Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute

The Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute is an independent medical research organisation headquartered in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The institute was established in 1926, making it one of Australia’s oldest medical research institutes. It was historically focussed on cardiovascular disease. In 2008, it became the country’s first medical research institute to target diabetes, heart disease, obesity and their complications at the basic, clinical and population health levels. The Institute’s headquarters is in Melbourne, adjacent to The Alfred Hospital within the Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct. The Institute also has a national Aboriginal Health program, with a research facility in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.

History

The Baker Medical Research Institute was the creation of Dr. John F. Mackeddie, a clinical doctor and researcher, who had the idea of improving the laboratory facilities at The Alfred Hospital to keep up with advances in research. Mackeddie persuaded his friend, the photography industry pioneer and philanthropist Thomas Baker and his wife, Alice and sister-in-law, Eleanor Shaw, to assume financial responsibility. They decided the Institute should not only provide a better laboratory service for the hospital but should also have facilities for medical research.[1]:3–7

Dr. William J. Penfold, who was internationally renowned in bacteriology and preventative medicine and was prominent in establishing the Australian Medical Research Council,[2] was the first director of the Baker from 1926 until 1938.[1]:15–20 He was followed by Dr. Arthur B. Corkill, who first came to the Institute as a biochemist.[1]:20–22 Corkill described the methods of diagnosis and treatment of diabetes mellitus at The Alfred Hospital in 1927.[3] Twenty years later, in 1947, a young biochemist called Joe Bornstein was introduced to Corkill. Their work together resulted in the discovery of the two forms of diabetes—insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).[4] This discovery in 1949 "... literally changed the concepts, research and treatment of diabetes".[5]

From 1949 until 1974, Dr. Thomas E. Lowe was the Institute’s director.[1]:23–30 With a team of notable investigators, Lowe developed the Baker into a major research organisation with world-class facilities.[6] The team included:

It was during this time that cardiovascular research became the major focus. Research included the further development of cardiovascular surgery; new techniques of ECG and phonocardiography; treatment of congestive cardiac failure and of arterial hypertension. Sir James Officer Brown researched and tested open heart surgery in pre-clinical trials with the support of the Baker Institute, paving the way for Australia’s first successful open heart operation at The Alfred Hospital in 1957 which was undertaken by Kenneth Morris.[12][13] Morris went on to make major contributions to cardiac and thoracic surgery, alongside George Stirling (Director of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Unit at The Alfred Hospital from 1971 to 1988), with strong support from the Baker Institute in trialling and developing new cardiothoracic techniques.[14][15]

Professor Paul Korner AO, a cardiac physiologist noted for his contributions to the understanding of hypertension, took on the role of director in 1975[16] and by this time, the sole focus of the Institute was cardiovascular disease research. Significant advancements during this time included new strategies for hypertension; greater understanding of the role of the autonomic nervous system; insight into the role of cholesterol in atherogenesis and triglycerides as an independent risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis.[17] Notable investigators included Paul Nestel (nutrition, CVD, atherosclerosis and lipid metabolism), Murray Esler (causes and treatment of high blood pressure and heart failure, and effects of stress on the cardiovascular system) and Garry Jennings (causes, prevention and treatment of CVD, and relationship between exercise, blood pressure, sympathetic nervous system activity and glucose metabolism).

Other notable investigators whose work would come to have a significant bearing on the Institute included Paul Zimmet, who pioneered Australia's first institute dedicated exclusively to diabetes.[18] His research in Australian, Pacific, and Indian Ocean populations has highlighted the rise of diabetes worldwide, providing new insights into the genetic and environmental determinants of type 2 diabetes.

Professor John Funder AC was appointed Director in 1990 and bought his work on cardiovascular endocrinology, especially aldosterone action to the Institute. Funder has rewritten the pathophysiolology of adrenal steroid action in the cardiovascular system, reshaping what we believe about aldosterone, cortisol and mineralcorticol receptors.[19] He was recognised for his contributions to public policy across primary health issues.

In 2001, cardiologist-researcher Professor Garry Jennings AO became the Institute’s sixth Director. Under Jennings’ leadership, the Institute grew substantially and by 2002, the Institute had its own purpose-built facilities adjacent to The Alfred Hospital. By 2007, a national Aboriginal Health research program was established[20] to help address the profound health disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders. Jennings also oversaw one of the most significant changes in the Institute’s history, the merger in 2008 of the Baker Heart Research Institute[21] with the International Diabetes Institute, which was founded and led by Zimmet. This created Australia’s first multidisciplinary medical research institute dedicated to the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and their complications, such as kidney disease.

