Innovations in Clinical Education for Physiotherapy Students. Australia has workforce shortages and an ageing population. Physiotherapists are key players in promoting and maintaining good health through their leadership in physical activity and rehabilitation to retain Australians in the workforce and to ensure quality of life for our ageing population. There is a national shortage of physiotherapists. Increasing numbers of physiotherapists are being trained, requiring new models of clinical tr ....Innovations in Clinical Education for Physiotherapy Students. Australia has workforce shortages and an ageing population. Physiotherapists are key players in promoting and maintaining good health through their leadership in physical activity and rehabilitation to retain Australians in the workforce and to ensure quality of life for our ageing population. There is a national shortage of physiotherapists. Increasing numbers of physiotherapists are being trained, requiring new models of clinical training as there is no capacity in conventional training to cope with student numbers. This research will develop and evaluate new models of training incorporating standardised patients (actors) and simulators (mannequins) which increase education capacity. Models are transferable to other health professions.Read moreRead less
Identifying and controlling the source of Campylobacter and Salmonella in Australia. This project will identify the source of foodborne illnesses due to Salmonella and Campylobacter in order to inform food regulatory policy. The ultimate aim is to reduce the amount of foodborne disease in Australia.
Understanding and Managing the Occupational Health Impacts on Investigators of Internet Child Exploitation. Through developing best practice models for managing vicarious trauma in investigators of Internet child exploitation, the project will result in enhanced job satisfaction and less burnout of workers, and reduced health costs for policing organisations. Thus the project addresses a serious occupational health issue and contributes to the goal of promoting and maintaining good health. Furth ....Understanding and Managing the Occupational Health Impacts on Investigators of Internet Child Exploitation. Through developing best practice models for managing vicarious trauma in investigators of Internet child exploitation, the project will result in enhanced job satisfaction and less burnout of workers, and reduced health costs for policing organisations. Thus the project addresses a serious occupational health issue and contributes to the goal of promoting and maintaining good health. Further, by better managing the occupational health of investigators, the project will enhance the capacity of police organisations to deliver on their mission of investigating and preventing Internet child exploitation. This in turn contributes to the reduced consumption of Internet child exploitation and the associated traumatisation of abused victims. Read moreRead less
Gender equality in Australia: impact on social, economic and health outcomes. This project aims to develop an innovative, Australian-specific multidimensional measure of gender equality. The project’s focus on conceptualising and measuring gender equality in the Australian context will address a significant barrier to the development, implementation and evaluation of targeted gender equality programs and policies. By partnering with government and industry representatives, this project will deve ....Gender equality in Australia: impact on social, economic and health outcomes. This project aims to develop an innovative, Australian-specific multidimensional measure of gender equality. The project’s focus on conceptualising and measuring gender equality in the Australian context will address a significant barrier to the development, implementation and evaluation of targeted gender equality programs and policies. By partnering with government and industry representatives, this project will develop a baseline from which programs and policies can be measured. The project will also establish evidence about the effects of gender equality in relation to economic, social and wellbeing outcomes.Read moreRead less
How tired is too tired? Determining the effects of fatigue on pilots' performance in a simulated flight environment. Increasingly, pilots are required to work more flexible flight schedules that expose them to greater levels of work-related fatigue. Consequently, a recent federal parliamentary inquiry recommended that a fatigue risk management approach be applied to the regulation of pilots? flight and duty times. A key aspect of such an approach, and the aim of the proposed project, is to det ....How tired is too tired? Determining the effects of fatigue on pilots' performance in a simulated flight environment. Increasingly, pilots are required to work more flexible flight schedules that expose them to greater levels of work-related fatigue. Consequently, a recent federal parliamentary inquiry recommended that a fatigue risk management approach be applied to the regulation of pilots? flight and duty times. A key aspect of such an approach, and the aim of the proposed project, is to determine the level of fatigue at which pilots? ability to operate an aircraft reaches a safety-critical level. This research will provide a scientifically validated benchmark for regulating pilots? flight and duty times. Ultimately, this will improve safety for the flying public.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Capsid Protein Nucleolar Localisation In Chikungunya Virus: Implications For Vaccine Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$520,520.00
Summary
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a globally widespread mosquito-borne alphavirus capable of causing considerable human morbidity and mortality. With no CHIKV vaccine or antiviral available this proposal aims to develop a live attenuated CHIKV vaccine, rationally designed by investigating the host cell nucleolar trafficking of CHIKV capsid protein. This vaccine has the potential to provide cross-protection against additional arthritogenic alphaviruses endemic to Australia such as Ross River virus.
Novel Insights Into The Pathobiology Of Alphavirus Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$827,660.00
Summary
Infections with mosquito-borne viruses are increasing at an alarming rate worldwide. Ross River virus is endemic in parts of Australia, PNG and Pacific islands, while chikungunya virus is distributed globally and causes recurrent pandemics that involve millions of people. These viruses cause severe musculoskeletal disease for several months after infection. This project aims to establish how these viruses interact with the human host to cause disease and may provide a basis for new treatments.
