Towards Prevention Of Acute Kidney Injury After Cardiac Surgery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$771,918.00
Summary
Open heart surgery saves thousands of lives each year in Australia, but often injures the kidney. Kidney oxygen deficiency is a major cause of kidney injury. We propose a new way to manage kidney oxygen levels during heart surgery, by measuring the level of oxygen in the urine in the bladder. We will determine whether low levels of oxygen in the urine during surgery predict later development of acute kidney injury, and whether patient management can be changed to optimize kidney oxygen levels.
The Role Of Tissue Hypoxia In The Evolution Of Kidney Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$509,391.00
Summary
We will determine how low oxygen levels in the kidney lead to kidney disease. We can now measure the levels of oxygen in kidney tissue in rats 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in a completely non-invasive way. We will study two common kinds of kidney disease. One, acute kidney injury, can result from administration of contrast agents used in x-ray diagnostic procedures. The other, chronic kidney disease, is common in patients with diabetes or high blood pressure.
Hypothalamic Orexin Neurons And The Medullary Sympathoadrenal Centre: A Key Role In Glucose Homeostasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$577,957.00
Summary
Hypoglycaemia or low blood sugar is a major side-effect of the treatment of diabetes. Exposure to hypoglycaemia results in changes in the brain (neuroplasticity) that reduce the awareness of hypoglycaemia, often with serious consequences. Hypoglycaemia triggers the production of several hormones including adrenaline which restore normal blood glucose. This process is incompletely understood. This research project will identify key components of the neurocircuitry that controls blood sugar.