Postgraduate Research Opportunities » Projects

Sue Lester

Jon Saw — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:26:54 +0000

Sue Lester

Characterisation of central pathways of visceral sensory fibres and changes with chronic visceral pain

Jon Saw — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 16:05:26 +0000

Chronic visceral pain is a major unresolved clinical problem associated with numerous functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. The sensory nerve pathways relaying information from visceral organs into the spinal cord are essential in shaping how harmful stimuli are perceived and differentiated from physiological stimuli. Remarkably, how these visceral sensory nerves project into the spinal cord remain uncharacterized as are the spinal cord neurons they activate. This project will determine the anatomy, neurochemistry and pharmacology of visceral sensory nerve terminals projecting in the spinal cord and the spinal cord dorsal horn neurons activated by various GI stimuli. As the development and maintenance of chronic visceral pain is attributed in part to changes in the spinal cord, this project will use mouse models of chronic visceral pain in order to characterise such changes. The outcomes of this project will significantly enhance the overall understanding of visceral sensory pathways and will be used to identify novel therapeutic targets for the management of chronic visceral pain.

Techniques that students will use for this project include fluorescence immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy, quantitative PCR and tissue collection, allowing localization of receptors and neurochemical markers specifically to visceral spinal terminals and the dorsal horn neurons they activate. This will also be combined with small animal surgery and the use of animal models.

Lead Researchers
Dr Stuart Brierley
Dr Andrea Harrington
Dr Joel Castro
Associate Professor Grigori Rychkov

Contact person
Dr Stuart Brierley

Research Groups
Spinal Visceral Pain

Research Centres, Groups & Labs
Nerve-Gut Research Laboratory

Discipline
Discipline of Medicine

Molecular mechanisms of carbohydrate malabsorption in critical illness

Jon Saw — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 16:04:20 +0000

New clinical evidence shows that critically ill patients malabsorb sugars due to a cellular defect in their small intestine. This leads to difficulties controlling blood glucose levels and to poor clinical outcomes. We recently showed that sweet taste receptors that allow the detection of sweet stimuli on the tongue are present also in the gut of humans and animals. Here, they may signal the presence of sugars and regulate the availability of carbohydrate transporters. We propose that taste receptor levels are reduced in critical illness, leading to reduced sugar transport capacity in these patients. This project will test expression of taste receptors and transporters in a mouse model of critically illness and in ICU patients within the Royal Adelaide Hospital. This is a new research line and has the potential to reveal important information on the defect, and management options for patients. Techniques that students will undertake include PCR, immunolabelling and tissue collection.

Lead Researchers
Dr Richard Young
Dr Erin Symonds

Contact person
Dr Richard Young

Research Group
Intestinal Nutrient Sensing Group

Research Centres, Groups & Labs
Nerve-Gut Research Laboratory

Discipline
Discipline of Medicine

Nutrient sensing in the gut

Jon Saw — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 16:04:16 +0000

Detection of nutrients in the intestine is of crucial importance in the control of motility, glycaemia, and energy intake, and little is known of these processes. Altered nutrient signalling occurs in diabetes, as evidenced by changes in gastric emptying and gut motility in response to nutrient infusions. Altered function of epithelial sensory mechanisms are strongly implicated in these disturbances. Intestinal nutrients are detected by highly specialised epithelial cells, known as enteroendocrine cells, which sample the lumen and release neuroactive mediators into the subepithelial space, which then activate sensory fibres in the vagus nerves. Several types of enteroendocrine cells exist, which contain a wide range of mediators.

The aims of this project are to determine: Which taste receptors exist in intestinal epithelium, their mechanism of coupling in enteroendocrine cells, which mediators enteroendocrine cells release, how they activate vagal sensory nerves.

Lead Researchers
Dr Richard Young
Dr Erin Symonds

Contact person
Dr Richard Young

Research Group
Intestinal Nutrient Sensing Group

Research Centres, Groups & Labs
Nerve-Gut Research Laboratory

Discipline
Discipline of Medicine

Neuroimmune interactions in functional gastroinstestinal disorders

Jon Saw — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 16:03:19 +0000

Several projects are available investigating the nervous and/or immune aspects of these diseases. These projects may be clinical or laboratory based, with opportunities to be involved in studies ranging from molecular and in-vitro experiments through to in-vivo and human studies.

Lead Researchers
Dr Patrick Hughes
Asociate Professor Amanda Page
Asociate Professor Jane Andrews
Professor Richard Holloway

Contact person
Dr Patrick Hughes

Research Group
Neuroimmune interactions

Research Centres, Groups & Labs
Nerve-Gut Research Laboratory

Discipline
Discipline of Medicine

TRP channels: Critical targets for the treatment of chronic visceral pain

Jon Saw — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 16:01:52 +0000

Chronic pain is a major unresolved worldwide clinical problem. In Australia Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a major form of chronic pain effecting up to 20% of the population. IBS patients experience increased activation of peripheral sensory mechanisms, so understanding how peripheral nerve endings in the gut become hypersensitive would advance the design of new therapies.

