Predictive Models And Interventions For Coronary Heart Disease In Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander People
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$203,125.00
Summary
The main causes of heart disease in western countries are smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. However, in indigenous populations, other factors may be more important. We propose to look at these conventional risk factors and others like diabetes, blood clotting disorders and inflammation to see which are best for predicting heart attack in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people . We will also examine the effect of heart disease prevention programs run by communities, to see ....The main causes of heart disease in western countries are smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. However, in indigenous populations, other factors may be more important. We propose to look at these conventional risk factors and others like diabetes, blood clotting disorders and inflammation to see which are best for predicting heart attack in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people . We will also examine the effect of heart disease prevention programs run by communities, to see if they can improve these risk factors. Finally, we will use this information to produce educational materials and clinical tools for health services.Read moreRead less
I am an epidemiologist, primarily interested in the study and quantitative assessment of the environment-health relationship. Specifically, my current research focuses on development of innovative methods to assess the impact of ecosystem change (eg, clim
The Effectiveness Of Systems-based Intervention In Increasing Health Assessments In Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$177,197.00
Summary
Access to health checks is an important part of Closing the Gap in health between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians. Health checks benefits patients by increasing preventive health opportunities and detecting chronic disease. Despite these benefits, few Aborignal people undergo health checks. This research will examine the effect of an intervention in increasing the prevalence of Aboriginal people receving health checks in Aboriginal Medical Services.
Optimising Primary Care Risk Profiling And Management Of Cardiovascular Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,387.00
Summary
Dr Carrington's CDF will support her career progression in 4 areas of translational research: 1. Closing the gap in ATSI heart health – optimising management of heart disease in Central Australia 2. Supporting healthy regional communities - developing cost-effective risk reduction clinics 3. Coordinating the care of complex cardiac conditions – refining an electronic tool to optimise GP management 4. International heart health – develop an effective primary care model of risk reduction in Sub-Sa ....Dr Carrington's CDF will support her career progression in 4 areas of translational research: 1. Closing the gap in ATSI heart health – optimising management of heart disease in Central Australia 2. Supporting healthy regional communities - developing cost-effective risk reduction clinics 3. Coordinating the care of complex cardiac conditions – refining an electronic tool to optimise GP management 4. International heart health – develop an effective primary care model of risk reduction in Sub-Saharan AfricaRead moreRead less
Building A Simulation Model To Improve Cardiovascular Disease Risk Prediction And Treatment For Indigenous Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$580,986.00
Summary
This project will primarily focus on developing health economic simulation models to assess different methods for preventing and treating cardiovascular disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians . The aim will be to develop a research program to examine and evaluate policies designed to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease and thereby help close the health inequality gap.
Better Targeting Of Preventive Services Using Epidemiological Modelling
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,951,463.00
Summary
The purpose of this program of research is to improve the effectiveness of chronic disease prevention in Australia. The focus is to develop epidemiological models that can assist policy-makers to make more informed choices of which preventive programs to fund, improve the ability of clinicians to provide accurate preventive advice and to increase the ability of consumers to make decisions about preventive activities (that may relate to themselves or their communities). Australian population tren ....The purpose of this program of research is to improve the effectiveness of chronic disease prevention in Australia. The focus is to develop epidemiological models that can assist policy-makers to make more informed choices of which preventive programs to fund, improve the ability of clinicians to provide accurate preventive advice and to increase the ability of consumers to make decisions about preventive activities (that may relate to themselves or their communities). Australian population trends over coming years will be dominated by increasing numbers of elderly and a continuing increase in average lifespan. A priority for preventive healthcare is to maintain the elderly in a healthy active state, free of chronic disease, for as long as possible. Options to achieve this are increasing but vary in terms of likely effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. Since many of the costs and benefits of preventive programs occur beyond the time-scale of major intervention trials, the prediction of long-term benefits requires the integration of information from multiple sources including trials, epidemiological studies, risk-factor surveys and demography through a process referred to as epidemiological modelling. This project has major relevance to consumers, allied health professionals and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. One outcome of the project will be to allow consumers to make informed decisions about their preventive health care and will assist allied health professionals providing preventive advice to patients. These include occupational health nurses, health promotion officers, Aboriginal health workers and nurse practitioners.Read moreRead less
Implementing Falls Prevention Research Into Policy And Practice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,553,440.00
Summary
This project represents a partnership between key Australian falls prevention researchers, policy makers and technology companies and aims to a) fill gaps in evidence relating to the prevention of falls in older people, b) translate evidence into policy and practice so that health resources can be allocated most efficiently, and c) disseminate evidence to health professionals working with older people, to improve the workforce capacity to prevent falls and associated injuries in the future.
Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: The Production Of Nodavirus-free Fish Fry And The Nodaviruses Natural Distribution
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$222,356.00
Summary
Nodavirus in wild barramundi populations
* There is a need to address concerns about the effect of stocking hatchery-reared barramundi on the level of unapparent nodavirus infections (that is, the prevalence) in wild barramundi. * The first step is to determine the prevalence of nodavirus in wild populations of barramundi (that is to say the natural level of nodavirus-carrier status – an infection without disease). * The baseline nodavirus prevalence data will permit: - c ....Nodavirus in wild barramundi populations
* There is a need to address concerns about the effect of stocking hatchery-reared barramundi on the level of unapparent nodavirus infections (that is, the prevalence) in wild barramundi. * The first step is to determine the prevalence of nodavirus in wild populations of barramundi (that is to say the natural level of nodavirus-carrier status – an infection without disease). * The baseline nodavirus prevalence data will permit: - comparison of barramundi populations in areas where stocking has or has not occurred, - assessment of changes in prevalence of nodavirus in future years, - effective decisions about appropriate sources of replacement broodstock for breeding programs.
Nodavirus in freshwater fishes
* There is a need to address concerns about the risk of possible lethal transmission of barramundi nodavirus to freshwater fishes. * Recent investigations have shown a possible susceptibility of freshwater fishes to barramundi nodavirus and that nodaviruses naturally occur in species other than barramundi in Australia, including the freshwater species, sleepy cod. * There is a need to determine if there are nodaviruses in freshwater fishes as a risk analysis for translocation should include disease-status information in the receiving population.
Are the nodaviruses found in freshwater fishes related to barramundi nodavirus?
* If nodaviruses are detected in freshwater fish an analysis of relatedness (sequence analysis of PCR products) could indicate an association to previous stocking in that area of hatchery-reared barramundi. This information would support effective risk analysis for future translocation considerations.
A testing protocol for hatchery production of nodavirus-free fish fry.
* Broodstock screening protocols to identify nodavirus-free broodstock have been described from overseas but the detection tests used then are not as sensitive as the two-step or nested RT-PCR, and the protocols include a requirement for egg/water disinfection and repeat testing of larvae. * There is a need to evaluate and validate the sensitivity of the two-step or nested RT-PCR to identify nodavirus-free broodstock and to determine if one or more tests are required to confirm the nodavirus-free status. * There is a need to confirm in barramundi that larvae/fry become infected by nodavirus through the vertical transmission route (ie., from their parent(s)). * There is a need to determine if fry can become infected via nodavirus-contaminated water once they are stocked into nursery systems. * If the vertical infection route is the same for all fish species, the information on the testing protocol required to produce nodavirus-free barramundi fry will be a model testing protocol applicable to all fish species in breeding programs in Australia. Objectives: 1. To determine the natural level of nodavirus infection in wild barramundi. 2. To determine the presence or absence of nodavirus infections in freshwater fish species. 3. To describe the relatedness of any nodaviruses isolated from freshwater fishes. 4. To define the best testing protocol in barramundi hatchery production systems to ensure nodavirus-free fry production. Read moreRead less