Heart Failure And Its Antecedents: Pathophysiology, Prevention And Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$9,061,084.00
Summary
Heart failure is mainly a result of coronary artery disease. It is a major cause of disability and mortality in Australia and is projected to increase markedly over the next two decades. This program brings together clinical and basic science expertise to address aspects of the prevention and control of coronary disease and heart failure. The outcomes that will arise will provide a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the progression from stable heart disease to failure.
Prevention And Treatment Of Chronic Heart And Kidney Disease Via Epidemiological, Pharmacol Device And Cell-Based Approaches
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$5,795,334.00
Summary
Heart failure describes where the heart cannot pump adequately to meet the needs of the body. This condition has a high mortality despite recent advances in therapy, therefore, there is an urgent need for new approaches to this condition. The present grant aims to: (1) identify patients at high-risk for future development of this condition where early intervention with drugs may reduce or prevent the development of new heart failure; (2) use novel drugs, devices and stem cell therapies to identi ....Heart failure describes where the heart cannot pump adequately to meet the needs of the body. This condition has a high mortality despite recent advances in therapy, therefore, there is an urgent need for new approaches to this condition. The present grant aims to: (1) identify patients at high-risk for future development of this condition where early intervention with drugs may reduce or prevent the development of new heart failure; (2) use novel drugs, devices and stem cell therapies to identify ways to better treat patients with existing disease; (3) focus on the effect of heart failure on the kidney and vice versa via early diagnosis and treatment strategiesRead moreRead less
Antigen Presentation, Recognition And The Immune Response
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$15,738,750.00
Summary
The early events in immunity require various molecular interactions. We will examine the structural and biophysical basis for some of these interactions, including those associated with transplant rejection and autoimmunity. We will explore the impact of variation in immune response genes on immune evasion and disease susceptibility. Our basic research will determine the mechanisms by which the immune system discriminates between different self and micro-organism associated determinants. We will ....The early events in immunity require various molecular interactions. We will examine the structural and biophysical basis for some of these interactions, including those associated with transplant rejection and autoimmunity. We will explore the impact of variation in immune response genes on immune evasion and disease susceptibility. Our basic research will determine the mechanisms by which the immune system discriminates between different self and micro-organism associated determinants. We will address the structural and biochemical basis for operation of an immune molecule called tapasin and unravel the basis for how some viruses escape the function of this molecule, thus allowing their immune evasion. We will also explore the use of modified small proteins called peptides in a humanized model of gluten hypersensitivity resembling that of Celiac disease. The molecular basis of the natural human immune system's capacity to recognise and reject grafts will be examined. This complements work aimed at improving the prediction of clinical graft rejection in transplantation. Dendritic cells play a central role in immunity, responsible for capturing material, whether from micro-organisms or self tissues, and presenting it to cells of the immune system. Our program will study the development and immunological function of the different dendritic cell subtypes. We will determine the relative contribution of each to the maintenance of immune tolerance and to the induction of immunity to several pathogens, including herpes simplex virus and malaria. Novel dendritic cell surface molecules that we have discovered will be tested for their ability to enhance the effectiveness of vaccines. Overall, this program utilises a broad array of immunological techniques designed to dissect the development and function of various immune system cell types and determine the structure-function relationships between important cell surface molecules involved in immunity.Read moreRead less
Integration Of Risk Evaluation In Cardiovascular Disease Management Programs.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$5,162,176.00
Summary
This study will determine the feasibility of a coordinated health care team approach to the treatment of cardiovascular disorders. It will examine a range of issues – who would most benefit from this approach, its value for money, the relative importance of health care services to consumers, and where to invest additional health funds. Built on strong collaborations between expert researchers in advanced diagnostic techniques, coordinated health care, community health care and health economics, ....This study will determine the feasibility of a coordinated health care team approach to the treatment of cardiovascular disorders. It will examine a range of issues – who would most benefit from this approach, its value for money, the relative importance of health care services to consumers, and where to invest additional health funds. Built on strong collaborations between expert researchers in advanced diagnostic techniques, coordinated health care, community health care and health economics, this provides a unique opportunity to benefit millions of Australians.Read moreRead less
Molecular Mechanisms Of Cardiac Function And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$8,213,642.00
Summary
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in our society. Almost two million Australians suffer from the debilitating effects of heart disease and it is the leading cause of premature permanent disability in our workers. Heart defects are also the most common type of birth defect and the leading cause of deaths in infants dying from birth defects. Many of these problems can be attributed directly to defects in the development, repair and-or function of heart muscle and, at the cellular le ....Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in our society. Almost two million Australians suffer from the debilitating effects of heart disease and it is the leading cause of premature permanent disability in our workers. Heart defects are also the most common type of birth defect and the leading cause of deaths in infants dying from birth defects. Many of these problems can be attributed directly to defects in the development, repair and-or function of heart muscle and, at the cellular level, of heart muscle cells or cardiomyocytes. Understanding the cardiomyocyte as well as integrated heart development, biology, physiology and function, therefore, holds great promise for major advances in the prevention and treatment of contemporary heart diseases. This Program Grant brings together a unique team of interactive researchers with expertise in cardiovascular physiology, as well as developmental, cellular and molecular biology. The outcomes anticipated from new insights into heart biology that will result from the proposed studies, are the development of novel therapeutic approaches for the prevention and treatment of heart attacks and heart failure.Read moreRead less
Antibodies are made by B-cells and are essential for a functional immune system. B cells circulate in the body, and, when they encounter an invader, they mature into antibody-producing cells (ASC). A small proportion of the cells become “memory” cells with the potential to become ASC should the same infection occur in the future. This is the basis of vaccination. This program aims to understand how a B cell changes into an ASC. We aim eventually to be able to improve vaccines and understand dise ....Antibodies are made by B-cells and are essential for a functional immune system. B cells circulate in the body, and, when they encounter an invader, they mature into antibody-producing cells (ASC). A small proportion of the cells become “memory” cells with the potential to become ASC should the same infection occur in the future. This is the basis of vaccination. This program aims to understand how a B cell changes into an ASC. We aim eventually to be able to improve vaccines and understand diseases such as allergy, lupus, arthritis and leukaemia to develop novel therapies.Read moreRead less
Novel Therapeutic Strategies To Reduce The Burden Of Chronic Heart Failure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,928,323.00
Summary
The broad aims of the Program are to develop novel strategies in the prevention and treatment of chronic heart failure. This will involve investigating new targets for pharmacological therapies, evaluating whether common co-morbid disease states such as diabetes alter the efficacy of these therapies and investigating the role of stem-cell therapy in this setting. The Program will also evaluate the contribution of non-heart failure drugs to the burden of heart failure, determine the impact of rur ....The broad aims of the Program are to develop novel strategies in the prevention and treatment of chronic heart failure. This will involve investigating new targets for pharmacological therapies, evaluating whether common co-morbid disease states such as diabetes alter the efficacy of these therapies and investigating the role of stem-cell therapy in this setting. The Program will also evaluate the contribution of non-heart failure drugs to the burden of heart failure, determine the impact of rurality on prescribing for this condition and explore systems of optimising delivery of best practice to the community. This research formalises the existing collaborative efforts of a team of investigators that span all aspects of research into the therapeutics of CHF from basic laboratory research to evaluation of patients in clinical trials and public health translational aspects of this condition. The Chief Investigators and Principal Investigators have an existing successful research collaboration which will be greatly expanded via Program.Read moreRead less