Seminar: Molecules to Man: Targeting fibrosis and diabetic complications

27 Nov 2008

Thursday 27 November 2008

Speaker: Assoc Prof Darren Kelly, University of Melbourne 

Venue: Bio21 Institute Auditorium, 30 Flemington Road, Parkville

Time: 4.00 to 5.00 pm

No RSVP Required. All welcome.

Enquiries: Bio21 Institute Reception, email: bio21-reception@unimelb.edu.au or phone: 8344 2220 

This seminar is part of the Bio21 Institute Seminar Series 2008 

Bio: Dr. Kelly, an Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne, is a recognised expert in progressing pre-clinical novel interventions and in developing experimental models of renal and cardiac disease. In the past 5 years he has averaged more than 10 publications per year, with most in high quality journal such as PNAS, Diabetes and American Journal of Pathology.  In particular, many of these manuscripts have led to translational research that has had a direct impact on human disease.  Assoc Prof. Kelly has previously received major grants and fellowships from the NH&MRC and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) International.

Abstract:

Molecules to Man: Targeting fibrosis and diabetic complications

The response to injury involves the activation of a vast array of mechanisms designed to induce beneficial tissue repair, including fibrosis. However in the presence of chronic or repeated injury, the fibrotic response mostly involves a combination of disordered cell regeneration that ultimately leads to the formation of tissue fibrosis. While this repair by connective tissue clearly assists in the maintenance of organ integrity following for instance a skin wound, pathological fibrosis in the kidney and other organs is detrimental. Hyperglycaemia, up-regulation of angiotensin and transforming growth factor- ß, all characteristic of diabetes initiate a pathological fibrotic response. In the kidney and heart, this leads to organ failure.