Significance Of Microparticles In The Pathogenesis Of Liver Ischemia Reperfusion Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$643,958.00
Summary
The overall aim of the project is to investigate the significance of microparticles in liver ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI). IRI causes damage to donor livers stored in preparation for liver transplantation. We postulate that microparticles released from the liver are critical in this form of injury. The expected outcomes are novel insights into liver IRI with the aim of developing new approaches to prevent liver damage during liver surgery, transplantation and shock.
Creating A Vascularized Human Liver Organoid To Treat Liver Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$696,968.00
Summary
Due to a shortage of donor livers many patients suffering liver failure die before a liver transplant can be arranged. This project will grow human liver tissue (termed a liver organoid) using a specilaized human liver support material in which human liver cells and their specific blood vessels are assembled in the laboratory. The liver organoid will be transplanted into animals with a liver disease similar to a known human liver disease to test if the organoid can cure the liver disease.
Protecting Fatty Livers From Hepatic Ischemia-reperfusion Injury In Liver Surgery And Transplantation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$624,960.00
Summary
About one third of the population have a fatty liver, and this greatly increases risks of liver failure after liver surgery or when fatty donor livers are used for transplantation (such organs are currently disposed of). The disease process is called ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). The investigators have recently shown that both fibrates and statins provide partial protection against IRI in fatty livers. This research is directed at establish the protective mechanisms, and whether combination ....About one third of the population have a fatty liver, and this greatly increases risks of liver failure after liver surgery or when fatty donor livers are used for transplantation (such organs are currently disposed of). The disease process is called ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). The investigators have recently shown that both fibrates and statins provide partial protection against IRI in fatty livers. This research is directed at establish the protective mechanisms, and whether combination drugs are more effective.Read moreRead less
A Targeted Approach To Age Related Disease: Nanomedicines And The Liver Sinusoidal Endothelium
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$560,241.00
Summary
Cells that line the liver blood vessels undergo predictable and distinct changes with age that increase the risk of developing diseases of older age like Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease. We can now selectively target the changes in the liver cells with nanomedicines to prevent and treat these changes. The implications of this study are vast – a new therapy for the prevention and treatment of age-related cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Restoring Microcirculatory Perfusion In ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction: The RESTORE MI Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,274,537.00
Summary
Current heart attack treatments have focussed on re-opening the blocked coronary artery but despite this, many patients still suffer significant heart damage because of inadequate blood flow to the heart muscle due to damage to the small blood vessels - the microcirculation. This study seeks to identify heart attack patients with damage to the microcirculation and will conduct a randomised trial of clot busting medications to reduce microcirculation damage and to improve heart function.
Cholestasis And Hepatocyte Injury In Chronic Liver Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$615,967.00
Summary
The aim of this project is to understand the consequences of long-term cholestasis or impaired bile excretion/flow on normal liver cells (hepatocytes) and to test whether specific bile acids can cause irreversible damage to hepatocytes leading to their transformation into pre-malignant cells and hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer). The results from this project will inform new strategies in screening, prevention and treatment of liver cancer in children and adults with cholestasis.
The Role Of MBOAT7 In Hepatic Inflammation: Implications For Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$848,340.00
Summary
When a fatty liver progresses to develop inflammation, patients are at-risk of liver-related morbidity and death. Currently, there are no effective therapies. From human studies, we have discovered that a lipid modifying enzyme (MBOAT7) profoundly regulates liver inflammation. In this proposal, we will obtain a detailed understanding of how the activity of this pathway modulates inflammation. We expect to show that MBOAT7 is a novel ‘druggable’ pathway for the treatment of liver inflammation.
P53 And Hepatocyte Proliferation In Chronic Liver Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$331,360.00
Summary
The aim of this project is understand how loss of control of p53, a tumour suppressor gene, in liver cells causes the transformation of normal liver cell (hepatocyte) to ‘rouge’ pre-cancerous cells in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or primary liver cancer. We will test novel therapies to restore p53 function in liver cells in order to prevent or retard the development of HCC in patients with cirrhosis and those ‘at risk’ of this rapidly increasing fatal cancer in Australia.
MERTK Receptor Tyrosine Kinase: A Novel Therapeutic Target For Liver Fibrosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$870,972.00
Summary
Hepatic fibrosis is the principal cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality, for which there are no effective therapies. Thus, there is an urgent and unmet need to identify new targets to treat liver fibrosis. We have demonstrated for the first time, that liver fibrosis correlates with elevated hepatic expression of MERTK, a receptor tyrosine kinase. This project will explore whether MERTK function can be exploited to target and reverse liver fibrosis
The Role Of The Hepatocyte And EMMPRIN In Liver Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$607,487.00
Summary
This research plan investigates the role of the hepatocyte, the principal functional cell within the liver in the development of liver disease. Liver injury can result in end-stage scaring known as cirrhosis as well as leading to liver cancer. Our research aims to identify strategies for reversing the fibrotic process and result damage to the liver