A Phase III Trial Comparing Adjuvant Versus Salvage Radiotherapy For High Risk Patients Post Radical Prostatectomy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$819,138.00
Summary
About half of all patients Treated with an operation to remove their prostate cancer have a high chance of the cancer coming back. Giving immediate radiotherapy to all patients will improve cure rates but does not benefit all men and can cause significant side effects. This study explores whether it is safe to wait and only give radiotherapy when there is a rising PSA after surgery indicating active cancer. A total of 470 men from Australasia will enter this study comparing the two approaches.
Preventing Early Language Delay In Primary Care Setting:cluster Randomised Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,133.00
Summary
The trial aims to lower the numbers of children with poor expressive language skills at ages 2 and 3 years, through a sustainable early language promotion program linked to the universal Victorian Maternal and Child Health (M and CH) service, attended by more than 75% of Victorian children at 12 months of age. The trial targets the 20% of toddlers most at risk of expressive language delay, by virtue of having limited or no spoken vocabulary at 18 months of age. It also aims to lower the numbers ....The trial aims to lower the numbers of children with poor expressive language skills at ages 2 and 3 years, through a sustainable early language promotion program linked to the universal Victorian Maternal and Child Health (M and CH) service, attended by more than 75% of Victorian children at 12 months of age. The trial targets the 20% of toddlers most at risk of expressive language delay, by virtue of having limited or no spoken vocabulary at 18 months of age. It also aims to lower the numbers of children with behaviour problems (strongly linked to language delay), to determine the acceptability and cost-effectiveness of the approach, and to determine whether it differentially benefits disadvantaged children.Read moreRead less
Rolling It Out: Targeted Translation Intervention To Improve Driving Cessation Outcomes For People With Dementia Across Metropolitan And Regional Areas
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$594,644.00
Summary
This research addresses social, emotional and practical challenges that people with dementia face in dealing with stopping driving. A resource that provides practical and emotional support and education around stopping driving is required in primary care settings to improve quality of life of people with dementia and their carers, and support health professionals who monitor driving issues. This program will translate a research-based resource into GP clinics and community services in Australia.
Finally New Tools Are Available To Combat Drug Resistant Tuberculosis, But How Do We Make Them Work? Models To Determine Effective Implementation Strategies In Australia And Our Region
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,562,250.00
Summary
The risk of drug resistance in tuberculosis (MDR TB) is thwarting control efforts and must be addressed. Potential strategies being considered are; treating MDR TB in the latent phase, using new short-course treatment for active TB and using new vaccines. My work develops simulation models to test strategies before they are implemented, to maximise impact and avoid costly or low-impact interventions. I will examine strategies in Australia and in high burden countries in Australia’s region.
Life history constraints on sexual selection: an investigation using territoriality in butterflies. Contemporary studies into the evolution of male contest behaviour largely ignore the influence of life history. However, contest behaviour should be influenced by life history because the costs of fighting (injury or death) are extracted in a life history currency. Here I aim to measure reproductive value in a territorial butterfly, and to isolate the effects of this parameter, physiological condi ....Life history constraints on sexual selection: an investigation using territoriality in butterflies. Contemporary studies into the evolution of male contest behaviour largely ignore the influence of life history. However, contest behaviour should be influenced by life history because the costs of fighting (injury or death) are extracted in a life history currency. Here I aim to measure reproductive value in a territorial butterfly, and to isolate the effects of this parameter, physiological condition and fighting experience upon male aggression. I propose an innovative experimental approach to unraveling the effects of these covarying life history influences which promises exciting and highly original insights into the evolution of contest behaviour.Read moreRead less
The Healthy Brain Project: A Prospective Cohort Study To Examine How Later-life University Education May Affect The Trajectory Of Ageing-related Cognitive Decline
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,085,742.00
Summary
Previous research has indicated that higher levels of education in early adulthood are associated with lower risk for dementia in older adults. This world-first project will examine if older adults who undertake university education have reduced rates of age-related cognitive decline than older adults who do not undertake further education. This would support the notion that boosting cognitive reserve in later life is protective against age- and disease-related neurodegenerative change.
The role of plant chemical defences in the population ecology of mammal herbivores. Plants defend themselves against herbivores by producing toxic compounds in their leaves. Many studies show that such compounds influence diet selection by mammal herbivores, but we understand much less about their effects on populations of such species. This project will investigate how concentrations of leaf toxins in eucalypts affect reproductive success, distribution and abundance of the marsupials that feed ....The role of plant chemical defences in the population ecology of mammal herbivores. Plants defend themselves against herbivores by producing toxic compounds in their leaves. Many studies show that such compounds influence diet selection by mammal herbivores, but we understand much less about their effects on populations of such species. This project will investigate how concentrations of leaf toxins in eucalypts affect reproductive success, distribution and abundance of the marsupials that feed on them. The knowledge gained by this study will be important in modelling populations of these marsupial species and predicting their responses to environmental change.Read moreRead less
Young people, sex, love and the media. This project aims to discover what young Australians are learning about sex, love and relationships from popular media, as well as the impact that it is having on their behaviour and attitudes towards sexuality and intimate relationships. It will make recommendations about how to promote ethical and safe sexual practices and attitudes.
Improved Monte Carlo Methods for Estimation, Optimisation and Counting. The project will benefit the Australian society by building the theoretical and methodological foundations for the next generation of Monte Carlo techniques. The advancement of the knowledge in this area will provide important tools for solving complex estimation, optimisation and counting problems in engineering, statistics, computer science, mathematics and the physical and life sciences. As a result it will generate a com ....Improved Monte Carlo Methods for Estimation, Optimisation and Counting. The project will benefit the Australian society by building the theoretical and methodological foundations for the next generation of Monte Carlo techniques. The advancement of the knowledge in this area will provide important tools for solving complex estimation, optimisation and counting problems in engineering, statistics, computer science, mathematics and the physical and life sciences. As a result it will generate a competitive advantage for various sections of the Australian industry, including telecommunications, biotechnology and finance. The project will enable Australian researchers to continue to work at the forefront of this fast moving and exciting area of international research.Read moreRead less
Design of a Reference Methodology for Extended Enterprise Architecture. Enterprises have nowadays a very critical perception of the actual benefits of Information Technology (IT). Significant investments in IT infrastructures have been made. However, in many cases no monetary benefits could be demonstrated. Enterprises Architectures provide a way to link the business and the IT perspective. This project aims to develop an operational methodology with a solid theoretical foundation for the design ....Design of a Reference Methodology for Extended Enterprise Architecture. Enterprises have nowadays a very critical perception of the actual benefits of Information Technology (IT). Significant investments in IT infrastructures have been made. However, in many cases no monetary benefits could be demonstrated. Enterprises Architectures provide a way to link the business and the IT perspective. This project aims to develop an operational methodology with a solid theoretical foundation for the design of such Enterprise Architectures. The outcomes and the innovation of this project are an extension of the popular Zachman Framework. Integrated modelling techniques proposed within the Architecture of Integrated Information Systems will be used to populate this framework.Read moreRead less