Blood Group Antigen Recognition By Group A Streptococcus Mediates Host Colonisation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$470,821.00
Summary
Group A streptococcus (GAS) is responsible for approximately 700 million cases of localised infection and 600,000 cases of invasive infection globally each year. Certain bacteria have been shown to recognise sugars (known as glycans) on host cells. This project will look at how GAS use sugars at the surface of host cells to initiate disease, and determine if differences in the types of sugars present on host cells alter the ability of GAS to initiate infection.
A Novel Paradigm For Immunity And Vaccine Development Against Group A Streptococcus
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$491,229.00
Summary
Serious disease caused by the group A streptococcus (GAS) is responsible for more than 500,000 deaths per year. With no effective control strategies available, a vaccine is urgently needed. One vaccine shows great promise, but there are concerns it may not cover all GAS strains. Our project aims to show that the vaccine may in fact have very broad coverage because of cross-protection between strains using natural immunity model, and may lead to a new paradigm in understanding of GAS immunity.
PlaTFORM: PrevenTing Falls In A High Risk, Vision Impaired Population Through Specialist ORientation And Mobility Services: A Randomised Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$773,768.00
Summary
While many older people fall causing injury and loss of confidence, people with vision impairment and blindness have a dramatically increased risk of falls. In the PlaTFORM study we will deliver and comprehensively evaluate a falls prevention program through instructors with specialised training in orientation and mobility. This fills a gap in services and if effective will prevent injury in this vulnerable population and promote mobility.
The ASPREE-fracture Sub-study: Does Daily Low-dose Aspirin Reduce Fracture Risk In Healthy Older Adults?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,351,150.00
Summary
Disability, mortality and healthcare burden from fractures in older people is a growing problem worldwide. This is despite decades of clinical research, best practice guidelines and advances in therapies that aim to reduce fracture risk. The World Health Organization has identified fracture prevention as a public health priority. This study will determine whether a widely available, simple and inexpensive health intervention—aspirin—can reduce the incidence of fracture and associated disability ....Disability, mortality and healthcare burden from fractures in older people is a growing problem worldwide. This is despite decades of clinical research, best practice guidelines and advances in therapies that aim to reduce fracture risk. The World Health Organization has identified fracture prevention as a public health priority. This study will determine whether a widely available, simple and inexpensive health intervention—aspirin—can reduce the incidence of fracture and associated disability amongst older Australians.Read moreRead less
Effectiveness Of An Ambient Intelligence Geriatric Management System (AmbIGeM) To Prevent Falls In Older People In Hospitals: The AmbIGeM Stepped Wedge Randomised Trial.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,649,946.00
Summary
Falls are common in hospitals, especially among older patients and those with cognitive impairment. We will investigate if our newly developed ambience intelligence geriatric management system (AmbiGeM), which recognises when patients are undertaking risky movements related to increased risk of falling (e.g. walking without a necessary aid), and alerts staff so that they could offer help earlier, could reduce the number of falls in hospitals and is acceptable to staff and patients and/or carers.
Preventing Falls In Older People With Dementia - A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,349,410.00
Summary
There is no evidence to date that has shown it is possible to prevent falls in older people with dementia. This proposal builds on a number of years of research by this group to try and address the question of how to prevent falls in people with dementia. We will undertake a study looking at the impact of a professionally prescribed, carer assisted, individualised exercise and home hazard reduction program on falls in people with dementia.
Extending The MIS BAIR Randomised Trial Of BCG To Prevent Childhood Allergy And Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$939,504.00
Summary
BCG (used till recently to prevent tuberculosis) is a potential low cost and readily available vaccine which could reduce the rates of allergy and infection in Australian children. We propose to extend our existing NHMRC-funded trial, which studies whether BCG vaccinatinon given at birth prevents the development food allergy, eczema and infection in the 1st year of life, to see if this effect continues until 5yrs of age. At this age, we can also see if BCG vaccination at birth prevents asthma.
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.
The Role Of Bisphenol A In The Development Of Chronic Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$397,549.00
Summary
There is accumulating evidence to suggest that the environment we live in may be important in the development of chronic disease. This project examines a key environmental toxin Bisphenol A (BPA) and explores the role it has in the development of diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD). In this project, we will explore whether there is an independent relationship between BPA and the development of diabetes, CVD and obesity in humans in a prospective setting.