Biological, Phenotypic And Public Health Costs Of Risk And Protective Pathways To Non-communicable Disease In Children And Adults: The National Longitudinal Study Of Australian Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,521,590.00
Summary
Although a late event for most Australians, chronic diseases present a crippling burden for Australia. This project explores their early roots, before overt disease emerges, in 3500 parents and their children in the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. We will measure how accumulated stress and buffering characteristics play out in the biology of cell ageing and inflammation, in developing heart, lung, kidney and bone health, and in quality of life and health costs to the population.
Advancing The Epidemiology Of Coronary Heart Disease: Reliable Monitoring, Secondary Prevention And Future Projections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,644.00
Summary
Coronary heart disease imposes a significant health care burden in Australia, and there have been major changes to the way in which this disease is diagnosed and treated. This project will develop a new method for accurate monitoring of the burden of coronary heart disease nationally, will assess the effectiveness of current drug treatments for people with coronary heart disease and estimate future rates of coronary heart disease in the whole population.
Extended Follow Up Of The RENAL Study And Individual Patient Data Meta-analysis In Acute Kidney Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$650,271.00
Summary
Acute kidney failure is increasingly common and associated with very high mortality. The long term consequences for patients and their kidney function are unknown. By extending follow up of the RENAL study, which explored how the dose of dialysis affected survival, and combining it with other trials from around the world, we will provide the strongest evidence regarding how dialysis treatment can reduce this mortality and define the long term consequences of this condition.
Genetic Polymorphisms In Genes Controlling Innate Immunity As Risk Factors For Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$241,500.00
Summary
For some time now, researchers have speculated that the development of childhood leukaemia is related to exposure to an infectious agent. However, a causal pathogen is yet to be identified. Recent studies have shown that the initial recognition of microbes as they enter the human body is determined by a group of receptors, toll-like receptors (TLRs), which selectively bind to essential components of these pathogens. This process allows the body to respond immediately to microbial invasion; a pro ....For some time now, researchers have speculated that the development of childhood leukaemia is related to exposure to an infectious agent. However, a causal pathogen is yet to be identified. Recent studies have shown that the initial recognition of microbes as they enter the human body is determined by a group of receptors, toll-like receptors (TLRs), which selectively bind to essential components of these pathogens. This process allows the body to respond immediately to microbial invasion; a process which is vital during early childhood, when clonal expansion of antibodies and other host defences is inadequate. It is becoming increasingly apparent that this innate immune response is not just the first line of defence but a necessary event for the development of an adaptive immune response. We propose that the innate immune system of children carrying TLR gene variants may be less effective at detecting the presence of microbial pathogens in the environment. We hypothesize that by dampening the stimulation of innate immunity in early childhood, TLR gene variants may indirectly cause a dysfunction in the maturation of a child's immune system and increase the chance of a pre-leukaemic clone emerging, leading to the development of childhood leukaemia.Read moreRead less
Innovative approaches to understanding and limiting the public health risks of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in animals in Australian catchments. Sophisticated molecular typing and modelling will be used to determine if chlorine-resistant parasites in animals in catchments are responsible for infection in humans. Improved catchment management and risk mitigation strategies will be developed during this project, which will make a substantial contribution to the provision of safe drinking water acro ....Innovative approaches to understanding and limiting the public health risks of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in animals in Australian catchments. Sophisticated molecular typing and modelling will be used to determine if chlorine-resistant parasites in animals in catchments are responsible for infection in humans. Improved catchment management and risk mitigation strategies will be developed during this project, which will make a substantial contribution to the provision of safe drinking water across Australia.Read moreRead less
Behavioural, Virological And Immunological Factors Influencing Hepatitis C Virus Infection In Injecting Drug Users
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$963,437.00
Summary
