Statistical Methods For Identifying Genes Involved In Common Complex Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$307,232.00
Summary
Better understanding of the genetic component of common diseases (e.g. melanoma, psychiatric disorders) is likely to lead to improved public health. Identification of disease susceptibility loci is currently one of the primary means for increasing our understanding of the biochemical and developmental pathways involved in many common diseases. This application will focus on developing new statistical genetic methods to better understand genetic variation and to allow more effective gene mapping.
Novel Strategies For The Treatment Of Alcohol Dependance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$290,629.00
Summary
The proposed project is designed to extend my current project and improve the treatment of alcohol dependence by addressing three barriers to successful treatment. Firstly, a novel, integrated, stepped-care treatment for alcohol dependence and comorbid anxiety or depression will be examined in a randomised controlled trial. Secondly, the relationship between sleep disturbances, relapse and treatment retention and outcomes will be characterised. Thirdly, genetic predictors to the treatment of the ....The proposed project is designed to extend my current project and improve the treatment of alcohol dependence by addressing three barriers to successful treatment. Firstly, a novel, integrated, stepped-care treatment for alcohol dependence and comorbid anxiety or depression will be examined in a randomised controlled trial. Secondly, the relationship between sleep disturbances, relapse and treatment retention and outcomes will be characterised. Thirdly, genetic predictors to the treatment of the anti-craving medications, acamprosate and naltrexone will be investigated. The first two aims will utilise subjects recruited across three sites in Sydney while the third aim will involve analyses of blood samples and clinical data from my current projectRead moreRead less
Drinking Patterns, Gender And Social Roles In Alcohol Problems In Victoria, In An International Comparative Context
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$342,239.00
Summary
The varied impacts of drinking in the family and other gendered relations are an important and understudied aspect of alcohol studies, with general social and policy implications. The proposed research will make an important contribution to developing quantitative research in this area in Australia. The project uses concepts and measures which are novel in an Australian environment, and the international comparative aspect of the project, with comparable questionnaires in a wide diversity of soc ....The varied impacts of drinking in the family and other gendered relations are an important and understudied aspect of alcohol studies, with general social and policy implications. The proposed research will make an important contribution to developing quantitative research in this area in Australia. The project uses concepts and measures which are novel in an Australian environment, and the international comparative aspect of the project, with comparable questionnaires in a wide diversity of societies, is novel and innovative for the alcohol research field in general. Measures of social problems from drinking, and particularly and family and relationship, developed in analysing the study material will be made more broadly available for use in future studies, raising the possibility that the study may serve as a first measurement point for future data-series over time.Read moreRead less
Reducing Relapse For Smoking Cessation Using Augmented Callback Telephone Counselling
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$251,870.00
Summary
Tobacco use remains the largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in Australia. While there is an enormous literature on the health consequences of smoking and much literature on the effectiveness of a range of cessation interventions, understanding of the factors influencing successful cessation remain understudied and poorly understood. There is a growing body of work on the addictive nature of tobacco use (largely due to the nicotine) and, while this clearly plays a central rol ....Tobacco use remains the largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in Australia. While there is an enormous literature on the health consequences of smoking and much literature on the effectiveness of a range of cessation interventions, understanding of the factors influencing successful cessation remain understudied and poorly understood. There is a growing body of work on the addictive nature of tobacco use (largely due to the nicotine) and, while this clearly plays a central role, the contribution of cognitive and behavioural factors remains important - tobacco use needs to be conceptualized as a bio-psycho-social phenomenon. Perhaps the greatest challenge in changing addictive behaviours is the problem of relapse. This research will test some promising theories about factors that influence relapse beyond the first week or so of abstinence through testing an intervention based on changing these factors. We will test whether the addition of extra lifestyle change strategies onto Quit Victoria's effective Callback counselling service reduces relapse from attempts to quit smoking. If the intervention is successful, it will result in demonstrably superior quit smoking protocols for use in telephone counselling and potentially other forms of intervention, and result in more people giving up smoking permanently, thus saving many lives. If the new intervention fails to improve cessation over the standard callback program, it will have advanced our understanding of the complexities of relapse prevention and thus make future development of successful interventions more likely.Read moreRead less
Alcohol Consumption And Health Inequalities - The Role Of Alcohol Policy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$299,564.00
Summary
This fellowship will fund a program of work examining the contribution of alcohol consumption and related harm to socioeconomic inequalities in Australian's health. A particular focus will be on the role of alcohol policy in perpetuating or reduction health inequalities. The fellowship will involve the collection of new and important data and the use of innovative analytical approaches to explore these issues.
