Towards Reducing The Susceptibility Of “high Risk” Infants To Allergic Asthma By Therapeutic Modulation Of Immunoregulatory Functions In The Pregnant Mother.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$445,681.00
Summary
This project will deliver information in relation to the potential use and underlying modes of action of a therapeutic agent fed to pregnant mothers at high risk for atopic children, to protect against allergic asthma development in their offspring. Furthermore, the project will address the benefits of this therapeutic agent in relation to protection against inflammation induced preterm birth.
Vitamin D Supplementation To Prevent Respiratory Infections Among Indigenous Children In The Northern Territory: A Randomised Controlled Trial.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,164,379.00
Summary
Acute respiratory infections remain unacceptably common among Indigenous children in the Northern Territory. Most Indigenous infants are born with suboptimal vitamin D levels and this is associated with an increased risk of ARI. We propose to conduct a clinical trial to determine whether daily vitamin D supplementation, during the third trimester of pregnancy and early infancy, can reduce the risk of infant ARI during the first 12 months of life.
Preventing Chronic Disease In Patients With Low Health Literacy Using E-health And Teamwork In Primary Health Care.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,264,893.00
Summary
This study will evaluate whether an innovative intervention tailored to patients’ health literacy improves preventive care for vulnerable and disadvantaged patients in general practice. It will use e-health to support practice nurses to reduce their patients’ risk of chronic disease.
TEXTMEDS – TEXT Messages To Improve MEDication Adherence And Secondary Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,406,875.00
Summary
TEXTMEDS will evaluate a highly innovative strategy to improve cardiovascular disease secondary prevention using cheap and widely available mobile phone technology. TEXTMEDS is a randomised controlled trial of 1400 patients with acute coronary syndrome that will examine the effect of a semi-personalised secondary prevention support program sent via mobile phone text message on the proportion taking appropriate medications for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease and on cardiovascul ....TEXTMEDS will evaluate a highly innovative strategy to improve cardiovascular disease secondary prevention using cheap and widely available mobile phone technology. TEXTMEDS is a randomised controlled trial of 1400 patients with acute coronary syndrome that will examine the effect of a semi-personalised secondary prevention support program sent via mobile phone text message on the proportion taking appropriate medications for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease and on cardiovascular risk factors levels (e.g. cholesterol).Read moreRead less
Does Exercise Increase Skeletal Muscle Insulin Sensitivity Via Nitric Oxide?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$562,815.00
Summary
Almost one in four Australian adults have either diabetes or impaired glucose metabolism. A major benefit of exercise is that it increases the sensitivity of muscle to insulin for many hours after the exercise is completed. We don't fully understand the mechanisms that exercise increases muscle insulin sensitivity. If we discover how nitric oxide production during exercise is involved, drugs that mimic these exercise effects may be designed to benefit those with diabetes.
Investigating Tumour Initiation And Growth In A Panel Of Mice Defective In Epigenetic Reprogramming.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$421,600.00
Summary
Until recently it was believed that cancer is always caused by mutations in genes. Now it has been proposed that chemical modifications to the DNA and the proteins that package the DNA may also initiate cancer. These "epigenetic" modifications control whether our genes are switched on or off. Epigenetic modifications are disrupted in cancer, but it is not known whether they can start tumour growth. I will study this using mouse models. This work may lead to preventative screening and new treatme ....Until recently it was believed that cancer is always caused by mutations in genes. Now it has been proposed that chemical modifications to the DNA and the proteins that package the DNA may also initiate cancer. These "epigenetic" modifications control whether our genes are switched on or off. Epigenetic modifications are disrupted in cancer, but it is not known whether they can start tumour growth. I will study this using mouse models. This work may lead to preventative screening and new treatments in humans.Read moreRead less
My Personal Activity Advice – A RCT Investigating The Effectiveness Of Tailored Videos In Promoting Physical Activity Via The Internet
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$723,190.00
Summary
Only 46% of Australians achieve the recommended 30 minutes of physical activity a day needed to prevent chronic disease, a preventable burden that costs the healthcare system $1.6 billion each year. Web-based interventions can reach most Australians at low cost, but often fail to engage and retain participants long enough to achieve long-term behaviour change. We will evaluate an innovative approach that uses personalised web-based videos provided on a weekly basis that will help Australians bec ....Only 46% of Australians achieve the recommended 30 minutes of physical activity a day needed to prevent chronic disease, a preventable burden that costs the healthcare system $1.6 billion each year. Web-based interventions can reach most Australians at low cost, but often fail to engage and retain participants long enough to achieve long-term behaviour change. We will evaluate an innovative approach that uses personalised web-based videos provided on a weekly basis that will help Australians become more physically active in the long-term.Read moreRead less
Reduced HIV Infection And Increased Survival Among HIV-exposed Infants Using Two Newly Developed Point-of-care Tests In Papua New Guinea And China.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$952,841.00
Summary
HIV contributes significantly to maternal and infant deaths, largely due to limited access to effective antiretroviral drugs among HIV-infected expectant mothers and their HIV-infected infants. Decisions on what and when to start treatment currently depends on sophisticated laboratory tests, unavailable to many. This research is a world-first intervention study to assess the effectiveness and impact of two newly developed and unique low-cost rapid point-of-care tests.
Immunological And Respiratory Effects Among Workers Exposed To Engineered Nanoparticles
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$513,507.00
Summary
Laboratory studies suggest that nanoparticles can easily enter the body and may cause more damage than similar, larger particles but human data are lacking. We propose to study the health of nanoparticle-exposed workers and unexposed workers, and compare biomarkers of inflammation in the blood and the respiratory system at the start and end of the shift, end of the working week and after 1 year’s further exposure to nanoparticles.
A Phase Two Clinical Trial Of A Program Delivered By Aboriginal Health Workers To Prevent Early Childhood Caries In Aboriginal Children.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$553,905.00
Summary
The severe impact of early childhood dental caries on Aboriginal children highlights the need for the development of evidence-based community oral health strategies which are appropriate to the needs and resources of Aboriginal families and their health care services. This study responds to this need through the evaluation of a family centred oral health strategy developed in consultation with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services which is delivered by Aboriginal Health Workers.