Targeting Neutrophil Extracellular Traps To Reduce Inflammation In Severe Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$585,240.00
Summary
People with severe asthma, a chronic disease of the lungs, often have many inflammatory cells in the airways called neutrophils. Neutrophils release a meshwork of fibers in a web like trap called NETs, which are made of the cells DNA and other proteins that fight infection. These NETs can promote inflammation in the persons airways. Current asthma treatments have no effect on NETs. This project will measure NETs in the airways and test a new treatment to reduce NETs, and relieve asthma symptoms.
Understanding How Azithromycin Prevents Exacerbations In Severe Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$697,273.00
Summary
In some people with severe asthma, conventional inhaler treatments are not able to control the disease so there is a need for new treatment options. We have recently completed a large clinical trial which showed that very low doses of a common antibiotic help prevent asthma attacks in this situation. However, not much is known about how the antibiotic is working. This study will help us understand how the antibiotic is working and which people respond best.
Exploring The Role Of Respiratory Virus Infections In Childhood Asthma Exacerbations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$596,649.00
Summary
The PEAK study will explore the reasons children get worse asthma symptoms when they get colds. These reasons examined include the asthma medications taken (or not taken), allergies and exposure to allergens and the type of virus involved. The study follows the children over the whole school term and uses a new way to sample virus by collecting it in the breath, this is more comfortable than old methods and can be done at home.
Galectin-3 And Phagocyte Function In Severe Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$698,084.00
Summary
Asthma, a major chronic inflammatory disease affects more than 2 million Australians. Neutrophilic severe asthma is not responsive to current therapies. We have recently made a significant advance in understanding neutrophilic asthma, reporting low levels of a protein called galectin-3 (gal-3). In this project we will explore the role of gal-3 its effect on the resolution of inflammation. This study will result significantly advance the knowledge of the mechanisms of neutrophilic severe asthma.
Gene Expression Biomarkers Predict Severe Asthma Inflammatory Phenotype, Activation Mechanisms And Treatment Response
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$465,627.00
Summary
Asthma is now recognised to be made up of several disease variants or phenotypes, which are likely to have different underlying causes and mechanisms. We lack understanding of how to identify phenotypes of asthma and how they work, and this is delaying research that will lead to improvements in treatments and patient care. This is particularly important in people with severe disease. This grant will establish a gene test to identify asthma phenotype, and further understand mechanisms and treatme ....Asthma is now recognised to be made up of several disease variants or phenotypes, which are likely to have different underlying causes and mechanisms. We lack understanding of how to identify phenotypes of asthma and how they work, and this is delaying research that will lead to improvements in treatments and patient care. This is particularly important in people with severe disease. This grant will establish a gene test to identify asthma phenotype, and further understand mechanisms and treatment responses.Read moreRead less
Evidence For Action To Improve The Health Of Urban Aboriginal Children And Adolescents: The SEARCH Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,877,467.00
Summary
The proposed project builds on the Study of Environment on Aboriginal Resilience and Child Health (SEARCH), a cohort study of >1600 children and their families based on a long-standing Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Sector and research partnership. The project aims to improve urban Aboriginal child and adolescent health by using data from participants to identify opportunities for intervention and developing data-driven multicomponent interventions to improve health services.
Longitudinal Investigation Of Health Outcomes In Urban Aboriginal Children: SEARCH Follow-up
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,675,557.00
Summary
The government is committed to reducing the gap in Aboriginal health. SEARCH is Australia’s largest prospective longitudinal study of urban Aboriginal children and will provide, for the first time, comprehensive information on the causes of health and illness in a large group of urban Aboriginal children. SEARCH is a partnership with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services. SEARCH will identify the factors that can be changed in early childhood to prevent later disease.
The Management To Optimise Diabetes And MEtabolic Syndrome Risk Reduction Via Nurse-led Intervention (MODERN) Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,445,861.00
Summary
There is increasing recognition of society’s responsibility to provide effective and sustainable health care to the entire population and not just selected parts. This practical study will test the impact of a nurse-led, multidisciplinary prevention program to reduce the risk of future cardiovascular events in middle-aged individuals at a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) living in regional Australia.
A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Effectiveness Of 4RIF And 9INH For Treatment Of Latent TB Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$496,875.00
Summary
Treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is one intervention that is known to prevent the occurrence of active TB. Current treatment is based on a six to nine month course of isoniazid. The treatment has side effects in some people and many people do not complete the treatment. The present study is to test an alternative treatment regimen (4 months of rifampicin) which has fewer side-effects and is more likely to be completed.
Preventing Falls In Older Aboriginal People: The Ironbark Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,026,699.00
Summary
Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is ageing: in 1991, Aboriginal people aged 55 years and over accounted for only 6% of Australia’s total Aboriginal population and this proportion is predicted to double to 12% by 2021, with resulting increased in ageing conditions such as falls. This large scale trial in NSW, SA and WA will test the effectiveness of a community based program in reducing falls and improving function in older Aboriginal people.