Pulmonary Artery Pulsatility As A Predictor Of Survival Following Hospitalized Exacerbation Of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$128,224.00
Summary
Many patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) also have elevated lung blood pressures, or pulmonary hypertension (PH). Having both conditions increases the risk of death. It is difficult to diagnose PH in COPD. We will be using a new Computed Tomography (X-ray imaging) technique to investigate a marker of PH called ‘pulmonary artery pulsatility’. If PH can be diagnosed easily and accurately new treatments can be devised and researched potentially improving outcomes in COPD.
Targeting IL-33 In Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Chronic Asthma And Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
Lung diseases (emphysema, severe asthma & pulmonary fibrosis) are major burdens on Australian community and economy. Airway wounding is a key feature of all these diseases. Patients experience severe breathlessness seriously impacting quality of life and frequently leading to death. We will assess the potential of a new target (IL-33), & therapy (anti-IL-33) in suppressing wounding in experimental models and human tissues. This may lead to a new treatment to reverse and/or prevent lung diseases.
This program of work focuses on smoking related lung diseases including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and lung cancer, as well as diseases affecting the blood vessels in the lungs. The work includes basic cell biology and human clinical trials.There is a high likelihood that new approaches to treating lung disease will emerge.
Improved Gene Therapy Strategies For Primary Pulmonary Hypertension
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$370,517.00
Summary
Many people develop problems with the blood vessels in the lungs, which then leads to a narrowing of these vessels and consequently a back-pressure strain on the heart. These disorders can arise from inherited diseases of the blood vessels themselves, or from accquired lung disease (for example due to smoking or chronic infections). At present there are few treatments which have any benefits for these patients and many must undergo lung or heart-lung transplantation. This project is desigened bo ....Many people develop problems with the blood vessels in the lungs, which then leads to a narrowing of these vessels and consequently a back-pressure strain on the heart. These disorders can arise from inherited diseases of the blood vessels themselves, or from accquired lung disease (for example due to smoking or chronic infections). At present there are few treatments which have any benefits for these patients and many must undergo lung or heart-lung transplantation. This project is desigened both to find out new information about the disease process that affects the lung blood vessels and to offer a strategy for new treatments. The project will use a crippled form of the cold virus to deliver genes to the lining of the lung blood vessels, then see what impact that has on the pressure within the vessels and the ways in which they respond to certain stresses. These studies will be carried out using laboratory animals. If successful, it may be possible to eventually design such viruses to deliver genes which have a helpful therapeutic impact on the disease in patients.Read moreRead less
Fibroblast Senescence As A Driver Of Pulmonary Fibrosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$845,611.00
Summary
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has no cure. Currently we think that IPF develops like normal wound healing, but the normal “braking” mechanisms in the myofibroblasts (the cells that produce the connective tissue) don’t work, such that too much connective tissue is produced and oxygen transfer to the blood is stopped. We have identified a protein we think stops, the myofibroblasts from dying. Reducing the activation of this protein should return the myofibroblasts function to normal.
Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor Gamma Is A Novel Therapeutic Target For Inflammation And Remodelling In Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$307,436.00
Summary
Asthma affects over 2 million Australians with 300 deaths each year. Current drugs are not always effective. A new approach is to reduce the thickening and stiffening of the airway muscle found in asthma. Rosiglitazone, an antidiabetic drug in current use, inhibits growth of airway muscle in the test tube and chest tightening in a mouse model of asthma. Cells from asthmatics will be used to confirm these positive findings, and to support rapid clinical evaluation of this drug to benefit patients ....Asthma affects over 2 million Australians with 300 deaths each year. Current drugs are not always effective. A new approach is to reduce the thickening and stiffening of the airway muscle found in asthma. Rosiglitazone, an antidiabetic drug in current use, inhibits growth of airway muscle in the test tube and chest tightening in a mouse model of asthma. Cells from asthmatics will be used to confirm these positive findings, and to support rapid clinical evaluation of this drug to benefit patients.Read moreRead less
Understanding The Mechanisms Underlying Airway Remodelling
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$451,716.00
Summary
Changes in the structure of the lung contribute to the development of disease, but are not responsive to our current therapies. I have found two key structural proteins that are altered in asthma. This research will characterise the regulation and role of these proteins in the disease process. In addition, it will determine if these proteins also contribute to the development of other serious fibrotic diseases, for which there are no current treatments.