Primary Prevention Of Infant Food Allergy: A Randomised Controlled Trial Of Postnatal Vitamin D Supplementation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,723,793.00
Summary
Low vitamin D has been linked to a range of health conditions but, unlike many countries, Australia does not recommend supplementing infants with vitamin D. Good quality research on the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation to prevent disease is lacking. Our trial of 2330 infants examines whether a daily dose of vitamin D prevents the development of food allergy. Vitamin D is safe and low cost. Infant supplementation may be the first simple strategy to reduce this common childhood condition
Links2HealthierBubs: Influenza And Pertussis Vaccine Effectiveness And Safety In Pregnancy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$676,333.00
Summary
Vaccination during pregnancy can offer protection against severe respiratory disease for infants in the first six months of life. For this reason, influenza and pertussis vaccines are routinely recommended during each pregnancy. Unfortunately, little is known about the ‘real world’ effect of both vaccines. We plan to conduct the largest and most comprehensive study to date to evaluate all vaccines routinely recommended in pregnancy in Australia.
FluMum: A Prospective Cohort Study Of Mother-infant Pairs Assessing The Effectiveness Of Maternal Influenza Vaccination In Prevention Of Influenza In Early Infancy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,598,377.00
Summary
Influenza is a serious illness for young babies. Currently there are no vaccines that can be given to babies under 6 months of age to protect them from infection. This study aims to determine whether influenza vaccine given in pregnancy can prevent infection in babies up to 6 months of age.
BCG Immunisation To Prevent Allergy In Children: An Intervention Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,187,260.00
Summary
There has been a dramatic rise in allergic diseases (asthma, eczema, food allergy) worldwide and particularly in Australia, with up to 30% of children affected. There is evidence from small studies that BCG immunisation has beneficial effects that prevent an allergic type immune response later in life. In a large randomised trial we will determine whether BCG at birth prevents allergic disease by monitoring eczema and food sensitivity in infancy, both of which predict an allergic predisposition.
Population Testing Of An Internet-based Personalised Decision Support System For Colorectal Cancer Screening
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$480,230.00
Summary
This study will determine the impact of a fully developed computerised Personalised Decision Support (PDS) package on colorectal cancer screening participation. The PDS tool is designed to guide people through the decision processes relevant to deciding whether to undertake screening. The PDS presents personally tailored messages aimed at progressing individuals towards screening test use and has the potential to supplement traditional paper methods of increasing screening participation.
A Population Based Communication Strategy To Optimise Colorectal Cancer Screening Behaviour In Australia.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$532,425.00
Summary
There is good evidence that population screening, based on the detection of blood in faeces, is effective in reducing deaths from bowel cancer (CRC) by around 30-40%. The process depends on the use of a simple faecal occult blood test (FOBT) to identify those who need a more complex and costly test (colonoscopy), which is capable of accurately detecting curable cancers and precancers so that they can be removed. If we are to reduce deaths from CRC at the population level, we must have an effecti ....There is good evidence that population screening, based on the detection of blood in faeces, is effective in reducing deaths from bowel cancer (CRC) by around 30-40%. The process depends on the use of a simple faecal occult blood test (FOBT) to identify those who need a more complex and costly test (colonoscopy), which is capable of accurately detecting curable cancers and precancers so that they can be removed. If we are to reduce deaths from CRC at the population level, we must have an effective way of encouraging as many people as possible to do FOBT tests. While much has been learnt about how to offer screening from experience with programs for breast and cervical cancer, CRC screening involves different behavioural, psychological and social issues. We need to better understand how these factors influence participation in CRC screening. We plan a series of studies that will lead to improvements in participation in CRC screening programs: a) a survey of a randomly selected group of the general population to measure a range of behavioural features that are of importance to CRC screening, especially as they relate to participation. b) an offer of FOBTscreening to those invited to complete the survey, to match population characteristics with intentions and actual participation, c) on the basis of these studies, to design new screening program strategies, especially in relation to the communication of messages to encourage community participation, d) to test the effectiveness of the new communication strategies by offering FOBT screening to another randomly selected group from the general population. This will allow us to optimise the delivery of messages that encourage participation. If we can design a better communication strategy that achieves an increase in screening participation and has minimum cost implications, we will substantially reduce the number of deaths from CRC in Australia.Read moreRead less
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
Evaluating “Standing Tall” – An Engaging Home-based Exercise Program Using Mobile Technology For Maximizing Long-term Adherence And Preventing Falls In Older People: Randomized Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$791,081.00
Summary
Current evidence suggests that older people have to exercise for two hours per week for six months to prevent falls, with a strong focus on balance exercises. We have developed and tested an engaging home-based balance training program delivered through mobile (tablet) technology, called ‘Standing Tall’. We propose a randomised controlled trial to examine the effectiveness of our program for preventing falls in 500 community-dwelling older people, in addition to adherence- and cost-analyses.
Travellers Visiting Friends And Relatives: New Approaches To Understanding And Reducing Infectious Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$117,331.00
Summary
Travel is the single most important factor in the spread of infections globally and travellers who visit friends and relatives in their country of birth are at increased risk of infections. This project will provide necessary evidence to guide an effective response to reducing travel-associated infectious disease in this target at-risk group.
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.