A Solution Based Approach Developing Child Health Research With A Focus On Preventive Interventions For Common Childhood
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,599,538.00
Summary
There is an increasing recognition that research into child health should focus not only on disease but also on common childhood disorders such as obesity, depression and poor literacy. In addition, such research should include solution-based activity. That is, child health research should have an active program of testing new interventions to prevent the onset of disorders, or to allow optimal early management. The Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, the largest Australian child health resear ....There is an increasing recognition that research into child health should focus not only on disease but also on common childhood disorders such as obesity, depression and poor literacy. In addition, such research should include solution-based activity. That is, child health research should have an active program of testing new interventions to prevent the onset of disorders, or to allow optimal early management. The Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, the largest Australian child health research institute, is in a very good position to develop Australia's capacity further with regard to a coordinated research program into preventative interventions in child health. This is because of: - the Institute's location at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, the largest paediatric health service provider in Australia - the many individual relevant research projects that are already occurring in MCRI - the strong existing teams of researchers with skills in many different fields of child health such as psychology, speech pathology, clinical-medical care, epidemiology and biostatistics, and laboratory science including genetics. This capacity building program will coordinate population health work to develop the knowledge and skills of eight population health researchers. This development will occur within the context of an internationally competitive research program with structured continuing education and training to promote public health leadership. The capacity building program will develop skills not only in study design, conduct and analysis, but also in collaboration and the translation of research findings into better health services, government policy and parental knowledge to prevent problems and improve the health and well being of children and their families. To care for children in the best way, parents, families, schools, health care providers, and government need the best evidence base possible on the prevention of common child disorders.Read moreRead less
Improving School Transition By Improving Child Sleep: A Translational Randomised Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$745,827.00
Summary
A successful transition to school sets a child on a path for life. A poor transition can lead to early drop out, poor peer relationships and poor emotional skills. In 2008/09, we found that a brief sleep intervention for children improved key determinants of a successful transition including social-emotional functioning and parent mental health. We now plan to see if the same intervention, delivered by school nurses, can have a similar effect.
Mid-Career Industry Fellowships - Grant ID: IM230100030
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$855,472.00
Summary
Transforming urban water management through technology translation . Through university and industry partnership, this project will develop and demonstrate, at pilot scale, a highly innovative technology that manufactures an iron salt, FeCO3, for use in urban water management, and simultaneously removes CO2, H2S and NH3 from biogas thus achieving biogas valorisation. This project will demonstrate the effectiveness of FeCO3 produced, in infrastructure protection, nutrients removal and recycling, ....Transforming urban water management through technology translation . Through university and industry partnership, this project will develop and demonstrate, at pilot scale, a highly innovative technology that manufactures an iron salt, FeCO3, for use in urban water management, and simultaneously removes CO2, H2S and NH3 from biogas thus achieving biogas valorisation. This project will demonstrate the effectiveness of FeCO3 produced, in infrastructure protection, nutrients removal and recycling, and capacity enhancement of wastewater treatment plants. The outcomes of this project will lead to the adoption and commercialisation of the technology, which will substantially enhance the sustainability of urban water management in Australia, and also create jobs in, and bring incomes to Australia. Read moreRead less
Safety and robustness of tall timber buildings under extreme dynamic events. This project aims to develop innovative and robust structural connections in tall mass timber buildings by characterising their mechanical behaviour under dynamic loads induced by extreme events like earthquakes or progressive collapse. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the safe, economic, and efficient design of mass timber buildings. Expected outcomes of this project include enhanced robustness design ....Safety and robustness of tall timber buildings under extreme dynamic events. This project aims to develop innovative and robust structural connections in tall mass timber buildings by characterising their mechanical behaviour under dynamic loads induced by extreme events like earthquakes or progressive collapse. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the safe, economic, and efficient design of mass timber buildings. Expected outcomes of this project include enhanced robustness design guidelines for the engineering community. This should lead to significant benefits, such as contributing to uptake of viable low-cost timber housing solutions in response to population growth and contributing to net zero emissions in Australia by 2050, and transition to safer and resilient infrastructure in urban development.Read moreRead less
Prevention Of Complications In Type 2 Diabetes By Using ICT To Optimise Self-management
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$849,181.00
Summary
The impact of the diabetes epidemic on individuals and society is severe but can be reduced by improving diabetes self-management. Conducted in partnership with Diabetes Australia (Queensland, Victoria, WA) and Roche Diagnostics, this research will evaluate the 'real world' implementation of a telehealth program, already successfully trialled, which has the potential to provide a low cost and effective program to a large number of Australians with type 2 diabetes.
Evaluation Of Alcohol Management Plans (AMPs), Cape York, North Queensland
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$626,395.00
Summary
The study will describe long-term impacts on important health and social outcomes of restricting alcohol in Cape York, Queensland. It will assess the impacts and cost-effectiveness of the Queensland Government’s Alcohol Management Plans implemented from 2002-03. The researchers will use de-identified data on injury, violence, health and social indicators. The study will map whether AMP components were delivered as promised and the extent to which they were welcomed by Cape York communities.
Efficacy Of Prism Adaptation For Recovery Of Brain Function In Unilateral Spatial Neglect
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$531,690.00
Summary
Damage to the brain’s attention network causes profound impairments of visual and sensory perception. These deficits are frequently long-lasting, and are a major factor in preventing patients from regaining functional independence. This project will use a combination of behavioural and brain imaging techniques to determine whether a promising new treatment involving visual retraining can improve function and reduce perceptual impairments after unilateral brain lesions.
Persuading tourists to use fewer natural resources when on holidays. This project aims to bring sustainable reductions in resource use to mainstream tourism, one of the world’s largest, most resource-intensive sectors. The project challenges the view that pro-environmental attitudes are a pre-requisite for pro-environmental behaviours, and in doing so promotes redesigning social practices in accommodation to achieve greater sustainability outcomes. Using an experimental design, this project will ....Persuading tourists to use fewer natural resources when on holidays. This project aims to bring sustainable reductions in resource use to mainstream tourism, one of the world’s largest, most resource-intensive sectors. The project challenges the view that pro-environmental attitudes are a pre-requisite for pro-environmental behaviours, and in doing so promotes redesigning social practices in accommodation to achieve greater sustainability outcomes. Using an experimental design, this project will provide empirical evidence on the efficacy of combining smart technology and interpersonal communication into a smart-service intervention to change guest resource use. The desired outcomes will be less resource consumption, greater guest satisfaction, and an evidence-based approach to a greener mainstream economy.Read moreRead less
From The Laboratory To The Classroom: Validation Of An Innovative Laboratory Model Of Adolescent Impulsivity And Alcohol Use Using A School-based Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$399,267.00
Summary
I am a psychologist focused on understanding how different psychosocial approaches to reducing adolescent alcohol use actually work. I will achieve this using a new laboratory model I have developed to determine the “active ingredients” of different interventions. Using a randomised controlled trial, I will then test whether combining these ingredients produces better outcomes in the prevention of teenage drinking.
Effectiveness, Cost-effectiveness And Cost-benefit Of A Single Annual Professional Intervention For The Prevention Of Childhood Dental Caries In A Remote Rural Indigenous Community
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,050,869.00
Summary
The aim of the study is to reduce the high prevalence of tooth decay in children in a remote, rural Indigenous community, by application of a single annual dental preventive intervention. Most dental preventive interventions require regular re-application (3 monthly), which is not possible in resource constrained communities. Importantly, the study will assess cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness for broader implementation across similar communities in Australia and internationally.