Reducing Alcohol-related Harm In Rural Communities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$265,000.00
Summary
In 1992 in Australia, there were an estimated 3,660 alcohol-related deaths and 71,593 alcohol-related hospital episodes, resulting in a total economic cost of $4,031.9 million, 84% of which was avoidable. In 1998, about half of all males and a third of all females drank at least once a month at levels that placed them at risk of harm. In NSW, alcohol was estimated as being a causal factor in about one-quarter of all road traffic deaths in 1995 and was associated with a 58% increase in hospital u ....In 1992 in Australia, there were an estimated 3,660 alcohol-related deaths and 71,593 alcohol-related hospital episodes, resulting in a total economic cost of $4,031.9 million, 84% of which was avoidable. In 1998, about half of all males and a third of all females drank at least once a month at levels that placed them at risk of harm. In NSW, alcohol was estimated as being a causal factor in about one-quarter of all road traffic deaths in 1995 and was associated with a 58% increase in hospital utilistion rates between 1988-89 and 1990-91. The burden of suffering appears disproportionately higher in rural areas of NSW: per capita rate of convictions associated with a prescribed alcohol concentration in rural towns was approximately double that in metropolitan areas in 2000. The rate of attendances at hospital accident and emergency departments was also higher in rural areas. These data suggest a need for additional effort to reduce alcohol-related harm in rural, relative to metropolitan, areas. In Australia, there have been no well-controlled, community-based, attempts to reduce alcohol-related harm by simultaneously implementing a range of interventions. The conduct of a large-scale randomised controlled trial (RCT) to investigate the effectiveness of this approach is difficult to justify, due to the substantial costs associated with such a rigorous design. However, a less rigorus, though equally valid, design, such as a stepped wedged approach, would likely provide good evidence to justify the subsequent conduct of an RCT. If the expected outcomes are not achieved, the conduct of an RCT can be postponed until reasonable preliminary evidence regarding the types of community-based interventions most likely to be effective is obtained. In either case, this study will provide valuable information as to which community-based interventions, and in what combination, are most likely to reduce the occurrence of alcohol-related harm in rural communities in Australia.Read moreRead less
Driving Under The Influence Of Psychoactive Prescription Benzodiazepines And Alcohol
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,048.00
Summary
Driving enables people to travel to work and social events, and is thus an important determinant of quality of life. Driving is also a potentially dangerous activity, as there is a risk of becoming involved in accidents. In fact, car accidents are one of the leading causes of injury and death. Whilst alcohol remains the most prevalent drug causing impairment of driving performance, other drugs, especially in combination with alcohol, are thought to increase collision risk.
An Examination Of The Relationship Between Alcohol-related Injury (ARI) And Licensed Premises
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$78,686.00
Summary
There is growing interest in acute alcohol-related problems, and especially injuries. These are often experienced by young people, frequently as a consequence of intoxication or drinking in unsafe settings. Little work has been undertaken in Australia to systematically examined alcohol-related injuries (ARIs). This study will examine ARIs, identify the frequency with which such problems present to a local hospital, record the nature of the injuries, details of the person sustaining it, and the d ....There is growing interest in acute alcohol-related problems, and especially injuries. These are often experienced by young people, frequently as a consequence of intoxication or drinking in unsafe settings. Little work has been undertaken in Australia to systematically examined alcohol-related injuries (ARIs). This study will examine ARIs, identify the frequency with which such problems present to a local hospital, record the nature of the injuries, details of the person sustaining it, and the drinking location. Characteristics of drinking locations and drinking settings, in particular licensed premises, will be examined to determine their association with ARIs. Then an intervention will be undertaken in conjunction with local police, to address the conditions of the drinking environment with the aim of reducing ARIs and other alcohol-related problems stemming from licensed premises. The intervention will form part of a randomised controlled trial where licensed premises, identified through monthly police data as hot spots, receive either an intervention or act as a control. In the following month, controls receive the intervention (a cross-over design). The intervention was established in 1998 by Gold Coast police and involves police, fire and liquor licensing officers undertaking an on-site inspection and taking prescribed actions. It is hypothesised that this action should result in a decreased level of ARIs being generated from premises which receive the intervention, compared to those that do not. This is an intersectoral, collaborative project aimed at improving community safety through a concerted effort by police, health and the licensees.Read moreRead less
A New, Low-cost E-health Treatment For Alcohol Use Disorder Using Mental Imagery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$895,032.00
Summary
This project offers the first large-scale test of phone-based Functional Imagery Training (FIT), a new, low-cost way to help people change behaviours using mental imagery, regardless of where they live. The trial addresses Alcohol Use Disorder—a common problem with substantial health and social impacts, comparing FIT with verbal motivational treatments, and testing effects on alcohol use and quality of life over 12 months. Cost-effectiveness and predictions of outcome are also examined.