Reducing antibiotic usage in pig herds: controlling Lawsonia intracellularis by vaccination, housing and hygiene. Pigs are major consumers of antibiotics in Australia. Many of these antibiotics are fed to pigs to prevent proliferative enteritis (PE). There are increasing public concerns regarding the development and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the potential impact on human health. The adoption of an effective commercial vaccine to prevent PE will reduce the volume of antibiotics ....Reducing antibiotic usage in pig herds: controlling Lawsonia intracellularis by vaccination, housing and hygiene. Pigs are major consumers of antibiotics in Australia. Many of these antibiotics are fed to pigs to prevent proliferative enteritis (PE). There are increasing public concerns regarding the development and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the potential impact on human health. The adoption of an effective commercial vaccine to prevent PE will reduce the volume of antibiotics used in the pig industry and hence reduce the risk of antibiotic-resistant bacteria developing.Read moreRead less
A study of the provision of the emergency contraceptive pill over-the-counter in Australia. Australian abortion rates, especially among young women, are a major concern. The emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) is an effective method for the prevention of unwanted and unplanned pregnancy, with the potential to reduce abortions. The study aims to provide evidence of whether the rescheduling of ECP in Australia so that pharmacists as well as doctors can dispense it, has improved its accessibility ....A study of the provision of the emergency contraceptive pill over-the-counter in Australia. Australian abortion rates, especially among young women, are a major concern. The emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) is an effective method for the prevention of unwanted and unplanned pregnancy, with the potential to reduce abortions. The study aims to provide evidence of whether the rescheduling of ECP in Australia so that pharmacists as well as doctors can dispense it, has improved its accessibility and use by women at risk of abortion. It will also assess whether pharmacists feel confident, well-trained and supported to provide it and whether abortion rates have reduced. The study will provide policymakers with the evidence to assess whether this important initiative is effective and what is needed to improve its effectiveness.Read moreRead less
Quantifying The Effectiveness Of Pertussis Vaccine In Older Adults
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$448,703.00
Summary
Pertussis is the most poorly controlled vaccine preventable disease in Australia. Childhood pertussis is a well-known public health problem but adult pertussis is also common and has a significant burden on the health system, especially in adults over 65 years. Pertussis vaccines for adults are currently not funded by our national immunisation program. This project will provide vital data to inform whether pertussis vaccination is cost-effective in older Australian adults.
Prevention Of Injury In Disadvantaged And High Risk Populations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$451,716.00
Summary
Associate Professor Ivers leads groundbreaking research that examines the burden and risk factors for injury, and works with Government to develop effective prevention programs. Injury is a leading cause of death and disability across Australia and Asia and, working with leading scientists from around the world, her program of research will seek to reduce this burden, particularly for disadvantaged and high risk populations. Focusing on road injury and falls, her work will have important benefit ....Associate Professor Ivers leads groundbreaking research that examines the burden and risk factors for injury, and works with Government to develop effective prevention programs. Injury is a leading cause of death and disability across Australia and Asia and, working with leading scientists from around the world, her program of research will seek to reduce this burden, particularly for disadvantaged and high risk populations. Focusing on road injury and falls, her work will have important benefits for injury prevention globally.Read moreRead less
Epidemiological Investigation Of The Role Of Early Life Environment In The Development Of Immune Function And Allergic And Autoimmune Disease: Knowledge Generation For Future Primary Prevention.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$664,584.00
Summary
Immune diseases, which include allergic and autoimmune diseases, are accounting for an increasing fraction of the disease burden in Australia. It is now increasingly recognised that early life changes to the immune system by environmental factors can impact on the risk of these diseases. The goal of this fellowship is the prevention of allergic and autoimmune disease.
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.
Understanding Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) As A Pathway To Cardio-metabolic Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,644.00
Summary
Urinary disorders (such as incontinence, frequently voiding, weak stream, urgency and others) share many risk factors with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and may appear before CVD and T2DM manifest. This proposal will examine which particular urinary symptoms, combined with specific risk factors (e.g. obesity, depression, erectile dysfunction) best predict the occurrence of these high-burden conditions using community-based cohorts of men and women.
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.