Mechanical Mobility Of The Thorax For Continuous Determination Of Lung Gas Volume
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$165,000.00
Summary
Percussion is a valuable clinical method for physical examination of parts of the body. A sharp tap (impulsive force) is applied to the body wall and the sound radiated in response is observed. This sound may be dull (over liver) or stony dull (pleural effusion), or resonant (over normal lung) or hyper-resonant (over bowel). While the variation in radiated sound is not fully understood, it is apparent that the presence of gas, which is highly compliant, increases mobility of the overlying tissue ....Percussion is a valuable clinical method for physical examination of parts of the body. A sharp tap (impulsive force) is applied to the body wall and the sound radiated in response is observed. This sound may be dull (over liver) or stony dull (pleural effusion), or resonant (over normal lung) or hyper-resonant (over bowel). While the variation in radiated sound is not fully understood, it is apparent that the presence of gas, which is highly compliant, increases mobility of the overlying tissue and allows it to resonate; where the sub-tissue is largely fluid, tissue mobility is low and the percussive sound is dull. Percussion is useful for examining the adult chest and lung, but cannot for example be applied in infant intensive care as only limited impulsive force can be used, and the adult finger, which is both a coupling device and sounding board, is too large. As well, percussion requires skill and quiet conditions. Accordingly, we developed a device to measure mobility of the chest and other tissues in real time. The VibroPulse applies a known low-level force to the body surface and records the resultant velocity induced in the surface. The force is generated by a vibrating mass set in motion by an electromagnetic motor driven by pseudo-random noise. Tissue mobility, defined as velocity-force, is derived simultaneously across the frequency range, providing an easily interpreted quantitative output unaffected by ambient noise. This proposal has two aims we can achieve in 1 year: (1) to continue evaluating VibroPulse sensitivity to tissue composition, using symmetrical percussive sites on the human chest and abdomen that are dull on one side and resonant on the other, and the chest of anaesthetised animals with experimentally induced pneumothorax and lung collapse, two life-threatening conditions for which percussion is a key diagnostic method, and (2) to engineer a small device from our bulky prototype that is suitable for clinical use, in infants and adults.Read moreRead less
Using Chromosome Rearrangements As Tumour-specific Markers For Disease Monitoring In Lung Cancer Using Droplet Digital PCR
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,081,335.00
Summary
There are no useful markers apart from CT scans to determine the effectiveness of therapy in patients with lung cancer. We plan to assess highly sensitive methods that can examine the blood to determine whether DNA from the patient’s tumour is present. This will allow more responsive modulation of therapy to enable better management of the cancer.
Monitoring Of Leucocyte Cytokine-chemokines To Improve Morbidity And Rejection Rates In Lung Transplant Patients
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$373,973.00
Summary
Lung transplantation has become established therapy for many serious lung diseases. The early success rate is now very good, but at five years after transplant the survival rate is only around 60%. This problem is largely due to chronic graft failue as a result of chronic rejection or bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. This project will specifically investigate the causes of BOS and thereby provide new information on how we may best treat this problem. An improvement in this area is critical.
A New Model Of Asthenospermia And A Candidate Gene For Multiple Ciliopathies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$629,039.00
Summary
Though the analysis of a unique mouse strain (Mot1) we have identified a previously unknown cause of male infertility and lung disease. We hypothesis that the Mot1 line is a model of human primary cilia dyskinesia and that the Mot1 protein is involved in cilia function. Within this project we will define the consequences of a loss of Mot1 protein function, we will define its binding partners and we will screen for mutations in the corresponding human gene.
Centre For Translational Pathology Research And Training
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,677,639.00
Summary
The Centre for Translational Pathology Research and Training is a collaborative network involving nine hospitals and research institutes affiliated with The University of Melbourne. It's goal is train a cadre of molecular pathologists experienced in collaborative multidisciplinary research who can effective translate research discoveries and inventions in to clinically useful diagnostic tests that will enable oncologists to individualise treatment decisions for patients with cancer, based on the ....The Centre for Translational Pathology Research and Training is a collaborative network involving nine hospitals and research institutes affiliated with The University of Melbourne. It's goal is train a cadre of molecular pathologists experienced in collaborative multidisciplinary research who can effective translate research discoveries and inventions in to clinically useful diagnostic tests that will enable oncologists to individualise treatment decisions for patients with cancer, based on the unique biology of the individual's tumour.Read moreRead less
Circulatory Biomarkers For Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Improving Patient Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$841,625.00
Summary
We are going to find molecules in the blood that would improve the diagnosis and treatment of a lung condition called Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). The project brings together well characterized patients from the Australian IPF registry, blood samples we have collected from them and cutting edge technologies to complete this project.
I am a developmental lung physiologist who specialises in understanding the factors regulating normal and abnormal lung development as well as the physiological transformation of the lung into an efficient gas-exchange organ at birth.
The Link Between Vitamin D Deficiency And Chronic Lung Disease Is Due To Increased Airway Smooth Muscle
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$644,067.00
Summary
Vitamin D deficiency is a global public health problem. It is becoming increasingly evident that vitamin D deficiency increases the severity of chronic lung disease. In this study we propose to examine a mechanism that we think clearly explains this association. These studies are critical to understanding how deficiencies in key nutrients can impact on chronic lung disease and will provide the data necessary to guide public health policy to reduce the burden of disease in the community.