The Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) invites you to participate in a short survey about your
interaction with the ARDC and use of our national research infrastructure and services. The survey will take
approximately 5 minutes and is anonymous. It’s open to anyone who uses our digital research infrastructure
services including Reasearch Link Australia.
We will use the information you provide to improve the national research infrastructure and services we
deliver and to report on user satisfaction to the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research
Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) program.
Please take a few minutes to provide your input. The survey closes COB Friday 29 May 2026.
Complete the 5 min survey now by clicking on the link below.
The Impact Of Severe Asthma During Pregnancy On Placental Function And Fetal Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$209,242.00
Summary
This study will examine whether the glucocorticoids administered for the control of severe asthma during pregnancy affects placental and fetal function. It is known that severe asthma during pregnancy is associated with low birth weight babies but the events that cause reduced growth of the baby are unknown. However in both animal and human pregnancies, increased exposure of the baby to glucocorticoids from the mother causes growth restriction of the baby. Therefore we propose that the increased ....This study will examine whether the glucocorticoids administered for the control of severe asthma during pregnancy affects placental and fetal function. It is known that severe asthma during pregnancy is associated with low birth weight babies but the events that cause reduced growth of the baby are unknown. However in both animal and human pregnancies, increased exposure of the baby to glucocorticoids from the mother causes growth restriction of the baby. Therefore we propose that the increased intake of glucocorticoids for the treatment of asthma during pregnancy changes how the placenta functions and allows the fetus to be exposed to maternal glucocorticoids causing changes in fetal development. We will examine placental blood flow and measure some placental enzymes that may be involved in the control of blood flow in placentas collected from women with mild, moderate and severe asthma and compare them to non-asthmatic women. We will look at placental blood flow in utero using Doppler ultrasound and also in vitro after the placenta is delivered. We want to see if the fetus is affected by increased intake of glucocorticoids by the mother by measuring a hormone estriol, which originates from the fetus. We will measure estriol throughout pregnancy as it can easily be detected in the mothers' urine. These studies will tell us if glucocorticoid intake for the treatment of asthma can exert effects on the placenta and baby during pregnancy. These studies will make a significant contribution both scientifically and clinically. At a scientific level we will be able to examine how increased maternal glucocorticoid intake during pregnancy affects placental mechanisms and whether these changes affect the fetus and clinically the outcome of this study will allow us to optimize asthma therapy during pregnancy so that we can improve the outcome for the baby.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.
Ultrasonic Blood Pressure Measurement On Implanted Biomedical Surfaces
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$170,250.00
Summary
The project would develop a prototype device reporting blood pressure on a biomedical implant surface. The device would extract data in real time from a standard ultrasound scanner that images the implant. The School of Mathematical Sciences at Monash University will be contracted to develop this ultrasound pressure sensor.
Time-domain Analysis Of Right Ventricular-pulmonary Arterial Coupling As A Windkessel And Wave System.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$64,631.00
Summary
We seek to determine the number of people affected by pulmonary arterial hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs) in Tasmania by collecting information from echocardiograms (heart ultrasounds). This is important because the incidence and prevalence is unknown but suspected to be unusually high in Tasmania. Also simultaneous pulmonary arterial pressure and velocity waves will be studied in humans to model pulmonary flow in an attempt to recognise pulmonary arterial hypertension earlier.
In Vivo Studies On Ventriculo-vascular Coupling And The Role Of Aortic Pressure Wave Morphology On Coronary Blood Flow
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$137,700.00
Summary
Heart disease is a leading cause of death and disability in Australia. Conditions resulting in reduced blood flow to the heart are particularly common and dangerous. Despite significant progress, we still do not understand exactly how changes in heart function and the aorta (the major artery arising from the heart) affect blood flow to the heart. This study will utilise sophisticated new techniques to look at the interactions between heart function, pressure in the aorta and coronary blood flow