Personalised Prognostic Tools For Early Psychosis Management (PRONIA)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$401,739.00
Summary
Psychosis can be a devastating illness with harmful long-term consequences, such as chronic schizophrenia. To avoid distress, deterioration, and potential disability, we need more accurate tools to personalise treatment for individuals by understanding their prognosis. The PRONIA project will help to improve methods of predicting outcomes by working with our European colleagues to create a cybernetic prognostic system for psychosis that uses brain imaging, genetics, cognition, and clinical marke ....Psychosis can be a devastating illness with harmful long-term consequences, such as chronic schizophrenia. To avoid distress, deterioration, and potential disability, we need more accurate tools to personalise treatment for individuals by understanding their prognosis. The PRONIA project will help to improve methods of predicting outcomes by working with our European colleagues to create a cybernetic prognostic system for psychosis that uses brain imaging, genetics, cognition, and clinical markers.Read moreRead less
Identifying Novel Markers To Differentiate Frontotemporal Dementia From Alzheimer's Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$603,912.00
Summary
In people under 65 years of age, frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease are equally common. Distinguishing between these different types of dementia is extremely challenging. Patients can present with similar symptoms, even when the underlying dementia cause (i.e., brain pathology) is different. Inaccurate diagnosis means patients cannot access appropriate treatments, as these become available. I will develop novel tests of social function to improve the diagnosis of dementia syndromes.
Early Detection Of Lung Cancer And Mesothelioma In Asbestos Workers At Highest Risk
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$623,268.00
Summary
Through no fault of their own, many Australian workers have been inadvertently exposed to asbestos and are at high risk of developing lung cancer and mesothelioma. With the peak incidence bearing upon us, there is an urgent need for early detection by CT.
Preparing Australia For Genomic Medicine: A Proposal By The Australian Genomics Health Alliance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$25,000,000.00
Summary
The sequencing of the human genome brings the possibility of more accurate identification of the underlying basis of many diseases. This technology has moved so rapidly, however, that clinical access has been limited. In this application, a national alliance of clinicians, researchers, health economists and policymakers will evaluate the case for clinical genomics across inherited disease and cancer, determine how best to deliver this to the patient and train a capable workforce.
Improving Timely Diagnosis And Provision Of Best Care For Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander People Living With Dementia: A Cluster RCT
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,251,378.00
Summary
Dementia is 3-5 times more likely to occur amongst Aboriginal people. This study will examine the effectiveness of a multi-faceted intervention in helping Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services improve identification and care of people with dementia. The intervention includes clinical education, tools to prompt identification of cognitive impairment and clinical monitoring, routine feedback, and strategies to prompt adherence to clinical practice guidelines.
Optimising Speech Assessment And Treatment In Frontotemporal Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$722,210.00
Summary
Frontotemporal dementia has a devastating impact on our ability to speak and understand others. This proposal aims to improve our understanding of how to best assess, diagnose and treat these debilitating impairments. By bringing together an international consortium of clinics, these findings will lead to significant advances in our understanding of disease progression and patient care.
Neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases are difficult to diagnose and even more difficult to treat. They affect the elderly and children, usually at very early age, and often lead to premature death or chronic debilitation – they are usually incurable and 30-80% of patients remain undiagnosed. This program will identify new disease genes, establish routine diagnostics using cutting edge tools, identify novel and validate known biomarkers and develop novel treatment strategies.
PSYSCAN— Translating Neuroimaging Findings From Research Into Clinical Practice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$376,285.00
Summary
Our ability to predict the onset and outcome of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders remains limited. This restricts the implementation of effective preventative and early interventions. This project will rectify this by developing a tool of significant clinical utility. The project has 2 aims: 1. To develop and validate a neuroimaging-based tool for use in early psychosis to assist with early diagnosis, outcome, and disease progression. 2. To apply the tool in clinical practice.
Cross-comparison, Validation And Performance Of Computerised Neuropsychological Assessment Devices In The Evaluation Of Mild Cognitive Impairment And Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$700,482.00
Summary
With an ageing population and associated increase in dementia there will be increased demand for neuropsychological assessment, with insufficient trained personnel and resources to meet this demand. Computerised tests offer excellent opportunities for large scale implementation of cognitive screening and monitoring of older adults. This is the first study to systematically evaluate and compare several popular computerised neuropsychological assessment devices in elders with and without dementia.
Non-Alzheimer’s Disease Degenerative Dementias: Identifying Prodromal Genetic/familial Phenotypes, Modifying Factors, And Protein Variations Involved In Progression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$6,449,246.00
Summary
This proposal will generate new knowledge necessary for advancing the diagnosis of the non-Alzheimer’s disease dementias. We will identify the preclinical forms of frontotemporal dementia and Lewy body dementia using similar methods to those successfully employed to advance diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Importantly, our team has the capacity to translate these protocols into clinical practice and into further advances in biological knowledge that is necessary for future therapeutic targeting