Environmental Risk Factors For Iron Overload-related Disease In A Cohort Study Of Hereditary Haemochromatosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$152,936.00
Summary
Results published last year from our Melbourne HealthIron study of hereditary haemochromatosis (iron overload disease) show that almost one third of the 50,000 men genetically at risk of iron overload in Australia will develop symptoms of disease including fatigue, arthritis and liver damage. We will use data from the recent follow-up of the Health2020 cohort, of which HealthIron is a sub-study, to determine environmental risk factors for progression to disease in people with iron overload.
Practice- And Policy-relevant Research In Skin Cancer Epidemiology, Prevention And Screening
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$483,402.00
Summary
This Fellowship will enable me to lead an internationally-competitive program of research in skin cancer epidemiology, prevention & screening that will lead to improved patient and population health through impacts on clinical practice and health policy. My aim is to lead paradigm-shifting contributions in: ? Genetic epidemiology of melanoma, ? Precision skin cancer prevention & screening, and ? Public health genomics for cancer prevention.
Risks And Benefits Of Breast Cancer Screening: BreastScreen WA Cohort Study Of Overdiagnosis And Breast Cancer Mortality
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$201,524.00
Summary
Overdiagnosis is the major downside of screening for breast cancer. This occurs when screening detects cancers that would not have caused symptoms in the woman's lifetime. This study aims to quantify the amount of overdiagnosis that occurs in the Australian breast cancer screening program (BreastScreen)
Exploiting SNP Data In Epidemiology And Genetics Through Multivariate Analysis Of Complex Traits
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$476,981.00
Summary
There is overlap in risk factors across multiple diseases, and some of that overlap is due to genetic factors. The availability of genome-wide DNA data on tens of thousands of patients for multiple diseases and healthy controls allows new questions to be asked and answered. For example, what is the overlap due to genes in disease risk for multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis? This project will develop and statistical genetic methodology to answer such questions and apply those methods to ....There is overlap in risk factors across multiple diseases, and some of that overlap is due to genetic factors. The availability of genome-wide DNA data on tens of thousands of patients for multiple diseases and healthy controls allows new questions to be asked and answered. For example, what is the overlap due to genes in disease risk for multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis? This project will develop and statistical genetic methodology to answer such questions and apply those methods to a range of important diseases.Read moreRead less
Testing And Treatment For Prostate Cancer In Australia: Epidemiology And Modelling
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$267,886.00
Summary
We aim to use observational data and mathematical modelling to investigate testing and treatment for prostate cancer in Australia. We will incorporate changes in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and in clinical practice to investigate: a) over-diagnosis, being cancer cases diagnosed through PSA testing that would not have been otherwise diagnosed; b) the effect of PSA testing on prostate cancer mortality; and c) mortality and health care use under different PSA test scenarios.
Quantifying Breast Cancer Over-diagnosis In An Organized Mammography Screening Program
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$92,314.00
Summary
While breast screening reduces breast cancer deaths by finding cancers earlier, it may also find cancers that would never have required treatment. Currently there is no clear consensus about the level over-diagnosis. This study will examine the extent of over-diagnosis by comparing the breast screening histories of women diagnosed with breast cancer and women who have not had breast cancer. Findings will inform policy on breast screening in Australia.
Automated Mammographic Measures That Predict Breast Cancer Risk
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$406,260.00
Summary
Mammographic density (MD) is one of the strongest predictors of breast cancer risk but its impractical measurement prevents its use in a clinical setting. An automated measure of MD would allow screening programs to identify and target women at higher risk of breast cancer which could lead to earlier diagnoses and better breast cancer outcomes. We aim to develop an automated measurement, maximized by its ability to predict breast cancer risk, and applicable to both film and digital mammograms.