Many cancers shed small amounts of DNA (circulating tumour DNA or ctDNA) into the patient’s bloodstream. Recent technological advances now allow levels of ctDNA to be accurately measured in the blood. Changes in ctDNA levels have potential to be used as specific markers of disease progression and/or response to cancer therapy. This research will advance the use of ctDNA to serially follow patients and individualise treatment decisions in cancer management across several cancer types.
My research aims to improve health care for back pain. First, I will conduct and summarise clinical trials to identify the best treatments for back pain. Second, I will develop data systems to check that the health care delivered is of the highest quality. Third, I will improve understanding of low back pain amongst the general public and health workers. Last, I will work with health services to develop better ways to deliver health services for back pain.
Transforming Treatment For Mental Health And Substance Use Disorders: Leveraging Technology To Bridge The Evidence-practice Gap
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,090,576.00
Summary
This research program will reduce the 25 year gap between research about treatments for mental and substance use disorders and the implementation of these treatments into clinical care. New treatments will be developed, driven by the needs of the key stakeholders in policy, industry, service provision, and lived experience. This will provide new knowledge about how to manage mental health and substance use problems.
Optimising Patient & Health System Outcomes In Chronic Respiratory Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,613,220.00
Summary
In Australia, lung disease is a more common cause of preventable hospital admission than any other chronic disease. Non-drug treatments are recommended to reduce hospital stays, but they are under-used and under-researched. This research program will optimise non-drug treatments for people with chronic lung disease, focusing on rehabilitation, oxygen therapy and self-management. This research will improve access to effective care, enhance patient wellbeing and reduce health system costs.
Defining The Plasma Methylome To Guide Melanoma Treatment.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
This project aims to characterise circulating methylation patterns (chemical modifications to DNA) from the blood of melanoma patients. Through this ground-breaking research, I will establish a minimally-invasive and simple blood test that will predict response and resistance from treatment, provide a greater understanding of the disease, reshape the treatment management of melanoma patients and lead to improved patient outcomes.
Improving Outcomes For Cancer Patients By Targeting The Epigenome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,258,892.00
Summary
The most commonly mutated proteins in cancer involve so called epigenetic regulators, a class of proteins that regulate access to our DNA to control gene expression, DNA repair and replication. We and others have recently developed a variety of drugs to help inhibit the aberrant activity of these epigenetic proteins. My research will focus on ways to improve the efficacy of these existing drugs and find new epigenetic therapies to improve the survival of patients with a broad range of cancers.
In Australia 2 in 3 adults live with overweight or obesity and unhealthy diet is the major modifiable contributor to death and disability. We know that retail marketing strategies like food product packaging, pricing and other promotions have a major impact on what we choose to buy and eat. My research program aims to build the novel evidence required to implement effective strategies to improve the healthiness of food provision at scale.
Transforming Acute Hospital Care To Improve Outcomes For Stroke
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,350,000.00
Summary
Stroke is severely disabling but patients do not always receive the best care. I will lead rigorous research to improve stroke care in the emergency department and stroke units. I will help clinicians implement evidence-based stroke care, including protocols to manage fever, raised glucose and swallowing difficulties across Australia and internationally. Results will be relevant globally, informing strategies to drive practice change and improve patient outcomes.
Optimizing Immunotherapy Treatment For Breast Cancer Patients
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,938,014.00
Summary
The first steps in introducing immunotherapy for breast cancer patients have been taken in 2019. However, there is much work to do optimize immunotherapy for all breast cancer patients. My research, involving both lab and clinical trials, will develop new treatment strategies and identify new biomarkers to distinguish responders and non-responders. This will allow individualised selection of patients for evaluation of different immunotherapy approaches, with the aim of improving their survival.
The Implementation And Evaluation Of Living Evidence In The Management Of Chronic Kidney Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing health problem. Improving outcomes for patients with CKD requires the translation of research into clinical care. However, scientific research that underpins the management of CKD has rapidly increased, and traditional methods to summarise and inform clinical care are out of date. This project will develop, evaluate, and implement a new approach, known as ‘living-evidence’, that translates research evidence in real-time into the management of patients.