The focus of this research is the integration of innovative evidence-based, personalised physical activity behaviour change programs that can be delivered via print, web/email, telephone and mobile text-messaging into clinical settings. This research will evaluate the effectiveness of initiating these interventions at the point of interaction between patients and health professionals in current clinical environments for the purpose of improving physical activity levels amongst inactive patients.
Defining The Role Of Genetic Variants In Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Copy Number Variants And Epigenetic Mechanisms
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$338,625.00
Summary
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease associated with increased risk of mortality, severely impacting the quality of life for those affected. A large number of genes have been implicated in SLE susceptibility, however we know little of the genetic mechanisms proceeding disease onset. This project uses state of the art technology to define the role of genetic variants in SLE susceptibility and identify their importance across patients of different ethnic backgrounds.
Evaluating Recently Introduced Prevention Strategies And Investigating Further Aetiologies Of Cerebral Palsy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,644.00
Summary
Cerebral palsy is an early brain injury that affects movement. Every year in Australia, this life long condition will be identified in another 600 infants. This Early Career Fellowship will train an Australian researcher to evaluate promising prevention strategies that could reduce the overall incidence of cerebral palsy for the first time. The researcher will also investigate other causes of cerebral palsy including birth defects that occur very early in pregnancy.
Novel Actions Of HDL Cholesterol: A Potential New Strategy For Treatment Of Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$74,973.00
Summary
There are currently in excess of 170 million patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes worldwide. Recent studies have identified novel actions of HDL cholesterol in relation to glucose and fat metabolism which provide a rationale for therapeutic approaches to raise levels of circulating HDL to manage the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. This research will investigate HDL signaling pathways and contribute significantly to our understanding of the metabolic actions of HDL in Humans.
The first kernels of cardiovascular disease begin very early in life; in the womb and early infancy. These early indications are known to track into adulthood, eventually resulting in diseases such as heart attacks. Dr Huang has found that childhood obesity, high blood pressure, cholesterol and a "prediabetes" profile, cluster together and additionally are associated with many factors in the womb and first few years of life. She investigates how to give babies the optimal healthy start.