Hypoxia-induced Suppression Of Respiratory Sensations And Reflexes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$276,750.00
Summary
Many diseases that effect the respiratory system have their primary effect on the lungs and airway themselves but in some conditions, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and asthma, increased breathing load can induce periods of low blood oxygen which could further contribute to morbidity in these diseases. OSA is a disorder associated with snoring. Patients experience periods of sleep fragmentation and oxygen deprivation due to obstruction of the floppy portion of the upper airway (pharynx) d ....Many diseases that effect the respiratory system have their primary effect on the lungs and airway themselves but in some conditions, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and asthma, increased breathing load can induce periods of low blood oxygen which could further contribute to morbidity in these diseases. OSA is a disorder associated with snoring. Patients experience periods of sleep fragmentation and oxygen deprivation due to obstruction of the floppy portion of the upper airway (pharynx) during sleep. It affects 4% of men and 2% of women and causes excessive daytime sleepiness leading to increased risk of accidents, high blood pressure and premature cardiovascular disease. Asthma produces airway inflamation and narrowing and affects a wide range of people. Both OSA and asthma are associated with episodes of impaired breathing and reduced levels of oxygen in the blood. Low levels of oxygen in the blood (hypoxia) is well known to impair functioning of the central nervous system. We have recently found that hypoxia blunts sensations of increased breathing load in healthy people and in asthmatics. Hypoxia might therefore contribute to worsening of attacks in these diseases. This study aims to investigate how changes in blood oxygen levels affect brain processing of respiratory signals, how this translates to perception of sensations and the physiological adaptations that people make to cope with increased breathing load. We will also investigate whether the inhibitory effects of hypoxia on central nervous system function extend to other vital protective respiratory reflexes such as cough, awakening from sleep to increased breathing load and upper airway reflexes that are important for maintaining an open airway.Read moreRead less
Role Of Zinc In The Respiratory Epithelium And Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$224,250.00
Summary
This project will use a panel of Zinquin-derived Zn fluorophores developed in our laboratory, as well as probes for the mammalian family of vesicular ZnT transporters, to carry out a study of the normal physiology of Zn in the respiratory system and potential abnormalities of this in patients with chronic inflammatory respiratory disease (asthma, COPD, chronic smoking). Chronic inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract affect a significant proportion of the Australian community. For example ....This project will use a panel of Zinquin-derived Zn fluorophores developed in our laboratory, as well as probes for the mammalian family of vesicular ZnT transporters, to carry out a study of the normal physiology of Zn in the respiratory system and potential abnormalities of this in patients with chronic inflammatory respiratory disease (asthma, COPD, chronic smoking). Chronic inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract affect a significant proportion of the Australian community. For example, asthma affects 12% of adults and amongst these, 15% waken weekly or more often with their asthma while 6% are hospitalized annually. There is a need to understand the basic mechanisms underlying these diseases so that new strategies can be developed to modify bronchocondtriction and inflammation. The project will provide new knowledge concerning the physiology of Zn in the respiratory epithelium and interactions between Zn deficiency and oxidants on injury in the respiratory tract. The usefulness of easily accessible nasal epithelial cells as a measure of Zn and Zn transporter levels deeper in the respiratory tract will be assessed. The project encompasses a number of fields and utilizes in vitro cellular and animal models, as well as tissues from human subjects.Read moreRead less
Understanding and preventing gun violence: A qualitative study. Gun violence causes significant harm across Australian communities. Excluding sexual assault, firearms feature in nearly one in 10 violent crimes. The annual costs of gun violence run into tens of millions of dollars. This project aims to make an original qualitative contribution to understanding and preventing gun violence in three contexts: drug dealing/trafficking, other organised crime activity, and armed robbery. The proposed r ....Understanding and preventing gun violence: A qualitative study. Gun violence causes significant harm across Australian communities. Excluding sexual assault, firearms feature in nearly one in 10 violent crimes. The annual costs of gun violence run into tens of millions of dollars. This project aims to make an original qualitative contribution to understanding and preventing gun violence in three contexts: drug dealing/trafficking, other organised crime activity, and armed robbery. The proposed research would be the first study nationally - and one of the very few internationally - to interview convicted gun crime users about the acquisition and use of firearms in criminal life. Project results are expected to have direct implications for reducing the impact of gun violence in Australia.Read moreRead less
Airway Epithelial IAPs And Their Interaction With Zn Ions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$260,779.00
Summary
The air we breathe contains a variety of harmful substances. Damage to the lining involves death of the ciliated cells that line the airways. We have shown that zinc protects these cells from premature death. This application focuses on a family of proteins called IAPs which bind zinc and regulate cell death in other tissues. This project focusses on how the IAPs and Zn may act together to mainitain healthy airways and how abnormalities of these may occur in people with asthma.
