Longitudinal Communication Outcomes Following Traumatic Brain Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$798,171.00
Summary
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of disability in young Australians. The condition frequently manifests in impaired verbal communication. Communication is essential to successful rehabilitation, and return to society. However, the critical time for delivery of optimal treatment for communication remains unknown. This prospective longitudinal study will examine communication recovery following (TBI) to identify predictors of recovery and the best time to offer treatment.
Long Term Follow-up Of Two Randomised Controlled Trials Of Treatment For Depression And Alcohol-other Drug Comorbidity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$252,925.00
Summary
This study proposes the long term follow-up of participants in two of the first and largest studies of psychological treatment for people with co-occurring depression and alcohol-other drug use problems ever conducted. This is a crucial next step in research on the effectiveness of psychological treatment among this highly prevalent yet often neglected section of the community.
The Australia And New Zealand Fontan Registry: A Growing Population Of Young Adults With Heart Failure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$129,103.00
Summary
The Fontan procedure is an operation performed for all children with heart defects who cannot be repaired with 2 pumping chambers like a normal heart. It is expected that after 2 or 3 decades, these patients will either die or need a heart transplantation. We want to establish a registry to evaluate the number and status of this increasing patient population. This study may foresee and even prevent a sudden burden on the health system caused by their needs.
Early Antipsychotic Exposure During Childhood And Adolescence: Does It Lead To Long Term Brain And Behaviour Changes In Adulthood?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
Mental health problems affect at least 9% of Australia's 4.1 million children. With the trend towards prescribing antipsychotic medication “off-label” to control these mental disorders in young people and the long-term consequences of doing so unknown, this timely research program aims to address a critical health issue by providing clinicians with valuable information so they can better balance the risk/benefit ratio before prescribing antipsychotics to young people.
Evaluating “Standing Tall” – An Engaging Home-based Exercise Program Using Mobile Technology For Maximizing Long-term Adherence And Preventing Falls In Older People: Randomized Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$791,081.00
Summary
Current evidence suggests that older people have to exercise for two hours per week for six months to prevent falls, with a strong focus on balance exercises. We have developed and tested an engaging home-based balance training program delivered through mobile (tablet) technology, called ‘Standing Tall’. We propose a randomised controlled trial to examine the effectiveness of our program for preventing falls in 500 community-dwelling older people, in addition to adherence- and cost-analyses.
Metformin In Gestational Diabetes: Follow-up Of Mothers And Offspring: Body Composition, Insulin Resistance, Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$630,142.00
Summary
Children born to women with gestational diabetes are at increased risk of later obesity and diabetes. This study will help to assess if giving such women during their pregnancy the cheap oral diabetes drug metformin rather than insulin injections can safely reduce this risk, measuring growth, fatness and blood glucose-insulin in the children at 2 and 5 years of age, as well as assessing the mothers. If so, such treatment might help to reduce the worldwide burden of disease related to obesity.
Shared Team Approach Between Nurses And Doctors For Improved Risk Factor Management (STAND FIRM)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,945,676.00
Summary
There are many proven treatments for preventing people with stroke from having a recurrent event, e.g. maintaining blood pressure at acceptable levels. However, uptake of therapies is poor. We will assess whether patients receiving individualised management plans, prepared and administered by both doctors and nurses will have risk factors controlled better than those receiving usual care. The plan includes education of patients to help them have more control over their own care.
Implementing Multiple Imputation With Sensitivity Analysis In Large-scale Longitudinal Studies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,507.00
Summary
Missing data arise in most research studies and if not handled appropriately can mean the study results are not correct. With researchers now conducting larger and longer studies the challenges posed by missing data are increasing. In this grant we study a powerful technique for handling missing data, which in its current form often cannot be applied effectively in large studies. By developing this approach we will improve the accuracy of results from large-scale epidemiological studies.