A pressure pulse may be felt at the wrist with every heart beat. New technology allows the analysis of this pulse and provides information that may help doctors make decisions about a patients risk related to blood pressure as well as the effect of drug treatment. The research aims to determine the clinical significance of pressure pulse analysis at rest and during light exercise. It is expected that the new technology will improve the way people with high blood pressure are treated.
International Strategies To Reduce Population Salt Intake
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$428,065.00
Summary
Effective, sustainable and scalable strategies to reduce salt are needed so countries can achieve the global target to reduce salt by 30% by 2025. This research program will support the optimal development of such strategies through trials and intervention research projects, supplemented through a series of systematic reviews and feasibility and cost-effectiveness assessments. The main outcome will be new evidence on the effectiveness of different interventions to support translation globally.
New Therapies For Stroke – Preventing Stroke Progression And Enhancing Recovery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$463,652.00
Summary
Stroke is a major cause of death and disability worldwide. Dr Spratt’s team have discovered a new mechanism causing pressure to rise in the skull after stroke. They will build on their discovery of a promising new therapy to prevent early worsening of stroke and improve patient outcomes. He also leads a team studying better stroke recovery by promoting activity by enriching the rehabilitation environment, and ways to improve fitness in stroke survivors.
Central Blood Pressure And Cardiovascular Risk In Children Within The General Population And After Repair Of Congenital Heart Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,000.00
Summary
With an exceptional research standing internationally, and as the leader of a Cardiovascular Bioengineering team, I am developing a new method for assessing central blood pressure in children that will provide better information about early risk of cardiovascular disease than arm blood pressure. This will be applied (1) in a large health study of Australian children and (2) to identify risks and causes of adult-type cardiovascular disease in children with repaired congenital heart disease.
A New Paradigm To Prevent Intracranial Hypertension
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,388.00
Summary
Increasing brain pressure after stroke or other forms of brain injury can cause further injury and death. Body cooling by 4-5 0C (hypothermia) for 12-24 hours saves lives after some forms of brain injury, but may have major side effects. We found that 2 hour hypothermia has a long-lasting effect preventing pressure elevation. We will determine the best temperature and duration of hypothermia in a stroke model and use imaging to confirm findings in patients, with a view to later human trials.
Central Blood Pressure: Physiology And Clinical Application
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$459,270.00
Summary
Current methods used by doctors to measure blood pressure (BP) have many limitations that could result in incorrect diagnosis and inappropriate treatment of high BP (hypertension). This research program will determine the clinical usefulness of new methods to diagnose and treat people with high BP. The underlying mechanisms contributing to high BP will also be examined. The findings will lead to improved ways to identify and more effectively manage people with high BP.