Understanding The Control Of Brain Development And Endocrine Function Through Central Regulation Of Gene Transcription
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$624,846.00
Summary
Intellectual disability affects about 2% of the Australian population. The identification of genes underlying a number of intellectual disability disorders has brought about great clinical advances. However, our knowledge of how these genes influence processes of brain development and are important for intelligence is very limited. We propose to study the function of PHF6, the gene mutated in the Börjeson-Forssman-Lehmann intellectual disability syndrome, during brain development.
Understanding The Embryonic Origins Of Cortical Malformations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$815,228.00
Summary
Cortical malformation leads to mental retardation and epilepsy. Identification of the aberrant developmental processes contributing to these devastating syndromes is essential for accurate clinical assessment and development of novel therapeutics. Here we investigate a developmentally important receptor, Neogenin, which when mutated, leads to cortical malformations. Determining how Neogenin functions is expected to uncover new signaling pathways contributing to these malformations.
Should We Treat Iron Deficiency Anaemia Of Pregnancy With Lactoferrin? A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,748,719.00
Summary
Iron deficiency affects over 2 billion people, with women and children at greatest risk. Iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy is linked with low birth weight and lower IQ and school performance in children. Current treatment with oral iron causes nausea, constipation and stomach pain in about half of women who take it. Bovine lactoferrin is a dairy protein which is safe with no side effects. This study will test promising evidence that bovine lactoferrin may be a more effective treatment for ana ....Iron deficiency affects over 2 billion people, with women and children at greatest risk. Iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy is linked with low birth weight and lower IQ and school performance in children. Current treatment with oral iron causes nausea, constipation and stomach pain in about half of women who take it. Bovine lactoferrin is a dairy protein which is safe with no side effects. This study will test promising evidence that bovine lactoferrin may be a more effective treatment for anaemia in pregnancy.Read moreRead less
The Pubertal Onset Of Mental Disorders And Early Substance Abuse
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,118,072.00
Summary
Mental disorders and early substance abuse are the most important health problems affecting adolescents and young adults in Australia, yet we have no preventive interventions for mental disorders with strong and sustained effects. Around one half of all mental disorders begin at puberty. This proposal outlines plans for the first study to comprehensively study the onset of mental disorder at this time. It will lay a foundation for the next generation of prevention studies.
Learning Clubs To Improve Women’s Health And Infant’s Health And Development In Vietnam: A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial Of A Low-cost, Evidence-informed, Structured Intervention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,372,748.00
Summary
Poor physical and mental health among women in resource-constrained settings and the flow-on consequences for their infants are international priorities. No intervention to improve early childhood development in these settings has addressed more than two (of eight) major risk factors. Our aim is to establish in a cluster RCT in rural Vietnam the impact of a comprehensive, integrated, low-cost, accessible, universal program addressing all eight risks, for women’s health and infant development.
Using An App For Suicide Prevention Amongst Young Indigenous People: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$954,657.00
Summary
Of the many apps now available, a few aim to prevent suicide or improve mental health. None of these has been properly evaluated. Indigenous people under the age of 35 are three to five times more likely to suicide than their non-Indigenous peers and have limited access to suitable support services. This project aims to trial a suicide prevention app designed with and for young indigenous people.
An MRI Study Of Emotional Processing Deficits In Childhood
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$578,985.00
Summary
The ability to recognise and process emotions in other people is fundamental to healthy social interactions. Conduct disordered children with callous and unemotional traits have difficulty recognizing fearful expressions, possibly due to lack of attention to cues such as facial expressions that healthy people naturally attend to. This study will use neuroimaging to determine if brain activity changes to look more like typically developing children if their gaze is redirected to facial cues of em ....The ability to recognise and process emotions in other people is fundamental to healthy social interactions. Conduct disordered children with callous and unemotional traits have difficulty recognizing fearful expressions, possibly due to lack of attention to cues such as facial expressions that healthy people naturally attend to. This study will use neuroimaging to determine if brain activity changes to look more like typically developing children if their gaze is redirected to facial cues of emotion.Read moreRead less
Development And Population-based Validation Of Hierarchical Adaptive Mental Health Screeners
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$391,710.00
Summary
Although 45% of all Australians will experience a lifetime mental disorder, methods to identify mental health problems are inadequate. This project will develop and validate new mental health screening tools, building on a new generation of screeners developed in the US. These screeners will be tailored to the individual, resulting in highly precise and flexible assessment tools. The screeners will be tested in a large community survey, forming the basis for future tailored mental health service ....Although 45% of all Australians will experience a lifetime mental disorder, methods to identify mental health problems are inadequate. This project will develop and validate new mental health screening tools, building on a new generation of screeners developed in the US. These screeners will be tailored to the individual, resulting in highly precise and flexible assessment tools. The screeners will be tested in a large community survey, forming the basis for future tailored mental health services.Read moreRead less
Resilient Brain Networks In Patients With Schizophrenia And Their Unaffected Siblings
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$474,226.00
Summary
An individual’s risk for schizophrenia is usually evaluated in terms of their familial, environmental and neurobiological risk factors. Our research indicates that factors conferring resilience to becoming ill are just as important. This study will use brain imaging techniques to study individuals with schizophrenia and their unaffected siblings, aiming to identify factors that have provided the unaffected siblings with resilience to becoming ill, despite their familial risk.
Genetic And Environmental Contributions To The Life Course Of The Common Mental Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,529,567.00
Summary
The common mental disorders (anxiety, depression, substance use) constitute a major disease burden and cost on the health system. Little is known about their causes and patterns of occurrence over the life span. This study follows a sample of 4000 persons from birth to 30 years of age to determine the environmental and genetic factors that lead to the onset and recurrence of the common mental disorders. It will provide important information to influence the treatment and prevention of these diso ....The common mental disorders (anxiety, depression, substance use) constitute a major disease burden and cost on the health system. Little is known about their causes and patterns of occurrence over the life span. This study follows a sample of 4000 persons from birth to 30 years of age to determine the environmental and genetic factors that lead to the onset and recurrence of the common mental disorders. It will provide important information to influence the treatment and prevention of these disorders.Read moreRead less