Mitochondrial Iron Overload And Friedreich's Ataxia: The Role Of Frataxin In Iron And Haem Metabolism
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$285,990.00
Summary
Friedreich's ataxia (FA) is due to the lack of a protein known as frataxin. Recent studies using Baker's yeast have shown that the deletion of frataxin results in the accumulation of toxic iron in the mitochondrion. More recently, a variety of studies have shown that FA patients have iron loading within their cells. The iron build-up may cause severe damage. At present, the role of frataxin in mammalian mitochondrial iron metabolism is unknown. Our preliminary studies demonstrate that frataxin i ....Friedreich's ataxia (FA) is due to the lack of a protein known as frataxin. Recent studies using Baker's yeast have shown that the deletion of frataxin results in the accumulation of toxic iron in the mitochondrion. More recently, a variety of studies have shown that FA patients have iron loading within their cells. The iron build-up may cause severe damage. At present, the role of frataxin in mammalian mitochondrial iron metabolism is unknown. Our preliminary studies demonstrate that frataxin is down-regulated by either erythroid differentiation or the haem precursor protoporphyrin IX (Becker and Richardson, submitted). These data strongly suggest a role for frataxin in iron metabolism. In the present study we will continue to assess if frataxin plays a role in the way cells handle iron. Using a unique model of mitochondrial iron overload developed in my lab (Richardson et al. (1996) BLOOD 87:3477), we will extensively investigate the iron metabolism of the mitochondrion in order to determine the function of frataxin and its role in Friedreich's ataxia. In addition, we have developed a series of new drugs known as iron chelators that can enter the mitochondrion due to their high lipid solubility (Becker and Richardson 1999 J. Lab. Clin. Med. 134:510). These latter drugs are far more effective than the chelator currently used to treat iron overload, desferrioxamine (DFO). Indeed, our chelators have been designed to result in high iron chelation efficacy but low toxicity (see Becker and Richardson, 1999). This exciting research may be crucial in understanding the development of FA and in creating new therapies such as the use of iron chelators.Read moreRead less
Mitochondrial Iron Overload And Friedreich's Ataxia: The Role Of Frataxin In Iron And Haem Metabolism
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$606,000.00
Summary
Friedreich's ataxia (FA) is due to the lack of a protein known as frataxin. A variety of studies using Baker's yeast and conditional frataxin knockout (KO) mice have shown that deletion of frataxin leads to the accumulation of toxic iron in their mitochondrion. More recently, a variety of studies have shown that FA patients have iron-loading within their mitochondrion. Iron in the highly redox active environment of the mitochondrion could contribute to the generation of cytotoxic radicals that c ....Friedreich's ataxia (FA) is due to the lack of a protein known as frataxin. A variety of studies using Baker's yeast and conditional frataxin knockout (KO) mice have shown that deletion of frataxin leads to the accumulation of toxic iron in their mitochondrion. More recently, a variety of studies have shown that FA patients have iron-loading within their mitochondrion. Iron in the highly redox active environment of the mitochondrion could contribute to the generation of cytotoxic radicals that cause severe damage. Further, cells deficient in frataxin are sensitive to oxidant stress and Fe chelators rescue oxidant-mediated death of cells from FA patients. Indeed, free radical scavengers have shown to be of use in the treatment of this disease. Studies in DR's lab during this NHMRC grant have shown that frataxin is down-regulated by erythroid differentiation or the haem precursor, protoporphyrin IX (BLOOD 2002;99:3813-22). These data indicate a role for frataxin in Fe metabolism and the pathogenesis of FA. In this study we will continue to examine the role of frataxin in the way cells handle Fe using experimental models developed under the current NHMRC grant. These include transfected cell lines with low frataxin expression generated using an expression vector containing anti-sense frataxin cDNA. Further we obtained the frataxin conditional KO mouse and generated a breeding colony. These animals display many of the pathological features of FA and are the best current model of the disease. Indeed, they will be critical for assessing the role of frataxin in Fe metabolism and as a model to test the ability of Fe-binding drugs to prevent the pathology observed. We designed lipid-soluble chelators that can enter the mitochondrion to bind Fe (Biochim Biophys Acta 2001;1536:133-140) and these ligands will be tested to prevent disease progression in the KO mice. This exciting research is crucial for understanding the pathogenesis of FA and in creating new therapies.Read moreRead less
A National Population-based Study Of Rheumatic Heart Disease In Pregnancy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$877,826.00
Summary
Whilst overall a rare disease, Indigenous peoples have disproportionately high rates of rheumatic heart disease (RHD). This study explores the prevalence and distribution of RHD in pregnancy in Australia and New Zealand. It details current management, diagnostic and referral process and risk factors. Key attributes of culturally safe models of care for RHD in pregnancy are explored, particularly as they relate to Indigenous women. Findings will inform policy, guidelines and education resources.