Allergic disease affects more than one in five Australian children. What foods a mother eats during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as when to introduce solid foods to babies, is thought to be critical in reducing the increasing burden of allergies in our Australian community. I hope to use this fellowship to discover what dietary factors put children at risk of developing a food allergy, and ways we can reduce that risk.
Psychosocial Implications Of Genetic Counselling And Testing
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$443,946.00
Summary
I am a psychologist by background, and my research program focuses on the psychological impact of genetic counselling and testing for adult-onset disorders, in particular cancer susceptibility; psychological adjustment of those at risk for adult-onset disorders; and the design and evaluation of interventions in the genetic counselling setting, in particular the use of decision aids as an innovative means of patient education.
A Multi-national Trial To Predict Treatment Response In Subtypes Of Depression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$387,489.00
Summary
Treatment of MDD using trial and error can have serious consequences. It can prolong the patient’s suffering (depression is associated with substantial morbidity, and mortality), prolong their absence from work and other productive activity and increase the burden on their family-carers. This multi-national study will collect genetics, brain function and behavioural data from a large number of participants, allowing for sensitive predictors of response to be determined.
Anaphylaxis: Pathophysiology, Acute Management, Diagnosis And Immunotherapy.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$380,558.00
Summary
Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death. This award will support research projects that aim to improve both the emergency care of this condition and subsequent immunotherapy (desensitisation) for people who experience anaphylaxis to insect sting. It will also support research to better understand anaphylaxis to antivenoms, which is a major problem worldwide, and to thus improve the treatment of snake, scorpion and spider envenoming.
Food allergies have emerged as a major public health concern affecting 1 in 10 Australian infants. Hospitals waiting times are in excess of 12-months for specialist services. Recent changes in the environment are driving up rates of food allergy but the mechanisms are unclear. Epigenetics is the science of how the environment influences gene behaviour. This fellowship will address the important and urgent question of how modern environments are changing our genes, leading to food allergy.
Epidemiology Of Allergic Diseases And The Role Of Early Life Eczema
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$416,306.00
Summary
Eczema prevents our children from getting a healthy start to life, increases their risk of developing asthma and hay-fever, and we don’t know how to prevent this condition. Dr. Lowe will help identify causes and the outcomes of eczema and allergic diseases in early life, by using a number of important research projects. This research includes an intervention trial that aims to prevent the development of allergic disease and sensitisation, which Dr Lowe leads