Factors Controlling Lipid Accumulation In Non-adipose Tissues
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$463,500.00
Summary
The fat cells of the body are designed to store excess fuel for use when supply from the diet is low, or in situations like exercise, demand is high. Fat also accumulates to some extent in the cells of other tissues types, but in some people the accumulation is excessive. This can have a number of serious effects. In the liver and muscle it can interfere with the ability of insulin to properly regulate the amount of glucose present in the blood, contributing to the development of diabetes. In th ....The fat cells of the body are designed to store excess fuel for use when supply from the diet is low, or in situations like exercise, demand is high. Fat also accumulates to some extent in the cells of other tissues types, but in some people the accumulation is excessive. This can have a number of serious effects. In the liver and muscle it can interfere with the ability of insulin to properly regulate the amount of glucose present in the blood, contributing to the development of diabetes. In the liver, fat accumulation can also lead to cirrhosis and liver failure. Cardiovascular complications, resulting in premature death, are also likely. However despite these devastating consequences it is not clear what the underlying cause of the over-accumulation of fat is not known. In this project we will investigate in detail several aspects of fat metabolism that we think are important in controlling how tissues take up fat from the circulation and whether it is subsequently stored or burnt for energy. We will study the amount of fat that is taken up by different tissues of the body under a range of conditions including fed, and short- and long-term fasting. We will also use drugs to inhibit or promote the amount of fat that is burnt, to see if this changes the rate at which fat is taken up by different tissues. In addition we will accelerate, by genetic manipulation, the rate at which some key enzymes of fat metabolism are produced, to determine their effect on the amount of fat that is stored by different tissue types. Our aim is to determine the metabolic processes that influence fat accumulation in those adversely affected tissues such as liver, heart and skeletal muscle. The identification of the most important processes will contribute significantly to the targeting of therapies aimed at preventing excess fat accumulation and its associated diseases.Read moreRead less
Reducing CVD Risk In The Metabolic Syndrome And Type 2 Diabetes: Novel Approaches To Studies Of Lipoprotein Metabolism
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$548,669.00
Summary
The incidence of obesity and diabetes is increasing in Australia. With these two conditions comes an increase in cardiovascular disease risk. Elevated blood lipids are an important component of this increased. Weight loss and cholesterol lowering drugs are first line therapies for obesity and diabetes, respectively. Niacin is effective at lowering lipids and raising HDL cholesterol, but the mechanisms responsible for these changes have not been determined.
Development Of A Novel Biosensor Using Magnetically Amplified Luminescence For The Early Detection Of Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$267,500.00
Summary
Cancer is often not detected until it has invaded surrounding tissues and spread to other organs. Current treatment is then often ineffective, and prognosis poor. Early detection of cancer is therefore essential for improved disease management. Such methods must be cheap, non-invasive, and rapid with high sensitivity and specificity. We are investigating a new biosensor technology that satisfies these criteria. This method uses magnetically amplified luminescence for the detection of low levels ....Cancer is often not detected until it has invaded surrounding tissues and spread to other organs. Current treatment is then often ineffective, and prognosis poor. Early detection of cancer is therefore essential for improved disease management. Such methods must be cheap, non-invasive, and rapid with high sensitivity and specificity. We are investigating a new biosensor technology that satisfies these criteria. This method uses magnetically amplified luminescence for the detection of low levels of cancer cells in clinical samples (urine, faeces, blood, biopsy), using telomerase as a marker.Read moreRead less
Impact and Effectiveness of Personal Ventilation in Open Plan Offices: a study of the Task Air system. Centralised air-conditioning systems are the standard for commercial office buildings in Australia. These systems are energy intensive, typically accounting for around 50% of building energy use. However, lack of occupant control over set temperatures or air movement tends to reduce thermal comfort, which can adversely affect worker productivity. The benefit of this project is that it will qu ....Impact and Effectiveness of Personal Ventilation in Open Plan Offices: a study of the Task Air system. Centralised air-conditioning systems are the standard for commercial office buildings in Australia. These systems are energy intensive, typically accounting for around 50% of building energy use. However, lack of occupant control over set temperatures or air movement tends to reduce thermal comfort, which can adversely affect worker productivity. The benefit of this project is that it will quantify the improvements to occupant comfort and energy savings possible with a PV system. This study will enable PV systems to be evaluated as an alternative to traditional air-conditioning, thereby demonstrating their effectiveness as a means of improving the sustainability rating of commercial office buildings in Australia.Read moreRead less
The Characterisation of Fires in Tunnels. A series of 22 fires ranging from 2 megawatt up to 20 megawatt intensity will be set under controlled conditions in unused tunnel facilities, in New South Wales. Instrumentation in the tunnel, donated by the State Rail Authority of New South Wales, will monitor the movement of particulates (smoke). This information is vital to tunnel design, and for passenger life safety. This information will be applicable to all tunnels worldwide.
