I am an immunologist determining how the immune system is regulated, with the aim of preventing diseases such as asthma, type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis caused by dysregulated immune responses.
Senior Research Fellowship In Lipoprotein Metabolism
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$804,106.00
Summary
A physiologist describing metabolic pathways and mechanisms that regulate lipoprotein metabolism in in vitro and in vivo systems. My research uses complex tracer studies and mathematical modelling to identify and quantitate pathways of lipid metabolism in normal and diseased states prior to and following lifestyle and/or pharmacological interventions. The focus of my research is on cardiovascular disease risk reduction.
The proposed program of research consists of (i) conducting a new trial to examine feasible and relatively low-cost physical activity promotion programs for adults with pre-diabetes; (ii) completing a series of existing major-funded studies relating to health promotion and education programs to promote physical activity; and (iii) I will serve as the Director for the University of Newcastle’s recently-funded Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition.
Innovative School-based Interventions To Improve Mental Health And The Social And Emotional Development Of Australian Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$763,845.00
Summary
I am a Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Western Australia and the Telethon Kids Institute. My research develops and delivers interventions that improve the quality of life, health, education, safety and social justice outcomes for Australian children. My work is particularly focused on ways to reduce harms from bullying and cyberbullying among children and adolescents.
We have entered an era where it is now possible to sequence an individual's genetic blueprint. In the case of cancer this can be used to determine the genetic damage that has occurred in cancer cells. This fellowship seeks to carry out large scale sequencing of cancer patient and map out the genetic damage that is common to get a handle on what drives the disease. It will also investigate how personalized mutation detection might improve cancer treatment selection for individual patients.
Improving Outcomes In Chronic Disease Prevention And Control
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$849,540.00
Summary
This fellowship focuses on improving health outcomes in people with or at risk of chronic diseases. This will involve systematic reviews to better understand the efficacy and safety of preventive therapies, with an emphasis on people with multiple chronic disease, and building on an ongoing program of health services research to identify novel strategies for implementation of evidence-based care within complex health systems. The work will be conducted largely in Australia, China and India.
Cancer remains a significant clinical problem and causes considerable morbidity and mortality in society. Prof Maria Kavallaris is an international leader in cancer biology, therapy and the development of less toxic therapies for cancer using nanotechnology. Her vision is to build a leading program of applied research to develop treatments for aggressive disease that will reduce the impact and improve the outcomes for cancer patients.
System-based Approaches To Inform The Design Of Immunotherapies And Immunodiagnostics Against Chronic Pathogens
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$849,540.00
Summary
Chronic infectious diseases such as malaria are responsible for an enormous public health burden worldwide. New approaches to develop effective interventions against such pathogens are urgently required. Over the next 5 years, I will use innovative genome-based and systems-levels approaches to discover novel pathogen antigens and host immune pathways that underlie protective immunity, immunomodulatory pathways that can be then targeted for intervention, and biomarkers of immunity or disease.
Addressing The Health And Economic Burden Of Chronic Conditions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$838,845.00
Summary
I have established a successful program of health economics and health systems research at the George Institute. Over the next 5 years, I will expand this work to evaluate health financing reforms in Australia and the Asia-Pacific, and develop new evaluation methods. My research will tackle problems with the greatest disease burden worldwide and in populations with the greatest social disadvantages. It will have immediate policy relevance and involve training in a field with skills shortages.
Most common diseases of ageing like diabetes and cancer have proven intractable because much of our knowledge is limited to individual molecules. This proposal takes a global approach to complex diseases, utilising quantitative high-resolution methods and computational modelling. This research will lead to a completely new way of thinking about complex diseases providing a range of completely novel treatment options.