Congenital brain vascular malformations are a common cause of stroke and death in young patients. This project aims to develop a new treatment for these lesions that does not require surgery. We will use focussed radiation to change the cells lining the abnormal vessels so that they can be targeted with a new treatment that causes blockage of the vessels and prevents haemorrhage.
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.
Central Neural Regulation Of Brown Fat Function – Glucose Sensing And CNS Pathways
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$761,942.00
Summary
Our research aims to identify how specific brain cells detect changes in glucose levels and how ageing and diet affect their function. We identified a subset of nerve cells that detect changes in glucose and the “hunger” hormone ghrelin, their ability to do so adapting with age and nutritional status. This project will investigate the potential of these nerve cells as targets for therapeutic and diet- intervention strategies to target obesity, diabetes and promote healthy ageing.
Which Neurons Maintain Sympathetic Vasomotor Tone?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$567,918.00
Summary
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, a major burden of disease worldwide. High levels of nerve activity that cause the blood vessels to constrict elevating blood pressure are characteristic of hypertension. We do not know which brain cells set and maintain this nerve activity. We will identify these cells, determine how they function and what regulates them. Ultimately we could control these cells treating the cause of hypertension or when clinical need arises.
Is Stroke Neurodegenerative? A Longitudinal Study Of Changes In Brain Volume And Cognition Following Stroke
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,044,837.00
Summary
There is no direct evidence linking Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and stroke. It is unknown whether stroke can trigger progressive dementia in the same way as AD. In a group of stroke patients, we will measure MRI brain volume and cognition in the 5 years after stroke. These findings will be critical for identification of those patients most at risk of dementia after stroke. This will allow future early intervention for these patients, via promising AD disease-modifying therapies.
Retinal Microvascular Signs In Acute Stroke: Prognostic Significance And Relevance To Underlying Pathophysiology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,425.00
Summary
This project will describe abnormalities of the blood vessels of the retina in patients with stroke. Stroke is a common problem affecting some 48,000 Australians each year. Despite medical progress, stroke is commonly fatal (the third leading cause of death) and the leading cause of serious acquired disability in older people. This project will obtain detailed photographs of patients admitted to hospital with acute stroke. The acquired digital images will be analysed using new methods that asses ....This project will describe abnormalities of the blood vessels of the retina in patients with stroke. Stroke is a common problem affecting some 48,000 Australians each year. Despite medical progress, stroke is commonly fatal (the third leading cause of death) and the leading cause of serious acquired disability in older people. This project will obtain detailed photographs of patients admitted to hospital with acute stroke. The acquired digital images will be analysed using new methods that assess size of the small retinal arteries compared to veins (the arteriole-to-venule ratio) and will document other abnormalities, such as microaneurysms, haemorrhages, tortuosity and focal and generalised vessel narrowing and wall opacity. In normal populations these signs are associated with hypertension, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction and predict future stroke. These signs, and their significance have not been systematically studied in acute stroke. This may offer a window into the brain for important subgroups of stroke such as lacunar stroke. It is increasingly hard (and remains technically very difficult) to study the cause of lacunar stroke, affecting 10,000 Australians each year, as lacunar stroke has a lower fatality rate (and thus few opportunities for post mortem studies) but a high disability rate. Lacunar stroke is known to be due to small vessel disease but the exact nature of this disease is unknown. Echocardiography (to identify heart and major blood vessel abnormalities) and carotid duplex scanning (to identify critical stenosis of the major blood supply to the brain) are commonly normal in this type of stroke, and brain scanning with computerised tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) merely shows the outcome of the small vessel disease. The eye develops as part of the brain and thus retinal vascular abnormalities could add important knowledge to our understanding of stroke and add clinically useful data in the assessment of patients with stroke.Read moreRead less
To Understand The Role Of The Plasminogen Activating And Matrix Metalloproteinase Systems In Traumatic Brain Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$499,321.00
Summary
Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) is known for its role as a clot dissolving protein. It is present in the brain and following traumatic brain injury (TBI), it can worse brain cell damage. We have established a mouse model of TBI . We will compare brain damage in mice that are deficient in or have high amounts of t-PA. We will also determine whether the recovery rate post-TBI can be improved using specific t-PA blockers. This project may provide new therapies for TBI.
Generating multi-component scaffolding to influence the differentiation of embryonic stem cells. Nervous system diseases are debilitating and will develop in over 50 per cent of people at some time in their life. This project will develop strategies so that stem cells can be utilised to encourage brain repair for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. The technology developed will also be of benefit for the treatment of other nervous system disorders.
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