Challenging Behaviours In Dementia: Mechanisms, Assessment And Interventions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
This research program focuses on the behavioural symptoms of dementia. These symptoms are common, and can range from reduced motivation and empathy to overeating, gambling and socially-inappropriate or repetitive behaviour. Notably, these behaviours are challenging for carers and families to cope with, and often lead to patients being placed into aged care facilities. My research aims to understand why these symptoms develop and how we can manage these behaviours effectively.
Reducing The Burden Of Physical Inactivity And Excessive Sedentary Behaviour Through FIT (Feasible, Inclusive, Thorough) Guidelines
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,060,520.00
Summary
Public health guidelines concentrate on the least feasible (for the average adult) types of physical activity and place little emphasis on light intensity movement or sitting. My research program will inform future FIT (Feasible, Inclusive, Thorough) guidelines to assist policymakers, health professionals, and members of the public to improve healthy lifestyles in Australia.
Alcohol Treatment For Aboriginal Men In And Out Of Prison
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$607,264.00
Summary
Over half the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people entering prison in NSW have unhealthy alcohol use (drinking over recommended limits, including alcohol dependence). Better access to evidence-based treatment is needed to improve health and reduce return to prison. My proposed research focuses on how clinical and behavioural treatments for alcohol use disorders can be improved on entry to prison, in prison and on release.
Tackling Australia’s Low Screening Participation To Prevent Bowel Cancer Deaths
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,188,416.00
Summary
Bowel cancer is Australia’s second deadliest cancer despite being largely treatable if detected early. The big problem is most people do not screen so too many cases are not detected soon enough. I will endeavour to increase screening participation by developing a range of strategies that do better at encouraging people to screen. I will then test each of them to determine which results in the highest participation within the actual National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
Closing The Clinical Translation Gap Of The Gut Microbiome In Chronic Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,337,350.00
Summary
The gut microbiota is important for human health and disease but knowledge transfer to clinical practice is lacking. This proposal will investigate how diet & gut microbiota changes connect with physical symptoms, mental health & behavioural issues in chronic diseases, using cystic fibrosis & autism spectrum disorder as models of disease. Improved understanding can improve management, assist in developing targeted therapies & is key to providing real-world solutions to improve outcomes.
HIV incidence remains exceptionally high in young South African women. I will leverage samples collected during two funded clinical studies in South Africa to investigate the relationships between female reproductive tract inflammation, microbiome communities and function, contraceptive use and HIV acquisition. This study will improve our understanding of the factors that influence HIV infection in this key population, as well as HIV incidence globally.