Bridging The Gap Between Laboratory And Clinic Using Low Cost, High Tech Physical Function Assessment Tools
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$428,065.00
Summary
Gold-standard testing protocols for assessing standing balance, gait and activities of daily living is often a primary focus for therapeutic interventions. They often incorporate multiple force platforms and 3D motion analysis, which provide valuable information however the time, cost and infrastructure required excludes their use in normal clinical practice. This fellowship examines the potential efficacy of low cost, widely available alternatives such as video gaming devices and smart phones.
Neurodevelopmental Risk Factors For Depression From Childhood To Early Adulthood
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$470,144.00
Summary
To understand who is at risk for depression, we need to understand how both the environment and biological factors promote risk at specific times in the life cycle. This research project will examine such risk factors in different phases of life (from in utero to early adulthood) using a developmental framework. The results of this research will provide a clearer basis for the design of prevention strategies that target individuals, their families and/or broader environmental factors.
Novel Genetic And Environmental Modifiers Of The Risk Of Iron Overload-related Disease In HFE-associated Hereditary Haemochromatosis In Cohort Of Middle-aged Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$451,716.00
Summary
People who carry mutations in the HFE gene are pre-disposed to body iron overload but not all of them developed subsequent disease. According to the investigators of the “HealthIron” study in Melbourne, only 28% of men and 1% of women with faulty HFE genes go on to develop disease. This study has recruited more than 1,000 people from the community, and will determine which environmental and genetic risk factors stop people with iron overload from getting symptoms of disease.
Allergies And Chronic Respiratory Diseases: Causes, Biological Pathways And Interventions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$420,872.00
Summary
Allergies and chronic respiratory diseases are major causes of illness and death in Australia. Worryingly there are still many gaps in knowledge on how best to prevent and manage these diseases. The proposed program will investigate these questions and provide evidence to guide health policy and clinical management. As this program is built on state-of the-art methods and technology, these original Australian findings will be of great importance internationally.
Identification Of Novel Biomarkers And Risk Factors For Cardiovascular Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,048.00
Summary
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Australia. In this fellowship, I will investigate different markers in the blood and risk factors that can help to identify people at an increased risk of developing heart disease. The ultimate aim of this project is to identify blood markers or factors that can be used to identify and treat people at the early stages of heart disease, thus reducing the death rate and associated economic burden of the disease.
Predictors Of Outcome And Intervention In The ‘Ultra-High Risk’ For Psychosis Population
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$401,561.00
Summary
This area of research is concerned with improving our ability to identify young help-seeking patients who are most at risk of developing psychotic disorders and provide intervention to delay or prevent the onset of psychosis. A number of studies are planned, including researching disturbances in sense of self, neurocognitive factors, history of trauma and reaction to stress as predictive of future onset of psychosis, as well as a study of omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) as an intervention for the ....This area of research is concerned with improving our ability to identify young help-seeking patients who are most at risk of developing psychotic disorders and provide intervention to delay or prevent the onset of psychosis. A number of studies are planned, including researching disturbances in sense of self, neurocognitive factors, history of trauma and reaction to stress as predictive of future onset of psychosis, as well as a study of omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) as an intervention for these high risk young people.Read moreRead less
In Australia, over 2,000 families every year have a stillborn child. Each of these deaths places a heavy psychological and financial burden on parents and families and the wider community. Progress in preventing these deaths has been very slow and despite the impact of this loss, the care provided for parents following a stillbirth is often inadequate. I am leading a national research program to reduce stillbirth and improve care for parents when their child is stillborn.
Long Term Progression And Pathways Of Cardiometabolic Risks For Mothers And Their Adult Offspring.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$453,605.00
Summary
The aim of this research is to investigate long term postnatal outcomes of cardiovascular diseases and mortality throughout the female reproductive life course and beyond, and to study the causes, progression and pathways of metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and obesity from birth to adulthood within adult males and females.
How Genetic And Environmental Risk Factors Interactively Impact On Animal Models For Schizophrenia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$387,489.00
Summary
The proposed research will clarify to what degree a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia alters the response to environmental risk factors (e.g. social stress and drugs of abuse) or interacts with them. Further, it will provide more sophisticated animal models for schizophrenia as well as better tools to validate these models. These studies may offer novel genetic and molecular clues to help explain the interactive nature of the impact genetic and environmental factors have on schizophrenia.