Cardio-respiratory
Although we can diagnose and treat many of the underlying causes of heart injury, the heart remains one of the least regenerative organs in the body. Novel treatments to repair/regenerate the injured heart are urgently needed and will have a dramatic impact on morbidity and mortality of patients with heart disease.
We aim to understand the molecular basis of cardiac rhythm and conduction, and to uncover new molecular targets and approaches for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.
In collaboration with the Cancer Research Centre, we have started by investigating endometrial cancer, breast cancer and melanoma. We are comparing data on patients’ tumours with information on their sleep to understand how obstructive sleep apnoea and other sleep disorders may affect cancer biology.
Cystic fibrosis is the most common inherited disorder in Australia, and is caused by mutations on the CFTR gene. Dysfunction of CFTR affects ion and fluid transport in the lungs, liver, gut and pancreas.
We study the physiology of the upper airway to understand the conditions under which it narrows and collapses, resulting in sleep disordered breathing. Our research focuses on the mechanical properties of the tissues of the upper airway and why they fail in obstructive sleep apnoea
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