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health problem affecting over 170 million people worldwide. In Australia an estimated 157,000 people have HCV and are at risk of serious disease, and 16,000 new infections occur each year. Treating HCV-related disease is expensive, and this healthcare burden is projected to grow significantly in coming years. Almost all new HCV infections in Australia occur among injecting drug users (IDUs), and despite our world-leading prevention programs, the viru ....The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health problem affecting over 170 million people worldwide. In Australia an estimated 157,000 people have HCV and are at risk of serious disease, and 16,000 new infections occur each year. Treating HCV-related disease is expensive, and this healthcare burden is projected to grow significantly in coming years. Almost all new HCV infections in Australia occur among injecting drug users (IDUs), and despite our world-leading prevention programs, the virus is spreading. Consensus is emerging that the best hope for control of HCV and related disease lies in a vaccine; our research will lay much of the groundwork for its development. The applicants' research to date shows that IDUs are being infected with HCV more frequently than previously assumed, that many carry multiple strains, and that dominant strains vary rapidly in individuals over time. These results reinforce the view that our prevention methods will not reduce infection rates and that current anti-viral treatments are not the solution. Nevertheless, we also found that some IDUs remain free of HCV infection despite risky behaviour with infected associates; intensive study of the immune functioning of these persistently non-infected individuals holds promise for vaccine development. In our proposed research, a collaboration of leading Australian epidemiologists, virologists and immunologists, we will recruit 210 young IDUs and follow them regularly for two years. Recruits will describe their social networks and nominate IDUs with whom they inject, provide blood samples and be interviewed about their behaviour at 3-month intervals. Individuals with recent and resolved HCV infection, change of dominant strain and lack of infection despite risky behaviour will be identified and their blood analysed for genetic factors that may be linked to immune protection. The outcomes will be crucial to the development and trialling of a vaccine against HCV.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100730
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$448,000.00
Summary
Strategies to minimise the societal impacts of zoonotic pandemics. The continuing pandemic has had unprecedented effects across society. Population mobility restrictions have been effective in slowing transmission, but are only effective while in place and have dramatic adverse effects. Despite Australia’s relative success, we have lacked a clear national strategy to guide the optimal deployment of such restrictions. During this fellowship, I will use robust software development practices to dev ....Strategies to minimise the societal impacts of zoonotic pandemics. The continuing pandemic has had unprecedented effects across society. Population mobility restrictions have been effective in slowing transmission, but are only effective while in place and have dramatic adverse effects. Despite Australia’s relative success, we have lacked a clear national strategy to guide the optimal deployment of such restrictions. During this fellowship, I will use robust software development practices to develop a unified software platform that integrates semi-mechanistic, particle filter and agent-based methodologies. I will then use this platform to quantify the effects of mobility restrictions and define the optimal strategic response that should be selected based on the characteristics of a newly emerged pathogen.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100635
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,058.00
Summary
Demographic distribution models for ecology, conservation & public health. This project aims to advance distribution modelling by developing a new demographic species distribution modelling (DSDM) framework that unites correlative and process-based approaches. This project will develop ecologically realistic models of the distributions of species and diseases, leading to better decision-making in conservation and public health. This will provide significant benefits, such as a better understandi ....Demographic distribution models for ecology, conservation & public health. This project aims to advance distribution modelling by developing a new demographic species distribution modelling (DSDM) framework that unites correlative and process-based approaches. This project will develop ecologically realistic models of the distributions of species and diseases, leading to better decision-making in conservation and public health. This will provide significant benefits, such as a better understanding of where and how to control mosquitoes to reduce malaria transmission in Africa, how best to conserve the vulnerable greater glider in Eastern Australia, and to forecast where and when outbreaks of Ross River virus are likely occur in Victoria.Read moreRead less
Networks, neighbourhoods and newborns: defining household and local area influences on social connectedness, to understand pathways to health. Being socially connected is good for your health, but why? This project will compare social connections in Boroondara and Hume, to explore the influence of neighbourhoods on networks. With this information the project will consider potential pathways to better health outcomes, needed by agencies working to promote neighbourhood connectedness and health.