Reduction Of Chronic Post-surgical Pain With Ketamine - ROCKet Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,823,395.00
Summary
Chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP) is a common complication of major surgery, and a significant burden on quality of life and ongoing health costs. Ketamine is a drug used by anaesthetists to treat severe acute surgical pain. Various small studies suggest that it may be unique in its ability to reduce the risk of CPSP. We propose a large trial of ketamine during & after anaesthesia for major surgery to test this. Demonstration of effectiveness would promote widespread change in clinical practice.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is one of the leading causes of chronic pain both world-wide and in Australia for which there is a lack of treatments. Chronic pain arises from nerve fibres in the colon wall, which fail to 'reset' back to normal following inflammation. Targeting these nerve endings with drugs is a key advance in IBS treatment. This project will identify selective oxytocin analogues that act in the colon to lower pain in sensory nerves thus providing efficacious pain relief in IBS.
The Communication Of Acute Postoperative Pain (CAPP):the Clinically Significant Meanings Behind Numerical Pain Ratings
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$93,742.00
Summary
Between 45% – 80% of patients still have moderate to severe pain after surgery and receive less than 50% of the pain medications available. Using a 0 – 10 pain rating can contribute to this problem because there is no consistent understanding about what the numbers mean or how they should guide pain management decisions. The project aim is to develop a standard approach to using a numerical pain rating to assist patients to report the severity of their pain in ways that assists clinicians to dec ....Between 45% – 80% of patients still have moderate to severe pain after surgery and receive less than 50% of the pain medications available. Using a 0 – 10 pain rating can contribute to this problem because there is no consistent understanding about what the numbers mean or how they should guide pain management decisions. The project aim is to develop a standard approach to using a numerical pain rating to assist patients to report the severity of their pain in ways that assists clinicians to decide the best pain management.Read moreRead less
Pain Systems Analysis Highlights PI3K Gamma As A Candidate Regulator Of Nociception.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$461,810.00
Summary
Chronic pain will affect most of us at one point in our life, and there is a need for new drugs to manage this condition. The goal of this project is to use our computer modeling of genetic data from multiple species to predict new drug targets, and then use mouse models to look at the mechanism of action for predicted drug targets, and validate one potential drug target in particular for its therapeutic abilities to stop chronic pain.
The human genome project was a major advance, allowing for molecular foothold towards an understanding of human diseases. The question now is “what do these genes do, and how do they participate in human disease?” In my lab we are focused on this issue. We use whole genome, functional in vivo screening in the fruit fly to identify novel conserved disease genes, then we use human genetics data to focus on medically relevant candidates, finally we use knockout mice to functionally validate these n ....The human genome project was a major advance, allowing for molecular foothold towards an understanding of human diseases. The question now is “what do these genes do, and how do they participate in human disease?” In my lab we are focused on this issue. We use whole genome, functional in vivo screening in the fruit fly to identify novel conserved disease genes, then we use human genetics data to focus on medically relevant candidates, finally we use knockout mice to functionally validate these new genesRead moreRead less
Determining The Pathomechanics Of Muscle Weakness In Older Individuals With Toe Deformities In Order To Develop Evidence-based Intervention Strategies To Restore Foot Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$316,251.00
Summary
Hallux valgus and lesser toe deformities are highly prevalent foot problems in older people that can cause foot disfigurement, physical discomfort, and increase the risk of falling. This study will investigate how toe muscle weakness is affected by these toe deformities as the basis upon which to develop interventions that can restore foot function in older individuals, in order to reduce falls risk, foot pain and, in turn, improve independence and quality of life throughout ageing.
Rational Development Of Novel Analgesics For The Treatment Of Chronic Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$595,945.00
Summary
Chronic pain is a major global health problem that currently affects over three million Australians. There are few drugs available for treatment of chronic pain and most have significant side-effects. Individuals lacking a particular type of ion channel known as Nav1.7 are completely insensitive to pain, but are otherwise normal. Block of this channel therefore appears to be an ideal avenue for pain relief. This project aims to produce selective Nav1.7 blockers that can be used as analgesics for ....Chronic pain is a major global health problem that currently affects over three million Australians. There are few drugs available for treatment of chronic pain and most have significant side-effects. Individuals lacking a particular type of ion channel known as Nav1.7 are completely insensitive to pain, but are otherwise normal. Block of this channel therefore appears to be an ideal avenue for pain relief. This project aims to produce selective Nav1.7 blockers that can be used as analgesics for treating chronic pain.Read moreRead less
Heavy Cannabis Use In Two Remote Aboriginal Communities: Prospects For A Population Based Intervention.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$301,814.00
Summary
The proposed study is a combined intervention and summative evaluation with two parallel strands. We proposed to develop, deliver and evaluate an educational instrument targeting the use of cannabis amongst Aboriginal people living in remote communities in the Northern Territory. Additionally we proposed to describe and model harmful behaviours and effects of substance misuse with a focus on cannabis and to explore in some detail Aboriginal cultural knowledge and attitudes towards harm and harmf ....The proposed study is a combined intervention and summative evaluation with two parallel strands. We proposed to develop, deliver and evaluate an educational instrument targeting the use of cannabis amongst Aboriginal people living in remote communities in the Northern Territory. Additionally we proposed to describe and model harmful behaviours and effects of substance misuse with a focus on cannabis and to explore in some detail Aboriginal cultural knowledge and attitudes towards harm and harmful behaviours related to substance misuse using self-reported estimates and life histories.Read moreRead less
Understanding The Methamphetamine Epidemic And Its Implications For Service Provision And Harm Reduction: The VicMeth Cohort
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,270,774.00
Summary
The Victorian methamphetamine epidemic has received extensive media coverage highlighting the devastating impact of the drug and resultant public concern. We will follow up a cohort of 800 methamphetamine smokers from metropolitan and regional Victoria bi-annually for a period of 5 years to determine the natural history of methamphetamine use to inform optimal intervention strategies and arrest the increases in harm observed in Victoria recently.
ACTION - Aggression In Children: Unravelling Gene-environment Interplay To Inform Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$453,871.00
Summary
Aggression inflicts a huge personal, psychological and financial burden on affected individuals, their relatives, and society at large. ACTION will deliver an overarching framework that combines a thorough understanding of pathways leading to aggression with a map of current gaps, best practices on clinical, ethical, legal, and social issues.