Asbestos And Related Diseases In Western Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$404,727.00
Summary
This project will extend the follow-up of large, well established groups of people who have experienced significant exposure to blue asbestos, either through their jobs or environmentally. Mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis are common among these groups. This study will provide information on the effects of different levels of exposure to blue asbestos. Ways in which these diseases may be prevented through the diet and other lifestyle habits will be closely examined. This project provides ....This project will extend the follow-up of large, well established groups of people who have experienced significant exposure to blue asbestos, either through their jobs or environmentally. Mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis are common among these groups. This study will provide information on the effects of different levels of exposure to blue asbestos. Ways in which these diseases may be prevented through the diet and other lifestyle habits will be closely examined. This project provides important data on the dose-response effects of a known carcinogen. Due to the integrated nature of our already established follow up systems we are in a unique position worldwide to achieve these aims. The dose response relationships between exposure and disease identified by this study will contribute to occupational health and safety exposure standards and compensation policy in Australia. The information on lifestyle factors is appropriate for use in many different health promotion interventions. Ongoing contact with the cohorts is critical to our involvement in collaborative preventative and biological studies.Read moreRead less
This project will update the Wittenoom cohorts by tracing cancers and deaths in Australia and Italy. This will improve risk estimates of lung cancer and mesothelioma. In particular we will see if that risk declines with more than 40 years since exposure, in collaboration with Italian colleagues. We will continue developing an interactive community website to act as a support platform, a layman's bridge to medical research knowledge, public health information and an archive of personal stories.
Using Applied Epidemiology To Respond To Foodborne Diseases And Contaminated Environments
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$476,728.00
Summary
During this Fellowship I will examine how to prevent foodborne diseases and how public health agencies respond to contaminated environments. To do this, I will harness the revolution in public health from genetic analysis of pathogens and the use of linked datasets to examine environmental health concerns.
Improving Skin Cancer Prevention: Motivating Preventive Behaviours Using Knowledge Of Personalised Genomic Risk Of Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,041,720.00
Summary
The aim of our study is to evaluate whether we can improve the Australian public’s skin cancer prevention behaviours, particularly reducing exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, by giving personalised information about melanoma genetic risk. We will also explore the psycho-social, ethical, and economic implications of receiving this information. The results of our study are likely to influence the future of skin cancer prevention in Australia.
Identification Of A Gene That Increases Risk Of MS Via A Pathway Involving UV Exposure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$111,000.00
Summary
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an auto-immune disease of the central nervous system that affects over 10 000 Australians. It is a progressive debilitating disease that affects predominantly young adults and current therapies are expensive, only moderately effective and are associated with significant side effects. The biological processes leading to this disease are not well understood and there is a need to identify new ways of treating the disease or preventing it. One of the known factors associa ....Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an auto-immune disease of the central nervous system that affects over 10 000 Australians. It is a progressive debilitating disease that affects predominantly young adults and current therapies are expensive, only moderately effective and are associated with significant side effects. The biological processes leading to this disease are not well understood and there is a need to identify new ways of treating the disease or preventing it. One of the known factors associated with MS is the striking association of increased MS incidence with cooler climates and reduced sun exposure. A study conduced by the Menzies Centre has recently provided evidence that increased childhood sun exposure is significantly associated with reduced risk of MS. This project aims to study those genes involved in the body's response to sun exposure as we propose that if sun exposure influences risk of MS then those genes may interact with sun exposure to modify risk of MS.Read moreRead less
Investigating Early Life Exposure To Plastic Products In Australia And Subsequent Neurodevelopmental Effects
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$791,376.00
Summary
Child neurodevelopment disorders like autism are becoming more common. Recent work indicates almost all pregnant mothers in Australia harbour plastic chemicals – bisphenols and phthalates and foetus is also exposed. Human evidence is emerging that higher exposure to plastics during pregnancy may be associated with these disorders. Randomised controlled trials are not possible so high quality birth cohort studies, as proposed here, are required to investigate this issue comprehensively.