Innovation In The Primary Care Management Of Back Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$152,595.00
Summary
Back pain affect millions of Australians. Billions of dollars are spent each year on treament but health outcomes are often poor. Experience from overseas shows that simply spending more money on current treatments won’t fix the problem. This fellowship will be used to support a program of research to improve the quality and efficiency of treatments and health services.
Addressing Therapeutic Challenges In Sleep Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$851,980.00
Summary
The aim of this fellowship is to improve the health and well-being of Australians by reducing the burden of sleep and disorders that disrupt the body clock such as shift work. My program will involve different fields of research combining their efforts together to understand more about sleep apnea and insomnia, the two most common sleep disorders. By this strategy, better treatment for sleep disorders will be found with particular impact on our aging population
Increasing Value, Reducing Waste From Incomplete Or Unusable Reports Of Medical Research
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$788,486.00
Summary
We estimated that the avoidable waste in research - from design flaws, non-publication, and inadequate reporting - results in over $85 Billion annual loss. I will research innovations to reduce this waste. My focus is particularly on non-drug interventions - exercises, dietary changes, self-monitoring, e-health applications – which are often effective but more difficult to use in clinical practice, and being compiled in my recently founded Handbook of Non-Drug Interventions (see RACGP website).
Prof. Simes will lead and develop research at the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre in collaboration with major national and international cooperative groups. Research themes include integrating molecular science with trial design and embedding research routinely in health care. Projects include surgery for rectal cancer; novel targeted therapy in gastric cancer; aspirin to prevent colon cancer; placental transfusion for preterm babies; risk in heart disease; economic assessment of clinical trials.
Professor John Simes is director of the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre and has a background in oncology, biostatistics and epidemiology. He leads a program of clinical trials, mainly in oncology, cardiovascular disease and neonatology, with associated research into trials methods, biostatistical analysis, patient preferences, individualising treatment, decision analysis and the application of trial evidence to clinical decision making.
Sleep loss through sleep deprivation and sleep disorders is a common problem causing impaired brain and heart function as well as increasing human errors in the workplace. The fellowship will involve new research focusing on how better treatment of sleep problems can reduce blood pressure, vascular disease and road crashes. Cutting edge research facilities will help new studies into how jet lag and shiftwork impair health and how to counter this risk.
My primary research focus is to understand the mechanisms underlying sleep-related breathing disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnoea, and develop better ways to diagnose and treat them. I also investigate physical therapies to improve the lives of people with chronic lung disease. Both sleep disorders and lung disease are extremely common in Australia. Improving the health and quality of life of these individuals has important personal benefit and social and economic benefits.
I am a neurochemist-clinical research scientist investigating the interaction between, in particular, brain monoaminergic activity, autonomic function and physiological responses. My studies are largely focussed on determining the aetiology and consequenc
During my fellowship I will lead research to improve understanding of the causes of back pain and its prevention and treatment. I will work in partnership with clinicians and health agencies to improve health care for back pain, so that Australians receive care based upon the very best research. I will work with colleagues to increase the pool of researchers tackling important questions about how best to manage back pain.