Prof. Simes will lead and develop research at the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre in collaboration with major national and international cooperative groups. Research themes include integrating molecular science with trial design and embedding research routinely in health care. Projects include surgery for rectal cancer; novel targeted therapy in gastric cancer; aspirin to prevent colon cancer; placental transfusion for preterm babies; risk in heart disease; economic assessment of clinical trials.
There is increased recognition that sleep health problems are a major cause of illness in the community. These include disorders such as obstructive sleep apnoea, insomnia, restless legs syndrome and health problems related to shift work. It is proposed to form a consolidated network of sleep investigation groups to undertake larger scale clinical trials aimed at deciding what are the best treatments for different sleep disorders. The enabling grant will provide resources that will make Australi ....There is increased recognition that sleep health problems are a major cause of illness in the community. These include disorders such as obstructive sleep apnoea, insomnia, restless legs syndrome and health problems related to shift work. It is proposed to form a consolidated network of sleep investigation groups to undertake larger scale clinical trials aimed at deciding what are the best treatments for different sleep disorders. The enabling grant will provide resources that will make Australian involvement in international studies more competitive and achieve higher publication quality for the research work.Read moreRead less
Increasing Value, Reducing Waste From Incomplete Or Unusable Reports Of Medical Research
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$788,486.00
Summary
We estimated that the avoidable waste in research - from design flaws, non-publication, and inadequate reporting - results in over $85 Billion annual loss. I will research innovations to reduce this waste. My focus is particularly on non-drug interventions - exercises, dietary changes, self-monitoring, e-health applications – which are often effective but more difficult to use in clinical practice, and being compiled in my recently founded Handbook of Non-Drug Interventions (see RACGP website).
National Resource For Public Good, Web-based Investigator-initiated Trials
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,290,000.00
Summary
The facility will provide resources in clinical trials expertise and web-based trials systems to enable investigator-initiated clinical trials of public good. This should ensure that the highest quality of clinical trials research can be undertaken by clinical trials researchers in new and priority health research areas, at any institution throughout Australia. Areas supported through this national resource will include controlled trials of current clinical practice, surgery, new health technolo ....The facility will provide resources in clinical trials expertise and web-based trials systems to enable investigator-initiated clinical trials of public good. This should ensure that the highest quality of clinical trials research can be undertaken by clinical trials researchers in new and priority health research areas, at any institution throughout Australia. Areas supported through this national resource will include controlled trials of current clinical practice, surgery, new health technologies, palliative and supportive care and complementary medicine.Read moreRead less
Targeting Ribosomal RNA Transcription With CX-5461 As A New Approach For Treating Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$864,067.00
Summary
We have made the fundamental discovery that ribosomal gene transcription is not simply a 'house keeping' process in cancer cells but is required to maintain malignant cell viability. Strikingly inhibition of ribosomal gene transcription using a novel small molecule inhibitor, CX-5461, shows profound selectivity for malignant cells over normal cells. This proposal will translate these observations into 'first in man' phase 1 clinical trials of CX-5461 for the treatment of blood cancers.
A Randomised Study To Optimise Clinical Outcomes In Patients With FLT3 Mutant AML
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,169,549.00
Summary
Acute myeloid leukaemia is a devastating blood cancer which affects almost 1000 Australians annually. One quarter have a mutation affecting a gene called FLT3, which results in aggressive leukaemia rarely cured by chemotherapy alone. Dr Andrew Wei from the Alfred Hospital will lead a nationwide randomised clinical trial through the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group network to investigate whether a targeted FLT3 inhibitor small molecule called Sorafenib will improve outcomes for patients ....Acute myeloid leukaemia is a devastating blood cancer which affects almost 1000 Australians annually. One quarter have a mutation affecting a gene called FLT3, which results in aggressive leukaemia rarely cured by chemotherapy alone. Dr Andrew Wei from the Alfred Hospital will lead a nationwide randomised clinical trial through the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group network to investigate whether a targeted FLT3 inhibitor small molecule called Sorafenib will improve outcomes for patients with this poor risk blood cancer.Read moreRead less
During my fellowship I will lead research to improve understanding of the causes of back pain and its prevention and treatment. I will work in partnership with clinicians and health agencies to improve health care for back pain, so that Australians receive care based upon the very best research. I will work with colleagues to increase the pool of researchers tackling important questions about how best to manage back pain.
The HIV Treatment Cascade: Improved Individual And Population Health Outcomes Through A Better Understanding Of The Natural History Of HIV And Its Treatment In Modern Health Care Systems.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$93,124.00
Summary
To review the methodologies used to analyse the HIV care and treatment cascade in different settings and their limitations. To identify, design and evaluate pilot interventions to improve individual and population outcomes. I am not currently working on any research that requires ethics clearance.
Professor John Simes is director of the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre and has a background in oncology, biostatistics and epidemiology. He leads a program of clinical trials, mainly in oncology, cardiovascular disease and neonatology, with associated research into trials methods, biostatistical analysis, patient preferences, individualising treatment, decision analysis and the application of trial evidence to clinical decision making.
Whiplash injury incurs a huge health burden on Australia as many people do not recover well. This project aims to implement and evaluate a Clinical Pathway of Care for whiplash injury that guides primary care providers in their assessment and treatment of people with acute whiplash. This will improve health ouctomes and recovery following the injury.