Reducing Relapse For Smoking Cessation Using Augmented Callback Telephone Counselling
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$251,870.00
Summary
Tobacco use remains the largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in Australia. While there is an enormous literature on the health consequences of smoking and much literature on the effectiveness of a range of cessation interventions, understanding of the factors influencing successful cessation remain understudied and poorly understood. There is a growing body of work on the addictive nature of tobacco use (largely due to the nicotine) and, while this clearly plays a central rol ....Tobacco use remains the largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in Australia. While there is an enormous literature on the health consequences of smoking and much literature on the effectiveness of a range of cessation interventions, understanding of the factors influencing successful cessation remain understudied and poorly understood. There is a growing body of work on the addictive nature of tobacco use (largely due to the nicotine) and, while this clearly plays a central role, the contribution of cognitive and behavioural factors remains important - tobacco use needs to be conceptualized as a bio-psycho-social phenomenon. Perhaps the greatest challenge in changing addictive behaviours is the problem of relapse. This research will test some promising theories about factors that influence relapse beyond the first week or so of abstinence through testing an intervention based on changing these factors. We will test whether the addition of extra lifestyle change strategies onto Quit Victoria's effective Callback counselling service reduces relapse from attempts to quit smoking. If the intervention is successful, it will result in demonstrably superior quit smoking protocols for use in telephone counselling and potentially other forms of intervention, and result in more people giving up smoking permanently, thus saving many lives. If the new intervention fails to improve cessation over the standard callback program, it will have advanced our understanding of the complexities of relapse prevention and thus make future development of successful interventions more likely.Read moreRead less
Statistical Methods For Identifying Genes Involved In Common Complex Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$307,232.00
Summary
Better understanding of the genetic component of common diseases (e.g. melanoma, psychiatric disorders) is likely to lead to improved public health. Identification of disease susceptibility loci is currently one of the primary means for increasing our understanding of the biochemical and developmental pathways involved in many common diseases. This application will focus on developing new statistical genetic methods to better understand genetic variation and to allow more effective gene mapping.
Novel Strategies For The Treatment Of Alcohol Dependance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$290,629.00
Summary
The proposed project is designed to extend my current project and improve the treatment of alcohol dependence by addressing three barriers to successful treatment. Firstly, a novel, integrated, stepped-care treatment for alcohol dependence and comorbid anxiety or depression will be examined in a randomised controlled trial. Secondly, the relationship between sleep disturbances, relapse and treatment retention and outcomes will be characterised. Thirdly, genetic predictors to the treatment of the ....The proposed project is designed to extend my current project and improve the treatment of alcohol dependence by addressing three barriers to successful treatment. Firstly, a novel, integrated, stepped-care treatment for alcohol dependence and comorbid anxiety or depression will be examined in a randomised controlled trial. Secondly, the relationship between sleep disturbances, relapse and treatment retention and outcomes will be characterised. Thirdly, genetic predictors to the treatment of the anti-craving medications, acamprosate and naltrexone will be investigated. The first two aims will utilise subjects recruited across three sites in Sydney while the third aim will involve analyses of blood samples and clinical data from my current projectRead moreRead less
Development Of An In Vivo Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic Model For Evaluation Of Antimalarial Drug Therapy Combinations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$120,604.00
Summary
The World Health Organization currently estimates that there are 300-500 million cases of malaria annually, with 1.5-2.7 million deaths. These are staggering data, given that almost 20 antimalarial drugs are now in regular clinical use. Multi-drug resistance is present in most tropical countries where malaria is endemic and there has been a rapid escalation in cases of malaria in developed countries over recent decades (imported by travellers). Clearly, there is a need to ensure that current and ....The World Health Organization currently estimates that there are 300-500 million cases of malaria annually, with 1.5-2.7 million deaths. These are staggering data, given that almost 20 antimalarial drugs are now in regular clinical use. Multi-drug resistance is present in most tropical countries where malaria is endemic and there has been a rapid escalation in cases of malaria in developed countries over recent decades (imported by travellers). Clearly, there is a need to ensure that current and new treatment and prevention strategies are rational and effective. This project is based on the premise that improvements can be made in the in vitro testing process of antimalarial drugs. The experiments will be conducted using mice and a form of malaria that is specific to mice but closely resembles human malaria. In the first stage, the relationship between the amount of a new antimalarial drug (dihydroartemisinin) in the body and the effectiveness of the dose will be tested. These experiments will be repeated using conventional antimalarial drugs such as mefloquine. Information from these studies will subsequently be used to evaluate combinations of antimalarials. The results will be used as the basis of extensive, collaborative clinical studies in South-East Asia that are beyond the scope of this project. The methods used for this research will be important for future testing of new antimalarial drugs or combinations of drugs for the treatment and prophylaxis of malaria.Read moreRead less
Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators - A New Adjunctive Treatment For Men With Schizophrenia?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$816,603.00
Summary
One-third of people with schizophrenia do not respond well to antipsychotic medication treatment.There is an urgent need to develop new treatments.We have conducted world-first studies showing that estrogen treatment is highly successful in treating women with schizophrenia.Our research is a trial of SERM (selective estrogen receptor modulator), a new form of “brain estrogen” in men with persistent schizophrenia. We hope to reduce the disability caused by persistent psychotic symptoms.
I am a lab-based neurochemist-cell biologist with expertise in protein chemistry and pharmacology. My research focuses on the dynamin family of proteins in the endocytosis of synaptic vesicles and in the molecular mechanisms of synaptic transmission in th
A Double Blind Placebo Randomised Controlled Trial Of Sativex In The Management Of Cannabis Withdrawal
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$245,626.00
Summary
Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug in Australia with an estimated 300,000 individuals with cannabis use disorder in Australia. Treatment presentations for cannabis have more than doubled over the last 10 years, yet there is still no medication to help with withdrawal. This proposal will test pure active ingredients in cannabis in a preparation sprayed in the mouth, to wean individuals from cannabis. This will assist them to complete cannabis withdrawal.