Dietary Antioxidants And Fatty Acids And Heart Disease Risk In Southern European Migrants And Indigenous Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$304,002.00
Summary
The aim in this research program is to learn more about how nutrition, particularly different types of dietary fat and antioxidants from fruit and vegetables, can affect the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Data from Indigenous Australians known to be at high risk for these conditions, as well as Greek and Italian migrants to Australia, with low risk for cardiovascular disease, will be analyzed.
My goal is to develop substantial Australian capacity and international leadership in research on Health Impacts of Environment and Climate Change. Climate change poses diverse health risks, both direct (heatwaves, weather disasters, drought, urban air quality) and indirect (infectious disease patterns, food yields, economic loss, environmental refugee flows). My research group, with my own international connections and our strong cross-campus and external collaborative links, is ideally placed ....My goal is to develop substantial Australian capacity and international leadership in research on Health Impacts of Environment and Climate Change. Climate change poses diverse health risks, both direct (heatwaves, weather disasters, drought, urban air quality) and indirect (infectious disease patterns, food yields, economic loss, environmental refugee flows). My research group, with my own international connections and our strong cross-campus and external collaborative links, is ideally placed to do this research. Major outcomes will be: (i) enhanced understanding of the health risks from climate change and other human-induced environmental changes (including studies of their influences on patterns of infectious diseases); (ii) a broader evidence base for developing preventive-adaptive strategies to lessen health risks – and further development of my Centre’s high-level skills in translating research to social policy. My four specific aims are to: 1. Extend our research on the health impacts of climate change and other environmental changes. This will include strengthening further our international collaboration, developing new methods, and: (a) research on the health impacts of long-term drought in rural Australia; (b) elucidating the interplay of environmental, climatic, social and economic influences on infectious disease emergence and spread in the Australia-Asia region (to enhance ecological understanding, facilitate prevention-control strategies, and advance the biosecurity research agenda – including via ANU’s new Centre for Biosecurity). 2. Develop further our research on environmental and genetic influences on immune system function and autoimmune diseases, including studying the role of vitamin D. Answers to these research questions will be generalisable to the prevention and management of immune disorders. 3. Provide strong leadership in fostering international research activities, capacity and collaboration on the health impacts of global environmental-climatic changes (GEC). I have special opportunity and responsibility as co-chair of the International Council of Science project: ‘GEC and Human Health’. 4. Develop Australia’s population health research capacity with emphasis on training early-mid-career researchers. This fellowship research program would be greatly strengthened by retention of several high-performing and committed Team Investigators already working in the topic area. My central objective is to consolidate national research capacity and long-term momentum in the above areas, with high international engagement and profile. Under my directorship NCEPH has attained high visibility in: (i) climate change and health research; (ii) modeling infectious disease transmission and control; (iii) studying the environmental aetiology of immune disorders; and (iv) social-cultural epidemiological research into influences on health-reRead moreRead less
The Effectiveness Of Consuming Fluoridated Water In Reducing Children's Caries Experience.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$507,090.00
Summary
The extent to which water fluoridation has contributed to the considerable reduction of dental decay in children in recent times in Australia is unclear, due perhaps to the increasing availability of fluoride in other sources such as toothpaste, drops, tablets, and professional applications. It is proposed to monitor for approximately three years a sample of 23,140 primary and secondary school children to examine the precise contribution of consuming fluoridated water to new tooth decay. The pro ....The extent to which water fluoridation has contributed to the considerable reduction of dental decay in children in recent times in Australia is unclear, due perhaps to the increasing availability of fluoride in other sources such as toothpaste, drops, tablets, and professional applications. It is proposed to monitor for approximately three years a sample of 23,140 primary and secondary school children to examine the precise contribution of consuming fluoridated water to new tooth decay. The project also aims to examine the comparative role of diet, toothbrushing, socioeconomic status, and other factors in the development of tooth decay. Given the widespread fluoridation of water supplies in Australia, and the continuing public debate over the extent of its effectiveness in preventing tooth decay, one of the project's most significant features is its capacity to contribute to a calculation of the cost effectiveness of water fluoridation as a public health strategy for the reduction of decay experience in children. The findings of the project will provide a strong argument for either eliminating fluoride from the water supply due to it's negligable public benefit or extending water fluoridation to the remaining quarter of the Australian population who are currently being disadvantaged by not having access to the health benefits derived from consuming fluoridated water.Read moreRead less
I am an epidemiologist whose research is concerned with investigating the behavioural, social, structural and environmental determinants of obesity and its antecedent behaviours
Metabolic Syndrome, Inflammation And Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease In Busselton
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$351,300.00
Summary
The metabolic syndrome is a clustering of obesity, insulin resistance, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. It could affect up to 30% of the population and often leads to diabetes and heart disease. Fatty liver disease is a chronic liver condition that often has no symptoms but can lead to serious liver damage. It could affect up to 25% of the population and is common even in people who drink very little alcohol. The rising prevalence of obesity in Australia suggests that the metabolic synd ....The metabolic syndrome is a clustering of obesity, insulin resistance, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. It could affect up to 30% of the population and often leads to diabetes and heart disease. Fatty liver disease is a chronic liver condition that often has no symptoms but can lead to serious liver damage. It could affect up to 25% of the population and is common even in people who drink very little alcohol. The rising prevalence of obesity in Australia suggests that the metabolic syndrome and fatty liver disease may be on the increase and therefore so too could diabetes and heart disease which already consume significant health resources. Using the unique health data collection of the Busselton Health Study in Western Australia, this project will help to determine how common these conditions are in Australia and lead to a better understanding of the nature and causes of these conditions including the possible role of chronic inflammation. This important information will be used to provide opportunities for better risk assessment, disease prevention, and earlier intervention.Read moreRead less
The Predictors Of Prostate Cancer In The Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$358,457.00
Summary
In 1990 we set up a long-term study of diet and health. The aim was to measure diet and other risk factors in healthy people in order to see how they might affect future development of cancer. To do this we recruited 41,500 people aged 40 to 69, measured what they ate and drank, and collected information on other aspects of lifestyle, medical history, and family history of common diseases. All had height and weight and blood pressure measured and gave a blood sample. People were selected so that ....In 1990 we set up a long-term study of diet and health. The aim was to measure diet and other risk factors in healthy people in order to see how they might affect future development of cancer. To do this we recruited 41,500 people aged 40 to 69, measured what they ate and drank, and collected information on other aspects of lifestyle, medical history, and family history of common diseases. All had height and weight and blood pressure measured and gave a blood sample. People were selected so that men and women and migrants from Italy and Greece would be included. In this way we could widen the range of dietary habits, other lifestyle factors and genetic variation (measured in DNA from blood). Since then participants have completed another questionnaire and instances of disease have been noted from self reports and from examining medical records. We want to analyse data from 700 men in the study who have developed prostate cancer (PC). First we will analyse data collected on all 17,000 men (collected when joining the study, and at follow up). Next we will use data from only the 700 men with PC and 1400 men who have not developed PC. This study will focus on measuring substances in the blood. We want to measure a range of fats, vitamins, antioxidants and phytoestrogens, as well as male sex hormones and related substances. In the DNA from the blood we plan to measure variations in genes that influence how male sex hormones and other growth factors important in the prostate are produced and used. We will then be able to estimate what affect these factors have on the risk of getting PC. We will also be able to see if any of them act together to make the risk of PC much higher in certain men. This work should identify what lifestyle factors could reduce the risk of PC. It should also identify what genetic variations are associated with increased risk of PC and thus identify a sub group of men who might benefit from early medical attention or from changes in lifestyle.Read moreRead less