Thai Health-risk Transition: A National Cohort Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,231,214.00
Summary
Thailand's disease patterns are changing. Some changes are good but others, like emerging diabetes, heart disease and injuries, are of concern. Development-related 'health transition' can be optimised if there is information on new causes of disease - immediate risk factors, and 'upstream' economic, cultural and environmental influences. The team will study this health-risk transition in the whole Thai population - looking back 50 years, then forwards in 100,000 Sukothai Thammathirat Open Univer ....Thailand's disease patterns are changing. Some changes are good but others, like emerging diabetes, heart disease and injuries, are of concern. Development-related 'health transition' can be optimised if there is information on new causes of disease - immediate risk factors, and 'upstream' economic, cultural and environmental influences. The team will study this health-risk transition in the whole Thai population - looking back 50 years, then forwards in 100,000 Sukothai Thammathirat Open University students living all over Thailand and followed for four years. The team will map changing risks and upstream influences, produce information for Thai preventive programs, boost regional research capacity, create a regional partnership, and support PhD and postdoctoral training.Read moreRead less
Preventing Kidney Fibrosis By Targeting Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 In Chronic Kidney Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$516,972.00
Summary
More than 2300 Australians commence kidney replacement therapy each year and many more die of kidney failure or its complications. Kidney fibrosis is the final pathway of damage in all chronic kidney diseases. Our data demonstrates that a matrix enzyme MMP-9 is likely to be an important cause of kidney fibrosis. We aim to investigate mechanisms by which MMP-9 causes kidney fibrosis, and develop strategies involving inhibition of MMP-9 to prevent kidney fibrosis.
New Synthetic Routes to the Immobilisation of Mixed Valence Transition Metal Complexes on Conducting Metal Oxides. Highly coloured, electrochemically active transition metal dyes may find application electrochromic devices, where they may switch between contrasting coloured forms through a simple redox reaction. A prerequisite is that the dye be immobilised onto a solid conducting support whilst preserving the electrochemical and optical properties of the dye found in solution. This project tack ....New Synthetic Routes to the Immobilisation of Mixed Valence Transition Metal Complexes on Conducting Metal Oxides. Highly coloured, electrochemically active transition metal dyes may find application electrochromic devices, where they may switch between contrasting coloured forms through a simple redox reaction. A prerequisite is that the dye be immobilised onto a solid conducting support whilst preserving the electrochemical and optical properties of the dye found in solution. This project tackles this problem through a combination of organic and inorganic synthesis to develop new electrochromic dyes that may be attached to mesoporous titania.Read moreRead less
Tunable metallophthalocyanine complexes for molecular electronics. There is growing momentum in the use of molecules, both synthetic and natural, in nanotechnological electronic devices. This research investigates technologically interesting electronic materials using new metal-containing compounds and explores their application as components of molecular electronic systems.
Because fundamental aspects of molecular electronic systems have been targeted, the knowledge gained from these investiga ....Tunable metallophthalocyanine complexes for molecular electronics. There is growing momentum in the use of molecules, both synthetic and natural, in nanotechnological electronic devices. This research investigates technologically interesting electronic materials using new metal-containing compounds and explores their application as components of molecular electronic systems.
Because fundamental aspects of molecular electronic systems have been targeted, the knowledge gained from these investigations will have significant impact on the field of nanotechnology and contribute to Australia's reputation as a source of innovative research and ideas in an area where there is growing international interest.
