Family And Environment In The Development Of Obesity And Precursors Of Diabetes And Heart Disease In Adolescence
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$284,770.00
Summary
Obesity is a serious public health problem in Australia. The rate of obesity appears to be rising. Currently 19-23% of children and adolescents are overweight or obese. Adolescence is a critical period for the development of obesity in both males and females. It is a time when new dietary habits, likely to promote fatness, are adopted and physical activity declines. Understanding the factors that drive these behaviours is essential for effective prevention of obesity and related diseases. In 199 ....Obesity is a serious public health problem in Australia. The rate of obesity appears to be rising. Currently 19-23% of children and adolescents are overweight or obese. Adolescence is a critical period for the development of obesity in both males and females. It is a time when new dietary habits, likely to promote fatness, are adopted and physical activity declines. Understanding the factors that drive these behaviours is essential for effective prevention of obesity and related diseases. In 1996-7, our research group studied a group of over 400 children who were aged 7-8 years, were living in western Sydney and were born at Nepean Hospital. In our new study, we plan to re-study this group of children, now in early adolescence. This will allow us to assess the family and environmental factors influencing physical activity and eating behaviour at the beginning of adolescence. The aims of our study are to: Measure changes during early adolescence in eating and physical activity behaviours that are likely to increase obesity risk Measure anthropometric and biochemical markers for future risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in both adolescents and their parents Identify factors in the family environment that influence changes in food intake and physical activity in early adolescence The study will be done in two phases, 18 months apart. The measurements will be done in the study centre at Nepean Hospital in western Sydney. We will measure the height, weight and skinfold thickness of the adolescents and, if possible, their parents. We will also ask the young people and their parents to complete questionnaires about the family food and activity environment and their level of physical activity and food intake. In addition, the adolescents will wear a light-weight activity monitor for 3 days ( to measure the level of activity), blood pressure will be measured and cholesterol and blood sugar levels checked.Read moreRead less
Translating A Drop Of Blood Into Effective Antibiotic Dosing In Infants And Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
The optimal use of currently available antibiotics is of utmost importance at a time when few new antibiotics are being developed and there is a continued emergence of antibiotic resistant ‘superbugs’. This Fellowship will establish evidence-based, effective antibiotic dosing regimens for children with severe infection - using just a drop of blood. By applying innovation in microsampling, my research will advance our treatment of infection and result in better outcomes for sick children.
This project examines the mechanism of descent of the testis, which when abnormal, leads to the common anomaly in children of undescended testes. Our long-term aims is to find a non-surgical treatment for undescended testes, and these studies will significantly aid in that goal. We will look at a completely new testicular hormone as well as a molecule released from nerves to determine their exact role in the mechanism. This project should allow us to understand finally one of the unresolved puzz ....This project examines the mechanism of descent of the testis, which when abnormal, leads to the common anomaly in children of undescended testes. Our long-term aims is to find a non-surgical treatment for undescended testes, and these studies will significantly aid in that goal. We will look at a completely new testicular hormone as well as a molecule released from nerves to determine their exact role in the mechanism. This project should allow us to understand finally one of the unresolved puzzles of the anatomical differences between males and females.Read moreRead less
Improving Treatment And Outcomes Of Congenital Hearing Loss At The Population Level
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$265,138.00
Summary
Around 600 Australian babies are born with congenital hearing loss each year. Despite great advances in early diagnosis and treatment, affected children have language and other skills well below what they can potentially achieve. My research will a) examine trends in congenital hearing loss outcomes, b) enrich existing data with novel genetic and clinical data, to enable early prediction of future outcomes to direct management, and c) discover ways to prevent hearing loss progression.
Improving The Design Of Pragmatic Clinical Trials In Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$128,224.00
Summary
Whilst clinical research is designed to investigate interventions that improve patient health, to date, patients (including children) and their families have had no say in deciding what health outcomes matter most to them. The voices of patients and their families must be heard and used to inform how studies are designed if we are to achieve an improved model of health care and health service delivery. We propose to investigate and provide recommendations as to how this is best achieved.
A Study Of The Impact Of Treating Electrographic Seizures In Term Or Near-term Infants With Neonatal Encephalopathy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,365,184.00
Summary
Seizures in the newborn infant are common and may be harmful to the developing brain. They are not always recognised. This study investigates whether or not treating all seizures detected using a bedside brain activity monitor improves developmental outcome, compared to just treating seizures that doctors recognise.