The health benefits of consuming fruits and vegetables can in part be attributed to their high content of polyphenolic compounds such as flavonoids. These substances can improve functioning of blood vessels and have the potential to reduce the risk of heart disease. This project will examine one of the most common flavonoids in the diet to try and understand how it works and better understand the protective effects.
Endothelial Development From Pluripotent Stem Cells As A Means To Study Pathology In Pulmonary Artery Hypertension
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$613,311.00
Summary
Pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) is a fatal disease primarily affecting young adults. It is caused by a defect in cells that form the vessel that carries blood from the heart to the lungs. We will use stem cells made from the skin of PAH patients to examine why the blood vessel cells from these patients fail to function normally.
Role Of AMPK Signaling In Metabolic Control During Exercise
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$566,288.00
Summary
It is well recognized that sedentary life styles are associated with increased incidence of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The medical, social and financial costs of these diseases are growing rapidly and represent a major health care challenge. Exercise is beneficial for maintaining health in patients at risk of developing these diseases and for this reason we are interested in understanding how exercise capacity is regulated.
Glucose Uptake During Exercise: Important Role Of AMP-activated Protein Kinase And Nitric Oxide?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$379,875.00
Summary
Almost one in four Australians aged 25 and over has either diabetes or impaired glucose metabolism. In people with type 2 diabetes the rate of glucose uptake into muscles in response to insulin is reduced. However, glucose uptake during exercise is normal. Therefore, the hyperglycaemia of diabetes tends to normalise during exercise. The signals within the muscle which result in glucose uptake during exercise are largely undefined, but are known to differ to to that of insulin. This project will ....Almost one in four Australians aged 25 and over has either diabetes or impaired glucose metabolism. In people with type 2 diabetes the rate of glucose uptake into muscles in response to insulin is reduced. However, glucose uptake during exercise is normal. Therefore, the hyperglycaemia of diabetes tends to normalise during exercise. The signals within the muscle which result in glucose uptake during exercise are largely undefined, but are known to differ to to that of insulin. This project will determine whether the skeletal muscle enzymes AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) play a critical role in the activation of glucose uptake during exercise. Exercise is considered the best prevention and treatment option for diabetes. Unfortunately, approximately 50% of people with diabetes do not exercise regularly with adherence to exercise programs being poor. Therefore, other alternatives must be sought to effectively manage diabetes. If it is found that skeletal muscle AMPK and-or NOS regulate glucose uptake during exercise, efforts can then be made to design drugs for diabetics that mimic these exercise effects on skeletal muscle glucose uptake resulting in improved glycemic control and consequently reduced diabetic complications.Read moreRead less
Inhibitors Of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) Regulation As A Basis For Novel Anti-Infective Agents
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$643,735.00
Summary
The human enzyme iNOS generates reactive nitrogen species that are required for the intracellular killing of pathogens such as bacteria and parasites. Recently, we showed that the SPSB proteins are key regulators of this important enzyme, and that interfering with this regulation enhanced the anti-microbial actions of iNOS. This project will develop small molecule inhibitors of the SPSB-iNOS interaction for use as novel anti-infective agents in humans.