The Baker Heart Research Institute

JF Mackeddie, a pathologist originally from Scotland, but who practised in Melbourne in the early 20th Century, became a close friend of Thomas Baker through being neighbours on land south of the city. Mackeddie was “concerned with the science of diseases and the need to apply the advancing knowledge of biological science to human illness…” After convincing Baker to donate funds, firstly to the Alfred Hospital and then for research, he went on to become one of the founding Trustees of the Baker Medical Research Institute. Mackeddie recruited AB (Basil) Corkill as a biochemist for the new Institute. The salary was paid by Thomas Baker.

"The only consistent basic research in relation to diabetes and carbohydrate metabolism in the 20 years from 1925 was carried out at the Baker Institute in Melbourne" F.I.R. Martin[22]

The initial project dealt with new techniques for diagnosing diseases of the nervous system, in particular, the changes in cell content and chemistry of cerebro-spinal fluid in various diseases.[1]:66 Other projects in the early days involved bacteriology, at the time the Institute was started, the advancing edge of scientific medicine, and its application to the management of infectious disease in man. In the 1930s microbiology was a focus, with many of those projects reliant upon blood cultures and the techniques developed were published in a monograph – "Blood Cultures and their Significance" by H Butler in 1937. The Monograph Series lasted until 1974 – with 9 published. They covered anaesthesia, tumours, the cardiovascular system and scleroderma.

Basil Corkill described the methods of diagnosis and treatment of diabetes mellitus at the Alfred Hospital in 1927.[23] Twenty years later, in 1947, Joe Bornstein a young biochemist was introduced to Basil Corkill, who by then was Director of the Baker Institute. Their work together resulted in the discovery of the 2 forms of diabetes – insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).[24] This discovery in 1949 “..literally changed the concepts, research and treatment of diabetes”.[25]

"In the circumstances of the formation of the Institute it was to be expected that much of the research, at least in the earlier years, would be directed to the application of existing knowledge to the practical problems of clinical medicine" T.E. Lowe[26]

In their collection of memoirs of Baker Medical Research Institute Alumni, Andrew and Barnett describe the work of the Baker Institute to have “..always been in the interface between scientific medicine and the practice of medicine, a field engendered and enhanced by its association with Alfred Hospital.”[27] They remark that from its earliest days, the staff were involved in communicating the outputs of research to the clinical community and the community in general. An example being the statewide tours of Victoria that Basil Corkill and Ewen Downe made to introduce the new insulin treatment of diabetes mellitus.

In 1940, Paul Fantl became interested in blood clotting. At the time, synthetic Vitamin K was being produced and was often in short supply. Using very simple equipment – test tubes, water bath, stop watches and a centrifuge – he was “in the forefront of a revolutionary concept that led to the recognition of Factors V, VII, and X”, and with Miss Nance, internationally credited with the discovery of Factor V.[28] He went on to become a member of the International Committee for the Standardisation of the Nomenclature of Blood Clotting Factors in 1956. In 1963 he was honoured when the Fantl-Koller Schema was declared.

Other areas of research up to 1949 included asthma, eye disease, immunoproteins, scleroderma and surgery. The research on surgery lead to the development of cardiac surgery at the Alfred Hospital.

In the 1950s Tom Lowe decided to make a study of congestive heart failure. He concluded “that the body's fluid system was an 'open system' with an intake and output and divisions of the contents under control of various factors”.[29] He was also interested in electrocardiography, especially vector cardiography and had machines constructed to show the three-dimensional view.

Between 1949 and 1974, staff at the Baker Medical Research Institute also devoted a significant amount of time and energy to equipment construction to meet the needs of their researchers, this included some early, crude versions of heart-lung machines to aid in cardiac surgery.[30] Some research on the alimentary canal also was undertaken, however this work ceased in 1968.[31]

In 1949, cardiovascular research was one of the major growth edges of medicine was cardiology. At the time, it represented two thirds of the total research in the Baker Medical Research Institute. Cardiology research included:

The International Diabetes Institute (1984–2008)

The International Diabetes Institute was started in Melbourne in 1984 by Professor Paul Zimmet AO a number of years after his appointment to the Royal Southern Memorial Hospital.

