Pathophysiology And Alternative Preventative Strategy For Breast Cancer Chemotherapy-induced Bone Loss
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$540,356.00
Summary
Combination cytotoxic chemotherapy is the current optimal approach for treating breast cancer in premenopausal women. However, long-term skeletal defects (osteoporosis and fractures) caused by the chemotherapy have become an increasingly serious problem due to its intensified use and improved patient survival rate. This project seeks to elucidate the mechanisms for chemotherapy-induced bone defects and to initiate development of a preventative treatment using natural bioactive micronutrients.
International comparisons of retirement decisions and well-being of mature age populations: applied micro-economic analyses. Australia needs a pension reform to promote longer working lives of mature people in a health- and productivity-enhancing way, that is also financially sustainable. This study uses cutting-edge methodology and data to analyse decisions surrounding how mature people disengage from employment towards their eventual permanent retirement, and how these decisions relate to thei ....International comparisons of retirement decisions and well-being of mature age populations: applied micro-economic analyses. Australia needs a pension reform to promote longer working lives of mature people in a health- and productivity-enhancing way, that is also financially sustainable. This study uses cutting-edge methodology and data to analyse decisions surrounding how mature people disengage from employment towards their eventual permanent retirement, and how these decisions relate to their health and well-being. It compares and contrasts Australia with the UK, Germany and the US to derive lessons for developing evidence-based pension reform. International comparative research enables the identification of important policy, institutional and/or cultural differences and lessons that may well be missed by single country studies.Read moreRead less
Keystone microbes and planktonic guilds in Australia's oceans. This project aims to unveil the ocean’s hidden sentinels, “keystone microbes” that underpin precious ecosystem services, and which can be used to monitor and model changes in ocean function. Marine microbes account for 90 per cent of oceanic biomass and every litre of seawater contains ~20,000 different species, but it is not known which species control ocean health and productivity. This project intends to provide definitive evidenc ....Keystone microbes and planktonic guilds in Australia's oceans. This project aims to unveil the ocean’s hidden sentinels, “keystone microbes” that underpin precious ecosystem services, and which can be used to monitor and model changes in ocean function. Marine microbes account for 90 per cent of oceanic biomass and every litre of seawater contains ~20,000 different species, but it is not known which species control ocean health and productivity. This project intends to provide definitive evidence of these keystones’ cellular level biogeochemical and metabolic capacity. Ultimately, this knowledge is expected to predict the resilience of ocean ecosystems and their response to change. The capacity to predict their dynamics will help provide investment clarity and increase healthy outcomes from activities involving human-ocean interactions such as recreation, food production and tourism.Read moreRead less
Mapping climate change vulnerability of older Australians to extreme heat. Exposure to extreme heat is associated with negative health outcomes and has been recognized as a global health challenge in the context of climate change, especially among older people. While the direct heat-related mortality for older people reached a record high of 345,000 deaths worldwide in 2019, which was 80.6% higher than the 2000–05 average, there has been no detailed study in Australia. This project is to have a ....Mapping climate change vulnerability of older Australians to extreme heat. Exposure to extreme heat is associated with negative health outcomes and has been recognized as a global health challenge in the context of climate change, especially among older people. While the direct heat-related mortality for older people reached a record high of 345,000 deaths worldwide in 2019, which was 80.6% higher than the 2000–05 average, there has been no detailed study in Australia. This project is to have a national picture of the impact of extreme heat on the health outcomes of older people and associated healthcare costs at Statistical Area level 3 (SA3), to inform the design and implementation of tailored interventions to minimize the health risk and costs from extreme heat to protect the health of this vulnerable group. Read moreRead less
Interactions of Insulin-like Growth Factors and their Binding Proteins with Vitronectin: a structural basis for antagonist design and development. Tissue Therapies Ltd has shown that a patented combination of three biosynthetic molecules, VitroGroR, can promote tissue repair effectively. This project will use biophysical and biochemical techniques to investigate precisely how these molecules interact, and hence provide a rational basis for future developments and improvements of this exciting n ....Interactions of Insulin-like Growth Factors and their Binding Proteins with Vitronectin: a structural basis for antagonist design and development. Tissue Therapies Ltd has shown that a patented combination of three biosynthetic molecules, VitroGroR, can promote tissue repair effectively. This project will use biophysical and biochemical techniques to investigate precisely how these molecules interact, and hence provide a rational basis for future developments and improvements of this exciting new therapeutic strategy.
