Adjunctive Hormone Therapy For Treatment Resistant Depression In Perimenopausal Women
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$620,946.00
Summary
Women entering the menopause have increased rates of treatment resistant depression with poor response to standard antidepressant treatment. We propose to conduct a clinical trial of a novel adjunctive hormone, tibolone, to improve the outcomes for middle – aged women with severe depression.
InterLACE: International Collaboration For A Life Course Approach To Reproductive Health And Chronic Disease Events
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$495,965.00
Summary
Cardiovascular disease and diabetes are major chronic diseases among women. This world-leading research combines data from 7 international and 3 Australian studies of womenÍs health. We will investigate the relationship of reproductive health, from menarche to menopause, with the risk of Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in later life. Findings will support the development of policies and preventive health strategies to reduce the risk of these chronic diseases.
Menopause is one of the important risk factors for bone loss, structural decay and bone fragility. We aim to quantify the biochemical, microstructural and biomechanical basis of loss of bone strength during and after menopause. A cohort of 324 pairs of female-female twins aged 25 to 75 years old will be followed up for up to 9 years. Defining the structural basis of bone fragility provides a rational means to identifying women at risk for fracture.
M-PreM Study: Reproductive Factors, From Menarche To Pre-menopause, And The Risk Of Cardiometabolic And Respiratory Conditions Before Menopause
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,366,831.00
Summary
This study will investigate links between reproductive factors and body size of premenopausal women with their risk of major chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and asthma. It builds on two decades of survey data from Australia’s flagship study of women’s health with a new biomedical assessment. Findings will guide the use of indicators of women’s reproductive health as a trigger for early and targeted approaches for chronic disease prevention.
Randomised Sham-controlled Trial Of Acupuncture For Post-menopausal Hot Flushes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$499,828.00
Summary
This clinical trial will test whether needle acupuncture is more effective than a sham needle control acupuncture in relieving post-menopausal women's hot flush symptoms.
Mechanisms Of DNA Damage-induced Oocyte Apoptosis And Infertility: Examination Of The Role Of BH3-only Proteins.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$495,755.00
Summary
Our ability to prevent or postpone menopause following cancer treatment, is of great importance for female fertility, health and quality of life. We will demonstrate that the death gene of the Bcl-2 family of life and death genes, Puma, is responsible for killing female germ cells after damaging treatment. When Puma is absent, sufficient high quality germ cells are able to survive damaging treatment, allowing normal fertility in mice. The quality of these rescued germ cells will be analysed in d ....Our ability to prevent or postpone menopause following cancer treatment, is of great importance for female fertility, health and quality of life. We will demonstrate that the death gene of the Bcl-2 family of life and death genes, Puma, is responsible for killing female germ cells after damaging treatment. When Puma is absent, sufficient high quality germ cells are able to survive damaging treatment, allowing normal fertility in mice. The quality of these rescued germ cells will be analysed in detail.Read moreRead less
Neural Basis Of The Thermal Instability That Leads To Menopausal Hot Flushes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$330,535.00
Summary
Hot flushes and night sweats affect 80-90% of women during the menopause transition. In 20% of women these symptoms are severe. The mechanisms are not well understood, and non-hormonal treatments are urgently needed. We can investigate the basic brain mechanisms in an animal model, the sheep. The findings will elucidate the mechanisms that disrupt normal temperature regulation and thus lead the way to better therapies for this common, and often debilitating, condition. .
Impact Of Risk-reducing Bilateral Salpingo-oophorectomy On Non-cancer Outcomes In Young High-risk Women: A Multicentre Prospective Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$481,207.00
Summary
Growing numbers of Australian women are being identified at increased inherited risk of ovarian cancer. Removing the ovaries and Fallopian tubes (BSO) is currently the only effective prevention and is recommended by the age of 40. This surgery may have profound effects on sexual, physical and emotional health. Our study will be the first to prospectively measure the impact of BSO on these outcomes. Our findings will provide new information to assist decision making and develop evidence-based fol ....Growing numbers of Australian women are being identified at increased inherited risk of ovarian cancer. Removing the ovaries and Fallopian tubes (BSO) is currently the only effective prevention and is recommended by the age of 40. This surgery may have profound effects on sexual, physical and emotional health. Our study will be the first to prospectively measure the impact of BSO on these outcomes. Our findings will provide new information to assist decision making and develop evidence-based follow-up protocols.Read moreRead less
Physiological Consequences Of The Loss Of Inhibin Activity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$613,035.00
Summary
Inhibin A and B are essential factors in mammalian reproduction, negatively regulating pituitary production of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Interestingly, declines in inhibin levels at menopause correlate with a rapid decrease in bone and muscle mass. We propose that inhibin A and B have important physiological roles in the stimulation of bone and muscle growth, and that inhibins could be utilised to treat postmenopausal complications, including osteoporosis and sarcopenia.