improved uptake and adoption of those recommended practices 5. Help build the Australian fishing industry's capacity to design and implement extension programs, especially those targeting increased uptake and adoption of recommended aquatic animal welfare practices 6. Contribute to increased likelihood of more widespread and enduring practice-change in the seafood industry's aquatic animal welfare practices in wild-catch commercial fishing and finfish aquaculture Read moreRead less
Platelet Derived Growth Factor Mediated Activation And Rejuvenation Of Endogenous Cardiac Stem Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$102,345.00
Summary
The burden of heart failure is underpinned by the heart’s limited capacity for self-repair after injury. Recent evidence shows that PDGF can improve heart function by activating and rejuvenating resident heart stem cells. This project will build on over a decade of preliminary work in mice, validating our results in a preclinical large animal model. Outcomes of this project include expedited progression of this promising therapy where thousands of heart failure patients could one-day benefit.