Improving Identification And Treatment Of Early-onset Behaviour Disorders In Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$498,869.00
Summary
Most mental health problems begin in childhood and adolescence. Of these, oppositional-defiant and conduct problems in childhood are the most common precursor of all types of adult mental health problems. These children are the most common referral to child mental health clinics but little is known about which of these children will go in which direction i.e., good health, chronic antisocial behaviour, depression and anxiety, substance abuse, the psychoses. Progress in more accurately defining s ....Most mental health problems begin in childhood and adolescence. Of these, oppositional-defiant and conduct problems in childhood are the most common precursor of all types of adult mental health problems. These children are the most common referral to child mental health clinics but little is known about which of these children will go in which direction i.e., good health, chronic antisocial behaviour, depression and anxiety, substance abuse, the psychoses. Progress in more accurately defining subgroups of these children would have huge implications for early intervention for mental health problems in our community. This project proposes the first large scale analysis of genetic distributions through to behavioural and treatment factors that characterise and differentiate a large representative sample of children with conduct problems. The project will test a model of child psychopathology that links genotype, via environmental risk and emotion processing problems, to an improved diagnostic-phenotypic model for treatment of the major childhood disorder. Clinical research activities will be structured into three intersecting arms: first, identifying the genetic and behavioural subtypes of early-onset conduct problems; second, innovative treatments for these children, and third, the dissemination of findings to these children and their families via the health care system. The research will build new collaborations between established and internationally recognised clinical research teams in childhood mental health, biological psychiatry, genetics and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Statewide Network (CAMHSNET). CAMHSNET have specific responsibilities to NSW Health for expert advice and input on the development of child mental health services directions, dissemination, training, and effectiveness research.Read moreRead less
Early Intervention To Prevent Childhood Obesity Among A Disadvantaged Population: A Home-based Randomised Controlled Tri
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$675,082.00
Summary
This intervention research will conduct a randomised controlled trial, of a community-based early childhood home visiting intervention designed to improve family and behavioural risk factors for childhood obesity and overweight. This intervention which will be developed in collaboration with the Health Promotion Unit, Child and Family Health Nurses, university academic experts and mothers in the community promises to deliver significant health and social benefits, in particular, preventing early ....This intervention research will conduct a randomised controlled trial, of a community-based early childhood home visiting intervention designed to improve family and behavioural risk factors for childhood obesity and overweight. This intervention which will be developed in collaboration with the Health Promotion Unit, Child and Family Health Nurses, university academic experts and mothers in the community promises to deliver significant health and social benefits, in particular, preventing early onset of childhood obesity. It will result in a series of recommendations for policies and practical methods for promoting healthy feeding and physical activity of infants under two years of age with particular application to families who are socially and economically disadvantaged. These policies and practical methods for preventing childhood obesity could be used across Australia.Read moreRead less
The Development Of A Model Of Care For Haematology And Palliative Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$149,044.00
Summary
The aim of the multi-site partnership is to build on foundational work initiated by NH and MRC to establish a model for end-of-life care in adult Haematology and palliative care. Preliminary work indicates this diagnostic category does NOT presently receive palliative care. Consumer research indicates that end-of-life care in haematology is associated with the distress of escalating technology, post-traumatic stress and spiritual pain. This study seeks to address this situation by building on th ....The aim of the multi-site partnership is to build on foundational work initiated by NH and MRC to establish a model for end-of-life care in adult Haematology and palliative care. Preliminary work indicates this diagnostic category does NOT presently receive palliative care. Consumer research indicates that end-of-life care in haematology is associated with the distress of escalating technology, post-traumatic stress and spiritual pain. This study seeks to address this situation by building on the prior consumer researcher to develop a model of care through a multi-disciplinary consultation with haematology professionals and consumers.Read moreRead less
Chimeric Virus-like Particles (VLPs) Displaying H1, H3 And H5 Haemagglutinins - Construction And Immunogenicity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$207,543.00
Summary
Virus-like particles (VLPs) provoke strong immune responses in the body. We have developed a novel VLP system that allows the production of VLPs containing foreign vaccine antigens of much larger size than previously possible, and have shown that these VLPs provoke strong immune responses in mice without the use of adjuvants. The capacity of these VLPs is large enough to accommodate the most important vaccine antigen of influenza, the haemagglutinin (HA) molecule. We will test whether VLPs can b ....Virus-like particles (VLPs) provoke strong immune responses in the body. We have developed a novel VLP system that allows the production of VLPs containing foreign vaccine antigens of much larger size than previously possible, and have shown that these VLPs provoke strong immune responses in mice without the use of adjuvants. The capacity of these VLPs is large enough to accommodate the most important vaccine antigen of influenza, the haemagglutinin (HA) molecule. We will test whether VLPs can be produced containing each of the three most important HA types _ H1 and H3 that are currently circulating in man, and H5 (avian) that is considered a pandemic threat. VLPs will be tested for their ability to induce neutralizing antibody and cellular immune responses in mice, and for their ability to protect ferrets from influenza infection. If successful, the HA-VLP system would provide a method for the rapid production of new influenza vaccines using large-scale fermentation technology as for hepatitis B and many other vaccines, rather than eggs or cell culture as used for current influenza vaccines.Read moreRead less
