RV3 Rotavirus Vaccine: Developing A Neonatal Rotavirus Vaccine Formulation For The Global Community
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$135,075.00
Summary
Rotavirus infection is the leading cause of severe dehydrating gastroenteritis responsible for approximately 600,000 deaths per year in children under 5 years of age worldwide. There is a commercial and public health opportunity to develop a new rotavirus vaccine that can be given at birth. By modifying the way the vaccine is made we hope that it will be more acceptable and easily delivered to children in remote communities and developing countries without the need for refrigeration.
Development Of A Sensitive Point Of Care Diagnostic Assay For Troponin I
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$137,650.00
Summary
This research aims to develop a diagnostic for immediate monitoring of patients presenting with chest pain, with the presumption of heart attack. The novel diagnostic platform will enable the estimation of a key indicator of heart muscle damage to be performed within a ten to fifteen minute window. This will aid speedier diagnosis and propoer triage of patients presenting with chest pain.
In Vitro And In Vivo Assessment Of The Funhaler -an Innovative Therapeutic Device For Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$472,750.00
Summary
Aerosol therapy is the most effective form of treatment for children with respiratory diseases such as asthma. While optimising aerosol delivery systems has an important role in increasing the efficacy of asthma therapy, ensuring patient compliance is often the most difficult part of the clinician's role, particularly in the paediatric age group. An innovative small volume spacer device (Funhaler) developed by a West Australian company (InfaMed, Ltd) may help overcome this problem. The Funhaler ....Aerosol therapy is the most effective form of treatment for children with respiratory diseases such as asthma. While optimising aerosol delivery systems has an important role in increasing the efficacy of asthma therapy, ensuring patient compliance is often the most difficult part of the clinician's role, particularly in the paediatric age group. An innovative small volume spacer device (Funhaler) developed by a West Australian company (InfaMed, Ltd) may help overcome this problem. The Funhaler incorporates a spinning toy attached to the outside of the spacer. The toy is activated when the patient breathes through the spacer. The device has been designed to encourage children to co-operate when their asthma therapy is being delivered. The Funhaler is currently in the late development stage. We propose, firstly, to carry out in vitro assessments of drug delivery from the Funhaler compared to the two most widely available small volume spacers: the Aerochamber Plus (Trudell, Canada) and the Breath-A-Tech (Scott-Dibben, Australia). These assessments will be carried out to meet the standards of regulatory bodies worldwide (including the FDA). Secondly, we propose to perform extensive in vivo studie: filter studies to assess drug delivery to the patient; deposition studies to measure drug deposition in the lungs; and a pilot clinical trial to assess the efficacy of the device during medium to long-term use in children aged 2-8 years.Read moreRead less
Web-based Multimedia Information Management System For Use In Remote Diagnosis Of Eye Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$196,000.00
Summary
Our aim is to develop a web-based multimedia information management system for use in remote diagnosis of eye diseases. The proposed system will provide medical advice and diagnosis, information and distance education for those working in health care as well as the community, computer-aided diagnosis and assistance in the operational and medical decision-making process. Less expensive health care personnel should be able to use the system with little training in remote and rural areas. Significa ....Our aim is to develop a web-based multimedia information management system for use in remote diagnosis of eye diseases. The proposed system will provide medical advice and diagnosis, information and distance education for those working in health care as well as the community, computer-aided diagnosis and assistance in the operational and medical decision-making process. Less expensive health care personnel should be able to use the system with little training in remote and rural areas. Significantly, the project should empower remote general doctors and nurses by proper access to expert advice, save many remote patients from unnecessary visits to specialist centres on the one hand and allow more proper diagnosis and intervention on the other. It has the potential for significant reductions in the cost of health care delivery, should strengthening the bond between medical services in remote and city areas, provide training and education of local GPs, nurses, health care workers and optometrists and provide web-based disease management systems will provide instant access to health care information. The outcomes of this project are potentially of great significance to remote and rural communities in Australia and around the world. There will be an enormous impact on current health care practices. Significantly, the project should empower remote general doctors and nurses by proper access to expert advice, save many remote patients from unnecessary visits to specialist centres on the one hand and allow more proper diagnosis and intervention on the other. It has the potential for significant reductions in the cost of health care delivery, should strengthening the bond between medical services in remote and city areas, provide training and education of local GPs, nurses, health care workers and optometrists and provide web-based disease management systems will provide instant access to health care information. The outcomes of this project are potentially of great significance to remote and rural communities in Australia and around the world. There will be an enormous impact on current health care practices.Read moreRead less
Development Of A Prototype Production System For Optical Fibre Diagnostic Probes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$191,598.00
Summary
Advances in nanotechnology have led to new techniques for the precise fabrication of nanometre scale structures. A recent breakthrough by the applicants now allows high-quality nanostructures to be stamped onto the tip of low-cost optical fibre probes. When coated with silver, these sensitive probes can be used for continuous monitoring of blood glucose in diabetics and in critical care situations. This project aims to develop a prototype manufacturing system for optical fibre glucose probes.
