Annual Report 2005 - Westmead Millennium Institute

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Centre for Heart ResearchPrevention of sudden deathSudden death is usually caused by an abnormal heart rhythmproduced by a problem in the ventricles of the heart. Ventriculartachycardia and ventricular fibrillation are the two major heartrhythms responsible for sudden death and both are the subject ofresearch currently being performed by this group. Some abnormalheart rhythms can be treated by minimally invasive procedures inwhich abnormal electrical pathways in the heart are ablated.Attempts to cure ventricular tachycardia using percutaneouscatheters have been hampered by the inadequacies of conventionalmapping and ablation techniques. Researchers in this group havedesigned a catheter that could create a deeper ablation lesion thanis possible with maximal conventional therapy. A prototype catheterwas constructed in-house and tested using an ex-vivo ovine model.The prototype catheter was shown to create lesions that weresignificantly deeper and just as wide as lesions created withconventional catheters. Efforts are also being directed at improvedmapping procedures for determining the underlying mechanismsof ventricular arrhythmias and facilitating curative therapy. Thiswork gained additional support in 2005 by the awarding of aNHMRC Project Grant.Ventricular fibrillation is also a cause of sudden death andcommonly occurs at the time of a heart attack. The mechanismof this electrical problem that stops the heart beating effectively isincompletely understood. Researchers are studying the behaviourof electrical currents in the heart during ventricular fibrillation to tryand detect patterns that may allow new treatments for thisimportant abnormal heart rhythm.Atrial fibrillationAtrial fibrillation results in chaotic beating of the heart and is the mostcommon cause of abnormal heart rhythm. It is due to abnormalelectrical activation of the upper part of the heart called the atria.Recently a curative minimally invasive treatment has been developedfor atrial fibrillation. There are large groups of patients for whom thistreatment is not effective. The Cardiology Research Centre isperforming basic and applied studies to improve the safety andefficacy of treatment for atrial fibrillation. These include studies ofopen heart and minimally invasive techniques for cure of atrialfibrillation.Alternative energy sources for treatment ofabnormal heart rhythmsPercutaneous, minimally invasive techniques to treat abnormal heartrhythms require delivery of alternating electrical current. Thistechnique is used to heat abnormal parts of the heart and interruptshort circuits responsible for the rhythm problems. There areimportant limitations to this technique. In an attempt to createdevices that overcome some of the current difficulties with existingtechnology, cardiology researchers are investigating alternativeenergy sources such as microwaves. This ARC funded project is acollaboration with the University of Technology.Imaging and cardiac functionEchocardiography uses ultrasound waves to study cardiac structureand function. Ultrasound is a safe and effective way to visualize theheart. Researchers have used echocardiography to monitor andevaluate atrial size and function after procedures to treat atrialfibrillation. New techniques have been used to develop noninvasiveparameters of total and segmental atrial function. Two and threedimensional atrial volume estimation has also been performed toevaluate atrial remodeling after restoration of normal rhythm. Theseresults may help to alter techniques and treatments currently usedfor atrial fibrillation. This work is supported by funding from theNational Heart Foundation.
FundingNational Health & Medical Research Council Grants * 8,057,369Other Grants * 6,250,802Infrastructure Grants 2,317,232Other Income 875,578Total 2005 Income ($) 17,500,981Excludes income from hospital clinical trials. *Includes fellowships and scholarships.Funding OrganisationsIn 2005 the Institute received researchfunding from the following majororganisations. We thank them fortheir support.Australian Dental Research FoundationAustralian Lung FoundationAnthony Rothe FoundationAustralian Research CouncilAustralian Centre for HIV and HepatitisVirology ResearchBiogenCancer Institute of NSWClive and Vera Ramaciotti FoundationCommonwealth Department of Health andAgeingCure Cancer AustraliaDental Board of NSWGlaxoSmithKlineJohnson & Johnson ResearchHeart Foundation of AustraliaJuvenile Diabetes Research FoundationLeukaemia FoundationMeat and Livestock AustraliaMerck, Sharpe and DohmeMotor Accident Authority of NSWNational Breast Cancer FoundationNational Institutes of Health USANational Health & Medical Research CouncilNovartis Pharmaceuticals Australia Pty LtdNSW Cancer CouncilNSW Ministry for Science and MedicalResearchNSW HealthPfizer PharmaciaPhilip Bushell FoundationRetina AustraliaRobert W Storr BequestThe Millennium FoundationUniversity of Sydney
Page 2 and 3: ContentsAbout Us 2 Chairman’s Rep
Page 5 and 6: Chairman’s ReportIn the research
Page 7 and 8: MessagesFrom the Chief Executive,Sy
Page 9 and 10: Liver and MetabolicThe NHMRC Centre
Page 11 and 12: Centre for Infectious Diseasesand M
Page 13 and 14: Viral immunobiology and apoptosisSp
Page 15 and 16: streptococcal biofilms. They are no
Page 17 and 18: Breast cancer researchThe Breast Ca
Page 19 and 20: Genetic epidemiology of cancerFor m
Page 21 and 22: Throughout 2005 Professor Geoffrey
Page 23 and 24: Brain Dynamics CentreSchizophrenia
Page 25 and 26: Centre for Vision ResearchRetinal v
Page 27: Ludwig Engel Centre forRespiratory
Page 31 and 32: Advisory Board andCouncil of Govern
Page 33 and 34: PhD StudentsMs Kim ChhourMs Alice L
Page 35 and 36: Leukaemia Cell BiologyResearch Grou
Page 37 and 38: ExecutiveInstitute DirectorProf Ton
Page 39 and 40: Elder G. Parathyroidextomy in theca
Page 42 and 43: The Millennium FoundationThe Millen
Page 44: Darcy Road, PO Box 412Westmead NSW

Annual Report 2005 - Westmead Millennium Institute

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