The overall aim is to improve treatments and outcomes for people with osteoporosis. This will be achieved by better predicting those who are likely to fracture and subsequently those who do well post fracture from those who do poorly. Following an osteoporotic fracture there is an increased risk of re- fracture and of premature death. This research will define those risk factors for fracture, re-fracture and early death in a large group of men and women followed for over 20 years.
Improving Outcomes In Osteoporosis And Bone Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$348,494.00
Summary
Osteoporotic fractures are a common and increasing problem as the population ages. They are associated with increased risk of re-fracture and early death yet most patients remain untreated. This proposal will identify which fracture patients are at highest risk of re-fracture and premature death (b) identify whether osteoporosis treatment decreases this risk and (c) increase osteoporosis awareness and treatment uptake by general practitioners with an integrated fracture risk prediction tool.
Osteoporosis is a common problem with increased premature mortality associated with hip and even more minor fractures. The cause of increased mortality is debated although osteoporosis treatment may decrease this risk. This study will be the first to examine survival of all subjects in NSW admitted for a fracture including cause for subsequent hospitalisation and treatment taken. This study will help define the cause of the mortality and the role of anti osteoporosis treatment on outcome.
Development Of A Multi-faceted Diagnostic And Predictive Tool To Characterise Type Of Diabetes, Therapeutic Progression And Outcome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$352,550.00
Summary
Diabetes is diagnosed using clinical assessment complemented by a few selected basic conventional laboratory tests. We plan to determine, in a representative community-based sample of Australian with diabetes, whether additional knowledge of genetic markers, diabetes-related antibody levels and tests of insulin secretory capacity adds to diagnosis of diabetes type, prediction of therapeutic progression over time, complications and death.
Fenofibrate And Microvascular Events In Type 1 Diabetes (FAME 1) Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,883,529.00
Summary
Diabetes is one of the commonest cause of blindness in adults. Vision loss, which is irreversible, is a most feared complication of diabetes. A blood fat lowering drug called fenofibrate, available in Australia, has been shown to reduce eye damage in people with Type 2 diabetes by 35-40%, and to prevent eye damage in Type 1 diabetic animal models. This study will evaluate the potential benefits of fenofibrate in 450 adults with Type 1 diabetes who have early diabetic eye damage.
Defining the molecular and cellular mechanisms of beta cell dysfunction. This project will investigate the influence of environment in the functional adaptation and maladaptation of pancreatic beta cells in diabetes. The research will define the molecular and cellular mechanisms linking environmental triggers such as obesity, high fatty acid levels and hyperglycaemia to beta cell dedifferentiation and dysfunction.
Understanding The Early-life Pathways For Adult Type 2 Diabetes Using Existing Data From Seven Cohorts Of The International Childhood Cardiovascular Cohort (i3C) Consortium
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$336,419.00
Summary
This project will allow us to determine the role that child factors play in the development of diabetes. We will do this using information that has been collected from individuals at several ages extending from childhood to adulthood, somewhat like the “Up” TV series. The project’s findings could lead to improvements in the way we identify people who are at risk of having adult diabetes. By doing so, we could begin programs to stop the young from being struck down by this debilitating disease.