Obesity And Its Metabolic Associations In Relation To Bariatric Surgery And Maternal-fetal Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$140,949.00
Summary
My research will examine the effects of maternal obesity, diabetes and smoking on outcomes evidence at birth in the offspring. Bariatric surgery is the most effective means to achieve sustained weight loss in obese patients and may improve metabolic abnormalities and complications. My research will explore the benefits of bariatric surgery in obese patients with type 2 diabetes with or without the addition of a glucose-like peptite-1 (GLP-1) agonist, liraglutide.
The Effect Of Androgen Replacement Therapy On Bone And Muscle Health In Men With Chronic Kidney Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$122,714.00
Summary
Low testosterone (T) levels are common in men with poor kidney function. Low T is known to cause reduced energy, decreased strength and low libido. Normal T is also needed for healthy bones and muscles. Men with kidney disease are already at risk of fractures, poor strength and quality of life. However, there are few studies that look at replacing T to men with kidney failure. We will investigate how low T affects bone and muscle and assess how giving T can benefit bone, muscle and function.
I am a clinician scientist and nephrologist. My research involves preclinical and clinical translational approaches to identify new targets and develop novel treatments to prevent, reverse and retard the development and progression of diabetic complications.
Fenofibrate And Microvascular Events In Type 1 Diabetes (FAME 1) Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,883,529.00
Summary
Diabetes is one of the commonest cause of blindness in adults. Vision loss, which is irreversible, is a most feared complication of diabetes. A blood fat lowering drug called fenofibrate, available in Australia, has been shown to reduce eye damage in people with Type 2 diabetes by 35-40%, and to prevent eye damage in Type 1 diabetic animal models. This study will evaluate the potential benefits of fenofibrate in 450 adults with Type 1 diabetes who have early diabetic eye damage.
The Role Of Specific Nox Isoforms In Diabetic Renal Disease And Atherosclerosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$460,396.00
Summary
Diabetes is increasing worldwide and in Australia. The majority of patients with diabetes eventually will develop kidney disease and will die of blood vessel complications such as heart attacks and stroke. Oxidative stress (the generation of free oxygen radicals that react quickly with other proteins in the body causing tissue damage) has been suggested to play an important role in kidney and blood vessel disease observed in diabetic patients. This proposal will try to identify and measure speci ....Diabetes is increasing worldwide and in Australia. The majority of patients with diabetes eventually will develop kidney disease and will die of blood vessel complications such as heart attacks and stroke. Oxidative stress (the generation of free oxygen radicals that react quickly with other proteins in the body causing tissue damage) has been suggested to play an important role in kidney and blood vessel disease observed in diabetic patients. This proposal will try to identify and measure specific proteins in the kidney and vessels that are involved in the production of oxidative stress. We aim to define which one of these proteins is the most important. We will assess in detail how these proteins work and which other factors are activated leading to tissue damage. The ultimate goal of these studies is to find new treatment options to decrease the production of harmful molecules in the kidney and blood vessel wall thereby reducing kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and gangrene in diabetes. In our studies, we will use medications already used in patients to treat high blood pressure in diabetes. In preliminary studies we have shown that these drugs also reduce oxidative stress. Furthermore, we will use novel, more specific treatments that the harmful ptoteins. Through a collaboration with Professor Harald Schmidt and his group from Germany who have recently moved to Monash University in Melbourne we will have access to mice in which specific genes for harmful proteins have been knocked out. These mice when made diabetic will most likely develop less or no kidney and blood vessel damage. Our studies will help to identify the most important oxidative stress producing protein associated with kidney and vessel disease. This knowledge will lead to more effective and more potent treatments for patients with diabetes to prevent, stop or even improve kidney and blood vessel disease thereby reducing disability and death in this high risk group of patients.Read moreRead less
Understanding Vasoactive Hormone Pathways In Diabetic Complications
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$453,750.00
Summary
High blood pressure damages tissues. In clinical practice blood pressure is measured in large arteries, such as the brachial artery in the arm. However, it is the pressure within the organ such as the kidney that actually causes the damage. In particular, the sieving apparatus of the kidney (called the glomerulus), is especially sensitive to the effects of pressure. In diabetes, the pressure within the glomerulus is high because its outflow valve (called the efferent arteriole) is tightly constr ....High blood pressure damages tissues. In clinical practice blood pressure is measured in large arteries, such as the brachial artery in the arm. However, it is the pressure within the organ such as the kidney that actually causes the damage. In particular, the sieving apparatus of the kidney (called the glomerulus), is especially sensitive to the effects of pressure. In diabetes, the pressure within the glomerulus is high because its outflow valve (called the efferent arteriole) is tightly constricted. Therefore even if blood pressure is thought to be normal when measured in the arm, it may still be excessively high within the kidney. Studies have already shown that lowering within-kidney pressure may have a major impact on the progression of kidney disease in diabetes. However, to date this reduction of within-kidney pressure has been sub-maximal. The planned studies will involve the use of new compounds which have more powerful effects in reducing the formation or action of hormones which promote constriction of vessels in the kidney leading to elevated pressure within the kidney. Furthermore, some of these very new agents can open up or dilate these kidney vessels thereby achieving excellent reductions in the pressure inside the kidney. The proposed studies aim to examine new strategies for preferentially lowering pressure within the kidney down to these ideal levels. These hormones also have other effects which could be relevant to non-kidney sites of injury in diabetes including blood vessels and the retina.Read moreRead less
Effects Of Replacement And Withdrawal Of Testosterone In Human Males On Muscle, Bone And Fat
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$156,682.00
Summary
Male sex hormone or androgen deficiency (AD) is a common, but under-diagnosed condition. AD decreases well being and contributes to muscle weakness, bone fragility and weight gain. Cutting edge technology will be used to help explain how AD may relate to these negative effects, particularly on muscle function. Given the importance of aging, frailty, osteoporosis and obesity, understanding the role of hormones in these conditions may have major implications for prevention and treatment.
Role Of UBL-5 In Mitochondrial Function And Glucose Metabolism
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$647,539.00
Summary
Type 2 diabetes is caused by insulin resistance, a condition that is characterised by the inability of insulin to elicit its normal function to lower blood sugar levels. The cause of insulin resistance is not known. In this study we will determine the role of a novel gene called UBL-5 to elicit insulin resistance in muscle and fat by generating genetically-induced models in which this gene has been deleted. By understanding the role of UBL-5 in insulin resistance, better therapeutic strategies c ....Type 2 diabetes is caused by insulin resistance, a condition that is characterised by the inability of insulin to elicit its normal function to lower blood sugar levels. The cause of insulin resistance is not known. In this study we will determine the role of a novel gene called UBL-5 to elicit insulin resistance in muscle and fat by generating genetically-induced models in which this gene has been deleted. By understanding the role of UBL-5 in insulin resistance, better therapeutic strategies can be developed to treat Type 2 diabetes.Read moreRead less