The power of exercise to reduce ‘blockages, blowouts and rusty pipes’ in the body will soon be discussed at a University of the Sunshine Coast public lecture series for the Noosa branch of the University of the Third Age (U3A).

Associate Professor Dr Chris Askew will present a lecture on exercise as a medicine for cardiovascular health on Friday 27 May at Noosa U3A’s auditorium at ‘Michell House', 64 Poinciana Avenue, Tewantin.

Dr Askew leads USC’s VasoActive research group that is conducting a major study into the kinds of exercise that can help treat various cardiovascular conditions.

Those conditions include poor leg circulation, brain vascular impairment, and the potentially deadly cardiovascular condition, abdominal aortic aneurysm, known as AAA.

Senior Lecturer in Biochemical Pharmacology Dr Fraser Russell will present a second lecture outlining research into new therapies from fish oil to treat AAA.

Dr Russell will share findings from research examining the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on immune cells from patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm.

“Drug therapies to date have not slowed the progression of the disease, and so new therapies are urgently needed,” Dr Russell said.

“Our research group is investigating the potential of fish oil, a source of omega-3 fatty acids, to treat the inflammatory component of abdominal aortic aneurysm.”

Dr Russell will also share exciting research findings from a collaborative study with ecologists, chemists and pharmacologists into the healing potential of a resin and wax-based substance produced by native Australian stingless bees.

“A potential application of this research is the development of new products to treat patients with recalcitrant or non-responsive wounds,” he said.

U3A is a volunteer organisation for people who have finished full-time work but want to continue learning. The USC lecture series is part of an on-going collaboration of U3A Noosa and USC, and is held on the last Friday of each month at Tewantin.

The two-storey commercial property was gifted to USC by philanthropist, author and restaurateur Sandy Michell in 2014 with a condition that U3A Noosa would remain on site for an extended period of time.

Future lectures in the series include: Associate Professor Fiona Pelly on nutrition (24 June); and Lecturer in Journalism Dr Jane Fynes-Clinton on ‘truth, lies and the internet’ (29 July).

— Clare McKay