Generating The Evidence For New Strategies To Combat Cardiovascular Diseases.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$12,809,917.00
Summary
The Program brings together clinicians, epidemiologists and statisticians in a unique endeavour combating heart attack and stroke. For the foreseeable future, these conditions will remain leading causes of death and disease in Australia and the world. While there are many established treatment and prevention strategies there remains great potential for further advances to avert large numbers of deaths and serious disabling outcomes. This Program will provide new information that will give patien ....The Program brings together clinicians, epidemiologists and statisticians in a unique endeavour combating heart attack and stroke. For the foreseeable future, these conditions will remain leading causes of death and disease in Australia and the world. While there are many established treatment and prevention strategies there remains great potential for further advances to avert large numbers of deaths and serious disabling outcomes. This Program will provide new information that will give patients, doctors, consumers and policy makers new options for disease prevention.Read moreRead less
The Effect Of Smoking On The Exacerbation Of Stroke: Oxidative Stress Involvement And Cerebrovascular Response.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$292,216.00
Summary
This grant addresses whether smoking contributes to the severity of stroke outcome. The studies outlined in this proposal will contribute significantly in our understanding of how smoking contributes to the progression of stroke. The understanding of the involvement of smoking in the progression of stroke will be of great benefit in the development of improved stroke patient management.
Platelet And Endothelial Function In Atrial Fibrillation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$105,825.00
Summary
Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disturbance in the adult population and leads to substantial increased death and disability from stroke. In this research scheme, we will study the contribution of platelet (clot forming cells) and endothelial (lining of blood vessels) dysfunction in atrial fibrillation. The successful outcome of this project will lead to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of clot formation and may lead to a better target for future drugs.
Prevention Of Stroke Caused By Carotid Atherosclerosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,062.00
Summary
Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability and a huge drain on health resources in Australia and worldwide. Carotid artery atherosclerosis (vascular disease) is an important cause of stroke. Currently surgery (with a significant risk of stroke-death) is commonly performed to prevent carotid stroke. My aim is to show that current best practice medical intervention is superior to surgery and to identify high risk patients for whom additional stroke prevention strategies may be justified.
Efficacy Of Coronary Sinus Ablation For The Treatment Of Atrial Fibrillation: A Randomised Controlled Study.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$377,917.00
Summary
Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia in the population. Left atrial catheter ablation is rapidly becoming a drug free alternative treatment for drug-resistant atrial fibrillation. The proposed study will examine whether ablation at a unique anatomical site adjacent to the left atrium (the coronary sinus) will increase procedural success compared to the conventional approach.
Intracellular Cholesteryl Ester Hydroperoxides And Hydroxides- Their Metabolism And Their Modulation Of Cell Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$182,029.00
Summary
Atherosclerosis is the disease which causes narrowings in arteries underlying such serious medical conditions as heart attack and stroke. A key component in the formation of atherosclerotic narrowings is the accumulation of fat-filled cells called foam cell macrophages in artery walls. Our study investigates the nature of the fats that macrophages accumulate, and how mild modification of these fats changes the metabolism of the macrophage. Cholesterol circulates in the blood stream as specialise ....Atherosclerosis is the disease which causes narrowings in arteries underlying such serious medical conditions as heart attack and stroke. A key component in the formation of atherosclerotic narrowings is the accumulation of fat-filled cells called foam cell macrophages in artery walls. Our study investigates the nature of the fats that macrophages accumulate, and how mild modification of these fats changes the metabolism of the macrophage. Cholesterol circulates in the blood stream as specialised particles called lipoproteins. The lipoprotein containing most of the cholesterol is low density lipoprotein (LDL), so-called bad cholesterol. LDL is the main source of fat that accumulates in the artery wall in atherosclerosis. When in the artery wall, it is taken up by macrophages which develop a foamy appearance. The accumulation of LDL fats within macrophages is greatly enhanced by the prior modification of LDL. The most well known of these modifications is oxidation- a chemical process of fat spoilage as occurs with rancid butter. Mild oxidation of LDL is well known to occur in human atherosclerosis. However, the ability of macrophages to accumulate the products of mild oxidation has never been established. We have recently discovered that the lipid products of mild oxidation of LDL can build up in macrophages. We achieved this by developing a new system of feeding oxidised LDL to macrophages. Surprisingly, not only could these lipid oxidation products be internalised by the cells, but they progressively accumulated over time, and caused major disturbances in the ability of macrophages to clear ordinary fats inside the cell. This means that mild oxidation of LDL can cause secondary damage inside the macrophage, which is far greater than had previously been realised. This project investigates precisely how the oxidised LDL is metabolised by macrophages and how it disturbs other cell functions.Read moreRead less
Atherosclerotic Plaque Imaging With High Resolution MRI / Multi-Detector CT / PET
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$64,631.00
Summary
Diseased blood vessels often involve build up of cholesterol plaques that cause blockages or poor blood flow. This can lead to strokes and heart attacks. Our research aims to investigate the properties of diseased vessels in the neck with the latest scanning technologies to identifying individuals who are at risk of strokes. We hope to show that the inflammatory activity and composition of the plaques play important roles in leading to the development of strokes.
Apolipoprotein A-I-stimulated Secretion Of Apolipoprotein E By Human Foam Cell Macrophages.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$201,208.00
Summary
Atherosclerosis is the disease which causes narrowings in arteries underlying such serious conditions as heart attack and stroke. A key component of the formation of atherosclerotic narrowings in arteries is the accumulation of fat-filled cells called foam cell macrophages. These foam cells can be stimulated to secrete a special molecule called apolipoprotein E (or apo E), which reduces the amount of atherosclerosis. We have found that we can stimulate foam cells to secrete this protein by addin ....Atherosclerosis is the disease which causes narrowings in arteries underlying such serious conditions as heart attack and stroke. A key component of the formation of atherosclerotic narrowings in arteries is the accumulation of fat-filled cells called foam cell macrophages. These foam cells can be stimulated to secrete a special molecule called apolipoprotein E (or apo E), which reduces the amount of atherosclerosis. We have found that we can stimulate foam cells to secrete this protein by adding to them another molecule called apo A-I. This project will investigate how apo A-I stimulates the foam cells to secrete apo E. In this way we will be able to regulate the secretion of apo E, and be able to increase its secretion. This may result in our being able to treat or prevent atherosclerosis.Read moreRead less
An International Randomised Trial Of Low-dose Aspirin To Prevent Recurrent Venous Thromboembolism (INSPIRE)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,989,986.00
Summary
Patients who develop venous blood clots or pulmonary embolism, without an underyling cause, are at very high risk of recurrence once anticoagulant treatment (warfarin) is discontinued. The international INSPIRE trial is assessing whether low-dose aspirin treatment (a simple and cheap alternative to warfarin) is effective and safe in preventing further blood clots. If proven effective, aspirin could potentially prevent thousands of patients worldwide from experiencing such events.