Sensory Neuronal Pathways From The Lower Genital Tract Of Females
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$397,224.00
Summary
Many women experience severe debilitating pain upon normally innocuous contact with their genitalia. The causes of this pain are unknown. Therefore, this project will use a suite of sophisticated microscopic and electrical recording techniques to identify the neural pathways that transmit sensation, including pain, from the female lower genital tract. Our new data will help create a rational basis for understanding and treating the physical basis of genital pain in women.
Dissecting The Central Organisation Of Cough Neural Networks
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$880,928.00
Summary
Cough is the most prevalent symptom of lung disease and the most common reason for people to seek medical advice. However, cough neural processes are poorly defined and as a result current cough therapies are largely ineffective making cough a significant unmet clinical problem. This project will novel viral strategies to dissect and manipulate cough neural pathways in the brain, providing insights into the neural processing of airway sensations and coughing.
Innate Threat Detection Circuits In The Superior Colliculus Co-ordinate Respiratory And Cardiovascular Responses To Visual Stimuli
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$517,958.00
Summary
Our surroundings affect our bodies: light pollution, traffic, and aircraft noise all significantly affect cardiovascular health. This project will investigate interactions between brain systems that subconsciously scan our surroundings for interesting or threatening features, and those that co-ordinate the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. We will generate new knowledge that describes how the brain detects danger and translates this into signals that contribute to cardiovascular risk.
The Role Of Central Neural Pathways In The Determination Of Body Fat Mass
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$73,361.00
Summary
Obesity and its associated health risks are a developing world problem. Fat is not distributed uniformly in an individual; females have more subcutaneous, and males more abdominal, fat. Abdominal fat is associated with the health risks of obesity. The aims of the current project are to examine the neuronal pathways from the brain to fat and the chemicals involved in order to better understand the way in which fat distribution is determined in the body and develop appropriate therapies.