Role Of Epigenomic Changes In Conferring Hyperglycemic Memory
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$636,146.00
Summary
The major burden of type I diabetes remains its vascular complications including diabetes-accelerated athersclerosis. Despite improved glucose control, diabetic individuals develop complications as a result of prior poor glycemic control. Although the development and progression of these diabetic complications is strongly associated with mean levels of glucose, recent studies suggest that the deleterious effects of early exposure to high levels of glucose persist for years even after treatment h ....The major burden of type I diabetes remains its vascular complications including diabetes-accelerated athersclerosis. Despite improved glucose control, diabetic individuals develop complications as a result of prior poor glycemic control. Although the development and progression of these diabetic complications is strongly associated with mean levels of glucose, recent studies suggest that the deleterious effects of early exposure to high levels of glucose persist for years even after treatment has returned glucose levels towards normal.Read moreRead less
Structure-based Design Of Novel Therapeutics For Multi-drug Resistant Neisseria Gonorrhoeae
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$669,148.00
Summary
Multiple drug resistance (MDR) in bacteria represents one of the most intractable problems facing modern medicine. The recent superbug, MDR-Neisseria gonorrhoeae (MDR-Ng), causes the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhoeae. A multi disciplinary team with expertise in structural biology, medicinal chemistry and bacteriology will establish a comprehensive knowledge base aimed at developing new antibiotics to treat MDR-Ng by targeting a bacterial protein virulence factor.
The Role Of Dicarbonyl-derived AGEs And RAGE In Diabetes Associated Atherosclerosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$470,617.00
Summary
Based on our pilot data we postulate that glucose derived molecules such as methylglyoxal (MGO) have effects on inflammation and oxidative stress leading to accelerated atherosclerosis in diabetes. Our studies aim to identify novel treatments which block these effects thus leading to superior protection and prevention of atherosclerosis in diabetes.
Vascular Cognitive Risk Score: Quantifying The Vascular Burden In Alzheimer's Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$627,180.00
Summary
What causes dementia in a patient presenting to a clinic is often uncertain. While there are exciting potential treatments in the pipeline, we need to understand the cause of the disease in a specific patient to make correct treatment decisions. Stroke and other vascular diseases of the brain cause a significant proportion of dementia in the community. Using MRI scanning technology, this project will quantify this burden in a given patient by developing a ‘vascular cognitive risk' (VCR) score.
Local Sleep In The Awake Brain: An Underlying Cause Of Neurobehavioural Deficits In Sleep Apnea?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$582,330.00
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder which significantly impacts daytime functioning leading to excessive sleepiness, and problems with attention and thinking. Currently, the causes for cognitive impairment in OSA (including attentional lapses and performance deficits) are poorly understood. In the awake state, groups of neurons can briefly go “offline” as they do in sleep. These periods of “local sleep” may explain impaired task performance in OSA.
New Generation Antiplatelet Therapies To Prevent Preeclampsia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$483,148.00
Summary
Preeclampsia, a major complication of pregnancy, affects around 3-8% of pregnancies. Sadly, there is no way to prevent or delay disease. We have uncovered antiplatelet agents, used to prevent heart disease and stroke, may provide health benefits to women at risk of developing preeclampsia. We will test whether these agents can prevent the pathophysiology of preeclampsia in specialized human & mouse models developed in our laboratory. This work may provide a prevention strategy for preeclampsia.
Once treatable infections are becoming deadly because bacteria are developing broad antibiotic resistance. New medicines are urgently needed. Microbes themselves are the richest known source of new antibiotics but finding the 'good bugs' is like finding a needle in a microbial haystack. This project will use state-of-the art science to screen a previously overlooked source of rich microbial biodiversity and find new antibiotics.
This research proposal will identify changes in liver-secreted proteins during the development of fatty liver, and in the transition from fatty liver to the more advanced form of liver disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Understanding the differences in protein secretion between NASH patients and patients with normal/fatty liver will provide the opportunity to identify disease biomarkers that could be determined from a blood sample. This will provide a major shift in clinical care.
Sphingosine Kinase: A Target For Obesity-induced Insulin Resistance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$626,845.00
Summary
Insulin resistance, a characteristic of type 2 diabetes, is linked to abnormal metabolism of lipid (fat) in tissues such as liver and muscle. This project aims to identify a novel pathway which may promote a build up of lipids in liver and therefore leads to the development of type 2 diabetes. This work may provide a basis for understanding and optimizing treatment of insulin resistance by regulating the control of fat metabolism in liver.
Understanding The Contribution Of SRNAs To Antibiotic Resistance In Staphylococcus Aureus
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$587,424.00
Summary
Golden Staph is a major problem in Australian hospitals. This project will use cutting edge technology to investigate how Golden Staph responds to and resists antibiotics used to treat human infections, leading to new strategies for the prevention and treatment of antibiotic resistant bacteria.