Common synaptic inputs to human upper airway muscles. Changes in the activity of upper airway muscles at sleep onset contribute to the development of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea. The aim of this project is to investigate how the brain controls upper airway muscles during wakefulness and sleep and to identify the pathological processes that lead to the development of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.
Strengthening Australia's national integrity system. Strengthening Australia's national integrity system. This project aims to equip governments and civil society stakeholders with evidence-based options to improve the structure and operations of integrity institutions, by undertaking a second National Integrity System Assessment. Public integrity is vital to social and economic prosperity and the quality of democracy. This project intends to identify new, more effective strategies to prevent co ....Strengthening Australia's national integrity system. Strengthening Australia's national integrity system. This project aims to equip governments and civil society stakeholders with evidence-based options to improve the structure and operations of integrity institutions, by undertaking a second National Integrity System Assessment. Public integrity is vital to social and economic prosperity and the quality of democracy. This project intends to identify new, more effective strategies to prevent corruption and other integrity violations; coordinate the work of integrity institutions; ensure their accountability; and measure the effectiveness of integrity and anti-corruption policy settings. This research is expected to contribute to better evaluation of integrity policies worldwide.Read moreRead less
Preventing Diabetes In Pregnancy From Progressing To Type 2 Diabetes: Macrolevel System Change In South Australia And Vic
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,338,281.00
Summary
The greatest predictor of the likelihood of developing diabetes is having diabetes during pregnancy. This project will invite women who have developed diabetes during pregnancy to be registered for recall every two years. They would go to their general practitioner to be tested for diabetes and to be advised on risk factors for diabetes. A lifestyle modification program will be developed for these women to reduce the risk of progressing to diabetes.
The Central Australian Heart Protection Study: A Randomised Trial Of Nurse-Led, Family Based Secondary Prevention Of Acute Coronary Syndromes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,923,630.00
Summary
Despite the high burden of cardiovascular diseases among Indigenous Australians, few intervention trials have sought to evaluate novel approaches to reducing differential outcomes in this vulnerable group. The Central Australian Heart Protection Study seeks to test the effectiveness of a nurse-led, family based education and assessment program in reducing the incidence of poor outcomes in indigenous and non-indigenous patient’s following an Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS).
Adolescents becoming delinquent online. The project aims to provide a longitudinal criminological study of adolescent Internet use in the world. The Internet is a pervasive influence in young people's lives and is increasingly viewed as a significant factor in the incidence of criminal activities including cyber-bullying, computer hacking and radicalisation. Using survey and interview methods over four years, the project will study how adolescents use the Internet daily, and particularly how thi ....Adolescents becoming delinquent online. The project aims to provide a longitudinal criminological study of adolescent Internet use in the world. The Internet is a pervasive influence in young people's lives and is increasingly viewed as a significant factor in the incidence of criminal activities including cyber-bullying, computer hacking and radicalisation. Using survey and interview methods over four years, the project will study how adolescents use the Internet daily, and particularly how this may enable or encourage delinquency on and off-line. This project is expected to benefit national security, law enforcement and crime prevention and enhance public safety and social cohesion.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200100679
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$376,761.00
Summary
Child maltreatment, youth and adult offending: Pathways and prevention. This project aims to investigate when, how and for whom experiences of child abuse and neglect lead to youth and adult offending. It expects to generate evidence needed to inform preventive interventions that can alter pathways from maltreatment to offending by identifying when to intervene, which factors to target, and for whom. Expected outcomes include a deeper understanding of child protection, developmental and school f ....Child maltreatment, youth and adult offending: Pathways and prevention. This project aims to investigate when, how and for whom experiences of child abuse and neglect lead to youth and adult offending. It expects to generate evidence needed to inform preventive interventions that can alter pathways from maltreatment to offending by identifying when to intervene, which factors to target, and for whom. Expected outcomes include a deeper understanding of child protection, developmental and school factors that influence life course offending pathways, and the translation of these findings to inform prevention. This should increase the ability to effectively design and target prevention initiatives that aim to improve outcomes for individuals, families and communities who bear the costs of maltreatment and crime.Read moreRead less