Clinical Impact Of Clonal Pseudomonas Aeruginosa In Cystic Fibrosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$547,238.00
Summary
In patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), the normal defence mechanisms are compromised by an inherent genetic fault which results in an extremely sticky and dehydrated mucus. The respiratory system is unable to eradicate microbes (infection) from the lungs of patients with CF which begin to multiply and cause infection and inflammation. Recurring infections are treated with multiple courses of antibiotics and frequent hospitalisation and eventually result in premature death. This study focuses on ....In patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), the normal defence mechanisms are compromised by an inherent genetic fault which results in an extremely sticky and dehydrated mucus. The respiratory system is unable to eradicate microbes (infection) from the lungs of patients with CF which begin to multiply and cause infection and inflammation. Recurring infections are treated with multiple courses of antibiotics and frequent hospitalisation and eventually result in premature death. This study focuses on the major bacterial problem, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Several studies from Australia and the UK, including our own have shown that about 30% to 45% of patients share the same strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa within a centre. We know that two dominant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are found in CF centres on the eastern board of Australia. This is unexpected as this bacterium is usually acquired from the environment. The emergence of these clonal strains is causing increasing anxiety in the CF community. This study is designed to provide vitally needed information on the clinical implications of being infected by an clonal strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the risk factors for the acquisition of an clonal strain. This new information will provide a rationale basis for the need for changes to infection control policies (including patient segregation), better outcome predictors for patients infected with clonal strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.Read moreRead less
Improving Ways Of Thinking And Ways Of Doing Aboriginal And Cross-cultural Health In General Practice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$948,465.00
Summary
Aboriginal community controlled health services and private general practice need to work together to close the gap. This practice-based cultural respect program and toolkit establishes a care partnership, with Aboriginal cultural mentors, to support strategies to embed cultural respect in general practices on an ongoing basis. Success indicators include a cultural quotient measure, performance of Aboriginal health checks and management of risk factors. The program may also benefit cross-cultura ....Aboriginal community controlled health services and private general practice need to work together to close the gap. This practice-based cultural respect program and toolkit establishes a care partnership, with Aboriginal cultural mentors, to support strategies to embed cultural respect in general practices on an ongoing basis. Success indicators include a cultural quotient measure, performance of Aboriginal health checks and management of risk factors. The program may also benefit cross-cultural health generally.Read moreRead less
Cluster Randomised Trial Comparing One Versus Two Doses Of Ivermectin For Mass Drug Administration To Control Scabies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$540,512.00
Summary
Scabies is a common skin disease in developing countries, in particular in the Pacific region. In the Western Province of Solomon Islands, one in two children suffer from the infestation, and 20% of the population. We know that mass drug administration with two doses of oral ivermectin is effective to reduce the burden of scabies in the community. We now propose a study to determine whether one single dose is as effective. This would have major public health benefits.
Does Mass Drug Administration For Scabies Result In Control Of Serious Bacterial Complications? A Proof Of Concept Towards Global Elimination.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$883,760.00
Summary
Scabies is common skin disease in developing countries, in particular in the Pacific region. In Fiji, one in two children suffer from the infestation, which affects over 20% of the population. A recent study conducted in Fiji on 2000 people showed that mass drug administration (MDA) with oral ivermectin is a safe and effective way to reduce the burden of scabies in the community. We will expand the MDA program to 100,000 people, the largest study of MDA ivermectin for scabies ever undertaken.
Anti-sporulation Strategies For Clostridium Difficile Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$651,559.00
Summary
Hospital-acquired infections with the bacterium Clostridium difficile are a major global public health concern with highly virulent isolates emerging overseas in 2002 and in Australia in 2010. These strains have spread through our hospitals and are also found in the community. This project will increase our understanding of how these strains spread and will provide knowledge that is critical for developing improved strategies for preventing these infections.
