Footwear For Self-managing Knee Osteoarthritis Symptoms: The Footstep Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$590,532.00
Summary
Self-management of symptoms is an important part of treatment for people with knee osteoarthritis. Footwear influences forces across the knee joint and it is unclear which types of shoes are best to minimise arthritis symptoms. This study will compare the effects of flat flexible shoes to stable supportive shoe styles on pain and physical function over 6 months in people with painful knee osteoarthritis.
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of Exercise Programs For Preventing Knee Injuries
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,160,491.00
Summary
The promotion of physical activity, either through organised sport or active recreation, is a key public health strategy in this country. However, there is a risk of injury during this participation and efforts need to be undertaken to reduce this risk so that spor is safe for all. Sports injury prevention efforts to date in Australia have been severely hampered by a lack of evidence supporting currently advocated countermeasures. This concern has been recognised by both the NHMRC and the Common ....The promotion of physical activity, either through organised sport or active recreation, is a key public health strategy in this country. However, there is a risk of injury during this participation and efforts need to be undertaken to reduce this risk so that spor is safe for all. Sports injury prevention efforts to date in Australia have been severely hampered by a lack of evidence supporting currently advocated countermeasures. This concern has been recognised by both the NHMRC and the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing. It is imperative that we formally evaluate the effectiveness of sports injury countermeasures in the context of broad community level participation in sport, in contrast to previous research focussed on professional sport, and begin to deliver the preventive measures to the community. Australian football is a popular sport throughout Australia and it is associated with more medically-treated injuries than any other sport. Knee injuries are particularly common and can have severe consequences. One of the most commonly recommended knee injury prevention strategies is a well-designed exercise training program. Despite their potential to significantly reduce injury rates, the effectiveness of exercise training programs to prevent knee injuries in football, and indeed in most other sports, has not previously been assessed but has been identified as a priority research area by the NHMRC. This project will determine the effectiveness of exercise training programs for preventing knee injuries in community-level football players by monitoring injury rates, player behaviours and player attitudes before and after the training programs are implemented.Read moreRead less
The Contribution Of Home Language Exposure To Intergenerational Transmission Of Inequality
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,281,706.00
Summary
The amount of language stimulation from parent to child could be the key driver behind intergenerational inequality. Children learn language through social interaction and this study will significantly enhance our current understanding of exposure to language in the child's home environment. The study will demonstrate how inequalities in the early years have far reaching consequences for later health and development.
Turning Points: Breaking Intergenerational Cycles Of Intimate Partner Abuse And Social Adversity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,328,354.00
Summary
Intimate partner abuse (IPA) is estimated to affect one in four women at some stage in their lives, and to impact on the lives of at least one million Australian children annually. This study will investigate the extent to which exposure to intimate partner abuse during pregnancy and in the first 12 months postpartum predicts child outcomes in middle childhood. The study will provide foundations for better targeting and tailoring of early intervention strategies to support children at risk of ad ....Intimate partner abuse (IPA) is estimated to affect one in four women at some stage in their lives, and to impact on the lives of at least one million Australian children annually. This study will investigate the extent to which exposure to intimate partner abuse during pregnancy and in the first 12 months postpartum predicts child outcomes in middle childhood. The study will provide foundations for better targeting and tailoring of early intervention strategies to support children at risk of adverse outcomes.Read moreRead less
Characterisation Of Eurl, A Novel Gene Implicated In The Etiology Of Abnormal Brain Development And Intellectual Disability
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$597,541.00
Summary
Intellectual disability affects around one per cent of Australians, and can arise from genetic abnormalities during fetal life, such as through abnormal regulation of gene expression. We have identified a novel gene, known as eurl, which controls brain assembly as well as the ability of neurons to form functional connections within the brain. We will investigate how this novel gene controls brain development, and characterise eurl as a potential therapeutic target for learning and memory.
The Role Of Sirtuin (SIRT) Proteins In The Mechanisms That Regulate Infection Induced Preterm Birth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$516,430.00
Summary
Being born too early is the major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality and accounts for the majority of neonatal deaths. The aim of this project is to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in premature birth with a view to future development of clinically useful interventions to reduce the high rates of mortality and long-term disability.
Epigenetic Programming Of Immune Development In Utero: Role Of The Maternal Environment In The Allergy Epidemic
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$764,463.00
Summary
This study will provide new insights into the development of allergic disease. Specifically, we will explore the hypothesis that allergic disease and other disorders or immune dysregulation occur as a result of gene-environmental interactions in early life, and that these events begin in pregnancy when the developing fetus is still developing and most susceptible to these effects.
Regulation Of Neural Progenitor Cell Self-renewal By The RNA-binding Protein ZFP36L1 During Development And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$345,401.00
Summary
The timely differentiation of neural stem cells is critical during development, and the unrestrained proliferation of neural stem cells in the adult can lead to deadly brain cancers such as glioma. At present our understanding of the key molecules that regulate neural stem cell behaviour during these processes remains limited. In this proposal we will investigate the molecular determinants underpinning neural stem cell biology, both within the developing brain, and within glioma.
Motor Functioning In Young People With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – Combined Type: A Three-dimensional Motion Analysis Study.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$477,065.00
Summary
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder –combined type (ADHD-CT) is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder with a progressively devastating impact on psychosocial development. The first objective of this study is to use 3D-motion analysis to ‘probe’ the underlying brain dysfunction which characterises ADHD-CT. The second objective of this study is to improve our understanding of the link between movement problems, and (a) injury proneness, and (b) social-communicative problems, in children with AD ....Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder –combined type (ADHD-CT) is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder with a progressively devastating impact on psychosocial development. The first objective of this study is to use 3D-motion analysis to ‘probe’ the underlying brain dysfunction which characterises ADHD-CT. The second objective of this study is to improve our understanding of the link between movement problems, and (a) injury proneness, and (b) social-communicative problems, in children with ADHD-CT.Read moreRead less
Improving The Neonatal Transition In Infants With A Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$551,644.00
Summary
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a common congenital abnormality and occurs when the diaphragm fails to separate the abdominal and thoracic compartments before birth. This prevents the lung from growing properly and so at birth, the lung is unable to take over the role of gas exchange without considerable assistance. As a result, these infants are at high risk of death or significant disability and this application is focused on improving care and reducing morbidity in these infants.