Assessment Of Interventions For Controlling Pandemic Influenza And Determining Data Needs To Inform These Assessments
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$183,040.00
Summary
The aim of this study is to help us prepare for a pandemic of influenza by comparing how effective the various available control strategies are at reducing transmission of the disease. The available control interventions include: reducing the number of close contacts we make with others, isolating cases after they are diagnosed, closing schools, quarantining households, quarantining individuals who are known to have been exposed to a case, and using antiviral drugs treat and protect people at ri ....The aim of this study is to help us prepare for a pandemic of influenza by comparing how effective the various available control strategies are at reducing transmission of the disease. The available control interventions include: reducing the number of close contacts we make with others, isolating cases after they are diagnosed, closing schools, quarantining households, quarantining individuals who are known to have been exposed to a case, and using antiviral drugs treat and protect people at risk of being infected. We will compare these control measures by taking due account of the ability and resources available for these interventions, and with regard to the need to maintain essential services. The comparisons will be made using mathematical models that describe the transmission of the infection. All available data and advice from experts will be used to ensure that realistic models are used for the comparisons. We will also use the models to determine the best use of the limited antiviral drugs available, until a vaccine becomes available. We will consider how the control strategy should be changed if a strain develops that is resistant to the antiviral drugs. In addition, we will determine what data need to be collected during the early stages of a pandemic to help us to determine the best use of the antiviral drugs, the best use of a new vaccine and to check on the development of resistance to the antiviral drugs.Read moreRead less
Centre Of Research Excellence In Infectious Diseases Modelling To Inform Public Health Policy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,600,064.00
Summary
Infectious diseases pose a global challenge, with substantial human and economic costs. Mathematical models provide valuable frameworks to assess likely benefits of interventions to control infection spread and burden. Leveraging existing NHMRC support, we will expand modeling capability to inform infectious disease control policy in Australia and our region. Focus areas include vaccine preventable disease, respiratory viruses and emerging pathogens, supported by innovative methods development.
Validation Of A Multiplexed Blood Based Screening Assay For The Diagnosis Of Colorectal Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$556,712.00
Summary
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cancer in Australia with poor patient outcome due to late detection of the disease. We have developed a simple blood based test that can diagnose individuals with CRC at an early stage when the chance of cure is greater than 80%.
Pre-blast screening of improvised explosive devices - a National counter-terrorism initiative. The proposed research is focused on the specific needs of Australian counter-terrorism interests, including those of border protection, the customs service, transport authorities, forensic laboratories, etc. The support of this proposal will ensure that Australia, and its States and Territories are protected against terrorist threats. The support provided by the collaborating organisations from the var ....Pre-blast screening of improvised explosive devices - a National counter-terrorism initiative. The proposed research is focused on the specific needs of Australian counter-terrorism interests, including those of border protection, the customs service, transport authorities, forensic laboratories, etc. The support of this proposal will ensure that Australia, and its States and Territories are protected against terrorist threats. The support provided by the collaborating organisations from the various Federal and State police and forensic agencies, and the customs service, etc, highlights the importance of this project to the nation. Finally, a PhD student and a research assistant will be involved with the project and will gain specialised skills positioning them to make strong contributions to Australia's counter-terrorism measures.Read moreRead less
The evolution of cybercrime: the monitoring of serious crime in cyberspace. The research ascertains future threats in cyberspace, in particular, the role of serious criminal networks. The evidence generated will benefit law enforcement, information security industries and policy makers in terms of resource assessment, law reform, and the development of effective mutual legal assistance regimes. The data enable the monitoring of cybercrime, and generate relevant metrics that inform public educati ....The evolution of cybercrime: the monitoring of serious crime in cyberspace. The research ascertains future threats in cyberspace, in particular, the role of serious criminal networks. The evidence generated will benefit law enforcement, information security industries and policy makers in terms of resource assessment, law reform, and the development of effective mutual legal assistance regimes. The data enable the monitoring of cybercrime, and generate relevant metrics that inform public education aimed to reduce risks to individuals and organizations targeted by cybercrime. The research enables law enforcement, lawmakers and other key stakeholders to better understand and manage new cybercrime threats and to develop rapid and innovative solutions to serious forms of cybercrime.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0454207
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$311,381.00
Summary
