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.
Prorenin And The Prorenin Receptor In Diabetic Retinopathy: Involvement Of The Wnt Pathway And Inflammation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$580,042.00
Summary
Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in people of working age. The World Health Organization predicts that by 2030 more than 300 million people will have diabetes. Given the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and the lack of effective treatments, there is an urgent need to identify the factors that contribute to its development. This project will determine the role of components of a hormonal system, prorenin and its receptor, in diabetic retinopathy and whether they are new ta ....Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in people of working age. The World Health Organization predicts that by 2030 more than 300 million people will have diabetes. Given the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and the lack of effective treatments, there is an urgent need to identify the factors that contribute to its development. This project will determine the role of components of a hormonal system, prorenin and its receptor, in diabetic retinopathy and whether they are new targets for its treatment.Read moreRead less
Interactions Between Vasoactive, Epigenetic And Immunogenic Pathways In The Development Of Diabetic Retinopathy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$664,584.00
Summary
In our community, diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of vision loss in people of working age. As the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy increases, there is an urgent need to understand the factors that cause its development in order to develop new treatments. This proposal will explore the contribution of hormones, the memory of retinal cells to high glucose and stress, and the immune system to diabetic retinopathy. The goal is to develop new and improved treatments for Australians.
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