Lay summary
I am medically trained doctor intending to pursue a career that combines academic research with surgical practice. I have interrupted my training as a surgical registrar to embark on a PhD in order to fulfill my career goal.
Patients with acute and critical illness accumulate oedema (excess fluid) within their vital organs (e.g. the heart, lungs and kidneys), which is detrimental to organ function and recovery. Currently there are no specific treatments. Therefore, this project aims to decrease organ oedema in experimental models of acute and critical illness by both preventing its accumulation and increasing its drainage. This will be investigated by manipulating pathways involved in oedema formation, and lymphatic function, as the lymphatic vessels are the primary drainage routes for excess fluid in the body. Through decreasing the excess fluid within vital organs, we hope to drastically reduce the debilitating and often life-threatening organ dysfunction in intensive care.