Consumer Information Materials And A Communication Aid For Diagnostic Tests For Breast Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$105,863.00
Summary
Many studies have now shown that the majority of patients want to participate in clinical decisions about medical treatments they might receive. As a result, information materials are being developed to help consumers and doctors work together to reach satisfying treatment decisions which are based on the best available evidence and also reflect the individual patient's needs and preferences about the treatment options. Very little is known, however, about whether consumers also want to particip ....Many studies have now shown that the majority of patients want to participate in clinical decisions about medical treatments they might receive. As a result, information materials are being developed to help consumers and doctors work together to reach satisfying treatment decisions which are based on the best available evidence and also reflect the individual patient's needs and preferences about the treatment options. Very little is known, however, about whether consumers also want to participate in decisions about whether to have a medical test. Tests can be trivial, such as a blood or urine test, or quite major and invasive, such as a biopsy or a colonoscopy. People considering a medical test might want to know the answers to the following questions: What is my chance of having the disease being tested for? If the test result is positive what is the chance I have the disease? If the test result is negative what is the chance I have the disease anyway? How will the test result influence treatment of my condition? What are possible side-effects of the test? Generally information materials about medical tests only describe the test itself, and do not contain the information people need to answer these questions. Even doctors may not have to hand the data needed to answer these questions. Yet without this information, consumers cannot make truly informed and rational choices about whether to have the test. This project aims to find out whether consumers want to participate in decisions about medical tests, what information they would want to do this, and to develop and trial information materials and a communication aid for a small number of breast cancer tests. We will use tests for diagnosing breast cancer as our model but we anticipate the work will be applicable across a wide range of medical tests.Read moreRead less
Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification(LAMP): A Novel Tool For The Diagnosis Of Mixed Malaria Infections In Elimination Settings
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$101,877.00
Summary
The malaria elimination agenda will require the development of novel, field applicable diagnostic tools to detect asymptomatic carriers of P.falciparum and non-falciparum malaria infections. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) has been demonstrated to be a novel, sensitive, specific nucleic acid amplification technique. My project aims to optimise LAMP into a high-throughput field applicable molecular diagnostic tool capable of diagnosing malaria in elimination settings
Development of a Compartment Fire Behaviour Training (CFBT) Database. In recent years, incidents of fire flashover have caused considerable destruction to property and the loss of life. Fire prediction and understanding is an area of significance to both the Australian public and the firefighting profession. The NSW Fire Brigade has recently introduced Compartment Fire Behaviour Training (CFBT). To extend this scheme, a database of configurations will be developed using computational modelling, ....Development of a Compartment Fire Behaviour Training (CFBT) Database. In recent years, incidents of fire flashover have caused considerable destruction to property and the loss of life. Fire prediction and understanding is an area of significance to both the Australian public and the firefighting profession. The NSW Fire Brigade has recently introduced Compartment Fire Behaviour Training (CFBT). To extend this scheme, a database of configurations will be developed using computational modelling, allowing firefighters the ability to experience virtually different situations. Detailed experimental studies will be conducted to validate the numerical model. This database will have use and significance beyond Australia and successful implementation promises reductions in the loss of life and property.Read moreRead less