Gene Identification For Keratoconus - A Blinding Eye Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$912,880.00
Summary
Keratoconus is a common eye disease where the cornea at the front of the eye progressively becomes thinner and bulges out, resulting in severe visual impairment in young people. This project is investigating the genetic causes of keratoconus in a large collection of Australian patients. We aim to be better able to predict who will develop the disease and treat them earlier, as well as be able to target treatments to the causes of disease.
Schizophrenia Under The Genomic Lens: Next Generation Sequencing Of Western Australian Families With Schizophrenia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$991,659.00
Summary
We will perform whole genome sequencing of 376 members of 88 Western Australian families, including 113 individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. We will use the sequence data to conduct a gene-cenric analysis of rare genomic variants likely to contribute to schizophrenia risk in these families.
Testing The Behavioural And Psychosocial Mechanisms Underlying Geographic Variation In Metabolic Syndrome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,457.00
Summary
This study seeks to assess the mechanisms that explain the link between residential area features and the metabolic syndrome (obesity and high blood pressure, lipids and glucose), related to cardiometabolic diseases. There is more metabolic syndrome in disadvantaged areas but the reasons for this have not been empirically established. We will evaluate behavioural and psychosocialmechanisms that might independently and jointly explain the association between place and metabolic syndrome.
IMPROVE - Investigating Medication Re-Purposing To Reduce Risk Of OVarian Cancer And Extend Survival
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$430,196.00
Summary
Ovarian cancer is the 6th most common cause of cancer death in women and the proportion of women who die from their disease has not improved substantially over time. This large-scale study will use de-identified data from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the Australian Cancer Database and the National Death Index to investigate whether medications commonly used for other conditions can help decrease the risk of ovarian cancer developing or improve survival from ovarian cancer after diagnosis.
Brain Plaques And Cognitive Decline In The Elderly - A Study Of Human Twins
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Summary
One hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a build up of plaques in the brain, starting years before symptoms are observed. We will use PiB-PET brain scans to determine the degree of plaque build-up in pairs of twins at risk of developing AD, and calculate the heritability of these plaques. We will also be able to calculate (potentially modifiable) environmental factors that may be contributing to the relationship between plaques and memory and thinking.
Menopause is one of the important risk factors for bone loss, structural decay and bone fragility. We aim to quantify the biochemical, microstructural and biomechanical basis of loss of bone strength during and after menopause. A cohort of 324 pairs of female-female twins aged 25 to 75 years old will be followed up for up to 9 years. Defining the structural basis of bone fragility provides a rational means to identifying women at risk for fracture.
Constructing Control Samples For The Australian And Other Populations: Improving Power And False Positive Rates In The Next Generation Of Genetic Association Studies With A Focus On Controlling For Fine-scale Population Structure In DNA Sequence Data
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$283,447.00
Summary
Individuals who live near each other tend to be more similar genetically than individuals who live in different parts of the world. One reason is that they share more of their genetic ancestry. There can be very subtle differences in patterns of genetic variation even within countries. Accounting for these subtle differences can be important for studies of the genetic basis of diseases. We will develop novel statistical methods to control for these genetic differences in disease studies.
We will conduct a study of more than 500 Australian female twin pairs in which one or both have had breast cancer. We will also study measured and unmeasured genetic and environmental causes of risk factors.
Human Malarial Immunity And Assessment Of Emerging Artemisinin Resistance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$312,570.00
Summary
Resistance to antimalarial drugs is a major global threat for malaria treatment, control and elimination. Assessment of the spread of resistance is severely impeded by the presence of host immunity. This project will identify population biomarkers of immunity during antimalarial treatment to include in studies of antimalarial resistance. These findings will facilitate the correct assessment of the global spread of antimalarial resistance.
Fetal Lactate Measurement To Reduce Caesarean Sections During Labour: A Randomised Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$386,600.00
Summary
Caesarean section rates in Australia are well above the World Health Organization’s recommended level. Many babies appear unhealthy in labour, so they are born by caesarean. They are usually healthy at birth, meaning that the operation could have been avoided. In this study, half the babies who seem distressed will have a blood test for lactate and the other half will not. We will then determine whether having a lactate test makes a difference in the number women having caesarean births.