Exercise As Medicine For Heart Failure: A Novel Intervention To Improve Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$665,585.00
Summary
Heart failure (HF) is a common, debilitating and expensive disease; prognosis remains poorer than for the most cancers. 30,000 Australians are diagnosed every year and 300,000 live with the HF, at an annual cost of ~$1Billion. Exercise training is effective therapy in HF, because it reverses many of the problems that contribute to the reduced lifespan and impaired quality of life of patients with HF. We will test an exciting new type of exercise that promising greater benefit, at lower risk.
Developmental Origins Of Adult Cardiovascular Disease: Vascular Health In The Raine Cohort
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,087,427.00
Summary
The Raine study is a unique long term experiment that has collected extensive pre-birth and childhood data in ~3000 young Australians, who are now 27 years old. We plan to measure the artery health of 1200 of these volunteers and to determine what factors, both before and after birth, influence the presence of early atherosclerosis in humans. This study will guide strategies aimed at early prevention of heart attacks and stroke in humans, by defining the major risk factors.
Magnetically controlled drug release from tissue scaffolds for the treatment of acute burns. Severe skin burns are frequently associated with functionally disabling scarring and the risk of death. New magnetically activated wound seals for the treatment of acute burns will be developed that reduce the need for frequent painful dressing changes and hence facilitate rapid healing with a significantly reduced chance of scarring.
Transcriptional Control Of Blood Vessel Development By Sox18
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$468,564.00
Summary
Blood vessels play an essential role in maintaining the supply of nutrients to every organ and tissue in the body. Improper development of blood vessels in the embryo can compromise survival of the embryo, and defects in the ability of blood vessels to grow, regenerate and adapt to change during adult life can be life-threatening. The growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) is also an important factor in the ability of solid tumours to grow during the progression of cancer. It is therefore of ....Blood vessels play an essential role in maintaining the supply of nutrients to every organ and tissue in the body. Improper development of blood vessels in the embryo can compromise survival of the embryo, and defects in the ability of blood vessels to grow, regenerate and adapt to change during adult life can be life-threatening. The growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) is also an important factor in the ability of solid tumours to grow during the progression of cancer. It is therefore of fundamental importance in the health sciences to gain an understanding of how blood vessels form and regenerate. As a result of our collaborative research efforts, we have discovered a gene, Sox18, that appears to regulate blood vessel development by controlling the formation and-or behaviour of endothelial cells, which line the blood vessels and make them impermeable. Our research so far indicates that MICE WITH DEFECTS IN SOX18 DIE FROM VASCULAR DEFECTS, underlining the importance of this gene. THIS PROJECT IS CONCERNED WITH FINDING OUT HOW SOX18 WORKS - exactly what goes wrong in mice lacking this gene, whether Sox18 can influence endothelial cell behaviour in cell culture, how Sox18 comes to be active in endothelial cells, what genes are switched on by Sox18, and what genes Sox18 co-operates with in its role in endothelial cells. The answers to these questions will not only provide fundamental basic information about how blood vessels development is controlled, but also sow the seeds for possible future therapies in which blood vessel development could be stimulated (eg in wound healing) or suppressed (eg in tumour progression) through pharmaceutical intervention.Read moreRead less
Kruppel-like factors and the methylome. This project aims to test the hypothesis that the KLF/SP family of transcription factors work in part via dynamic interactions with methylated cytosine nucleotides in DNA. This is fundamental to their function as pioneer factors in reprograming and their ability to co-ordinate differentiation and organogenesis. Conversely, dynamic changes in methylation status engage or disengage new regulatory elements in the genome via recruitment of KLF/SP family protei ....Kruppel-like factors and the methylome. This project aims to test the hypothesis that the KLF/SP family of transcription factors work in part via dynamic interactions with methylated cytosine nucleotides in DNA. This is fundamental to their function as pioneer factors in reprograming and their ability to co-ordinate differentiation and organogenesis. Conversely, dynamic changes in methylation status engage or disengage new regulatory elements in the genome via recruitment of KLF/SP family proteins as specific effectors. This project will address a new paradigm in genetics that is likely to underpin development.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC170100016
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,123,492.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies. The ARC Training Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies aims to create and develop the skills and technology to benefit from the transformative impacts that cell/organ-on-a-chip technology will have on the medtech/pharma industries. By combining microfluidics-based/real-time technologies with personalised medicine the Training Centre will provide industry growth opportunities through improved screening of potential therap ....ARC Training Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies. The ARC Training Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies aims to create and develop the skills and technology to benefit from the transformative impacts that cell/organ-on-a-chip technology will have on the medtech/pharma industries. By combining microfluidics-based/real-time technologies with personalised medicine the Training Centre will provide industry growth opportunities through improved screening of potential therapeutics. The use of an individual patient’s cellular and molecular research findings will ultimately enable personalised diagnostic and therapeutic decisions.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR1101002
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$21,000,000.00
Summary
Stem Cells Australia. Despite progress in stem cell research, scientists do not understand how stem cells “decide” what to become. Stem Cells Australia will draw upon strengths within Australia’s premier stem cell research universities and institutes. This collaboration between leading bioengineering, nanotechnology, stem cell and advanced molecular analysis experts, will fast-track efforts to deliver a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms of stem cell regulation and differentiation, and ....Stem Cells Australia. Despite progress in stem cell research, scientists do not understand how stem cells “decide” what to become. Stem Cells Australia will draw upon strengths within Australia’s premier stem cell research universities and institutes. This collaboration between leading bioengineering, nanotechnology, stem cell and advanced molecular analysis experts, will fast-track efforts to deliver a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms of stem cell regulation and differentiation, and the ability to control and influence this process. Stem Cells Australia will deliver new methods for stem cell propagation and manipulation, new translational technologies for therapeutic applications, and will prepare Australia’s future stem cell scientific leaders.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC190100026
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,969,663.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre for Cell and Tissue Engineering Technologies. The ARC Training Centre for Cell and Tissue Engineering Technologies aims to provide training to create a highly skilled workforce for the tissue engineering and regenerative medicine sector and to enhance research performance and innovation in Australia through fundamental and applied research carried out in industry-led PhD projects. The research aims to address major aspects of the manufacturing and commercialisation pathway an ....ARC Training Centre for Cell and Tissue Engineering Technologies. The ARC Training Centre for Cell and Tissue Engineering Technologies aims to provide training to create a highly skilled workforce for the tissue engineering and regenerative medicine sector and to enhance research performance and innovation in Australia through fundamental and applied research carried out in industry-led PhD projects. The research aims to address major aspects of the manufacturing and commercialisation pathway and barriers faced by the sector, namely improving process efficiencies, enabling early-stage scale-up (cell/tissue) and development of the sector's supply chain. The knowledge created and research undertaken would help to accelerate commercialisation in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering and cell therapies.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120100423
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Tissue engineered muscle actuators as evocative cultural objects and vehicles for discourses about material agency and living machines. This interdisciplinary project will be examining shifting perceptions of what is living through case study of a vital-machine; tissue engineered muscle actuators in custom made bioreactors. It will further discourses about posthumanist perceptions of movement as an indicator for life with agency; suggesting new knowledge and modes of inquiry of material life.