Reduction Of The Cardiovascular Response Of Psychological Stress Through Blockade Of Orexin’s Action On One Of Its Receptors.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$394,925.00
Summary
Anxiety, fear of challenges, frustration are part of modern life stressors. Our body reacts to these stressors by increasing blood pressure and heart rate, which in turn can harm our cardiovascular system and precipitate cardiovascular accidents. In this project we test a new class of drugs that act on a neurochemical system implicated in these particular responses. If our hypothesis is correct, one of these drugs could be used to relax the cardiovascular system and protect it in times of stress ....Anxiety, fear of challenges, frustration are part of modern life stressors. Our body reacts to these stressors by increasing blood pressure and heart rate, which in turn can harm our cardiovascular system and precipitate cardiovascular accidents. In this project we test a new class of drugs that act on a neurochemical system implicated in these particular responses. If our hypothesis is correct, one of these drugs could be used to relax the cardiovascular system and protect it in times of stress.Read moreRead less
Immediate Cooling And Emergency Decompression (ICED) For The Treatment Of Spinal Cord Injury: Pilot, Safety And Feasibility Studies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,008.00
Summary
Victims of Spinal Cord Injury are young, have severe paralysis, complex needs and high lifetime costs. Although urgent surgery greatly improves outcome, it is difficult to achieve because of logistical difficulties. To expand the time window for early surgery, it is proposed to immediately cool patients. This project will conduct the pilot studies necessary before commencing a clinical trial of immediate cooling and emergency decompression (ICED) in patients with cervical spinal cord injuries.
The brain exerts a restraining influence over the heartbeat via the vagus nerves. This is known as cardiac vagal ‘tone’. It is strong when we are healthy but weak when we are sick. It has a positive influence on the health of the heart and perhaps the body generally. Vagal tone comes from the brain but, despite over 150 years’ research, nobody knows exactly where. Using a novel technique, we can track down its origins. This important basic knowledge may lead to ways to improve health.
Radiosensitisation Of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Gliomas By Modulating Glucose Metabolism
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$325,000.00
Summary
Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) represents the most aggressive cancer of childhood with no effective treatment available and radiotherapy is the only form of treatment that offers a transient benefit. We have successfully grown the first DIPG cells in the laboratory and found a new approach to radiosensitise them by targeting glucose metabolism. We will build on these findings and develop this treatment strategy to make this novel therapy available to children with this deadly disease.
Targeting Mitochondrial Metabolism In Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Gliomas As A Novel Therapeutic Strategy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$607,796.00
Summary
Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) represents the most aggressive cancer of childhood, with no effective treatments available, and almost all children dying within one year of diagnosis. We have successfully grown the first DIPG cells in the laboratory and found a new approach to attack them, by specifically targeting the cell's power source - the mitochondria. We will build on these findings and develop this treatment strategy with the aim to make this novel therapy available to children w ....Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) represents the most aggressive cancer of childhood, with no effective treatments available, and almost all children dying within one year of diagnosis. We have successfully grown the first DIPG cells in the laboratory and found a new approach to attack them, by specifically targeting the cell's power source - the mitochondria. We will build on these findings and develop this treatment strategy with the aim to make this novel therapy available to children with this deadly disease.Read moreRead less
A 3D Cross-Modality Atlas Of The Human Brainstem For Scientists And Clinicians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$363,455.00
Summary
Recent technical advances dramatically improved imaging of the human brainstem. However, there are limited frameworks for interpreting the images. The project will address this by acquiring high quality MRI anatomical and MR microscopy data from postmortem brains and registering these with structures in Atlas of the Human Brainstem (Paxinos and Huang, 1995) where almost 500 brain areas are delineated. Our work will assist with the diagnosis of brain disorders and facilitate clinical research.
Effectiveness Of Ghrelin Receptor Agonists To Limit The Extent Of Tissue Damage Caused By Traumatic Injury To The Central Nervous System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$592,002.00
Summary
Ghrelin is a naturally occurring compound that under adverse conditions can activate specific receptors on cells around the body to enhance their survival. These receptors are also present in the spinal cord, but ghrelin doesn't enter the spinal cord. We will investigate a new group of compounds that can enter the spinal cord and activate these receptors to see if this can reduce the amount of damage that occurs after a spinal cord injury. Less tissue damage would mean less permanent disability.
Brainstem And Hypothalamic Function And Anatomy In Migraine
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$652,828.00
Summary
Migraine is a disabling condition characterized by mostly unilateral throbbing head pain and a range of associated neurological symptoms. The underlying mechanisms responsible for the initiation of migraine remains unknown. We aim to determine brain anatomy and activity patterns in migraineurs throughout the migraine cycle. An understanding of the mechanisms responsible for migraine will aid in better treatment development.
Targeting The Complement Activation Fragment C5a To Improve The Outcome From Spinal Cord Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$406,838.00
Summary
This project will focus on the development of a new drug that is designed to attenuate the harmful inflammatory response that follows from spinal cord injury (SCI). The experiments will determine if the therapeutic targeting of an immune receptor molecule, called C5aR, can protect compromised neural tissues after injury against harmful inflammation and degeneration whilst also explore the mechanism behind the therapeutic effect.
Hypothermia Prior To Decompression For Treatment Of Acute Spinal Cord Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$294,163.00
Summary
In spinal cord injuries, the cord is compressed as a result of vertebral injury. Urgent relief of compression improves outcome, however, is difficult because of the complexity of pre-surgical management. Our data demonstrate that hypothermia stops compressive spinal cord injury, allowing decompression to be performed in a period that will benefit most patients. This project aims to undertake the studies necessary before beginning a human trial of hypothermia prior to decompressive surgery.