Effectiveness And Cost-effectiveness Of Systematic Screening For Lynch Syndrome (LS) In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$485,762.00
Summary
Lynch syndrome (LS) is an inherited condition that puts people at an increased risk of developing a range of cancers. We will use a detailed simulation model to evaluate the potential health benefits of testing new cases of colorectal, endometrial and ovarian cancers for LS, and whether this would be cost-effective. The aim is to identify LS-related cancer cases, so family members can be offered LS testing, and individuals found to have LS can be offered close observation/preventative surgery.
Population Testing Of An Internet-based Personalised Decision Support System For Colorectal Cancer Screening
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$480,230.00
Summary
This study will determine the impact of a fully developed computerised Personalised Decision Support (PDS) package on colorectal cancer screening participation. The PDS tool is designed to guide people through the decision processes relevant to deciding whether to undertake screening. The PDS presents personally tailored messages aimed at progressing individuals towards screening test use and has the potential to supplement traditional paper methods of increasing screening participation.
A Population Based Communication Strategy To Optimise Colorectal Cancer Screening Behaviour In Australia.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$532,425.00
Summary
There is good evidence that population screening, based on the detection of blood in faeces, is effective in reducing deaths from bowel cancer (CRC) by around 30-40%. The process depends on the use of a simple faecal occult blood test (FOBT) to identify those who need a more complex and costly test (colonoscopy), which is capable of accurately detecting curable cancers and precancers so that they can be removed. If we are to reduce deaths from CRC at the population level, we must have an effecti ....There is good evidence that population screening, based on the detection of blood in faeces, is effective in reducing deaths from bowel cancer (CRC) by around 30-40%. The process depends on the use of a simple faecal occult blood test (FOBT) to identify those who need a more complex and costly test (colonoscopy), which is capable of accurately detecting curable cancers and precancers so that they can be removed. If we are to reduce deaths from CRC at the population level, we must have an effective way of encouraging as many people as possible to do FOBT tests. While much has been learnt about how to offer screening from experience with programs for breast and cervical cancer, CRC screening involves different behavioural, psychological and social issues. We need to better understand how these factors influence participation in CRC screening. We plan a series of studies that will lead to improvements in participation in CRC screening programs: a) a survey of a randomly selected group of the general population to measure a range of behavioural features that are of importance to CRC screening, especially as they relate to participation. b) an offer of FOBTscreening to those invited to complete the survey, to match population characteristics with intentions and actual participation, c) on the basis of these studies, to design new screening program strategies, especially in relation to the communication of messages to encourage community participation, d) to test the effectiveness of the new communication strategies by offering FOBT screening to another randomly selected group from the general population. This will allow us to optimise the delivery of messages that encourage participation. If we can design a better communication strategy that achieves an increase in screening participation and has minimum cost implications, we will substantially reduce the number of deaths from CRC in Australia.Read moreRead less
Reducing The Burden Of Cancer In Chronic Kidney Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$257,561.00
Summary
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important public health problem in Australia and worldwide. Not only does CKD predisposes to end-stage kidney disease, but more importantly, increases the risk of co-morbidities such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, leading to premature death. As an academic nephrologist with interests in clinical epidemiology, health economics and translation research, this proposed program of work will focus on assessing the critical areas in improving the cancer outcome ....Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important public health problem in Australia and worldwide. Not only does CKD predisposes to end-stage kidney disease, but more importantly, increases the risk of co-morbidities such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, leading to premature death. As an academic nephrologist with interests in clinical epidemiology, health economics and translation research, this proposed program of work will focus on assessing the critical areas in improving the cancer outcomes in patients with CKD.Read moreRead less
Research Fellowship In Preventing HIV And HIV-related Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$772,490.00
Summary
This fellowship concerns HIV prevention and HIV-related cancer. In HIV prevention, Grulich will evaluate the success of elements of the new biomedical prevention approach to HIV, and highlight areas in which policy action can be taken to substantially reduce HIV transmission. In HIV related cancer, Grulich will determine whether HIV-associated cancers continue to occur at increased rates in the new era of prolonged survival of people with HIV, and investigate preventive approaches.
Effectiveness And Cost-Effectiveness Of HPV Vaccination And HPV-Based Cervical Cancer Screening Strategies In China
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$420,692.00
Summary
In the absence of preventative initiatives, up to 187,000 women will develop cervical cancer in China every year. However, the disease is preventable using human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and primary HPV screening. Building on previous work, we will evaluate the most effective and cost-effective options for cervical cancer prevention, in order to provide an comprehensive evidence base for China’s health decision-makers.
Breast CAncer STratification: Understanding The Determinants Of Risk And Prognosis Of Molecular Subtypes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$472,984.00
Summary
Breast cancer is not one disease, but many different types with different causes, treatments and outcomes. The aim of this project is to use genetic, lifestyle/environmental, mammographic breast density, pathologic and clinical data froma very large number of studies from all over the world to develop ways of predicting which women are at risk of particuar types of breast cancer, and if breast cancer develops what the likely outcome will be.
Re-participation In Screening For Colorectal Cancer: Behavioural Outcomes And Predictors.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$687,438.00
Summary
Screening for bowel cancer (CRC) is an important public health initiative. It is most effective when undertaken regularly but there is little research on what personal factors relate to ongoing participation in a screening program. This study will determine the factors associated with ongoing participation in CRC screening and will lead to better screening programs and improved health benefits. This study directly addresses the Cancer Australia priority area re improving screening programs.
ASPREE is the largest clinical trial ever conducted in Australia and will determine whether daily low dose aspirin prevents disease in healthy older people. The study was well-funded initially but will require additional support to complete the vital final stage of data collection and analysis. This will enable the study to answer important questions about the benefits and risks of aspirin in this age group and its effect on disability free survival.
D-Health: A Randomised Trial Of Vitamin D For Prevention Of Cancer And Mortality
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,930,705.00
Summary
There is good evidence that vitamin D is important for maintaining healthy bones. There is now a body of work suggesting that it may play a role in other diseases such as cancer, but there is not yet sufficient information to warrant screening the population to determine their vitamin D levels or recommending routine supplementation. We plan to conduct a large-scale randomised placebo-controlled trial in which we will assess the effect of vitamin D supplementation on mortality, cancer incidence ....There is good evidence that vitamin D is important for maintaining healthy bones. There is now a body of work suggesting that it may play a role in other diseases such as cancer, but there is not yet sufficient information to warrant screening the population to determine their vitamin D levels or recommending routine supplementation. We plan to conduct a large-scale randomised placebo-controlled trial in which we will assess the effect of vitamin D supplementation on mortality, cancer incidence and many other common diseases such as diabetes.Read moreRead less