Life-saving chemo/radio-therapy commonly renders women and girls who survivor cancer infertile or sterile. We have discovered a new means of preserving the fertility of female mice exposed to chemo/radio therapy. In this project we will apply these advances to human ovarian tissue/eggs for the first time. We have access to these rare tissues for research purposes. This project will develop new approaches to fertility preservation for cancer survivors.
Whole Body Vibration For Osteoporosis: Shaking Up Our Treatment Options
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$961,017.00
Summary
Our aim is to examine the ability of vibration alone and in combination with osteoporosis drugs to reduce hip fracture in postmenopausal women. In Australia, 1 in 2 women >60yrs, will sustain an osteoporotic fracture. Only drugs notably decrease fracture; however none are entirely effective and some patients don’t respond. Whole body vibration has emerged as a potentially effective therapy. A combination of vibration and drugs may enhance the effects of both and revolutionise treatment.
The Get Healthy Coaching Service To Reduce The Burden Of Low Back Pain: Effectiveness, Cost Effectiveness, And Scalability
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,108,389.00
Summary
Many improve after discharge from treatment for low back pain (LBP), however some experience worsening symptoms and seek costly additional health care. Get Healthy Service® is a free phone-based health coaching service that supports people to remain physically active, however there is no co-ordinated referral pathway to the service. We will test the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and scalability of a discharge support system linking chronic LBP patients to the Get Healthy Service®.
Although medical tests and procedures can save lives, sometimes too much medical intervention can be harmful. In low back pain, for example, high numbers of X-ray, CT and MRI scans are provided unnecessarily. There is good evidence that imaging scans for low back pain can cause more harm than good. At the same time, people can miss out on treatments that we know to be effective. This fellowship will enable me to discover ways to ensure people receive the right care for low back pain.
Preserving Ovarian Function During Chemotherapy And Old Age
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,048.00
Summary
Chemotherapy treatment and the natural ageing process leads to ovarian failure and infertility. For young cancer survivors, chemotherapy induced infertility is devastating, and like aged women, leads to hormonal changes that lead to osteoporosis, diabetes, obesity, and neurodegeneration. Here, a new class of molecules will be tested for their ability to prevent and reverse infertility folllowing chemotherapy treatment, and in old age. These findings will improve the healthy lifespan of women.
Eighty percent of adults will suffer back pain at some time during their life. More than one in three will develop chronic back pain and cost Australia about $9 billion per year. We can now identify those who will develop chronic back pain early. This project will test a new method of treating these people who are risk of chronic back pain. We predict that our short and targeted intervention will stop these people from developing of chronic back pain and this will lead to massive savings to the ....Eighty percent of adults will suffer back pain at some time during their life. More than one in three will develop chronic back pain and cost Australia about $9 billion per year. We can now identify those who will develop chronic back pain early. This project will test a new method of treating these people who are risk of chronic back pain. We predict that our short and targeted intervention will stop these people from developing of chronic back pain and this will lead to massive savings to the Australian communityRead moreRead less
Role Of The Anaphase-Promoting Complex Activator Cdh1 In Oocyte Maturation And Meiotic Aneuploidy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$526,878.00
Summary
Eggs containing an incorrect number of chromosomes are described as aneuploid. This project sets out to examine the molecular causes of aneuploidy and why it increases with female age. We focus on the protective role of the protein Cdh1 in this process. The outcome would be to better understand the origins of aneuploidy so as to find methods of decreasing it as women age. This is highly significant given aneuploidy is the leading cause of early embryo loss and produces Down Syndrome babies.
Impact Of Extreme Prematurity Or Extreme Low Birthweight On Young Adult Health And Well-Being: The Victorian Infant Collaborative Study (VICS) 1991-92 Longitudinal Cohort
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$725,496.00
Summary
Significant advances in medical care have increased survival of the tiniest and most premature babies. Those who have benefited from modern medicine are now in their mid-20s. We know they have more problems in childhood and adolescence compared with those born full term. However, we know little about their health problems in adulthood. This study will inform us of adult health problems in this vulnerable group and provide vital information about the best care for this increasing group of adults.
An econometric analysis of the effects of family benefit policies on fertility, saving and labour force participation in Australia. This project will help to 'strengthen Australia's economic fabric' by improving our understanding of the effect of family benefit policies on fertility, saving and labour force participation. This is important because boosting fertility and labour force participation are both seen as ways of mitigating the economic burden of population ageing, thereby helping Austra ....An econometric analysis of the effects of family benefit policies on fertility, saving and labour force participation in Australia. This project will help to 'strengthen Australia's economic fabric' by improving our understanding of the effect of family benefit policies on fertility, saving and labour force participation. This is important because boosting fertility and labour force participation are both seen as ways of mitigating the economic burden of population ageing, thereby helping Australia to 'age well, age productively' in a national sense. Also, achieving a desired level of national saving is a medium term goal of government economic policy. Hence it is important to understand the interaction of saving, fertility and labour force participation in order to develop compatible and effective economic policies.Read moreRead less
Age at first birth, mode of conception and adjustment to parenthood. The trend to delayed childbearing is well-established, multiply determined and unlikely to change in the short term. This study will provide contemporary Australian evidence on the experience of becoming a parent at different ages, naturally and through assisted conception, for Australian men and women. Both risk and protective factors for older first-time parents will be identified, thus informing policy and services that can ....Age at first birth, mode of conception and adjustment to parenthood. The trend to delayed childbearing is well-established, multiply determined and unlikely to change in the short term. This study will provide contemporary Australian evidence on the experience of becoming a parent at different ages, naturally and through assisted conception, for Australian men and women. Both risk and protective factors for older first-time parents will be identified, thus informing policy and services that can better support Australian families with planning and rearing children. A key outcome will be a Parenting Decision-Aid to provide evidence-based reader-friendly information about the positives and negatives of first-time parenthood at different ages.Read moreRead less