Dysfunctional blood vessel growth is an important mechanism of many congenital vascular diseases and other postnatal diseases such as ischemia and cancer. Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are common vascular disease in brain that cause strokes and seizures in midlife. Due to their location in the brain, CCMs are virtually untreatable, making the development of novel therapies a priority. This proposal aims to understand how the molecular players underlying this brain vascular disease cont ....Dysfunctional blood vessel growth is an important mechanism of many congenital vascular diseases and other postnatal diseases such as ischemia and cancer. Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are common vascular disease in brain that cause strokes and seizures in midlife. Due to their location in the brain, CCMs are virtually untreatable, making the development of novel therapies a priority. This proposal aims to understand how the molecular players underlying this brain vascular disease control blood vessel function and growth.Read moreRead less
Using Nkx2-5 Knock-in Mouse Models To Understand Complex Cardiac Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$611,340.00
Summary
The most common cause of postnatal mortality is heart defects associated with mutation in transcriptional factors, of which NKX2-5 is the master gene. NKX2-5 is also involved in cardiac dysfunction in adults. We developed a unique mouse genetic approach that mimics human disease to study the mechanism behind this gene function. Our work paves the way to more efficient forecast, counseling and treatment strategies, reducing the socio-economic burden of congenital heart disease our community.
Defining The Cellular Basis For Therapeutic Angiogenesis: Characterisation Of Endothelial Progenitor Cell Populations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$100,943.00
Summary
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the Australia. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), similar to stem cells, have strong self-renewal capabilities and the ability to mature further. There has been immense interest in using EPCs as they are believed to have a role in the growth and repair of blood vessels. This research systematically studies two candidate EPCs, the early EPC and the outgrowth EPC (OEC), and potentially paves the way for using EPCs to treat heart disease.
Identification Of Novel Secretory Factors From The Heart As New Targets For Metabolic Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$864,012.00
Summary
The incidence of obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease is rising at an alarming rate. The communication between the heart and distal tissues represents an exciting and emerging research area which has the potential to result in the identification of new targets and therapies. Here we will identify novel circulating proteins which could be developed as innovative therapies and ultimately translated into the clinic.
Targeting Lipids Regulated In A Setting Of Physiological Cardiac Hypertrophy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$489,970.00
Summary
Existing heart failure therapies largely delay heart failure progression rather than reversing the disease. New therapeutic strategies with the ability of improving function of the failing heart are thus greatly needed. The primary goal of this study is to determine whether lipids that are secreted by the heart in a setting of “good” physiological heart growth (as occurs with exercise) can be targeted to restore function of the failing heart.
Targeting A New Regulator Of Cardiac Pathology To Protect The Heart From Cardiac Dysfunction And Arrhythmia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$717,857.00
Summary
Heart failure is associated with high mortality, and treatment of this condition represents a major unmet need. We recently reported that specific lipid species are elevated in hearts of mice with heart failure. The goal of this study is to comprehensively examine the therapeutic potential of targeting these lipid species with drugs.
Examination Of A Novel Pathway For Artery Weakening
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$698,300.00
Summary
Approximately 5% of men and 1% of women aged over 60 years develop weakening of the main abdominal artery. Currently the management of artery weakening is focused on surgery with no effective medications available. In this study we will assess the role of a novel pathway in artery weakening. Improved understanding of the mechanisms causing artery degeneration is crucial to target the development of better ways to treat this common problem.
Upregulating Kallistatin To Limit Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$668,974.00
Summary
Artery weakening or aneurysm is an important cause of mortality in older adults. Currently there are only surgical therapies for artery weakening. Novel drug therapies are needed for artery weakening. In this project the role of a protein which may inhibit artery weakening is investigated. We also investigate the role of a drug to modulate this protein. The project will include studies in pre-clinical models and a pilot clinical trial in patients.