Early Influences Of Obesity And Fat Patterning In Children:critical Periods, Environmental Determinants, And Socio-cultu
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,152,711.00
Summary
Childhood obesity is an escalating public health problem both internationally and within Australia. Rates of childhood obesity in Australia are at one of the highest amongst developed nations. 25% of Australian children are currently overweight or obese. Obesity is a strong risk factor for chronic disease. In children, obesity is of concern because it is highly likely to persist and, during childhood, contributes to serious physical and mental health problems. A quarter of Australian children ar ....Childhood obesity is an escalating public health problem both internationally and within Australia. Rates of childhood obesity in Australia are at one of the highest amongst developed nations. 25% of Australian children are currently overweight or obese. Obesity is a strong risk factor for chronic disease. In children, obesity is of concern because it is highly likely to persist and, during childhood, contributes to serious physical and mental health problems. A quarter of Australian children are now carrying excess body fat. Because of these factors, prevention of obesity is paramount because success of current treatment options is limited and does not last. Especially harmful forms of fatness may originate in early life - the tendency to store fat in the abdominal region and the tendency to accrete fat rather than muscle (at any body size). For this reason, the early life determinants of obesity deserve special attention, even in the presence of society-wide factors conducive to obesity. Professor Moore and a group of researchers from the University of Adelaide will test the proposition that pre-birth and infancy is a ‘critical period’ for the development of obesity. The group aims to investigate whether there is a distinct period in early life for acquiring the predisposition to harmful forms of fatness. The project also aims to identify practical opportunities for prevention, focusing on mothers and their infants.Read moreRead less
Enhancing Mental Health In Aboriginal People: Reducing Violence And Developing Resilience
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,771,151.00
Summary
This project aims to determine the best ways to improve the Social Emotional Well Being (SEWB) of the Aboriginal people of Broken Hill, Menindee and Wilcannia. This project will develop a culturally appropriate and evidenced based intervention to break the cycle of ongoing grief, mental illness, alcohol and other drugs and violence. The project will proceed in a number of interrelated phases including extensive community consultations and a baseline survey. The project will then implement and ev ....This project aims to determine the best ways to improve the Social Emotional Well Being (SEWB) of the Aboriginal people of Broken Hill, Menindee and Wilcannia. This project will develop a culturally appropriate and evidenced based intervention to break the cycle of ongoing grief, mental illness, alcohol and other drugs and violence. The project will proceed in a number of interrelated phases including extensive community consultations and a baseline survey. The project will then implement and evaluate an intervention program that provides a community and individual program that adopts evidence-based approaches and modifies them to be acceptable within Aboriginal communities. These interventions aim to break the cycle of violence and mental health problems by teaching adaptive skills to reduce violent behaviours and by providing mental health interventions that reduce disorders that contribute to violence.Read moreRead less
Renal Dialysis Abatement: Decision-making & Social Impact Of The Transition To Terminal Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$100,000.00
Summary
A study of the impact on patients and their families of the decision to stop kidney machine dialysis, and the transition to terminal care, either in an in-patient hospice-palliative care unit or domicillary service. The study will employ a combination of quantitative demographic and qualitative social science methodologies. There will be a special focus on the decision-making process, given that a dialysis cessation decision will usually lead to death within a few weeks.
Changing Patterns Of Work: Impacts On Physical And Mental Health And The Meditating Role Of Resiliency And Social Capital
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,140,342.00
Summary
This project will provide, for the first time in Australia, a detailed understanding of the impact of the changing forms of employment and unemployment on overall health. It will provide original insights into what aspects of the employment relation help or harm health, and on what enables some people to escape the harm that others experience. This will provide vital information to underpin policies designed to gain the benefits of a flexible workplace, with minimum harm to workers.
Assessment Of Alpha-galactosylceramide As A Novel Adjuvant For Pandemic Influenza: A Virua Vaccine
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$220,042.00
Summary
The occurrence of human infections with pathogenic avian H5N1 Influenza A viruses was the first documentation of these viruses demonstrating an ability to directly transmit from birds to humans. The virulent nature of these infections, and the fact that there is no pre-existing immunity to these viruses in the human population has raised the concern that these viruses may emerge to cause the next influenza pandemic. Vaccination is our most effective way of protecting against influenza infection, ....The occurrence of human infections with pathogenic avian H5N1 Influenza A viruses was the first documentation of these viruses demonstrating an ability to directly transmit from birds to humans. The virulent nature of these infections, and the fact that there is no pre-existing immunity to these viruses in the human population has raised the concern that these viruses may emerge to cause the next influenza pandemic. Vaccination is our most effective way of protecting against influenza infection, however there are no commercially available avian influenza vaccines available. Moreover, recent evidence suggests current vaccines strategies may be less than effective. This proposal aims to evaluate the efficacy of a novel vaccine strategy that promotes immune protection against a potential pandemic influenza strain.Read moreRead less