‘Defying The Odds’: Exploring The Impact Of Perinatal Outcomes, Maternal Social And Health Outcomes And Level Of Culturally Appropriate Service Availability On The Health Of Western Australian Aboriginal Infants And Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$659,356.00
Summary
A healthy start to life is essential for life-long health. Currently, Aboriginal children have greater rates of death and hospitalisation than other Australians. This study will determine individual, community and service-related risk and protective factors for health outcomes among Aboriginal children (0-5yrs) using whole-of-population linked health data from multigenerational Aboriginal families in WA. Findings will support effective service development to help those at-risk ‘defy the odds’.
Aboriginal Australians are diagnosed with chronic kidney disease at approximately 10 times the rate of non-Aboriginal Australians. Since 2002, the ARDAC Study has examined the early markers of kidney and heart disease in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children and adolescents. The study aims to determine if the increased risk of chronic kidney and heart disease seen in Aboriginal adults begins during adolescence and young adulthood as an increased prevalence of chronic disease risk factors.
The Older Australian Twins Study (OATS) Of Healthy Brain Ageing And Age-related Neurocognitive Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$940,960.00
Summary
Ageing is associated with cognitive decline and dementia. It is still not completely understood what relative contributions genes and environment play in these. This project is an extension of the Older Australian Twins Study to examine genetic and environmental factors associated with late life brain changes and dementia, and will establish an internationally significant cohort for novel discovery.
Cardiovascular disease is the biggest killer in Australia. It describes diseases of the heart and blood vessels including heart attack and stroke. The risk of developing these diseases is affected by our diet and lifestyle and also by our genetic makeup that we inherit. In this project we are aiming to identify the specific heritable genetic differences between individuals that put us at greater risk of cardiovascular disease. We are studying large families from the Busselton Health Study.
Novel Molecular Markers Of Lung Cancer Risk And Survival
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$824,765.00
Summary
Lung cancer remains the most lethal cancer worldwide, yet little is known of the risk factors beyond that of tobacco smoking and certain occupational exposures. We have assembled a large international consortium comprising 24 cohort studies and over 10,000 to validate associations between B-vitamins and lung cancer risk particularly in never and former smokers. We propose to expand this study and use the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study and the rest of the consortium to identify novel biomar ....Lung cancer remains the most lethal cancer worldwide, yet little is known of the risk factors beyond that of tobacco smoking and certain occupational exposures. We have assembled a large international consortium comprising 24 cohort studies and over 10,000 to validate associations between B-vitamins and lung cancer risk particularly in never and former smokers. We propose to expand this study and use the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study and the rest of the consortium to identify novel biomarkers of risk and survival.Read moreRead less
Genetic Epidemiology Of Endometrial Cancer: Towards Understanding Aetiology And Improving Risk Prediction.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$353,573.00
Summary
Studies investigating thousands of genetic markers have revolutionised our understanding of genes involved in cancer, and shown that a single gene can be associated with multiple cancers. We will conduct the largest ever study to find new genes for endometrial cancer, the most common gynaecological cancer. Our unique approach will examine >11million markers across the genome, some specifically in regions known to be important for other cancers. Findings will be used for risk prediction models ....Studies investigating thousands of genetic markers have revolutionised our understanding of genes involved in cancer, and shown that a single gene can be associated with multiple cancers. We will conduct the largest ever study to find new genes for endometrial cancer, the most common gynaecological cancer. Our unique approach will examine >11million markers across the genome, some specifically in regions known to be important for other cancers. Findings will be used for risk prediction models.Read moreRead less
Cancers of the skin are the most common tumours in humans, and their diagnosis and treatment impose the largest costs on Australia’s cancer budget. While much has been learned about the roles of sunlight and skin type as risk factors for skin cancer, relatively little is known about the genes conferring risk. This study will compare the genetic profiles of over 6000 patients with skin cancer to 3000 people without skin cancer to pinpoint the genes responsible for skin cancer.
Genetic And Early Life Predictors Of Ectopic Fat And Their Association With Cardiometabolic Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,706,136.00
Summary
Obesity in childhood predicts adult cardiovascular disease. Body mass index as a measure of obesity does not fully describe the biology of excess adiposity. However, differences in the distribution of body fat, particularly fat around organs, may explain some of the excess risk. We will examine effects of genetic, pregnancy and childhood factors on different body fats and cardiovascular risk in Raine Study participants at 26 years. These young adults have been studied from pregnancy to adulthood
Psychosocial Predictors Of Developing Breast Cancer In Women From High Risk Breast Cancer Families
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,109,214.00
Summary
Over the past 20 years, studies have highlighted the possible roles of stressful life events and distress, possibly mediated by social support and personality, in causing or speeding up the development of breast cancer. This possibility is of strong concern to consumers. To date, there have been few well designed, prospective studies of this issue. Furthermore, no previous studies have specifically targeted women at increased risk because of their family history. In recent years, it has become p ....Over the past 20 years, studies have highlighted the possible roles of stressful life events and distress, possibly mediated by social support and personality, in causing or speeding up the development of breast cancer. This possibility is of strong concern to consumers. To date, there have been few well designed, prospective studies of this issue. Furthermore, no previous studies have specifically targeted women at increased risk because of their family history. In recent years, it has become possible to identify 2 breast cancer genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2). Female carriers of mutations in these genes with a strong family history have an estimated lifetime risk of between 35% and 85%. The Kathleen Cuningham Consortium for Research into Familial Breast Cancer (kConFab) was established 11 years ago to coordinate the collection of genetic, epidemiological and clinical data in Australian and New Zealand families with a dominantly inherited predisposition to breast cancer. Due to the high rate of breast cancer diagnoses in this group, and the systematic recruitment of large numbers of high risk women by kConFab, there is a unique and temporary opportunity to conduct a rigorous study to resolve this question, with sufficient numbers involved. The study is a world first, and will provide the best data to date in this area. If the study demonstrates a relationship between psychosocial factors and the development of breast cancer in women from high risk breast cancer families, subsequent identification of vulnerable individuals and the implementation of appropriate interventions may have a real impact on reducing morbidity and mortality in this population. Furthermore, the results may have implications for all women in reducing breast cancer incidence.Read moreRead less
Evaluating A Group Diabetes Prevention Program For High Risk Individuals In Kerala, India
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,046,991.00
Summary
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in developing countries has increased dramatically. Action is now urgently required to develop targeted, low cost intervention programs to prevent T2DM. The Kerala Diabetes Prevention Program (K-DPP) is a cluster randomized trial in a rural area of Thiruvananthapuram district in Kerala State, India, of a culturally appropriate locality-based group diabetes intervention targeting individuals (aged 30-60 years) at ‘high risk’ of developing T2DM.