Imagine a future without disease
Your gift can help transform the ageing process so we can all live a longer, healthier life.
Life expectancy is improving at an unprecedented rate around the world. Yet, a significant challenge remains. Age is the biggest risk factor for many of the most serious chronic diseases facing society today.
The incidence of Alzheimer’s, heart disease, lung disease, musculoskeletal decline and cancer all rise significantly with age – they are diseases arising from cellular degeneration, dysfunction and decline.
By 2050, an estimated 1 in 6 people globally will be aged 65 years or older. It is imperative that new strategies are developed to limit the growing burden of disease and improve quality of life for all.
Our researchers are harnessing the power of advanced cellular and molecular investigation to better understand the ageing process and prevent the onset of age-related disease.
But we need your help.
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Alzheimer’s disease
Professor Jennifer Gamble, Head, Vascular Biology Program
Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disease consisting of plaque build-up within the cellular networks of the brain, which disrupts cell function and neural communication. A cure has yet to be found.
Professor Gamble is investigating the blood vessels of the brain and their potential role in Alzheimer’s development and progression. In particular, endothelial cells which line blood vessels and are responsible for preserving the blood-brain barrier.
Professor Gamble has identified significant age-related changes in these cells which, over time, can become impaired and ‘leaky’. She is now working to determine if this breakdown leads to Alzheimer’s or makes the disease more likely.
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Musculoskeletal decline
Associate Professor Andy Philp, Head, Biology of Ageing Laboratory
Sarcopenia – or loss of muscle – is a serious condition that leads to frailty, loss of mobility, an increased risk of falls and fractures and, in some cases, premature mortality.
It is currently unknown why the musculoskeletal system gets weaker with age. However, recent research suggests that skeletal muscle mitochondrial dysfunction may cause sarcopenia.
Associate Professor Philp aims to better understand how mitochondrial dysfunction develops during ageing, and is currently investigating whether pharmacological approaches to increase mitochondrial activity in skeletal muscle can be used for the treatment and prevention of sarcopenia. -
Cardiovascular disease
Dr Yanfei (Jacob) Qi, Head, Lipid Cell Biology Laboratory
Atherosclerosis is an age-associated condition in which arteries harden and narrow over time due to a build-up of fatty plaque on the arterial wall.
Dr Qi is examining how fat products within blood vessel cells affect cell fitness and influence atherosclerosis. He has already identified a critical regulator of fat movement and storage within cells and is currently pursuing this vital discovery to better understand the cause and progression of atherosclerosis at a cellular level.
The research could lead to the development of an entirely new class of drugs to treat this age-associated arterial disease.
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