“The research of Paul and his team in Pacific and Indian Ocean populations has provided new insights into the genetic contribution of NIDDM as well as the role of obesity, physical activity, nutrition and sociocultural change in the aetiology of this disorder.”[32]

In 1980 Dr Zimmet was asked by the Council of the Australian Diabetes Society to prepare a submission, along with colleague Dr Ian Martin, titled 'Diabetes in Australia'. The submission was to the Federal Minister of Health. The submission highlighted the impact of diabetes in the community and what government needed to invest to find a cure or treatment and to support people with diabetes.[33] At the same time, with Drv Matthew Cohen, Zimmet was the first to report their experience with home glucose monitoring and its acceptance in the diabetic population. They found better control, less hypoglycaemia and 95% acceptance.[34]

One of the most significant contributions of the International Diabetes Institute has been the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab). In 2000 it was the first national study to provide estimates of the number of people with diabetes (based on blood tests) and its public health and societal impact. It is now considered an integral component of the National Diabetes Strategy to tackle the mounting problem of diabetes and its complications in Australia.[35]

In addition to research, the IDI operated diabetes clinics in Melbourne from the site of the Caulfield Hospital. The diabetes clinics are the largest in Victoria, with more than 8000 patients per year and continue to be operated by Baker IDI from the organisation's site in Prahran in Melbourne's inner south east.

Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute (2008–Present)

In 2008 the Baker Heart Research Institute, as it was then known, merged with the International Diabetes Institute (which had operated in Melbourne for over 25 years.[36])

Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute houses World Health Organisation Collaborating Centres for Research & Training in Cardiovascular Disease[37] and Diabetes (WHO Collaborating Centre for the Epidemiology of Diabetes Mellitus and Health Promotion for NCD Control).[38]

Research

The Institute’s research agenda is based on the notion of a disease continuum from birth to death, with the aim of treating, managing and preventing the progression of disease at any stage. Baker IDI’s work ranges from cellular and molecular biology research in the laboratory to clinical-based research through to lifestyle and behavioural research that aims to inform prevention strategies.

The Institute’s science strategy and organisation structure contains programs to encourage broad-based, multidisciplinary research to focus on peaks of scientific excellence, and domains to accommodate funding and line management.

The present five programs focus on specific questions that form the basis for the Institute’s work. Baker IDI’s teams comprising medical specialists, scientists and public health experts are focussed on bringing their knowledge and expertise to bear on these areas:

The Institute’s domains are based around seven themes.

Research outcomes and achievements

Structure and organisation

Locations

Research, education to the public, health professionals, biomedical research students and patient care are located within the Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct in Melbourne and Adelaide and the Baker IDI Centre for Indigenous Vascular and Diabetes Research in Alice Springs. International projects in heart disease and diabetes are currently conducted in Mauritius, South Africa, Fiji, India and Vietnam.

Funding

The Baker Heart Research Institute is funded from a diverse range of Government and private sources including the corporate sector, trusts and foundations and individual donors.

In 2007 the Baker IDI Concise Financial Report showed receipts from granting bodies of $32.6million. A further $7.4 million came from donations and bequests and $20.27 million from commercial income.[58]

Collaborative partners

The Institute was a founding partner of the Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct in 2002, which also includes Alfred Health, Monash University, Burnet Institute, La Trobe University and Deakin University.[59]

Baker IDI is also a partner of Monash Partners Academic Health Science Centre, an Australian health industry, research and educational collaboration.[60] In March 2015, Monash Partners was recognised by the National Health and Medical Research Council as one of four Advanced Health Research and Translation Centres in Australia.[61]

Baker IDI’s longest partnership has been with The Alfred Hospital, which dates back to the Institute’s inception in 1926 on the hospital site. One of the significant developments of this partnership has been the Alfred Baker Medical Unit, which was established in 1949 and is the hub of joint research and clinical activity between the two institutions.[62]