TRP channels are novel key candidates contributing to sensation and pain because they are primary sensors of mechanical and chemical stimuli. They can also be effectors, mediating excitation after activation of other receptors. Many exogenous and endogenous compunds activate TRP channels. In particular chilies and wasabi are know for the pain and discomfort they produce. However, other plant extracts are known as traditional cures, and their potential in modern medicine is emerging. To date the best current treatments for visceral pain are in fact alternative medicines (e.g. peppermint oil), which act via TRP channels.

This project will investigate TRP channels in colonic sensory neurons, determine their mechano and chemosensory properties, how they are influenced by plant extracts and how their function changes across acute and chronic pain models.

We will also determine if TRP expression is altered in tissue from human patients with chronic visceral, thereby linking TRP levels with symptoms.

Techniques that students will perform include:

electrophysiological afferent fibre recordings
patch clamp recordings
neuronal labeling
laser capture microdissection
QRT-PCR
tissue collection

Project funded by NHMRC Australia.

Lead Researchers
Dr Stuart Brierley
Dr Andrea Harrington
Dr Joel Castro
Associate Professor Grigori Rychkov

Contact person
Dr Stuart Brierley

Research Groups
Visceral Pain Group

Research Centres, Groups & Labs
Nerve-Gut Research Laboratory

Discipline
Discipline of Medicine

Study on the role of dietary patterns/fluid consumption patterns in the aetiology of chronic diseases

Jon Saw — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 15:56:44 +0000

Using large cross-sectional & longitudinal datasets from both Australia & China, the project aims to assess the association between dietary patterns/fluid consumption patterns & chronic diseases. Possible biological pathways linking dietary patterns/fluid consumption patterns & chronic diseases will be tested. Three to four datasets will be used in the study. Most of them have detailed information on biomarkers. The prospective students will work closely with researchers in Population Research & Outcome Studies.

Lead Researchers
Dr Zumin Shi
Associate Professor Anne Taylor

Contact person
Dr Zumin Shi

Research Group/Labs
Nutritional Epidemiology Research Group

Research Group
Population Research and Outcome Studies

Discipline
Discipline of Medicine

Trends in physical activity levels among the South Australian population

Jon Saw — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 15:55:50 +0000

The North West Adelaide Health study focuses on priority health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease. Risk factors that are common to many chronic conditions, including obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are also investigated.

The focus of this project is on physical activity and will address the follow research question: “What are the changes in physical activity levels in NWAHS participants over the ten years of the study and what are the implications for health?”

The purpose of this project is to:

Investigate the change in physical activity levels over time;
Determine the impact of any change in physical activity levels on chronic disease status; and
Identify policy issues which may impact on the undertaking of physical activity within the population.

Lead Researchers
Associate Professor Anne Taylor
Dr Tiffany Gill

Contact person
Dr Tiffany Gill

Research Group/Labs
Epidemiological Studies in Physical Activity and Chronic Diseases

Research Group
Population Research and Outcome Studies

Discipline
Discipline of Medicine

Medicine use among women who have reached menopausal age

Jon Saw — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 15:54:14 +0000

This project will address the follow research question: What is the use of prescription and CAM medicines by women who have reached menopausal age and what implications emerge from this usage?

The purpose of this project is to:

1. Investigate the NWAHS dataset applying appropriate statistical analyses;

2. Search relevant literature to identify:

recurring statements in terms of agreements and disagreements/points of tension/conflict. That is, what is agreed on and not agreed on and what are the recurring tensions.
what is said or agreed as being issues needing consideration within the debate about the use of prescription and CAM medicines by women who have researched menopausal age; and,

3. Compare and contrast statistical data with views from related literature to address the research question.

Lead Researchers
Associate Professor Anne Taylor
Dr Tiffany Gill
Associate Professor Kay Price
Janet Grant

Contact person
Associate Professor Anne Taylor

Research Group/Labs
Population Cohort Studies

Research Group
Population Research and Outcome Studies

Discipline
Discipline of Medicine

Adverse events – the views of a population

Jon Saw — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 15:54:08 +0000

This project will address the follow research question: How are adverse events described by a population?

The purpose of this project is to:

1. Investigate the NWAHS dataset applying appropriate statistical analyses;

2. Search relevant literature to identify:

recurring statements in terms of agreements and disagreements/points of tension/conflict. That is, what is agreed on and not agreed on and what are the recurring tensions.
what is said or agreed as being issues needing consideration within the debate about adverse events; and,

3. Compare and contrast statistical data with views from related literature to address the research question.

Lead Researchers
Associate Professor Anne Taylor
Dr Tiffany Gill
Associate Professor Kay Price
Janet Grant

Contact person
Associate Professor Anne Taylor

Research Group/Labs
Population Cohort Studies

Research Group
Population Research and Outcome Studies

Discipline
Discipline of Medicine