Understanding Factors Involved In The Development Of Hypertension
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$757,492.00
Summary
High blood pressure is a major cause of cardiovascular diseases. Currently intervention occurs after the cardiovascular system is damaged. Our interest is in the development of high blood pressure, to determine whether early intervention could stop its progression. We identified that excitation of the sympathetic nervous system by the circuits that control breathing is important. We seek to further understand this interaction to identify novel approaches to treat high blood pressure.
Role Of The Area Postrema In Determining The Increased Cardiac Sympathetic Nerve Activity In Heart Failure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$489,912.00
Summary
In heart failure there is a large increase in sympathetic nerve activity to the heart that has detrimental effects on the heart and can induce sudden death. The areas in the brain causing the increased nerve activity are unknown. We will investigate the role of the area postrema, which is a window to the brain for hormones in the blood. We have evidence that this brain site maintains the high level of nerve activity in heart failure, possibly stimulated by hormones circulating in the blood.
The Effects Of Tonic Muscle Pain On The Sympathetic And Somatic Motor Systems In Human Subjects
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$462,948.00
Summary
The main objective of this proposal is to reveal the effects of nociceptive reflexes in humans, and thus identify their functional and clinical implications. By performing invasive recordings from the nerves that control blood vessels and muscles in healthy volunteers subjected to long-lasting (~1 hour) experimental pain, this work will increase our understanding of the adaptive changes that pain induces and improve treatments to prevent pain from becoming chronic.
Characterisation Of Eurl, A Novel Gene Implicated In The Etiology Of Abnormal Brain Development And Intellectual Disability
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$597,541.00
Summary
Intellectual disability affects around one per cent of Australians, and can arise from genetic abnormalities during fetal life, such as through abnormal regulation of gene expression. We have identified a novel gene, known as eurl, which controls brain assembly as well as the ability of neurons to form functional connections within the brain. We will investigate how this novel gene controls brain development, and characterise eurl as a potential therapeutic target for learning and memory.
Imaging The Activation Of Sensory Nerve Endings That Detect Pain In The Colorectum
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$570,334.00
Summary
Within the gastrointestinal tract are sensory nerve endings that detect painful stimuli. In this project a new technique has been developed that allows us to monitor and record the activation of the particular sensory nerve endings that detect painful stimuli. This project will determine how these sensory nerve endings detect pain and how drugs might be used to relieve these unpleasant sensations arising from the gut wall.
Reduced Baroreceptor Reflex Control Of Heart Rate In Chronic Renal Failure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$490,288.00
Summary
People with kidney disease are more likely to die of heart disease than their ailing kidneys. One reason is because their hearts do not respond properly to changes in blood pressure, as the nerve circuits controlling the heart become dysfunctional. We will examine where and why components of this circuit are unable to respond to changes in blood pressure. This will help guide new treatments to reduce the incidence of heart disease and risk of death associated with kidney disease.
Release The Sterile Males: A New Direction For Mosquito Population Control Technologies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,110,112.00
Summary
With over 40% of humans at risk from mosquito-borne disease, new environmentally friendly mosquito control tools are required. We’ve developed a novel sterile male population suppression technology – using neither radiation nor genetic modification – to produce sterile adult male mosquitoes from both male and female larvae. We will show that exposing mosquito larvae to specific RNA molecules can produce fit sterile males adult mosquitoes that can crash mosquito populations in large cage trials
Hypothalamic Orexin Neurons And The Medullary Sympathoadrenal Centre: A Key Role In Glucose Homeostasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$577,957.00
Summary
Hypoglycaemia or low blood sugar is a major side-effect of the treatment of diabetes. Exposure to hypoglycaemia results in changes in the brain (neuroplasticity) that reduce the awareness of hypoglycaemia, often with serious consequences. Hypoglycaemia triggers the production of several hormones including adrenaline which restore normal blood glucose. This process is incompletely understood. This research project will identify key components of the neurocircuitry that controls blood sugar.
Our goal is to discover new mechanisms involved in our cells’ delicate balancing act with respect to cholesterol levels. Understanding how production of cholesterol is controlled in our cells is key to developing new drugs aimed at preventing its excessive accumulation. This will have long-term benefits for health considering that a cellular imbalance in cholesterol is involved in two of the most common conditions threatening the health of Australians, namely heart disease and Alzheimer’s diseas ....Our goal is to discover new mechanisms involved in our cells’ delicate balancing act with respect to cholesterol levels. Understanding how production of cholesterol is controlled in our cells is key to developing new drugs aimed at preventing its excessive accumulation. This will have long-term benefits for health considering that a cellular imbalance in cholesterol is involved in two of the most common conditions threatening the health of Australians, namely heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease.Read moreRead less
A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Effectiveness Of 4RIF And 9INH For Treatment Of Latent TB Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$496,875.00
Summary
Treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is one intervention that is known to prevent the occurrence of active TB. Current treatment is based on a six to nine month course of isoniazid. The treatment has side effects in some people and many people do not complete the treatment. The present study is to test an alternative treatment regimen (4 months of rifampicin) which has fewer side-effects and is more likely to be completed.