Development Of A Multiplex Assay For The Identification Of Women At Risk Of Preterm Labour.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$202,350.00
Summary
Preterm birth (ie birth before the 37th week of gestation) is the most significant problem facing contemporary clinical obstetrics in the developed world and occurs in approximately 5% to 12% of all deliveries. Being born too early is the major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Data from Australia indicate that each year, more than 17,000 babies will be born prematurely. Of these infants, over 10,000 will suffer respiratory complications and about 1300 will die during the first 21 days ....Preterm birth (ie birth before the 37th week of gestation) is the most significant problem facing contemporary clinical obstetrics in the developed world and occurs in approximately 5% to 12% of all deliveries. Being born too early is the major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Data from Australia indicate that each year, more than 17,000 babies will be born prematurely. Of these infants, over 10,000 will suffer respiratory complications and about 1300 will die during the first 21 days of life. The sickest and most premature of these infants require admission to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in a tertiary hospital. Aside from the medical implications of premature delivery, there is also a considerable fiscal challenge to society. While treatments for the prevention of labour have improved considerably over the past decade, current screening tests of preterm labour (ie Fetal Fibronectin test) are unreliable and have poor positive predictive values. The principal objective of this project is to develop and deliver a multiplex assay for the prediction and diagnosis of human preterm labour. Through the successful application of our own proteomic discovery programmes using both ovine and human cervico-vaginal fluid samples, we have identified several new protein markers of labour. Having completed this Phase 1 biomarker trial and established proof-of-concept, we are now well positioned to initiate a Phase 2 biomarker trial to determine reliable estimates of assay sensitivity and specificity. This project targets the development of a new diagnostic to meet a recognised market gap. Delivery of such a test will create a new market in pregnancy-based clinical diagnostics and significantly impact on improving health care and quality of life for many preterm babies. Should the project be completed as detailed and mitigate some of the risk of commercial development, it would then be realistic to seek substantial funding from the private sector.Read moreRead less
Development Of A Slit Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope As A Screening Tool In Glaucoma Diagnostics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$195,830.00
Summary
Glaucoma is typified by progressive optic disc cupping and loss of fibres with consequent characteristic field defects. Direct imaging of the retina and quantitative assessment of such images greatly increases early diagnosis of this blinding disease. The proposed device, a laser line scanning ophthalmoscope, could support non-invasive imaging to obtain 3-D information in a simple and cost effective way. This could provide objective clinical parameters to support the decision making process.
Innovations For Better Cardiovascular Prevention In Primary Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$294,285.00
Summary
The goal of this project is to take a new concept for cardiovascular disease management through the proof-of-concept stage and deliver a novel model for cardiovascular disease management. When proven, the application of this new process for service delivery will provide a low-cost way of closing the gap between guideline recommendations and current management of vascular disease in Australian primary care settings.