Enabling Evidence-informed Policy To Address Australia's Opioid Crisis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$607,538.00
Summary
Australia has seen a near doubling of opioid-related mortality in the past decade. Recently, a range of state and national policy changes have been made to address the growing number of opioid-related deaths, yet the evidence for these kinds of policy changes is conflicting. This study will use prescribing data from general practice in combination with hospital data to understand the impact of three types of Australian policy interventions on opioid prescribing and opioid-related harm.
Understanding Sex Differences In Alcohol Use Disorder: The Role Of Stress And Neuropeptides
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$692,106.00
Summary
Alcohol use disorders (AUD) are an emerging issue in women, yet there is little understanding of the how the male and female brains differ in response to excessive alcohol consumption. In pilot studies, we have found that deletion of a specific brain chemical causes differences in the way male and female mice consume alcohol in excess. We will further characterise this system and test new approaches to reduce the desire to consume alcohol.
Neural Circuits Which Limit Alcohol And Soft Drink Intake
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$523,949.00
Summary
Alcohol and soft drinks are ubiquitous, and often harmful, particularly in excess. This project will examine the specific roles of fluid and food satiation neural circuits in suppressing intake, to determine whether either or both could be therapeutic targets for alcohol/soft drink overconsumption, especially as cessation aids for binge-drinking behaviour.