Understanding the role of the mineralocorticoid receptor in diabetic cardiac myopathy?

Research Opportunity
Honours students
Number of Honour Places Available
1
Department / Centre
Baker Department of Cardiometabolic Health
Primary Supervisor Email Number Webpage
Associate Professor Morag Young morag.young@baker.edu.au 385321111 Personal web page

Summary Patients with diabetes are disproportionally affected by the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD); diabetic cardiac myopathy (DCM) affects ~20-25% of patients with diabetes. New therapies are needed to address this significant unmet need in the diabetic population. Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonists (MRA) are protective in DCM but side effects caused by poor kidney function limit its use in the clinic. This project will test a new MRA in development with an improved safety profile in a model of DCM. Diabetic mice (STZ model) will be given vehicle, a standard MRA or a novel MRA and the impact on cardiac remodelling, cardiac and renal function and diabetic metabolic endpoints will be investigated to determine any benefit of the new MRA for DCM. Techniques will include animal models, immunohistochemistry, cell culture RNA and protein isolation, RT PCR and western blot techniques. If time permits, bioinformatic analysis of data bases of patients with cardiac disease.


School Research Themes

Cardiometabolic



Research Opportunities

Honours students
Students who are interested in joining this project will need to consider their elegibility as well as other requirements before contacting the supervisor of this research

Graduate Research application

Honours application

Key Contact

For further information about this research, please contact a supervisor.

Department / Centre

Baker Department of Cardiometabolic Health


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