Biomarkers For The Diagnosis And Prognostic Analysis Of Male Infertility
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,370.00
Summary
Male infertility is a common condition, affecting 1 in 15 men. Although a standard semen analysis is often performed to test whether a man is infertile, it is far from definitive. We have developed a new approach, by looking at proteins that are commonly missing from infertile sperm cells. From this analysis, we can definitively diagnose male infertility and are beginning to understand why men are becoming infertile.
Innovation In The Primary Care Management Of Back Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$152,595.00
Summary
Back pain affect millions of Australians. Billions of dollars are spent each year on treament but health outcomes are often poor. Experience from overseas shows that simply spending more money on current treatments won’t fix the problem. This fellowship will be used to support a program of research to improve the quality and efficiency of treatments and health services.
During my fellowship I will lead research to improve understanding of the causes of back pain and its prevention and treatment. I will work in partnership with clinicians and health agencies to improve health care for back pain, so that Australians receive care based upon the very best research. I will work with colleagues to increase the pool of researchers tackling important questions about how best to manage back pain.
New Technologies To Reduce The Population Burden Of Sexually Transmitted Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$772,605.00
Summary
I propose a five year program of public health research on the evaluation of innovative technologies to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and their adverse consequences in populations at highest risk; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, youth, men who have sex with men and people in high STI-burden resource-limited countries. My research over the next five years will lead to substantial improvements in the health of people at greatest risk of STIs.
Enhanced Prevention And Control Of Sexually Transmitted Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$782,370.00
Summary
The entire developed world is witnessing dramatic increases in bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs), the likes of which have not been seen since prior to the emergence of the HIV epidemic in the 1980s. My vision is to reduce the burden of STIs by identifying innovative, cost-effective approaches to STI prevention and management that are acceptable to the populations affected (including healthcare workers and people are risk of STIs) and able to be implemented on a broad scale.
I am a reproductive biologist focused on women’s reproductive health. I am studying the reasons why some women are infertile have spontaneous abortions and pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia. My research will define the roles of molecules that are critical in the establishment of pregnancy and the formation of a health placenta and therefore a healthy baby.
Platelets are key blood elements that are essential for the prevention of bleeding in response to injury or infection. Overactive or spontaneously active platelets cause thrombosis and blood clot formation. My laboratory has identified new physiological pathways of activation of platelet metalloproteinases, the enzymes that regulate surface levels of the prothrombotic platelet receptors. By understanding this mechanism of receptor regulation, we can uniquely target platelet receptors in people w ....Platelets are key blood elements that are essential for the prevention of bleeding in response to injury or infection. Overactive or spontaneously active platelets cause thrombosis and blood clot formation. My laboratory has identified new physiological pathways of activation of platelet metalloproteinases, the enzymes that regulate surface levels of the prothrombotic platelet receptors. By understanding this mechanism of receptor regulation, we can uniquely target platelet receptors in people with prothrombotic pathologies.Read moreRead less
An inability to control human fertility is an issue of global significance. Frequently both unwanted pregnancies and infertility result from the same origin, a lack of understanding of how germ cells are produced. Within this fellowship I will define key processes involved in the manifestation of male fertility. Further I will extend these insights into both the fertility clinic but also into human health more broadly.
Addressing Evidence-practice Gaps In Chronic Disease Prevention And Control
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$709,931.00
Summary
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of premature death and disability worldwide. Effective treatments for prevention and control of these conditions are available however their use remains far from optimal, in Australia and globally. My current and proposed research will develop and evaluate highly innovative solutions to reduce large evidence-practice gaps in healthcare delivery. These include task shifting to non-physician health workers and novel approaches to drug delivery.
The genetic material is packaged in the cell nucleus with histone proteins. Modifications of histones determine if a particular area of the genome is active or repressed. We are investigating the roles of a family of histone modifying proteins, the MYST proteins. Mutations in these proteins cause intellectual disability and cancer. The research program will provide knowledge that may become the basis for the development of drugs for the treatment of cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.