Understanding The Cause And Consequence Of Impaired Insulin Secretion In The NZO Mouse A Model Of Diabetes.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$711,224.00
Summary
Type 2 diabetes is a major health problem affeting over 1 million Australians. A key feature of this disease is reduced secretion of the pancreratic hormone insulin which results in high blood sugar levels. We are using a naturally occurring animal model of diates called the NZO mouse to understand why the pancreas secretes less insulin and the consequences of this defect. This project has the potential of providing better therapeutic strategies for patients with Type 2 diabetes.
Circumvenous Ablation For Treatment Of Atrial Fibrillation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$341,844.00
Summary
Atrial fibrillation is the most common abnormal heart rhythm. It causes symptoms that may be disabling but also increases the risk of stroke and death. The lifetime risk of developing atrial fibrillation is 20-25%. Treatment with medications is often unsuccessful and is never curative. Recently a new minimally invasive procedure was developed that may cure some patients. The purpose of this clinical trial is to improve the curative technique to broaden the application of the new procedure.
Disturbances to the normal rhythm of the heart beat cause ~15% of deaths in our community. We wish to understand why the electrical signals in the heart can become chaotic. We will study a particular heart rhythm disturbance called acquired long QT syndrome to see if it is possible to develop a computer model that can accurately predict when and how arrhythmias will occur.
Re-engineering The Future Of Electrophysiological Measurements And Brain-Machine Interfaces Using A Novel Multi-Optrode Array
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$731,557.00
Summary
This proposal will develop scientific instrumentation to enable next generation interfacing with the heart and brain using light instead of electricity. Multichannel optical arrays will be fabricated using advanced materials and a control system developed and tested experimentally. The cost-effective technology will enable researchers to enhance our knowledge of the heart and brain with evolving optical approaches and offers future clinical applications for heart rhythm disorders and epilepsy.
Evaluating The Potential Of HERG Channel Agonists As Mechanistically Targeted Antiarrhythmics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$414,786.00
Summary
Abnormal heart rhythms cause ~10 % of deaths in the western world and this number is increasing. To date there has been little success in identifying drugs that are effective in treating these disorders. By studying a rhythm disturbance called long QT syndrome we will examine whether specifically targeting drugs to the molecular building blocks of these arrhythmias is an appropriate route for development of more effective drugs.
A Randomised Controlled Trial To Evaluate The Effectiveness Of Zoledronate Therapy In Osteonecrosis Of The Hip.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$535,441.00
Summary
Osteonecrosis of the hip is an important cause of musculoskeletal disability and finding therapeuticsolutions has proven to be challenging. A wide range of surgical treatments with variable success rates ahve been proposed for the treatment. Non-surgical treatment options are limited and usually result in a poor prognosis. This novel clinical trial research will study the protective value of a bisphosphonate in patients with osteonecrosis of the hip and evaluate the cost-effectiveness.
Interaction Between PTH And Y2 Bone Anabolic Pathways
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$731,311.00
Summary
Osteoporosis is a costly condition that affects more than 150 million people worldwide and fills more hospital beds than any other disease*. People who have osteoporotic fractures experience a diminished quality of life and a reduced life expectancy. Although there are currently a number of therapies in use to reduce further loss of bone in osteoporotic patients, there is only one to replace lost bone, parathyroid hormone. For clinical and economic reasons, there is a need for additional bone-bu ....Osteoporosis is a costly condition that affects more than 150 million people worldwide and fills more hospital beds than any other disease*. People who have osteoporotic fractures experience a diminished quality of life and a reduced life expectancy. Although there are currently a number of therapies in use to reduce further loss of bone in osteoporotic patients, there is only one to replace lost bone, parathyroid hormone. For clinical and economic reasons, there is a need for additional bone-building therapies. Like all tissues, the nervous system affects skeletal function. We recently discovered a powerful control pathway by which the nervous system regulates bone formation. This project will test whether altering the function of this neural pathway can increase bone formation and whether it can work together with parathyroid hormone therapy to produce an enhanced bone formation response greater than either therapy alone. This research is important because of the need for new osteoporosis therapies to repair weakened bones. The knowledge gained from this study has the potential to provide a very important and useful contribution to skeletal health and thus aged health worldwide. *The Burden of Brittle Bones: Costing Osteoporosis in Australia. A report prepared by Access Economics Pty. Ltd. September 2001Read moreRead less
Investigation Of Sudden Cardiac Death In The Young
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$682,823.00
Summary
Sudden cardiac death is a major tragedy in young people. In approximately one third of such cases, no cause of death is found at autopsy. This study will investigate the causes of sudden cardiac death in the young, with a specific emphasis on the underlying genetic causes of sudden unexplained death. This information will be used for screening surviving family relatives, thereby improving both diagnostic and treatment-prevention opportunities and reducing sudden cardiac death in our community.
Glutathione Transferase-derived Compounds As Therapeutic Agents
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$418,516.00
Summary
Inhibition of cardiac calcium ion channels may be an effective new way of improving heart performance in patients with heart failure. This project will investigate how a glutathione transferase enzyme inhibits calcium ion channels in the heart and if small fragments of a muscle specific glutathione transferase can be used to specifically modify cardiac ryanodine receptor function. These fragments will provide the basis for the development of a new therapeutic approach.
How Regular Exercise Protects The Heart From Psychological Stresses
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$357,699.00
Summary
Regular exercise helps to protect the heart from the harmful effects of psychological stress. The present project seeks to discover the mechanisms that underpin this beneficial effect. The results will help to design new treatments that can augment the health benefits of exercise and provide an alternative for physically impaired individuals. The project may also allow to identify biochemical markers that can be used to optimise exercise program design for individuals and clinical populations.