Securing Web-based Services by Policy Coherence and Proof-checking. This project aims to develop a provably correct cybersecurity system for workflows, which enables organizations to provide flexible and more secure web-based services and business communication. The project expects to generate new knowledge, theoretic advancement and result in new technologies in the areas of internet of things and cybersecurity. The expected outcomes include a software tool with documentation, which helps organ ....Securing Web-based Services by Policy Coherence and Proof-checking. This project aims to develop a provably correct cybersecurity system for workflows, which enables organizations to provide flexible and more secure web-based services and business communication. The project expects to generate new knowledge, theoretic advancement and result in new technologies in the areas of internet of things and cybersecurity. The expected outcomes include a software tool with documentation, which helps organisations achieve operational excellence and security, and maintain a trusted environment for end users. This system will provide significant economic and commercial benefits to business and end users with highly secured web-services and improved productivity through a coherent framework and proof-checked workflows.Read moreRead less
Internet Timing for the Ages: Establishing the New Timekeeping System. All computers incorporate a software clock, essential to myriad software applications. An economic way to synchronize such clocks is over a network, however the approach the Internet currently depends upon is unreliable and vulnerable. This project aims to establish a new architecture for networked timekeeping, built on future-proofed fundamentals, that will for the first time address each of accuracy, reliability, and trust. ....Internet Timing for the Ages: Establishing the New Timekeeping System. All computers incorporate a software clock, essential to myriad software applications. An economic way to synchronize such clocks is over a network, however the approach the Internet currently depends upon is unreliable and vulnerable. This project aims to establish a new architecture for networked timekeeping, built on future-proofed fundamentals, that will for the first time address each of accuracy, reliability, and trust. The expected outcome is a national prototype, serving the public with accurate and trusted time, that will form the basis of the next generation timekeeping system for the Internet and the Internet of Things. Expected benefits include enhanced productivity across the digital economy, and resilience to GPS failures.Read moreRead less
Understanding The Variation In Frontotemporal Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$417,750.00
Summary
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is one of the non-Alzheimer dementias which accounts for between 12 and 20% of all dementia and as much as 50% of early onset dementia. It is characterised by marked behavioural change and thus patients with this disease present a major management challenge. The cause of FTD is unknown and at present there is no effective treatment for the disease. There are a number of different clinical subtypes of FTD, namely behavioural variant, language variant, and FTD with mo ....Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is one of the non-Alzheimer dementias which accounts for between 12 and 20% of all dementia and as much as 50% of early onset dementia. It is characterised by marked behavioural change and thus patients with this disease present a major management challenge. The cause of FTD is unknown and at present there is no effective treatment for the disease. There are a number of different clinical subtypes of FTD, namely behavioural variant, language variant, and FTD with motor neuron disease (FTD+MND). Similarly there are pathological subtypes of FTD (Pick's disease, frontotemporal lobar degeneration and FTD with ubiquitin-positive MND inclusions). However, there appears to be little correspondence between these two subdivisions. The purpose of this study is to investigate the pathological differences and similarities between the different clinical subtypes of FTD. Furthermore, we will investigate the changes in brain atrophy which occur over the course of the disease to allow us to understand better the initial focus of the disease. We will also evaluate the role of cellular protein changes (ubiquitin and tau) in the pathogenesis of neuronal death. This research will allow us (i) to better diagnose and characterise FTD and (ii) establish any common mechanisms of neurodegeneration in the subtypes of FTD.Read moreRead less
Combination Antiviral And Immune Therapies For Hepatitis B Virus Infection.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$227,036.00
Summary
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes acute and persistent (chronic) infection with varying degrees of liver damage and a strong association with the development of liver cancer. Worldwide ~ 250 million people have persistent HBV infection and while a HBV vaccine is available that protects against infection, current treatments for existing infection are largely ineffective. We wish to study a combination of antiviral drug therapy and vaccination with DNA vaccines, to develop new treatment protocols for ....Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes acute and persistent (chronic) infection with varying degrees of liver damage and a strong association with the development of liver cancer. Worldwide ~ 250 million people have persistent HBV infection and while a HBV vaccine is available that protects against infection, current treatments for existing infection are largely ineffective. We wish to study a combination of antiviral drug therapy and vaccination with DNA vaccines, to develop new treatment protocols for persistent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The human HBV is a member of the hepadnavirus family that includes a number of other very similar host-specific viruses. Therapies will be tested in ducks infected with the duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) as these animals provide the only model system available in Australia for development of HBV therapies. DHBV-infected ducks will be treated with a new and extremely potent antiviral drug Entacavir (ETV; Bristol-Myers Squibb). Drug treatment will be combined with various DNA vaccination protocols, including new strategies that involve DNA vaccine priming and recombinant fowlpoxvirus (rFPV) boosting of immune responses. Inoculation of DNA vaccines and rFPV results in expression of viral proteins that are presented to the immune system and evoke strong immune responses. 'Prime boost' protocols with DNA vaccines and rFPV have shown promise for protection against and treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (AIDS virus) infection. We will assess the effect of treatment by measuring levels of DHBV in liver and blood, clearance of infected cells and serological changes. The ultimate aim is to develop successful therapies that can then be applied to treatment and elimination of HBV infection in humans.Read moreRead less
The Evaluation Of Internet-based Treatments For Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$33,371.00
Summary
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the most common anxiety disorder in Australia and involves a disabling psychological reaction to a stressful event that doesn�t resolve on its own. Effective treatments are available but only 1 in 4 people access such treatments. This project involves the development of evidence-based treatment programs for PTSD delivered via the Internet. The aim of this research is to provide clinically and cost-effective treatments for individuals without access to spec ....Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the most common anxiety disorder in Australia and involves a disabling psychological reaction to a stressful event that doesn�t resolve on its own. Effective treatments are available but only 1 in 4 people access such treatments. This project involves the development of evidence-based treatment programs for PTSD delivered via the Internet. The aim of this research is to provide clinically and cost-effective treatments for individuals without access to specialised PTSD treatment services.Read moreRead less
A Randomised Clinical Trial Of Internet-based Treatment For Binge Drinking And Depression In Young Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$941,787.00
Summary
This project focuses on a common clinical problem that causes substantial functional, economic and health impacts; comorbid depression and binge drinking. These conditions are under-treated and peak in young adulthood. This project offers a low cost, wide reach, youth-appropriate treatment, which will have profound implications for service design and health policy. It relates to current Commonwealth initiatives in e-health and e-Psychology.
Increasing Access To Early Prevention Of Internalising Problems: An Internet-based Parenting Program For Young Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$311,860.00
Summary
The proposed research aims to help prevent the development of anxiety disorders in young children. An internet version of an existing face-to-face parent training program will be developed and tested in a clinical trial. The program will target young children at risk of anxiety disorders and will teach parents skills in how to help their child cope with new situations. The internet-based program will be easily accessible to parents and can be widely disseminated in Australian communities.
Web Based Study Of Risk Factors For Pain Exacerbation In Knee Osteoarthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,501.00
Summary
While much is known about the risk factors for radiographic knee OA, the risk factors for symptoms emanating from joints affected by OA remain unclear. Identifying modifiable methods for alleviating pain and or avoiding risk factors for exacerbations of pain could have tremendous public health importance. In the proposed study we will use the Internet to facilitate data collection to test a set of risk factors for knee pain fluctuation among subjects with symptomatic radiographic knee OA.
Harnessing New Media To Translate Prevention Research Evidence In To Practice And Policy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$321,414.00
Summary
This project is focused on two key priority areas of prevention research: tobacco control and obesity. The main aim of this project is to strengthen the knowledge base and evidence-based application of new media for preventive health initiatives.The research will provide missing insight into how to use new media more effectively to translate prevention research findings in to policy and programs.
Preventing Anxiety, Depression And Substance Use In Adolescents.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,709,988.00
Summary
Anxiety, depressive and substance use disorders account for three quarters of the disability attributed to mental disorders. Yet we have few models of well-implemented prevention programs for these common disorders. The current proposal addresses this gap by evaluating an innovative internet-based approach to preventing mental health and substance use problems in Australian adolescents.