Subsidiaries

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Lowe, Thomas (December 1974). The Thomas Baker, Alice Baker and Eleanor Shaw Medical Research Institute – The First Fifty Years (First ed.). Melbourne, Australia: The Trustees of the Institute. ISBN 0959698205.
  2. "Penfold, William James (1875–1941)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  3. Corkill, A (1927). "A review of the diabetes question". Medical Journal of Australia 1: 46–52.
  4. Bornstein, J; Lawrence, R D (1951). "Two types of diabetes mellitus with and without available plasma insulin". British Medical Journal 1: 732.
  5. Martin, F I R (1998). A history of diabetes in Australia. p. 37.
  6. Due, Stephen. Lowe, Thomas Edward (1908–1990). Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
  7. Ward, H. A. Fantl, Paul (1900–1972). Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
  8. "RACP: College Roll". members.racp.edu.au. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  9. "Professor Priscilla Kincaid-Smith, nephrologist - Australian Academy of Science". www.science.org.au. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  10. "A snapshot of people, papers and breakthroughs over the past 85 years" (PDF). Baker IDI. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  11. "History - High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia". High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  12. The Alfred Health Care Group Heritage Committee (1996). Alfred Hospital Faces and Places. The Alfred Health Care Group. pp. 81–82. ISBN 0 9596503 1 8.
  13. The Alfred Health Care Group Heritage Committee (1996). Alfred Hospital Faces and Places. The Alfred Health Care Group. pp. 82–83. ISBN 0 9596503 1 8.
  14. The Alfred Health Care Group Heritage Committee (1996). Alfred Hospital Faces and Places. The Alfred Health Care Group. p. 101. ISBN 0 9596503 1 8.
  15. The Alfred Health Care Group Heritage Committee (1996). Alfred Hospital Faces and Places. The Alfred Health Care Group. pp. 119–126. ISBN 0 9596503 1 8.
  16. The Alfred Health Care Group Heritage Committee (1996). Alfred Hospital Faces and Places. The Alfred Health Care Group. p. 86. ISBN 0 9596503 1 8.
  17. Andrew, Rod; Barnett, Alf. In Their Day: Memoirs of Alumni, The Baker Medical Research Institute. pp. 151–157. ISBN 1 875657 02 9.
  18. "Professor Paul Zimmet AO". www.obesityaustralia.org. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  19. The Endocrine Society Oral History Collection , PhD, Interview conducted by Michael Chappelle. 4 June 2011.
  20. "Baker IDI Central Australia".
  21. "National Library of Australia".
  22. Martin F I R op cit p23
  23. Corkill A B 1927 A review of the diabetes question Medical Journal of Australia 1 46–52
  24. Bornstein J, Lawrence R D 1951 Two types of diabetes mellitus with and without available plasma insulin British Medical Journal 1 732
  25. Martin F I R 1998 op cit p37
  26. Lowe TE op cit p66
  27. Andrew R, Barnett A 1992 in Their Day: Memoirs of Alumni The Baker Medical Research Institute Hyland House, Melbourne p 50
  28. Lowe TE op cit p103
  29. The Alfred Healthcare Heritage Committee 1996 op cit p272
  30. The Alfred Healthcare Heritage Committee 1996 Alfred Hospital Faces and Places The Alfred Healthcare Group, Melbourne p 122
  31. Lowe TE op cit pp68-74
  32. Cohen H 1999 Alfred Hospital – Faces and Places Vol II The Alfred Healthcare Group, Melbourne pp469-470
  33. Martin F I R op cit p75
  34. Cohen M, Zimmet P 1980 Home glucose monitoringMedical Journal of Australia 2 713–716
  35. Dunstan D, Zimmet P, Welborn T, Sicree R, Armstrong T, Atkins R, Cameron A, Shaw J, Chadban S on behalf of the AusDiab Steering Committee 2001 Diabesity & Associated Disorders in Australia – 2000 The Accelerating Epidemic; The Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab) International Diabetes Institute Melbourne
  36. Martin F I R 1998 op cit p69
  37. WHO Collaborating Centre Website WHO Collaborating Centre Website Accessed 21 April 2009 14.40
  38. WHO Collaborating Centre Website Accessed 21 April 2009: 14.40
  39. Byrne MJ, Kaye DM, Mathis M, Reuter DG, Alferness CA, Power JM 2005 Percutaneous Mitral Annular Reduction Provides Continued Benefit in an Ovine Model of Dilated Cardiomyopathy Circulation. 2004;110:3088–3092
  40. Wing LM, Reid CM, Ryan P, Beilin LJ, Brown MA, Jennings GL, Johnston CI, McNeil JJ, Macdonald GJ, Marley JE, Morgan TO, West MJ. A comparison of outcomes with angiotensin-converting—enzyme inhibitors and diuretics for hypertension in the elderly. N Engl J Med. 2003;348:583–592
