Unit Contact
Dr Paul Witting
Laboratory Room W504
Discipline of Pathology
5th Floor, Blackburn Building, D06
University of Sydney, NSW, 2006
Phone: +61 2 9114 0524 (Office); 9351 6148 (Lab)
Fax: +61 2 9351 3429
Email: pwitting@med.usyd.edu.au
Unit Personnel
|
Head
of Unit |
Research Staff |
PhD
Students |
2009
Honours Students |
Research Overview
Protein modifications that potentially underlie the severity of acute myocardial infarct in hearts from diabetic rats. In addition, we have an established interest in monitoring oxidative stress in disease states including atherosclerosis, acute renal failure and cerebral ischemia injury (stroke).
Honours Students Projects Available in 2009
Post translational changes to key cardiac proteins in the hearts of diabetic rats after experimental heart attack
Supervisors: Dr Paul Witting (Pathology) and Dr Aisling McMahon (Biogerontology Group, ANZAC Research Institute)
Contact Details: Room 509 Blackburn Building, Email: pwitting@med.usyd.edu.au
Project
Description:
The major causes of morbidity and mortality in diabetes are the cardiovascular complications of the disease. Of these, the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy is of particular concern, as it increases the risk and severity of acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) compared with the general population. The proposed project will provide information on the role for oxidative stress and inflammation in promoting the severity of myocardial infarct in an animal model of diabetic cardiomyopathy. We plan to use an established rat model of diabetes and monitor post translational changes to key cardiac proteins through a proteomic approach combining 2D gel and mass spectrometry peptide mass mapping. An understanding of the role for oxidative stress and inflammation following acute myocardial infarct in diabetics may allow the development of new therapeutic approaches targeted at slowing down the progression of cardiomyopathy and thereby potentially improving heart function and quality of life in diabetes sufferers. This would be viewed as a major advance.
Recent Publications
Click here for full list of publications
Unit Resources
We use the tools of proteomics to investigate markers of heart disease and the post-translational modification of proteins resulting from cardiovascular disease in diabetics and kidney disease in burns patients. We have established an animal model of diabetic cardiomyopathy and will use this model to assess changes in key cardiac proteins resulting from experimental heart attack. Specific techniques include liquid chromatography, 1D and 2D electrophoresis, mass spectometry coupled with peptide mass mapping.
Grants Awarded