I am investigating several areas relating to Paediatric surgery in particular the quality and coverage of paediatric surgical trials. The context for this study is to evaluate the current state of paediatric surgical research for methodological rigour, aiming to establish an evidence base and agenda for future trials to improve outcomes in paediatric surgery. The project will involve epidemiological methodology studies and systematic reviews, data linkage and analysis of existing study datasets.
Cancer Risks From Low-dose Ionising Radiation Following Diagnostic Medical Procedures
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$750,579.00
Summary
Our study investigates cancer risk following exposure to low doses of ionising radiation from medical procedures. Our first major paper linked over 800,000 CT exposures to cancer outcomes in a cohort of almost 11 million young Australians, and found that CT exposure predicted an increased incidence of leukaemia and most solid cancers. In our ongoing work we will incorporate nuclear medicine and other diagnostic x-rays, and estimate radiation dose for individual procedures and to specific organs.
The Role Of Infant Food Allergy In The Natural History And Burden Of Allergic Disease Across The Early Years: The HealthNuts Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,722,373.00
Summary
The HealthNuts study of 4600 infants is the world’s first comprehensive population-based study of food allergy with objective measurement of true food allergy and will enable us to understand better the natural history of allergic disorders including food allergy, asthma, eczema and allergic rhinitis and the interplay of risk factors for development of these conditions in the first 6 years of life. The study will have important implications for clinical guidelines and public health policy.
Enterovirus, Vitamin D Status And Inflammation At The Clinical Onset Of Type 1 Diabetes In Childhood
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$410,542.00
Summary
Type 1 diabetes is a serious disease that is increasing in incidence among Australian children. This project will build on an exsisting study to provide new information on the role of enteroviral infection, vitamin D status and the associated inflammatory changes in blood at the onset of disease.
Graves’ disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. It leads to long-term impairments in quality of life and has a 40% higher mortality rate compared with the general population. We know surprisingly little about the causes of Graves’ disease. One possible trigger is stressful life events; however, the relationship is yet to be proven. This study will assess whether stressful life events, specifically military deployment, are associated with Graves’ disease.
AusDiab 3: Emerging Risk Factors For And Long-term Incidence Of Cardio-metabolic Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,616,397.00
Summary
This study will track 11,000 Australian adults over 12 years to determine how many develop diabetes, obesity, kidney and heart disease. The study will develop ways to best predict those who are going to develop these conditions before they have arisen, and will explore a range of novel risk factors to better understand these conditions.
Optimising Large-scale Public Health Interventions To Control Neglected Tropical Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
Neglected tropical diseases (NTD) are a group of health conditions that affect the poorest of the poor, particularly in remote and rural areas. They affect the most vulnerable communities and cause substantial, chronic health harms impairing personal and social development. Several debilitating NTD are common in remote indigenous communities and Pacific islands. I propose a series of studies to investigate new strategies to control NTD in large populations where these diseases are endemic.
Development Of Early Warning Systems For Dengue Fever Based On Socio-ecological Factors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$327,402.00
Summary
Global climate change has potentially serious effects on the transmission of dengue. An early warning system (EWS) based on socio-ecological factors will be developed to examine where and when outbreaks of dengue are likely to occur and how the future dengue control strategies and prevention efforts need to be applied and strengthened in Australia. This project will provide a platform for future research on developing and implementing an EWS for dengue in the Asia-Pacific region.
Exploiting Existing Data Sources To Improve The Prevention And Treatment Of Cardiovascular Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$772,490.00
Summary
My program of research exploits several large databases to answer important issues in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which makes a huge contribution to the burden of illness and premature mortality in Australia. An underlying aim is to provide the evidence base to facilitate improvement of the existing CVD risk assessment guidelines in Australia, for better targeting of clinical advice and treatment.