New Technology to Fight Crime and Terrorism: Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer Facilities (LA-ICP-MS). Australia urgently needs new technologies to prevent and fight crime and terrorism. This equipment will address current outstanding problems in forensic science and related disciplines, namely the requirement to (1) analyse minute quantities of samples, (2) differentiate samples with similar matrices but trace differences, (3) analyse solid samples that are difficult t ....New Technology to Fight Crime and Terrorism: Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer Facilities (LA-ICP-MS). Australia urgently needs new technologies to prevent and fight crime and terrorism. This equipment will address current outstanding problems in forensic science and related disciplines, namely the requirement to (1) analyse minute quantities of samples, (2) differentiate samples with similar matrices but trace differences, (3) analyse solid samples that are difficult to analyse by current techniques. This equipment is also vital for research which will improve the justice system, the quality of food and health products and increase industry competitiveness through novel industrial and environmental testing. Acquiring this infrastructure will safeguard and ensure Australia's continuing prosperity.Read moreRead less
Molecular Fingerprinting: Forensic Spectroscopy of Trace Gases. Safeguarding Australia from terrorism, crime and invasive diseases is essential to securing our national infrastructure. This project will develop national capabilities in anticipating and responding to critical threats to society. The scientific instrumentation developed from this effort will enhance Australia's potential aid for early detection of explosive and chemical weaponry and also in the analysis of crime scenes. This rese ....Molecular Fingerprinting: Forensic Spectroscopy of Trace Gases. Safeguarding Australia from terrorism, crime and invasive diseases is essential to securing our national infrastructure. This project will develop national capabilities in anticipating and responding to critical threats to society. The scientific instrumentation developed from this effort will enhance Australia's potential aid for early detection of explosive and chemical weaponry and also in the analysis of crime scenes. This research will significantly improve our abilities to maintain the operational advantage of Australia's security agencies through superior capabilities in threat detection.Read moreRead less
Whistling While They Work: Enhancing the Theory and Practice of Internal Witness Management in Public Sector Organisations. The protection of whistleblowers and other internal witnesses to corruption, misconduct and maladministration is a great unsolved problem in public sector governance. Involving 11 integrity institutions, this first national study of internal witness management will describe and compare organisational experience under varying public interest disclosure regimes across the Au ....Whistling While They Work: Enhancing the Theory and Practice of Internal Witness Management in Public Sector Organisations. The protection of whistleblowers and other internal witnesses to corruption, misconduct and maladministration is a great unsolved problem in public sector governance. Involving 11 integrity institutions, this first national study of internal witness management will describe and compare organisational experience under varying public interest disclosure regimes across the Australian public sector. By identifying and promoting current best practice in workplace responses to public interest whistleblowing, the project will use the experience and perceptions of internal witnesses and first- and second-level managers to identify more routine strategies for preventing, reducing and addressing reprisals and other whistleblowing-related conflicts.Read moreRead less
Near Infrared (IR) Laser Dyes for Latent Fingermark Detection. This project will enable Australian law enforcement agencies to recover latent fingerprints from difficult surfaces through the use of near infrared dyes. The project will allow the recovery of fingerprints from a scene which would otherwise be lost to an investigation. We will provide new fingerprint development techniques and imaging methods to law enforcement agencies, enhancing their ability to identify a perpetrator and thereb ....Near Infrared (IR) Laser Dyes for Latent Fingermark Detection. This project will enable Australian law enforcement agencies to recover latent fingerprints from difficult surfaces through the use of near infrared dyes. The project will allow the recovery of fingerprints from a scene which would otherwise be lost to an investigation. We will provide new fingerprint development techniques and imaging methods to law enforcement agencies, enhancing their ability to identify a perpetrator and thereby reducing crime rates.Read moreRead less
Silent witness: New analytical approaches to advance and enhance the forensic value of human hair. The Australian criminal justice system is under ever-increasing scrutiny with recent threats to national security. Courtroom evidence is expected to carry an objective indication of its value, largely as a result of the success and widespread application of DNA evidence. This is problematic for conventional human hair evidence which has traditionally been presented as the expert opinion of a hair e ....Silent witness: New analytical approaches to advance and enhance the forensic value of human hair. The Australian criminal justice system is under ever-increasing scrutiny with recent threats to national security. Courtroom evidence is expected to carry an objective indication of its value, largely as a result of the success and widespread application of DNA evidence. This is problematic for conventional human hair evidence which has traditionally been presented as the expert opinion of a hair examiner who has conducted a microscopic comparison. A recent wrongful conviction in Canada and an associated Royal Commission has highlighted these problems. A comprehensive new hair examination sequence employing objective techniques will increase the forensic value of human hair, one of the most common evidence types found at crime scenes.Read moreRead less