Infectious diseases plague mankind; with infections responsible for approximately 20% of all deaths worldwide. New strategies are urgently needed and we have positioned our research to address questions around how to forestall bacterial pathogens in the initial phases of invasion of human tissues and provide full understanding of the key molecules on the surfaces of bacterial cells. This fundamental knowledge is crucial to new drugs, vaccines and infection-resistant medical devices.
Risk Factors, Early Diagnosis, And Effective Interventions For Neurocognitive Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$7,013,299.00
Summary
This program will focus on early detection of dementia, identification of novel risk factors, and development of new treatments, to help the burden of dementia in our community. It will build on three longitudinal studies – Memory and Ageing Study, Older Australian Twins Study and Sydney Centenarian Study, and three international consortia – COSMIC, STROKOG and ICC-Dementia, that the investigators have developed to achieve these aims. A prevention trial for post-stroke dementia is planned
Using Healthcare Wisely: Reducing Inappropriate Use Of Tests And Treatments
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$9,578,895.00
Summary
Overdiagnosis and overtreatment as unintended consequences of modern healthcare due to expanded disease definitions labelling people with mild problems or at low risk of illness, diagnostic tests identifying inconsequential abnormalities and screening programs detecting disease that won’t progress. The result is much harm and unsustainable overuse. We will research the prevalence, causes and consequences of overdiagnosis and overtreatment, evaluate solutions and widely disseminate findings.
Social media, weather forecasting and mineral exploration are driven by Big Data enabled by new technologies. Likewise, disease prevention, diagnosis and prediction is moving towards personalised and precision medicine, facilitated by novel genomics technologies. This Program of research will develop analysis methods and tools and apply them to clinical genomics data in neurological and psychiatric disorders, thereby paving the way for the translation of genomic tools to common diseases.
Linking Lifestyle And Molecular Biology To Inform Precision Public Health For Major Cancers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$8,487,111.00
Summary
The Program of research seeks to increase our understanding of cancer risk. We will use our large collections of population and family-based datasets to conduct innovative analyses, improving our understanding of the roles that genetic, epigenetic and lifestyle factors play in our risk of breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. This information should allow us to better predict a person’s cancer risk, enabling public health interventions, such as screening, to be delivered more effectively and e ....The Program of research seeks to increase our understanding of cancer risk. We will use our large collections of population and family-based datasets to conduct innovative analyses, improving our understanding of the roles that genetic, epigenetic and lifestyle factors play in our risk of breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. This information should allow us to better predict a person’s cancer risk, enabling public health interventions, such as screening, to be delivered more effectively and economically to those most at risk.Read moreRead less
Frontotemporal Dementia And Motor Neurodegenerative Syndromes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$17,069,580.00
Summary
Frontotemporal degeneration of the brain is a leading cause of morbidity due to a pathologically heterogeneous, rapidly-progressive group of disorders with behavioural, language and motor deficits. Our internationally recognized team will continue to develop the necessary tools and therapies to effectively diagnose, manage and treat these disorders. Our focus in this program is to understand the unusual genetics underpinning these disorders, and to fast track any potential treatments.
Antigen Presentation, Recognition And The Immune Response
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$14,927,045.00
Summary
This program focuses on understanding the development of immunity during infection or inflammatory diseases using a broad array of techniques to dissect the function of various immune cell types and to explore the relationship between structure and function of important cell surface molecules. These studies will improve our ability to design new generation vaccines for combating infectious diseases, controlling cancer, or limiting autoimmune or inflammatory diseases.
The development of better ways to prevent and treat influenza infection will be a major step forward in lessening the impact of the virus in communities worldwide. We have assembled a research team of seven groups who will determine the ways in which the effects of influenza can be mitigated through an understanding of the factors which lead to severe disease, and how these can be lessened by novel vaccination and treatment strategies.
Mechanisms And Therapies In Cardiovascular Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$8,360,700.00
Summary
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) claims 1 person every 10 min in Australia and causes 1 in 3 deaths worldwide. The molecular and cellular processes underlying atherosclerosis, vascular injury and thrombosis are highly complex and not well understood. A multifaceted approach is needed to effectively address these key challenges. This Program brings together world experts in these areas to interrogate gaps in our basic understanding of CVD, and to develop novel therapies for CVD patients by exploiting ....Cardiovascular disease (CVD) claims 1 person every 10 min in Australia and causes 1 in 3 deaths worldwide. The molecular and cellular processes underlying atherosclerosis, vascular injury and thrombosis are highly complex and not well understood. A multifaceted approach is needed to effectively address these key challenges. This Program brings together world experts in these areas to interrogate gaps in our basic understanding of CVD, and to develop novel therapies for CVD patients by exploiting new knowledge through integrated research.Read moreRead less