Conversely, this information would also facilitate the development of antagonists to VitroGroR complexes would provide novel opportunities to treat diseases such as cancer and atherosclerosis that involve excessive production of its component molecules.Read moreRead less
Effective and efficient corporate tax enforcement. This project uses economic theory and experimental tests in order to inform tax authorities on how to best audit tax receipts from corporations. The project will result in advice on how audit resources should be allocated across firms, if minimising corporate tax evasion and at the same time maximising social welfare are the authority's objective.
Advanced Nanostructured Biointerfaces for Cell Capture. The expected outcomes of this interdisciplinary project, which apply the most recent advances in nanotechnology and biophysics to cancer research, will enhance Australia's capacity in Frontier Technology and build strength in Nanobiotechnology. They will bring competitive advantages to the Australian biotechnology and biomedical community for further developments and applications in the multi-billion dollar field of biodiagnostics. These in ....Advanced Nanostructured Biointerfaces for Cell Capture. The expected outcomes of this interdisciplinary project, which apply the most recent advances in nanotechnology and biophysics to cancer research, will enhance Australia's capacity in Frontier Technology and build strength in Nanobiotechnology. They will bring competitive advantages to the Australian biotechnology and biomedical community for further developments and applications in the multi-billion dollar field of biodiagnostics. These innovative biodiagnostic strategies will potentially achieve a significant step in the direction of the once elusive goal of early detection and improved understanding of cancer.Read moreRead less
Architecture and healthy ageing: an investigation into the relationship between aged care facility design, management and the well being of residents. Residential care for the future will need to meet expanding demands for aged care in a manner which responds to more discerning older people including those from non-English speaking backgrounds and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders with expected increases in the number of services required. To do so design processes must incorporate the need ....Architecture and healthy ageing: an investigation into the relationship between aged care facility design, management and the well being of residents. Residential care for the future will need to meet expanding demands for aged care in a manner which responds to more discerning older people including those from non-English speaking backgrounds and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders with expected increases in the number of services required. To do so design processes must incorporate the needs of those involved in residential care yet meet the requirements of statutory authorities standards for health care provision. This research will provide a comprehensive picture of the issues that impact on the design process and the effect on residential care facilities ability to provide residents and workers with the highest possible quality of life. It will inform accreditation and certification standards.Read moreRead less
Boosting brain plasticity and motor function in older adults. Ageing is associated with a pronounced decline in many motor, cognitive, and other brain functions, but the cause remains elusive. This project will examine the mechanisms that contribute to a decline in brain plasticity and motor function in the elderly. Using novel brain stimulation techniques, the project aims to develop an optimal approach to boost plasticity in the ageing brain and improve motor function. A better understanding o ....Boosting brain plasticity and motor function in older adults. Ageing is associated with a pronounced decline in many motor, cognitive, and other brain functions, but the cause remains elusive. This project will examine the mechanisms that contribute to a decline in brain plasticity and motor function in the elderly. Using novel brain stimulation techniques, the project aims to develop an optimal approach to boost plasticity in the ageing brain and improve motor function. A better understanding of changes in brain function and plasticity with advancing age is expected to help to optimise the design of preventative programs aimed at rejuvenating motor and cognitive function in the elderly.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100079
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,000.00
Summary
A thermally stratified Sea-Ice-Wave Interaction Facility. A thermally stratified sea ice wave interaction facility: Predictions of climate change now impact all levels of society as future political, social and environmental plans are made on the basis of these models. Predictions require models of many complex dynamical processes with a wide range of parameters. An important process is the Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) dynamics. The MIZ is the region between the open ocean and the fully ice-covered o ....A thermally stratified Sea-Ice-Wave Interaction Facility. A thermally stratified sea ice wave interaction facility: Predictions of climate change now impact all levels of society as future political, social and environmental plans are made on the basis of these models. Predictions require models of many complex dynamical processes with a wide range of parameters. An important process is the Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) dynamics. The MIZ is the region between the open ocean and the fully ice-covered ocean where waves and ice interact, causing ice-breaking and wave attenuation. This unique facility will enable experiments in sea-ice-wave interactions in a controlled environment. Water and air temperature, thermal stratification, water waveform and ice properties will be adjusted in order to preserve key characteristics of the complex ocean environment.Read moreRead less