Using Epidemiological Methods To Investigate How Genetic, Environmental And Lifestyle Factors Influence Cancer Incidence And Cancer Survivorship; And Translation Into Cancer Prevention And Policy Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$421,747.00
Summary
This research program focuses on investigating genetic, environmental and lifestyle causes of cancer, preventing new cases of cancer, and improving outcomes after a cancer diagnosis, particularly for melanoma and gynaecological cancer, which carry a heavy burden in the Australian population. The research will also inform the best allocation of health system resources for cancer control, and ensure translation of research findings into cancer prevention, clinical practice and policy outcomes.
Determining The Natural History Of Localized High-risk Melanoma And Risk Factors For Melanoma Metastasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$103,980.00
Summary
This PhD thesis aims to describe 2-year survival rates of patients with localised melanoma. We will investigate risk factors and patterns of melanoma spread in patients with high-risk localised lesions. Risk factors for developing ulcerated versus non-ulcerated melanomas will be explored. We aim to describe support service use in melanoma patients in rural, regional and urban areas in Queensland.
Professor Whiteman is a medical epidemiologist with interests in the causes, prevention and treatment of cancer. His fellowship will be directed towards research focussing on methods for controlling cancers of the skin and oesophagus.
Monitoring cardiovascular risk is a major part of the clinical workload both in general practice and specialty areas, but it is an under-researched area, reflected in a general lack of evidence based guidelines. My research will evaluate how to optimise the monitoring of cardiovascular risk both before and after starting treatment. By maximising clinical benefits for patients and minimising unnecessary resource use, my research will benefit patients, clinicians and the community at large.
My work focuses on the prevention of vascular disease. A major aim of mine is to improve outcome after stroke. We can test this by assessing whether individualised management plans provided to people with stroke will improve risk factors. Proper risk factor management reduces the risk of stroke recurrence. I also aim to reduce the burden of vascular disease in disadvantaged settings by finding out what risk factors are important in the development of these diseases in people living in poverty.
Through the improved understanding of the determinants of road injury, the identification of effective and efficient preventive strategies and how best to translate the research findings, this Fellowship will facilitate reductions in the burden of road injury in Australia.
Risk Factors For Food Allergy And The Allergic March To Asthma In Childhood: The HealthNuts Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,876,796.00
Summary
Food allergy appears to represent a second epidemic of allergic disease. It is not known why some children grow out of their food allergy or how food allergy in the first year of life impacts asthma and allergy in later childhood. HealthNuts is a large study of 5300 children that can answer these questions. HealthNuts visited children at ages 1, 4 and 6 and requests funding to re-visit them at age 10. Results will help prevent children developing food allergy, asthma and the allergic march.
The proportion of the population over 65 years of age is increasing, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of disability and death in this group of people. Angina, heart failure and stroke in elderly people often result in considerable disability and in many instances in a need for changed living circumstances such as admission to nursing homes. Consequently there is an important need to understand how to prevent and manage cardiovascular diseases in elderly people. Although CVD oc ....The proportion of the population over 65 years of age is increasing, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of disability and death in this group of people. Angina, heart failure and stroke in elderly people often result in considerable disability and in many instances in a need for changed living circumstances such as admission to nursing homes. Consequently there is an important need to understand how to prevent and manage cardiovascular diseases in elderly people. Although CVD occurs much more frequently in older persons, much of the epidemiological information on CVD risk factors and risk estimation comes from studies of middle-aged populations. Recently there has been an increased focus on whether the established relationships hold or differ in the elderly. This has generated debate about the relative value and effectiveness of treating risk factors in elderly people. This study, which is based on comprehensive and long-term risk factor, mortality and morbidity data from the Busselton Health Study and Health in Men Study, will lead to a better understanding of classic and new CVD risk factors in older persons and will contribute positively to the debate about the relative value and effectiveness of attempting to modify risk factors in the elderly. Further, it will facilitate improved methods for CVD risk assessment in older people and hence assist in determining whether which preventive actions to implement in the elderly.Read moreRead less
This project will investigate the causes of respiratory disease and poor lung function across the life course. Using existing lung health data from Australia and Europe, we will determine which behavioral, environmental, occupational, nutritional, other modifiable lifestyle, or genetic factors play a role in lung health. This research will enable the development of a personalised risk predictor application for implementation with patients and health care providers as well as the general public.