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Dinuclear Ruthenium Complexes as Sequence- and Structure-Selective Binding Agents for DNA. Studies of the interaction of mononuclear metal complexes with DNA have greatly increased our understanding of the ways that small molecules recognise particular sites on DNA. However, in order to design drugs that target specific genes, and hence be potentially capable of controlling gene expression, it is necessary to study the binding of metal complexes that can associate with larger segments of DNA. ....Dinuclear Ruthenium Complexes as Sequence- and Structure-Selective Binding Agents for DNA. Studies of the interaction of mononuclear metal complexes with DNA have greatly increased our understanding of the ways that small molecules recognise particular sites on DNA. However, in order to design drugs that target specific genes, and hence be potentially capable of controlling gene expression, it is necessary to study the binding of metal complexes that can associate with larger segments of DNA. Using the combined expertise of the applicants, it is proposed to stereospecifically synthesise dinuclear complexes and study their DNA binding. This will greatly assist in the development of drugs that can selectively target genes and altered DNA.Read moreRead less
Mechanistic Studies on Biologically Active Iron Chelators. The need for orally effective drugs as alternatives to invasive treatment regimens such as subcutaneous infusion is an ongoing concern in health care. This is particularly true in people suffering iron overload. In many cases this condition is present at birth and thus the administration of vital iron chelation therapy via the oral route is a much preferred option. We have unearthed a novel series of candidates for iron chelation therapy ....Mechanistic Studies on Biologically Active Iron Chelators. The need for orally effective drugs as alternatives to invasive treatment regimens such as subcutaneous infusion is an ongoing concern in health care. This is particularly true in people suffering iron overload. In many cases this condition is present at birth and thus the administration of vital iron chelation therapy via the oral route is a much preferred option. We have unearthed a novel series of candidates for iron chelation therapy (the pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde isonicotinoyl hydrazone [PCIH] analogues) which show oral activity. These chelators undergo some interesting iron catalysed oxidation chemistry and it is vital that the mechanism of this reaction be elucidated to determine whether it will be of biological significance upon administration of these compounds as iron chelators.Read moreRead less
Polynuclear Metal Complexes as Molecular Nanomagnets. Computer hard drives and other devices use tiny particles of magnetic materials to store digital information. Technological advances require an increase in the density of information storage and therefore even smaller magnetic particles. This project has the potential to synthesise materials where a single molecule could act as the smallest possible unit of magnetic memory. The future application of these materials may provide an increase ....Polynuclear Metal Complexes as Molecular Nanomagnets. Computer hard drives and other devices use tiny particles of magnetic materials to store digital information. Technological advances require an increase in the density of information storage and therefore even smaller magnetic particles. This project has the potential to synthesise materials where a single molecule could act as the smallest possible unit of magnetic memory. The future application of these materials may provide an increase of three orders of magnitude in information storage density. In addition, they may find employment in quantum computers, which can perform calculations exponentially faster than conventional computers.Read moreRead less
Spotlighting biologically active Iron (Fe) chelators within cells. Anti-cancer drugs that act in ways different from traditional chemotherapeutics offer hope in evading acquired drug resistance. Previously we have studied compounds that can enter cancer cells, bind iron and halt cellular proliferation. However, there are many sources of iron in cells and we do not know from where these iron chelators acquire their iron or how these iron complexes kill cancer cells. We will tackle this problem by ....Spotlighting biologically active Iron (Fe) chelators within cells. Anti-cancer drugs that act in ways different from traditional chemotherapeutics offer hope in evading acquired drug resistance. Previously we have studied compounds that can enter cancer cells, bind iron and halt cellular proliferation. However, there are many sources of iron in cells and we do not know from where these iron chelators acquire their iron or how these iron complexes kill cancer cells. We will tackle this problem by attaching light emitting probes to known iron chelators and mapping their location within cells with high resolution fluorescence microscopy. These experiments will spotlight the cellular location of these potential drugs bound to iron for the first time, providing crucial information on their mode of action.Read moreRead less
New Frontiers in Molybdenum Chemistry: Electronic Structure and Molybdoenzyme Function. Molybdenum enzymes play key roles in biology and environmental, biogeochemical and meteorological processes. This international, multidisciplinary project will employ advanced synthetic, instrumental and theoretical techniques to establish the link between electronic structures and molybdenum enzyme behaviour and function. The insights gained will inform the continuing development of agricultural, veterinary ....New Frontiers in Molybdenum Chemistry: Electronic Structure and Molybdoenzyme Function. Molybdenum enzymes play key roles in biology and environmental, biogeochemical and meteorological processes. This international, multidisciplinary project will employ advanced synthetic, instrumental and theoretical techniques to establish the link between electronic structures and molybdenum enzyme behaviour and function. The insights gained will inform the continuing development of agricultural, veterinary and medical treatments for diseases associated with enzyme dysfunction; these outcomes would be of enormous economic and societal benefit to Australia. The training of skilled scientists, access to advanced overseas facilities, and international recognition of Australian research, are important immediate benefits of the project.Read moreRead less