Inner Ear Protein Function Studied Using RNA Interference
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,230.00
Summary
The proper functioning of all cells tissues and organs depends on specific proteins that are manufactured by readout from the genome. The inner ear is no exception to this general principle and hence the normal hearing process depends critically on the proper functioning of key proteins. However, because of inherent limitations in the methods used to study their function in living tissues, the precise role of many inner ear proteins in the complex hearing process is not known or is at best poorl ....The proper functioning of all cells tissues and organs depends on specific proteins that are manufactured by readout from the genome. The inner ear is no exception to this general principle and hence the normal hearing process depends critically on the proper functioning of key proteins. However, because of inherent limitations in the methods used to study their function in living tissues, the precise role of many inner ear proteins in the complex hearing process is not known or is at best poorly understood. In this project we will use a recently developed technique called RNA interference, to reduce the amounts of specific targeted proteins in the inner ear of experimental animals. We will then study the effects on the inner ear's ability to detect sounds. The technique differs from other genome-manipulating methods because it can be applied to a single intact organ in the mature animal. The results of this project will illuminate the role of specific inner ear proteins in the process of sound detection. The project will also demonstrate the feasibility of using the RNA interference technique to modify function in the adult inner ear, thus paving the way for future therapies for inherited hearing disorders.Read moreRead less
Immunising Aboriginal Mothers With Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine To Prevent Infant Ear Disease And Carriage
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,131,530.00
Summary
Aboriginal children experience the highest rates of acute and chronic ear infections in the world, with resultant permanent ear damage, hearing loss and educational disadvantage. These infections are mainly bacterial, and Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is the predominant pathogen. Pneumococcal colonisation and infection begins within days of birth, many months before any potential immunological protection from infant pneumococcal conjugate vaccine may be expected. New strategies are nee ....Aboriginal children experience the highest rates of acute and chronic ear infections in the world, with resultant permanent ear damage, hearing loss and educational disadvantage. These infections are mainly bacterial, and Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is the predominant pathogen. Pneumococcal colonisation and infection begins within days of birth, many months before any potential immunological protection from infant pneumococcal conjugate vaccine may be expected. New strategies are needed to eliminate, or at least delay, this early-onset pneumococcal colonisation. One such strategy is the administration to the mother of pneumococcal vaccine, which may protect the newborn infant by leading to higher titres of transplacental or breast milk pneumococcal antibodies and-or by reducing carriage (and transmission to the infant) of maternal pneumococci. Previous small studies using this strategy have been encouraging, but there have been no studies properly evaluating carriage or disease endpoints in infants. The polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine is currently recommended for all Aboriginal and Torres Islander persons aged 15 years or more in the Northern Territory but uptake of the vaccine has been poor. We propose to conduct a pilot study to determine if maternal immunisation with this vaccine, either in the third trimester of pregancy of immediately following delivery, can reduce pneumococcal carriage and the prevalence of middle ear disease among Aboriginal infants at seven months of age. We aim to recruit 210 Aboriginal women who have uncomplicated pregnancies from Darwin and remote communities in the Top End of the Northern Territory. Each subject and their infant offspring will be followed-up after vaccination and at birth, one , two and seven months after birth.Read moreRead less
PneuMum: An RCT Of Maternal Pneumococcal Vaccination For Protection Of Indigenous Children From Ear Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$591,291.00
Summary
Ear disease starts in the first few months of life for most Indigenous children. By school entry, 2 out of every 3 Indigenous children in the NT have hearing problems. This proposal is to renew funding of the PneuMum study, which aims to find out whether the protection that a mother gets when she receives a pneumococcal vaccine late in pregnancy or soon after delivery can help to protect her child from getting ear disease.
Family Study Of Ear Health And Metabolic Diseases In A Western Australian Aboriginal Community
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,054,741.00
Summary
A family-based study of diseases in a Western Australian Aboriginal community is planned. Patterns in DNA within families will be related to patterns of disease in two areas of health that are of major concern to this Aboriginal community, ear health in children (e.g. runny ears; perforated eardrums) and type 2 diabetes. Finding genetic determinants of disease provides information that can complement clinical, epidemiological and public health understanding of disease.
Australia has limited systems in place to identify, then reduce or withdraw (disinvest) ineffective or inappropriate health care practices. Such practices result in sub-optimal care and inefficient use of scarce resources. Disinvestment models are few and have not been tested in Australia. We will develop a novel, systematic policy framework by linking policy, clinical, patient and community members as partners in the decision process for disinvesting (or not) selected health care practices.