Retinal Vascular Structure And Function As Markers Of Endothelial Dysfunction.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$104,664.00
Summary
Coronary heart disease (CHD) due to atherosclerosis (thickening of blood vessels) remains the leading cause of death in Australia, but visualisation of heart arteries usually requires invasive testing. Blood vessels in the eye (retina), can be viewed easily and may be indicative of blood vessel function in the heart and rest of the body. This study aims to explore the relationship between eye and heart blood vessels. Retinal imaging may thus enable earlier detection of patients at risk of CHD.
An Integrated Approach To Inotropic Support In Preterm Neonates
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$694,449.00
Summary
Poor cardiovascular function in preterm babies can lead to inadequate blood flow to the brain and brain injury. Current treatments to improve heart function are often ineffective. This study will examine the effects of treatment on different parts of the cardiovascular system, and how these effects interact. It will identify reasons for the lack of effectiveness and provide insight which will help to design better treatments for preterm babies.
Contribution Of The Central Nervous System To Peripheral Neural Control In Obesity And Diabetes.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$454,691.00
Summary
Obesity and diabetes are becoming major worldwide public health problems. A characteristic of human obese diabetes is a marked increase in sympathetic nerve activity to the kidneys and to the muscle. The cause of this overactivity is unknown, but undoubtedly involves the central nervous system. Within the brain are a select group of regions that are able to directly influence the activation of the sympathetic nervous system. We suspect these areas to play a critical role in the overactivity of t ....Obesity and diabetes are becoming major worldwide public health problems. A characteristic of human obese diabetes is a marked increase in sympathetic nerve activity to the kidneys and to the muscle. The cause of this overactivity is unknown, but undoubtedly involves the central nervous system. Within the brain are a select group of regions that are able to directly influence the activation of the sympathetic nervous system. We suspect these areas to play a critical role in the overactivity of the sympathetic nerve activity in obese diabetics. Indeed, we believe that there are specific chemical messengers in these select brain areas that are normally finely balanced. In obesity - diabetes, this balance is disturbed. Finally, we hypothesise that exercise, which is known to have beneficial effects for obesity - diabetes, restores the balance of the neurochemicals and this contributes to the positive outcomes of exercise.Read moreRead less
Coronary Atherosclerosis And Its Relationship With Platelet Activation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$101,039.00
Summary
Blood clots are critical to the development of heart attacks, which kill many thousands of Australians annually. Platelets are cells in the blood that play an essential role in formation of blood clots, and coronary disease is associated with platelet activation. This research study will investigate the nature of platelet activation in the arteries of the human heart, its relationship to activation of inflammatory cells, and to the severity of narrowings in the arteries of the human heart.
Insulin Resistance In Peripheral Artery Disease: Clinical Significance And Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$316,449.00
Summary
This project seeks to improve our understanding and treatment of peripheral artery disease – a condition caused by narrowing/blockages in arteries that supply the legs. Peripheral artery disease affects ~15% of adults >40 years and often causes severe, disabling leg pains during walking. Building on recent findings that peripheral artery disease shares some similar characteristics to type 2 diabetes (“insulin resistance”), a common anti-diabetes drug will be trialled as a potential new strate ....This project seeks to improve our understanding and treatment of peripheral artery disease – a condition caused by narrowing/blockages in arteries that supply the legs. Peripheral artery disease affects ~15% of adults >40 years and often causes severe, disabling leg pains during walking. Building on recent findings that peripheral artery disease shares some similar characteristics to type 2 diabetes (“insulin resistance”), a common anti-diabetes drug will be trialled as a potential new strategy to alleviate these leg pains.Read moreRead less