Birth Weight, Adult Weight And Podocyte Depletion.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$796,252.00
Summary
A major role of our kidneys is to filter our blood. A key cell type in our kidney filters is an octopus-shaped cell known as the podocyte. If we are not born with enough podocytes, or if the filters grow too large after birth due for example to excessive weight gain, the podocytes cannot adequately filter the blood, and this can lead to kidney disease. We will measure podocyte endowment at birth, and assess the effects of weight gain and loss after birth on podocyte features and kidney health.
Disrupted Neurosteroid Synthesis Mediates The Adverse Effects Of Prenatal Stress
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$695,973.00
Summary
Maternal anxiety and related stress in pregnancy influences the fetus causing developmental changes that adversely affect the offspring leading to behavioural problems in childhood. However, mechanisms which transfer maternal changes to the fetus are unclear. We propose that disruption of the fetal-placental neurosteroid system is a major link. We will identify the deficits in this system caused by maternal stress and then examine therapies to reverse these disruptions.
LIFECYCLE - Early Life Stressors And LifeCycle Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$453,811.00
Summary
Early in life is a period of time during which we can institute changes that can have long lasting benefits for asthma, obesity, diabetes mellitus and mental and cardiovascular health. The current project, LIFECYCLE is a cooperative project with a combined total of a quarter of a million participants, which will be the definitive study to determine, which early life events should be modified for improving health trajectories throughout life.
Understanding The Contribution Of Sympathetic Overactivity To Maternally Programmed Obesity Related Hypertension
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$605,083.00
Summary
Obesity and associated diseases are increasing worldwide. Aside from adult risk factors, the environment encountered during development may predispose to later disease. Our data shows that the diet consumed by pregnant mothers can influence the development of obesity and hypertension in her offspring and that the sympathetic nervous system becomes dysregulated. This project will assess how maternal fat intake in pregnancy affects sympathetic nervous system function in the offspring and we invest ....Obesity and associated diseases are increasing worldwide. Aside from adult risk factors, the environment encountered during development may predispose to later disease. Our data shows that the diet consumed by pregnant mothers can influence the development of obesity and hypertension in her offspring and that the sympathetic nervous system becomes dysregulated. This project will assess how maternal fat intake in pregnancy affects sympathetic nervous system function in the offspring and we investigate possible management strategies.Read moreRead less
Developmental Programming: Mechanisms And Interventions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$705,501.00
Summary
Disturbances during pregnancy can impact on developmental processes and result in increased risk of disease in later life. This project will examine the impact of perturbations such as maternal stress or alcohol consumption on the development of the placenta and fetal kidney. By gaining an understanding of how these organs are affected by prenatal insults, we are likely to be able to develop more effective intervention strategies to ensure all babies receive a healthy start to life.
The Role Of Hypoxia In The Developmental Programming Of The Kidney
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$651,276.00
Summary
We aim to understand how inadequate oxygen supply to the fetus during pregnancy can affect development of the kidney. Many babies do not get enough oxygen whilst developing in the womb. This can be due to a poorly formed placenta or the mother smoking. This can interfere with normal growth and formation of the kidney. Our knowledge may help babies get the best start to life.
Asking QUestions About Alcohol In Pregnancy (AQUA): Longitudinal Cohort Study Of The Effects Of Low And Moderate Doses Of Alcohol Exposure On The Fetus
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,368,294.00
Summary
National alcohol guidelines advise women to have no alcohol in pregnancy. However, many find they are unexpectedly pregnant and have been drinking, leading to considerable anxiety. While evidence is clear that heavy drinking is bad for the unborn baby, no-one knows for sure if low or even moderate levels of alcohol in pregnancy are harmful. We will study this important public health problem, following a group of pregnant women through their pregnancy and until their child is two years.
Periconceptional Nutrition And The Programming Of Obesity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$468,879.00
Summary
Mothers who enter pregnancy with a high body mass index are at risk of developing diabetes in pregnancy and of having a large baby who will be at increased risk of developing obesity in childhood and later life. Heavy mothers therefore have heavy babies and these babies go on to become heavy adults. This grant will determine the separate contributions of exposure of the embryo to high nutrition and exposure of the fetus in late gestation to high maternal nutrition.
Exploring The Physiological, Morphological And Molecular Bases Of Renal Developmental Programming.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$422,264.00
Summary
Suboptimal fetal and neonatal development increases our risk of developing a range of diseases in adulthood. The concept that deleterious events during development can influence adult health is termed 'developmental programming'. Obtaining A Healthy Start to Life is a priority research goal of the Australian Government. The kidneys are particularly susceptible to developmental programming. This is in part because the functional units (nephrons) of the kidneys are all formed before birth in human ....Suboptimal fetal and neonatal development increases our risk of developing a range of diseases in adulthood. The concept that deleterious events during development can influence adult health is termed 'developmental programming'. Obtaining A Healthy Start to Life is a priority research goal of the Australian Government. The kidneys are particularly susceptible to developmental programming. This is in part because the functional units (nephrons) of the kidneys are all formed before birth in humans. Thus, if fetal development is suboptimal, babies are at risk of being born with a permanent nephron deficit, with functional and disease consequences. We have shown in male rats that the offspring of a maternal low protein diet have fewer nephrons and lower blood pressure than rats fed a normal diet. These rats display a striking sensitivity in adulthood to the feeding of a high salt diet. We will define the physiological and morphological bases of this sensitivity, and repeat these studies in females, as increasing evidence shows significant sex differences in developmental programming. Defining the molecular mechanisms of developmental programming is the greatest challenge for researchers in the field. We have recently completed the most comprehensive analysis to date of gene expression in the developing mouse kidney, and have shown for the first time that the mouse programmes kidney development. We will use the new techniques of genomics and bioinformatics to study the molecular mechanisms of kidney programming. This mechanistic data will provide an excellent hypothesis engine for future studies on the specific roles of these molecular pathways in developmental programming in all mammalian species.Read moreRead less
Investigation Of A New Hypothesis That Increased TGF? Activity In Developing Fetal Organs Predisposes A Women To Polycystic Ovary Syndrome And Associated Metabolic Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$583,015.00
Summary
Have you ever wondered why some people get fat and other do not, no matter how much they eat? The answer could lie in what happened before they were born. This project investigates a new hypothesis that was developed from discoveries on polycystic ovary syndrome. Women with this syndrome are at increased risk of becoming overweight and diabetic. If the hypotheses prove correct it might be possible to reduce the incidence of these metabolic disorders in the longer term.