Alfred And Baker Medical Unit Centre For Clinical Cardiovascular Research
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,000,000.00
Summary
This Centre has three objectives: to create clinical research platforms; to provide time and training for advanced cardiology trainees, young clinical academics, research nurses, allied health staff and non-medical science graduates; and to translate previously established local and international research outcomes into knowledge, education and health benefits for the wider Australian community.
Metabolic disorders related to the modern lifestyle, including inactivity, obesity, the metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes, are responsible for a major proportion of the disease burden in Australia. Current treatment strategies are expensive and because they are directed at end-organ damage (heart failure, heart attacks etc), rather ineffective. This multispecialty, multidisciplinary group will undertake a series of unique studies aimed at understanding and preventing early cardiovascular c ....Metabolic disorders related to the modern lifestyle, including inactivity, obesity, the metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes, are responsible for a major proportion of the disease burden in Australia. Current treatment strategies are expensive and because they are directed at end-organ damage (heart failure, heart attacks etc), rather ineffective. This multispecialty, multidisciplinary group will undertake a series of unique studies aimed at understanding and preventing early cardiovascular complications of these metabolic conditions. Sensitive new cardiovascular imaging techniques will be used to detect preclinical abnormalities in the structure, function and metabolism of the heart and vasculature, facilitating the development of new strategies of exercise and lifestyle intervention to prevent these complications. While built on the successful current CCRE in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease, including multidisciplinary clinical research training, the new application involves major new directions in the interface between the liver and metabolic syndrome, and strategies for community-based prevention programs. The nursing intervention model, which will focus on workforce models of care, is especially important. The results of this study will provide information to address the need for different nursing models sought by the recent Productivity Commission Report.Read moreRead less
Diabetes affects over one million Australians and is an increasing health problem in Australia and worldwide. Diabetes can damage small blood vessels, harming the kidneys and eyes and large blood vessels leading to heart attack, stroke and leg amputation. The research team leading this Centre for Clinical Research Excellence (CCRE) has wide experience in diabetes research and includes experts in diabetes management in hospitals and in the community setting of general practice. There is special e ....Diabetes affects over one million Australians and is an increasing health problem in Australia and worldwide. Diabetes can damage small blood vessels, harming the kidneys and eyes and large blood vessels leading to heart attack, stroke and leg amputation. The research team leading this Centre for Clinical Research Excellence (CCRE) has wide experience in diabetes research and includes experts in diabetes management in hospitals and in the community setting of general practice. There is special expertise in eye disease and in dietary management of diabetes. The research team will conduct research into diabetes, both type 1 diabetes, which usual starts in childhood, and type 2 diabetes that generally affects middle aged or older people, although increasingly is occurring in younger adults as the population becomes more obese. We will focus on the complications, which are common to both types of diabetes, looking for ways to detect them early and prevent them. Our studies will involve groups of up to 10,000 people with diabetes, sometimes followed over 5 or more years. Indigenous Australian groups will be included in the studies as they have a high rates of diabetes and its complications. We will also study ways in which people with type 2 diabetes can be more involved in improving the management of their illness. An exciting part of the study program will involve patients having transplants of insulin producing human islet cells. Although this treatment will be available for only a few patients, it is an important advance towards future treatments using human cells. The CCRE will have a very strong focus on recruiting and training the next generation of doctors and other clinicians involved in diabetes research, including nurses, dietitians and optometrists.Read moreRead less