Rethinking multiculturalism/reassessing multicultural education. No study has systematically explored the links between multicultural policy and educational practice within the context of a thorough understanding of the cultural complexity of contemporary Australia and the conceptual framework of multicultural discourse. This project offers significant national and community benefits in its interrogation of the goals of multiculturalism and the nature of educational programs. Its informed approa ....Rethinking multiculturalism/reassessing multicultural education. No study has systematically explored the links between multicultural policy and educational practice within the context of a thorough understanding of the cultural complexity of contemporary Australia and the conceptual framework of multicultural discourse. This project offers significant national and community benefits in its interrogation of the goals of multiculturalism and the nature of educational programs. Its informed approach to action research will assist in the development of innovative approaches to teaching and learning in diverse communities in urban and rural settings. The resultant enhancement of teacher quality will improve the educational outcomes of all students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.Read moreRead less
An Economic Analysis of Bankruptcy and Financial Reorganization in Australia. We examine the question of whether the new Australian bankruptcy law is too lenient on firms in financial trouble. We will assemble detailed economic data on a large number of bankrupt firms and use the data to measure the performance of the Australian bankruptcy system. The outcome will be a more complete understanding of how bankruptcy law saves viable firms and eliminates inefficient firms. The project will assist p ....An Economic Analysis of Bankruptcy and Financial Reorganization in Australia. We examine the question of whether the new Australian bankruptcy law is too lenient on firms in financial trouble. We will assemble detailed economic data on a large number of bankrupt firms and use the data to measure the performance of the Australian bankruptcy system. The outcome will be a more complete understanding of how bankruptcy law saves viable firms and eliminates inefficient firms. The project will assist policy-makers designing bankruptcy law. The national benefit will be a bankruptcy system that balances the need to give innovating entrepreneurs a second chance against the danger of
encouraging too many unprofitable firms to limp on and waste
resources.Read moreRead less
Profiling Accurate Segmentation Structures in Rural Communities. The proposed project has two aims - one aim is applied and pertains to Australia's rural community, and a second is methodological and pertains to methods of segmenting populations in a variety of contexts. These aims are 1) to identify a valid basis for segmenting Australia's rural community based on their choice behaviour and individual characteristics; and 2) to develop and test a staged approach for inferring market segments u ....Profiling Accurate Segmentation Structures in Rural Communities. The proposed project has two aims - one aim is applied and pertains to Australia's rural community, and a second is methodological and pertains to methods of segmenting populations in a variety of contexts. These aims are 1) to identify a valid basis for segmenting Australia's rural community based on their choice behaviour and individual characteristics; and 2) to develop and test a staged approach for inferring market segments utilising a joint approach which simultaneously accounts for individual characteristics and choice behaviour that is informed by non-parametric classification techniques to account for a variety of sources of heterogeneity, not just preference heterogeneity.Read moreRead less
Robust Empirical Analysis of Poverty and Inequality in Australia. The project aims to improve our understanding of economic poverty and inequality in Australia, and contribute new method to the field of distributional analysis. The empirical analysis of consumption poverty and inequality will highlight the critical methodological assumptions underlying our perceptions of poverty, and provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of a range of programs targeted to the poor. The analysis of economic ....Robust Empirical Analysis of Poverty and Inequality in Australia. The project aims to improve our understanding of economic poverty and inequality in Australia, and contribute new method to the field of distributional analysis. The empirical analysis of consumption poverty and inequality will highlight the critical methodological assumptions underlying our perceptions of poverty, and provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of a range of programs targeted to the poor. The analysis of economic inequality in Australia will determine if recent trends are due to increasing globalisation, and whether national programs were effective in ameliorating international influences. This research will ultimately contribute to more effective poverty alleviation and income support programs.Read moreRead less
The Western Nation-State, Cultural Pluralism and the Transnational Circulation of Political Emotions in the Shi'a Lebanese Diaspora. At its most general level, this research aims to expose and explain the importance of emotions in the formation of all cultures. In so doing it opens the way for a more complex understanding of some of the invisible but important forces that shape intercultural relations within culturally plural nations. It will thus open the possibilities for ameliorating and refi ....The Western Nation-State, Cultural Pluralism and the Transnational Circulation of Political Emotions in the Shi'a Lebanese Diaspora. At its most general level, this research aims to expose and explain the importance of emotions in the formation of all cultures. In so doing it opens the way for a more complex understanding of some of the invisible but important forces that shape intercultural relations within culturally plural nations. It will thus open the possibilities for ameliorating and refining government policies concerned with the management of pluralism. At a more particular level, the research hopes to produce critical knowledge about diasporic Arab Muslim cultures that will ameliorate the thorny relations these cultures have today with western governments.Read moreRead less