The Effect Of Exogenous Hormones, Smoking And HPV On The Incidence Of Screen Detected Pre-invasive Cervical Cancer.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,201,168.00
Summary
Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death in women internationally. About 15,000 women are detected in NSW annually as having pre-invasive cervical cancer (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade I, II or III). Infection with certain high risk human papillomaviruses is known to be necessary for the development of cervical cancer. In addition, recent long term exposure to smoking and to hormonal contraception are two new factors considered as independent risk factors for ....Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death in women internationally. About 15,000 women are detected in NSW annually as having pre-invasive cervical cancer (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade I, II or III). Infection with certain high risk human papillomaviruses is known to be necessary for the development of cervical cancer. In addition, recent long term exposure to smoking and to hormonal contraception are two new factors considered as independent risk factors for the disease. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) preparations taken around the menopause are a similar composition to hormonal contraceptives, (oestrogen and progestogen), therefore women on HRT may also be at increased risk. No comprehensive study exists internationally to measure the relative importance of these exogenous hormones on the development of pre-invasive cervical cancer in a way that is of public health relevance (e.g. recent long-term use of oral contraceptives and time since stopped, and among smokers and non-smokers). No Australian data are available on the proportion of women who are current users of hormonal contraceptives or HRT. No local prevalence data on the major high risk HPV subtypes (e.g. 16, 18, 33, 45) are available for Australia to describe its distribution and to inform the cervical screening program and future vaccine initiatives. The NSW Pap Test Register holds the screening history of all women on the cervical screening program, hence this is an ideal source for recruiting a representative sample into a study. We wish to conduct a large study of ~2600 NSW women using the NSW Pap Test Register to measure the relative importance of hormones, smoking and HPV infection on the development of CIN II or III.Read moreRead less
Disparities In Care And Outcome For People With Lung Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$74,047.00
Summary
This thesis will investigate disparities in lung cancer care and outcomes, provide an overview of lung cancer disparities in NSW and seek to identify and assess an intervention to reduce lung cancer disparities. This will involve a systematic review of cancer disparity measures, empirical research to investigate patterns and predictors of disparity. Mixed methods will be used to investigate observed disparities and identify interventions to improve cancer care and outcomes in vulnerable groups.
Temporal Trends In The Incidence, Site And Survival Of Metastatic Breast Cancer In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$190,494.00
Summary
There have been major advances in breast cancer treatment over the last decade. This project will use information collected from the NSW cancer registry and hospitals to report on changes in the type and risk of breast cancer spread and survival for women with a new diagnosis of breast cancer before and after new treatments introduced since 2005. This information is essential for doctors to provide women with up-to-date information; and for planning appropriate health services and research.
Evolutionary models and bioinformatic analyses of genetic variation in pathogens. The benefits of this project are better preparedness for the ever-present threat of infectious disease spread and the stimulation of bioinformatic research in Australia. Epidemics such as the Influenza Pandemic of 1918, which killed over 20 million people, highlight the need to understand and track pathogens that can potentially cause such devastation. Along with the development of molecular technologies, it is imp ....Evolutionary models and bioinformatic analyses of genetic variation in pathogens. The benefits of this project are better preparedness for the ever-present threat of infectious disease spread and the stimulation of bioinformatic research in Australia. Epidemics such as the Influenza Pandemic of 1918, which killed over 20 million people, highlight the need to understand and track pathogens that can potentially cause such devastation. Along with the development of molecular technologies, it is important to maintain active creation of analytical methods that appropriately apply to growing databases. These include methods to understand genetic variation in pathogens. This project will help to keep Australia at the forefront of research in theoretical biology.Read moreRead less
Optimising Care For Patients Diagnosed With Pancreatic Cancer: A Prospective Cohort Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,399,839.00
Summary
There is evidence from previous research in Queensland and NSW that elements of care provided to patients with pancreatic cancer are sub-optimal. We aim to improve compliance with evidence-based guidelines in Victoria and NSW by collecting high quality data, providing reports to hospitals benchmarking their performance against peers and working with health services to reduce variation. Making sure care known to improve practice is being delivered is as important as developing new targeted thera
Planning female and male vaccination and cervical screening strategies to achieve optimal prevention of HPV-related disease. The findings from this research will inform the development of public health policy on the most cost-effective utilisation of resources for preventing cervical, anogenital and head/neck cancers, and genital warts, in women and men, due to human papillomavirus (HPV). We will evaluate strategies for using emerging screening and vaccine technologies to prevent HPV-related dis ....Planning female and male vaccination and cervical screening strategies to achieve optimal prevention of HPV-related disease. The findings from this research will inform the development of public health policy on the most cost-effective utilisation of resources for preventing cervical, anogenital and head/neck cancers, and genital warts, in women and men, due to human papillomavirus (HPV). We will evaluate strategies for using emerging screening and vaccine technologies to prevent HPV-related disease, and assess potential adverse outcomes of vaccination. Men are currently not covered by routine vaccination or screening programs; this research will assess the benefit to men of vaccinating women only, and will consider the impact of vaccination and other interventions targeted towards men.Read moreRead less