Creating An Evidence Base For Balanced Sun Exposure Messages For Optimal Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,388.00
Summary
Both too much and too little sun exposure result in risks to health, but there are considerable uncertainties in our understanding of the detail, for both risks and benefits. This project focuses on key research gaps that need to be filled before a balanced sun exposure message, appropriate for Australians of different skin types and living in different locations, can be developed and disseminated.
Understanding Allosteric Modulation And Biased Signalling At Family B GPCRs
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$428,065.00
Summary
Family B GPCRs are therapeutic targets for drugs treating osteoporosis, hypercalcaemia, Paget’s disease, type II diabetes and are being actively pursued for other diseases that represent major global health burdens. Despite huge financial input, there are no orally available drugs that act on these receptors. This speaks to a lack of mechanistic understanding of how they work. My research focuses on addressing this question and how to exploit these receptors to design and identify better drugs.
Structural And Mechanical Determinants Of Airway Hyperresponsiveness
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,219.00
Summary
In asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the capacity for airway passages to narrow is increased which limits airflow in and out of the lung and contributes to disease severity. The aim of this project is to identify the underlying physiological abnormalities producing the increased narrowing capacity. The investigations will focus on the role of the airway smooth muscle and epithelial layers that are widely implicated in driving the increased narrowing response, but for which the ev ....In asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the capacity for airway passages to narrow is increased which limits airflow in and out of the lung and contributes to disease severity. The aim of this project is to identify the underlying physiological abnormalities producing the increased narrowing capacity. The investigations will focus on the role of the airway smooth muscle and epithelial layers that are widely implicated in driving the increased narrowing response, but for which the evidence remains circumstantial.Read moreRead less
Control Of TGF-beta Superfamily Signalling In Human Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$443,946.00
Summary
Members of the transforming growth factor ? (TGF-?) family of proteins play crucial roles in adult tissue homeostasis. In recent years a new paradigm has emerged suggesting that inhibition of TGF-? signalling could be an effective strategy for restoring homeostasis in disease-affected tissues. Dr Harrison’s overall research strategy is based on this concept, and is particularly focussed on developing specific antagonists of individual TGF-? proteins.
Improving Pain And Movement Outcomes In Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,000.00
Summary
People fear getting painful knee osteoarthritis (OA) more than any other disease – it is seen as progressive and incurable. It often stops people from moving and staying healthy, resulting in an enormous burden on sufferers and the health care system. This program of research aims to understand what brain & nervous system processes might underlie these pain and movement problems and whether new brain-targeting treatment helps. This will allow us to better match treatment to what patients need.
Prevention Of Falls To Promote Healthy Ageing: New Approaches And Enhanced Implementation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$419,180.00
Summary
This research focuses on fall prevention to promote healthy ageing. It involves the conduct of: 2 trials of exercise-based fall prevention interventions for older community-dwellers aged 60+; 3 studies to identify older people's barriers to participation and program preferences in relation to exercise-based fall prevention programs; and 2 trials of an educational program for health professionals.
Longitudinal Studies Of Knee Osteoathritic Changes Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$420,872.00
Summary
The associations between MRI-assessed knee structural changes and radiographic changes over 5 years in older people will be determined. The effects of physical activity in adults and childhood, and the roles of inflammation will be described. The study represents a cost-effective comprehensive approach to osteoarthritis, a major public health problem, and is a natural progression of previous work that supports the objectives of the Bone and Joint Decade and addresses a national health priority.