  41. Jennings G, Nelson L, Nestel P, Esler M, Korner P, Burton D, Bazelmans J. The effects of changes in physical activity on major cardiovascular risk factors, hemodynamics, sympathetic function, and glucose utilization in man: a controlled study of four levels of activity. Circulation. 1986;73:30–40
  42. Nelson L, Jennings GL, Esler MD, Korner PI. Effect of changing levels of physical activity on blood-pressure and haemodynamics in essential hypertension. Lancet. 1986;2:473–476
  43. Kingwell BA, Jennings GL. Effects of walking and other exercise programs upon blood pressure in normal subjects. Med J Aust. 1993;158:234–238
  44. Ferrier KE, Nestel P, Taylor A, Drew BG, Kingwell BA. Diet but not aerobic exercise training reduces skeletal muscle TNF-alpha in overweight humans. Diabetologia. 2004;47:630–637.
  45. Nestel PJ, Chronopulos A, Cehun M. Dairy fat in cheese raises LDL cholesterol less than that in butter in mildly hypercholesterolaemic subjects. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2005;59:1059–1063
  46. Chin-Dusting J, Shennan J, Jones E, Williams C, Kingwell B, Dart A. Effect of dietary supplementation with beta-casein A1 or A2 on markers of disease development in individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease. Br J Nutr. 2006;95:136–144
  47. Nestel P, Fujii A, Zhang L. An isoflavone metabolite reduces arterial stiffness and blood pressure in overweight men and postmenopausal women. Atherosclerosis. 2006.
  48. Williams C, Kingwell BA, Burke K, McPherson J, Dart AM. Folic acid supplementation for 3 wk reduces pulse pressure and large artery stiffness independent of MTHFR genotype. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005;82:26–31.
  49. Straznicky NE, Lambert EA, Lambert GW, Masuo K, Esler MD, Nestel PJ. Effects of dietary weight loss on sympathetic activity and cardiac risk factors associated with the metabolic syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005;90:5998–6005
  50. The Science of Anti-aging Medicine. American Academy of Anti-Aging Med. 2003-01-01. ISBN 9780966893731.
  51. Esler M, Eikelis N, Schlaich M, Lambert G, Alvarenga M, Kaye D, El-Osta A, Guo L, Barton D, Pier C, Brenchley C, Dawood T, Jennings G, Lambert E. 2008 Human sympathetic nerve biology: parallel influences of stress and epigenetics in essential hypertension and panic disorder. Ann N Y Acad Sci. Dec;1148:338-48.
  52. Diabetes Care
  53. El-Osta A, Brasacchio D, Yao D, Pocai A, Jones PL, Roeder RG, Cooper ME, Brownlee M. 2008 Transient high glucose causes persistent epigenetic changes and altered gene expression during subsequent normoglycemia.J Exp MedSep 29;205(10):2409-17. Epub 2008 Sep 22. Erratum in: J Exp Med. 2008 Oct 27;205(11):2683.
  54. von Zur Muhlen C, Schiffer E, Zuerbig P, Kellmann M, Brasse M, Meert N, Vanholder RC, Dominiczak AF, Chen YC, Mischak H, Bode C, Peter K 2009.Evaluation of urine proteome pattern analysis for its potential to reflect coronary artery atherosclerosis in symptomatic patients. J Proteome Res. Jan;8(1):335-45
  55. Rowley M, Mackay I, Chen Q, Knowles W, Zimmet P 1992 Antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase discriminate major types of diabetes mellitus Diabetes 41 548–551
  56. Bornstein J, Lawrence RD 1951 Two types of diabetes mellitus with and without available plasma insulin British Medical Journal 1 732
  57. The Alfred Healthcare Group Heritage Committee 1996 Alfred Hospital Faces and Places The Alfred Healthcare Group, Melbourne pp119-121
  58. Baker IDI 2008 Research Update, Baker IDI, Melbourne p31
  59. "Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct".
  60. "Monash Partners Academic Health Science Centre".
  61. "NHMRC Advanced Health Research and Translation Centres". www.nhmrc.gov.au. National Health and Medical Research Council. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  62. Baker Heart Research Institute Annual Report 2005. State Library of Victoria. p. 17.
  63. "Nucleus Network". www.nucleusnetwork.com.au. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  64. "Avert™". www.ospreymed.com. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  65. "Baker Institute spin-off enters agreement :: Industry News :: Life Scientist". www.lifescientist.com.au. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  66. Institute, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes. "Neuropharmacology". www.bakeridi.edu.au. Retrieved 2015-12-08.

External links

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