Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101390
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$363,536.00
Summary
Invasive Synthetic Biomedical Brain Device: Ethical and Policy Implications. The use of novel, invasive, synthetic, biomedical brain technologies such as predictable brain devices, 3D printed biomaterials, additive-bio-fabricated materials, and drug delivery systems have raised unprecedented ethical issues for research. Given the therapeutic potential and high risk of harm associated with synthetic biomedical applications, it is critical to identify the ethical issues before these novel applicat ....Invasive Synthetic Biomedical Brain Device: Ethical and Policy Implications. The use of novel, invasive, synthetic, biomedical brain technologies such as predictable brain devices, 3D printed biomaterials, additive-bio-fabricated materials, and drug delivery systems have raised unprecedented ethical issues for research. Given the therapeutic potential and high risk of harm associated with synthetic biomedical applications, it is critical to identify the ethical issues before these novel applications are widely used in human clinical trials. This project aims to explore how research trial guidelines can address the ethical issues raised by these new brain applications.Read moreRead less
Reproductive Autonomy in the Genomic Age. This project aims to provide a better way to help people to think and reflect about new genetic tests in pregnancy. These tests are on the rise. Yet they are occurring in a setting that is overly individualistic and underplays problems that can come from increased information and choice. This project will involve an interdisciplinary team to generate new theoretical and practical knowledge to re-frame the concept of 'reproductive autonomy'. Expected outc ....Reproductive Autonomy in the Genomic Age. This project aims to provide a better way to help people to think and reflect about new genetic tests in pregnancy. These tests are on the rise. Yet they are occurring in a setting that is overly individualistic and underplays problems that can come from increased information and choice. This project will involve an interdisciplinary team to generate new theoretical and practical knowledge to re-frame the concept of 'reproductive autonomy'. Expected outcomes include new bioethics knowledge, innovations in research methodologies, new data and recommendations for practice. The project will provide benefits by generating the first analysis of how reproductive autonomy needs to change to ensure new tests in pregnancy are offered and used well.Read moreRead less
Defining disease: Addressing the problem of overdiagnosis. This project will investigate and define the limits of physical disease, to answer questions about when a presentation is a disease, and when it is simply a risk factor or mild condition. The ensuing account of disease will make a practical contribution to growing international concern about asymptomatic people being diagnosed and treated for conditions that will not cause any health problems ("overdiagnosis"). The research will provide ....Defining disease: Addressing the problem of overdiagnosis. This project will investigate and define the limits of physical disease, to answer questions about when a presentation is a disease, and when it is simply a risk factor or mild condition. The ensuing account of disease will make a practical contribution to growing international concern about asymptomatic people being diagnosed and treated for conditions that will not cause any health problems ("overdiagnosis"). The research will provide normative grounds for evaluating disease claims. Results will reduce the harm caused by people receiving treatment that they do not require, make a practical contribution to debates about the scope of health care, and yield findings that can help to reduce the cost-burdens associated with overdiagnosis.Read moreRead less
Reducing the harms associated with conscientious objection to abortion. This project aims to critically evaluate the regulation of conscientious objection to abortion. A range of state-based laws regulate this practice in Australia, and there is evidence that all result in inequitable access, harms to women and lack clarity for providers. The project will critically evaluate the legal and regulatory options for managing conscientious objection and interview conscientious objectors to develop a c ....Reducing the harms associated with conscientious objection to abortion. This project aims to critically evaluate the regulation of conscientious objection to abortion. A range of state-based laws regulate this practice in Australia, and there is evidence that all result in inequitable access, harms to women and lack clarity for providers. The project will critically evaluate the legal and regulatory options for managing conscientious objection and interview conscientious objectors to develop a conceptual model to explain their practices. A participatory process with experts will identify the optimal model for regulation and how to translate the model to practice. Expected outcomes are world first evidence on practice, progress towards effective regulation, and benefits will be reduced conflict and harms.Read moreRead less
Telling the truth to seriously ill children. This project aims to investigate how doctors and parents give information to young children who have serious medical conditions. Ethical and clinical guidelines agree that even young children should be given open, accurate and honest information in a developmentally appropriate way. However, doctors find this a challenging and uncertain area, and children do not receive open communication. This project aims to understand factors influencing the doctor ....Telling the truth to seriously ill children. This project aims to investigate how doctors and parents give information to young children who have serious medical conditions. Ethical and clinical guidelines agree that even young children should be given open, accurate and honest information in a developmentally appropriate way. However, doctors find this a challenging and uncertain area, and children do not receive open communication. This project aims to understand factors influencing the doctors and parents‘ real-life decisions of what and when to tell a child; undertake a practical ethical analysis; and produce practical guidelines and educational resources for parents and doctors. This project intends to improve the experience for young children being treated for serious medical conditions and their families.Read moreRead less
The ethics of altering children. Parents sometimes request surgery or drug therapy to change a child's physical appearance. This project will provide ethical guidance to doctors and policy makers about ethically appropriate ways to respond to such requests.
Manufacturing consensus: Independence in consensus statements in health. The project plans to conduct the first international systematic inquiry into the value, use and protection of public interest in consensus statements in health. Consensus statements based on scientific evidence are a useful platform to progress policy and practice in an environment of uncertainty. Consensus statements acknowledge both the importance of evidence but also the imperatives for action. However, there is concern ....Manufacturing consensus: Independence in consensus statements in health. The project plans to conduct the first international systematic inquiry into the value, use and protection of public interest in consensus statements in health. Consensus statements based on scientific evidence are a useful platform to progress policy and practice in an environment of uncertainty. Consensus statements acknowledge both the importance of evidence but also the imperatives for action. However, there is concern that they are inefficient, easily co-opted by interest groups and have changed the way the enterprise of science is perceived. The project aims to help inform future processes for improving the incorporation of evidence in policy and practice in a way that balances pragmatic, scientific and public concerns.Read moreRead less
Better end-of-life care through an optimal, holistic regulatory framework. This project aims to enhance end-of-life care through better regulation. Current regulation does not work as intended and is complex and fragmented. This harms patients, families and health professionals, and wastes health resources across the 100,000 medical end-of-life decisions in Australia annually. Expected outcomes are: (1) the first study internationally to establish in practice how the interaction of conflicting l ....Better end-of-life care through an optimal, holistic regulatory framework. This project aims to enhance end-of-life care through better regulation. Current regulation does not work as intended and is complex and fragmented. This harms patients, families and health professionals, and wastes health resources across the 100,000 medical end-of-life decisions in Australia annually. Expected outcomes are: (1) the first study internationally to establish in practice how the interaction of conflicting law, policies, ethics and training affects the end-of-life care patients receive; and (2) a new holistic regulatory framework to enhance the quality of end-of-life care. Expected benefits are better palliative care, more patient involvement in decisions, reduced patient-doctor conflict and a more efficient health system.Read moreRead less