Protecting Australia And The Region From Emerging And Re-emerging Infectious Diseases.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$774,540.00
Summary
The world is facing unprecedented threats from epidemics. In 2014 Ebola showed that issues such as quarantine, personal protective equipment and improved health system capacity are just as critical as drugs and vaccines, yet these are under-researched. Professor MacIntyre is an international expert epidemic control. She will lead a strategic research program to improve control of emerging and re-emerging infections, using her expertise in vaccines, personal protective equipment and biosecurity.
Assessing Vaccine Effectiveness Of Publicly Funded Vaccination Programs In Queensland
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$99,883.00
Summary
I will measure how well three vaccines on the national immunisation schedule prevent disease in Queensland. Pertussis (whooping cough), rotavirus, and varicella (chicken-pox) vaccines will be assessed using routinely collected health data, such as disease notifications and hospitalisations, and vaccination data. The findings of this research will contribute to evaluating the effectiveness of these publicly funded vaccination programs and will provide an evidence base for future decision-making.
Towards Global Control Of Scabies: Advances In Diagnosis, Treatment And Community Control
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$340,891.00
Summary
The scabies mite causes severe itch and rash and leads to infections, kidney and heart disease. Scabies affects up to 50% of children in Indigenous communities. We now know most scabies can be prevented, so we urgently need to find the most effective strategies. My research will develop new tests to help doctors to accurately diagnose scabies. I will test new medicines to treat scabies and strategies to prevent scabies and its complications in children, families and entire populations.
Prevention Of Pertussis From Birth Through Maternal Immunisation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$197,657.00
Summary
Whooping cough or pertussis is a significant cause of death in infants worldwide. Newborns remain at risk until they have received 1 to 2 doses of pertussis vaccine (around 4 months of age). My project involves investigating whether giving pertussis vaccine in the third trimester of pregnancy provides passive protection (via transplacental transfer of antibody) to the infant in sufficient levels for protection against whooping cough in early infancy.
Improving The Prevention And Clinical Management Of Infectious Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$236,146.00
Summary
Modern methods of analysis employ complex tools that are not always available or easily understood by doctors making decisions. The dosing of antibiotics is usually constant, even though known factors influence its effectiveness. Similarly, how effective vaccines are can be estimated from routinely available data. This project will develop tools and strategies to assist doctors and public health authorities make the best decisions by improving the analysis of existing data.
Centre Of Research Excellence On Sitting Time And Chronic Disease Prevention – Mechanisms, Measurement And Interventions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,657,874.00
Summary
Australian research has identified serious health consequences arising from the 7 to 10 hours of daily sitting that most people do, especially in relation to ‘diseases of inactivity’ – type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and breast and colon cancer – that are an unwelcome burden on individuals, families and health systems. This new research examines the practical feasibility and the preventive-health benefits of changing children’s and adults’ sitting time in schools, workplaces and the home ....Australian research has identified serious health consequences arising from the 7 to 10 hours of daily sitting that most people do, especially in relation to ‘diseases of inactivity’ – type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and breast and colon cancer – that are an unwelcome burden on individuals, families and health systems. This new research examines the practical feasibility and the preventive-health benefits of changing children’s and adults’ sitting time in schools, workplaces and the home environment.Read moreRead less
Case-cohort Study Of The Association Between Pertussis Vaccination In Infancy And The Risk Of IgE-mediated Food Allergy.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$144,742.00
Summary
Allergic diseases are one of the most important causes of chronic morbidity among children in Australia. This is a retrospective case-controlled trial, utilising data from the Australian immunisation register and cases of confirmed food allergy, to examine the role of vaccination in protection against food allergy. If a relationship between the type of vaccination and protection against allergy is found, this would have implications for allergy prevention and immunisation policy.
Unlocking The Health Effects Of Sitting To Reduce Chronic Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$638,517.00
Summary
This fellowship involves a series of studies that will fill gaps in evidence to inform national and international public health and clinical guideline recommendations on sitting time. It will provide crucial evidence on dose-response relationships, underlying mechanisms and the feasibility of making the relevant behavioural changes, providing more-precise evidence-based contributions to the development of public health policy and guidelines on sitting time.
Centre Of Research Excellence In Cognitive Health: Evidence, Intervention And Population Modelling
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,499,872.00
Summary
Cognitive health is essential for productivity at all ages. Common chronic diseases such as diabetes, and risk factors such as smoking, can reduce cognitive function and increase risk of cognitive decline. Our Centre aims to build evidence about the things that impact on cognitive health and lead to cognitive decline; to develop methods of reducing cognitive decline; and to measure the impact of cognitive impairment at the national level to inform the government on costs and planning.