Catheter Based Renal Denervation To Improve Outcomes In Congestive Heart Failure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$619,194.00
Summary
In heart failure there is a large increase in sympathetic nerve activity that is detrimental to patient outcome, but the factors causing this increased activity are not well defined. There is evidence that renal nerves play a significant role. A novel catheter based technique allows silencing of these nerves. We will test whether this novel technique has the potential to improve the outcomes for patients with heart failure.
Resistant Hypertension: Causes, Consequences, And Novel Therapeutic Approaches
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$713,517.00
Summary
Two thirds of all strokes and half of all coronary artery disease world-wide can be attributed to uncontrolled blood pressure. Patients with resistant hypertension are at specifically high risk. While the exact reasons remain obscure, work from my group suggests that sympathetic nervous system activation represents a common pathway. Based on these findings the ultimate goal of my research program is to develop novel and more effective treatment strategies for resistant hypertension.
I am a clinical scientist investigating the mechanisms linking renal impairment and cardiovascular disease with a particular focus on the role of the sympathetic nervous system.
Renal Denervation To Improve Outcomes In Patients With End-stage Renal Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,028,558.00
Summary
End stage renal disease is associated with excess cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Activation of sympathetic nerves plays an important role in this scenario. We have pioneered a novel catheter-based approach using radiofrequency-energy to disrupt these nerves and we now aim to assess the mechanisms and consequences of applying this novel technology in patients with end-stage renal disease.
Inadequately controlled blood pressure remains the leading cause of death world wide despite the availability of numerous effective drugs. We have successfully pioneered a catheter-based approach using radiofrequency-energy to disrupt renal nerves and lower blood pressure in patients with resistance to conventional drug treatment. We now aim to test the role of this ground-breaking technology as a potential cure (blood pressure control without antihypertensive medication) for hypertension.
Neural Control Of Renal Function: Functionally Specific Populations Of Sympathetic Nerves
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$286,250.00
Summary
The kidneys are supplied with a dense network of nerves. Working properly, these nerves help maintain normal filtering of the blood by the kidneys. Over-activity of the nerves going to the kidney is associated with congestive heart failure, liver cirrhosis, chronic renal failure and hypertension. We have recently made several major discoveries about these nerves. Our studies suggest, based on structural and functional evidence, that stimulation of subgroups of nerve fibers going to the kidney wi ....The kidneys are supplied with a dense network of nerves. Working properly, these nerves help maintain normal filtering of the blood by the kidneys. Over-activity of the nerves going to the kidney is associated with congestive heart failure, liver cirrhosis, chronic renal failure and hypertension. We have recently made several major discoveries about these nerves. Our studies suggest, based on structural and functional evidence, that stimulation of subgroups of nerve fibers going to the kidney will causes different effects with in the kidney . We therefore suggest that salt excretion , the control of blood flow to the kidney and the release of hormones by the kidney can be seperately regulated by the nerves. Using techinques only practise in a handful of laboratories around the world, we aim to determine to how the nerves control kidney function normally. These studies will suggest new directions in which the renal nerves may be implicated in disease.Read moreRead less