Partnership Centre: Systems Perspectives On Preventing Lifestyle Related Chronic Health Problems
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$11,520,472.00
Summary
The focus of the Partnership Centre on Systems Perspectives on Preventing Lifestyle-Related Chronic Health Problems (the Prevention Partnership Centre) will be the inter-relation of health and non-health systems with regard to primary prevention and chronic health problems. Day-to-day, the Prevention Partnership Centre will concentrate on the range of programs, policies, funding structures, data systems, workforce capacities, evidence gaps, implementation experiences, collaborations, accountabil ....The focus of the Partnership Centre on Systems Perspectives on Preventing Lifestyle-Related Chronic Health Problems (the Prevention Partnership Centre) will be the inter-relation of health and non-health systems with regard to primary prevention and chronic health problems. Day-to-day, the Prevention Partnership Centre will concentrate on the range of programs, policies, funding structures, data systems, workforce capacities, evidence gaps, implementation experiences, collaborations, accountability mechanisms and even the language of prevention itself, that make it easier or harder to support healthy lifestyle choices and promote health equity. It will undertake an integrated program of work designed to enable policy and program developers to make better decisions about the strategies and structures to prevent lifestyle-related chronic conditions in Australia.Read moreRead less
I am a neuroscientist employing strategies of anatomy, biochemistry, pharmacology, genetics and behavioural analysis to examine the physiological and possible pathological roles of newly discovered neuropeptides and their cognate receptors in mammalian brain. My recent research has focused on the highly-conserved, abundant peptide, relaxin-3 that was discovered at the HFI in 2002. Studies so far have revealed that relaxin-3 is a powerful modulator of rhythmic brain activity (theta) and spatial m ....I am a neuroscientist employing strategies of anatomy, biochemistry, pharmacology, genetics and behavioural analysis to examine the physiological and possible pathological roles of newly discovered neuropeptides and their cognate receptors in mammalian brain. My recent research has focused on the highly-conserved, abundant peptide, relaxin-3 that was discovered at the HFI in 2002. Studies so far have revealed that relaxin-3 is a powerful modulator of rhythmic brain activity (theta) and spatial memory, and alters feeding, body weight and arousal. Relaxin-3 levels in brain are also strongly activated by acute stress. In the future, I aim to elucidate further the role of relaxin-3 systems in normal physiology and metabolic and-or psychiatric diseases.Read moreRead less
An Inside-out Approach To Muscosal Vaccination: MAdCAM Targeting
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$174,250.00
Summary
The mucosal surfaces are the entry site for many pathogens (eg. cholera, rotaviruses, helicobacter, SARS and sexually transmitted diseases including HIV infections). The ideal vaccine would elicit both systemic and mucosal immune response, enhancing immunity at this first line of defence. The oral route has formidable barriers to antigen uptake such as digestive enzymes, commensal microbes, mucous layers and gastric acid. Our strategy targets the vascular addressin found in immune tissues of the ....The mucosal surfaces are the entry site for many pathogens (eg. cholera, rotaviruses, helicobacter, SARS and sexually transmitted diseases including HIV infections). The ideal vaccine would elicit both systemic and mucosal immune response, enhancing immunity at this first line of defence. The oral route has formidable barriers to antigen uptake such as digestive enzymes, commensal microbes, mucous layers and gastric acid. Our strategy targets the vascular addressin found in immune tissues of the gut (called MAdCAM) so that the vaccine is linked to an antibody against MAdCAM. Thus for the first time we believe that a parenteral vaccine ie. injected im or iv (bypassing the oral barriers) can induce mucosal immunity.Read moreRead less