In Vivo Studies On Ventriculo-vascular Coupling And The Role Of Aortic Pressure Wave Morphology On Coronary Blood Flow
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$137,700.00
Summary
Heart disease is a leading cause of death and disability in Australia. Conditions resulting in reduced blood flow to the heart are particularly common and dangerous. Despite significant progress, we still do not understand exactly how changes in heart function and the aorta (the major artery arising from the heart) affect blood flow to the heart. This study will utilise sophisticated new techniques to look at the interactions between heart function, pressure in the aorta and coronary blood flow
Pharmacological Effects Of Oral L-citrulline And Tetrahydrobiopterin In Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$322,283.00
Summary
Citrulline, named after citrullus vulgaris, the watermelon, is a precursor of arginine. Arginine is converted to protective nitric oxide (NO), which is decreased in cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Although arginine supplementation can increase NO availability and improve vascular function it is hampered by a low availability. In contrast, Citrulline is highly available and converted to Arginine. Therefore, this project will explore the therapeutic effects of Citrulline in patients with CVD.
Sequencing Periodontal Bacteria To Determine The Relationship Between Periodontits, Renal And Vascular Function Among Indigenous Australian Adults With Chronic Kidney Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$329,644.00
Summary
Almost 20% of Indigenous Australian adults exhibit signs of kidney disease. This study will investigate the relationship between sub-gingival (below the gum) bacteria and both kidney and artery function among Indigenous Australian participants with chronic kidney disease. Using an RCT design, the proposed study will investigate whether changes in sub-gingival bacteria and concentration following conventional treatment of periodontitis align with improvements in renal and vascular function.
Insulin Resistance In Peripheral Artery Disease: Clinical Significance And Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$316,449.00
Summary
This project seeks to improve our understanding and treatment of peripheral artery disease – a condition caused by narrowing/blockages in arteries that supply the legs. Peripheral artery disease affects ~15% of adults >40 years and often causes severe, disabling leg pains during walking. Building on recent findings that peripheral artery disease shares some similar characteristics to type 2 diabetes (“insulin resistance”), a common anti-diabetes drug will be trialled as a potential new strate ....This project seeks to improve our understanding and treatment of peripheral artery disease – a condition caused by narrowing/blockages in arteries that supply the legs. Peripheral artery disease affects ~15% of adults >40 years and often causes severe, disabling leg pains during walking. Building on recent findings that peripheral artery disease shares some similar characteristics to type 2 diabetes (“insulin resistance”), a common anti-diabetes drug will be trialled as a potential new strategy to alleviate these leg pains.Read moreRead less
Nox4-containing NADPH-oxidase As A Protective Enzyme In The Cerebral Circulation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$515,812.00
Summary
Failure of the cerebral circulation to meet the brain's immediate high nutritive requirements results in a stroke in just a few minutes. Stroke continues to be a major cause of death and disability, and this major medical challenge requires urgent research at the basic level to better understand the processes of normal, and then abnormal, regulation of brain artery function. The project will test the importance of a newly discovered mechanism for increasing brain blood flow. This involves activa ....Failure of the cerebral circulation to meet the brain's immediate high nutritive requirements results in a stroke in just a few minutes. Stroke continues to be a major cause of death and disability, and this major medical challenge requires urgent research at the basic level to better understand the processes of normal, and then abnormal, regulation of brain artery function. The project will test the importance of a newly discovered mechanism for increasing brain blood flow. This involves activation of an enzyme, Nox4-containing NADPH-oxidase, to generate oxygen radicals which then relax the wall of blood vessels causing the arteries to let more blood through. We believe that this process plays an important role in the normal, healthy maintenance of blood supply to the brain. Furthermore, we propose that the activity of this enzyme is elevated and therefore protective in brain arteries during high blood presure - which is the major risk factor for stroke. We will specifically test whether the activity of this enzyme actually helps to limit the amount of brain death following stroke. We will use a variety of techniques to assess the importance of this enzyme in brain arteries in the living body, and also in isolated segments of brain artery from animals that are either healthy or have diseased brain arteries. The results are expected to provide major new insight into processes that help maintain brain blood flow under normal conditions and after a stroke, and the knowledge gained here should lead to safer therapies to prevent or treat stroke.Read moreRead less
Ultrasonic Blood Pressure Measurement On Implanted Biomedical Surfaces
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$170,250.00
Summary
The project would develop a prototype device reporting blood pressure on a biomedical implant surface. The device would extract data in real time from a standard ultrasound scanner that images the implant. The School of Mathematical Sciences at Monash University will be contracted to develop this ultrasound pressure sensor.
Assessment Of The Mechanisms Involved And Severity Of Arterial Disease In Insulin Resistant States
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$64,631.00
Summary
Type 2 Diabetes is a major risk factor towards atherosclerosis or blood vessel narrowing. This can lead to vascular complications such as heart attacks, strokes and amputations. This research aim to examine the relationship between some of the mechanisms and their contribution towards vascular disease in the progression from normal health, through insulin resistance to diabetes. This understanding will provide diagnostic tools and treatment targets for diabetic vascular disease.