A Phase III Randomised Placebo-controlled Trial Of Mirtazapine As A Pharmacotherapy For Methamphetamine (Ice) Dependence
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,923,009.00
Summary
Crystalline methamphetamine ('ice') is a growing concern in Australia. There are no approved medications that can be used to treat dependence on this drug. This clinical trial will examine whether mirtazapine, a newly identified treatment agent for methamphetamine use, can be used safely and effectively in routine clinical care to manage methamphetamine dependence in Australia.
Combating Escalating Harms Associated With Pharmaceutical Opioid Use
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$925,767.00
Summary
Increases in opioid use have been accompanied by increased opioid harms. But there is a lack of population-level evidence about drivers of long-term prescribed opioid use, dependence, overdose and other harms. Using linked data, we will fill these gaps using a cohort of all people in NSW prescribed opioids since 2002, linked to datasets containing information on health, social and health service utilisation, that will permit a comprehensive assessment of the risks of all prescribed opioids.
Australian Longitudinal Study Of Heroin Dependence: An 18-20yr Prospective Cohort Study Of Mortality, Abstinence, And Psychiatric And Physical Health Comorbidity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,210,319.00
Summary
The burden associated with heroin dependence is undeniable. But little is known about the natural history and long-term course of heroin dependence; knowledge that is critical for informing the development of new treatment interventions, health care planning and service delivery. We propose to extend our study of 615 Australians with heroin dependence, recruited in 2001-2002, to 18-20 years follow-up to answer critical questions about the long-term impact of this condition.
Increasing Uptake Of Evidence-based Management Of Unhealthy Alcohol Use In Aboriginal Primary Health Care Services
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,252,322.00
Summary
Because of ongoing trauma, stress and disadvantage, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) Australians face a greater risk of unhealthy drinking patterns and related harms than other Australians. Yet there is a shortage of specialist alcohol treatment services. This study examines an approach to supporting primary care services which target Indigenous Australians to identify and implement the best possible standard of diagnosis and treatment for unhealthy alcohol use.
An RCT Of Cannabinoid Replacement Therapy (Sativex®) For The Management Of Treatment-resistant Cannabis Dependent Patients
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$788,133.00
Summary
This project is the first-ever outpatient RCT to test if the pharmaceutical cannabinoid Sativex can safely and cost-effectively deliver better treatment outcomes for patients seeking treatment for chronic cannabis dependence. Sativex is a mouth spray with equal parts THC and cannabidiol, and appears to have a safer pharmacological profile than illicit cannabis or synthetic THC alone. Thus Sativex may lead to lower rates of psychiatric adverse events and increased cannabis abstinence rates.
Alcohol And Other Drug Treatment Funding, Purchasing And Workforce: Empirical Analyses To Inform Policy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,865.00
Summary
Alcohol and drug treatment works: it improves health and reduces the social impact of alcohol and drug use. The treatment itself is not, however, the only variable that impacts on whether health outcomes are improved. The way in which governments fund, purchase and structure the treatment service system is also important. This study will empirically test the relationship between treatment outcome and the structures that governments put in place, providing new evidence to inform decision-making.
Australian Longitudinal Study Of Heroin Dependence: A 11 Year Prospective Cohort Study Of Mortality, Abstinence, Criminality And Psychiatric Comorbidity Among Heroin Users
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,295.00
Summary
To conduct the longest and most comprehensive prospective follow-up of Australian heroin users. A 11 year follow-up presents the unique opportunity to examine: Mortality rates, remission rates, criminal histories and levels of psychopathology ; Predictive factors of long term remission, mortality, criminality and the health service utilisation associated with heroin use careers.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0221983
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$900,000.00
Summary
Interface, Particle and Complex Fluid Characterisation Laboratory. This laboratory will provide a state-of-the-art characterisation facility for complex fluids. This will service the needs of 27 research staff and 38 postgraduate students and involve collaboration between twelve major research groups based at the Universities of Melbourne, Newcastle, Monash, La Trobe and RMIT. The facility will enhance the research activities of the collaborating institutions in key strategic areas. The laborat ....Interface, Particle and Complex Fluid Characterisation Laboratory. This laboratory will provide a state-of-the-art characterisation facility for complex fluids. This will service the needs of 27 research staff and 38 postgraduate students and involve collaboration between twelve major research groups based at the Universities of Melbourne, Newcastle, Monash, La Trobe and RMIT. The facility will enhance the research activities of the collaborating institutions in key strategic areas. The laboratory will also act as a facility for undertaking consulting projects with industry groups by the applicants.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560758
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$187,000.00
Summary
Dynamics at Interfaces: a facility for the characterisation of the dynamics of structural reorganisation and adsorption at interfaces. Controlling the flow, stability, and general performance of finely dispersed materials is important in a great number of industries from cosmetics to minerals purification. These properties are often controlled by the addition of material that forms a film at the interface between the dispersed material and the solvent. We seek to develop a facility that will ena ....Dynamics at Interfaces: a facility for the characterisation of the dynamics of structural reorganisation and adsorption at interfaces. Controlling the flow, stability, and general performance of finely dispersed materials is important in a great number of industries from cosmetics to minerals purification. These properties are often controlled by the addition of material that forms a film at the interface between the dispersed material and the solvent. We seek to develop a facility that will enable the properties of this film to be characterized, in particular the rate at which the film responds to mechanical and chemical changes. With this knowledge we hope to relate the nanoscopic properties of the adsorbed film to macroscopic properties of the dispersion and be able to tune the structure of the surface film, in order to control the bulk properties of complex fluids.Read moreRead less
Pulsed oscillating mass analyser. Mass spectrometers are ubiquitous components in chemical analysis, but are often large and expensive. We have developed a new method for mass analysis, which is smaller and cheaper than existing technology. However, the analyser needs further research to determine whether it has the performance specifications to match the other technologies. The objective of this research is to characterise, explore and extend the prototype and to develop the appropriate math ....Pulsed oscillating mass analyser. Mass spectrometers are ubiquitous components in chemical analysis, but are often large and expensive. We have developed a new method for mass analysis, which is smaller and cheaper than existing technology. However, the analyser needs further research to determine whether it has the performance specifications to match the other technologies. The objective of this research is to characterise, explore and extend the prototype and to develop the appropriate mathematical algorithm for mass analysis. Success in this project may lead to a new mass analyser that can be incorporated into analytical instruments, many of which are manufactured in Australia.Read moreRead less