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Preventing Mortality In Adults After Release From Prison: Advancing Global Knowledge Through An International, Individual Participant Data Meta-analysis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$613,687.00
Summary
Ex-prisoners are at increased risk of death, but not enough is known about the incidence, timing, causes, context or risk factors for preventable death in this population. In this project we have compiled 18 cohorts of ex-prisoners (total number=1,159,290) and will analyse the data to determine exactly which ex-prisoners are at the greatest risk from what, and when. This new knowledge will inform policy changes to reduce the unnecessary loss of life in this vulnerable population.
Translating Bacterial Molecular Epidemiology Into Information To Improve Infectious Disease Risk Assessment And Control
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$494,500.00
Summary
Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) and group B streptococcus (GBS) are important pathogenic bacteria, which cause septicaemia and meningitis in young infants, the elderly and people with certain chronic diseases. Both consist of a number of different types, some of which are more likely to cause disease than others. Pneumococcal vaccines that protect against the commonest pathogenic types are used in Australia in people most at risk.Antibiotic resistance is an increasing problem, which shou ....Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) and group B streptococcus (GBS) are important pathogenic bacteria, which cause septicaemia and meningitis in young infants, the elderly and people with certain chronic diseases. Both consist of a number of different types, some of which are more likely to cause disease than others. Pneumococcal vaccines that protect against the commonest pathogenic types are used in Australia in people most at risk.Antibiotic resistance is an increasing problem, which should be partly off-set by immunisation. Giving antibiotics during labour, to women colonised with GBS, can reduce infection rates in newborns, but there are many disadvantages of this approach, including the risk of increased antibiotic resistance. Vaccines against GBS are mpt yet available. We have developed methods to identify detailed fingerprints of these bacteria which allow us to identify types, antibiotic resistance and, for GBS, other characteristics which can distinguish highly pathogenic strains from the majority that are carried harmlessly and unlikely to cause disease. The methods are still quite slow and expensive and produce complex patterns,which are difficult to interpret rapidly. We plan to develop a new, rapid and relatively inexpensive, fingerprinting system for these bacteria and computer programs to analyse and interpret the results. They will allow us to check the strains of pneumococci that cause disease to make sure that new ones, not covered by the vaccine, do not become more common and reduce the effectiveness of vaccine and that antibiotic resistance does not increase further. The methods will also allow us to study differences between the small proportion of GBS strains that cause neonatal infection and the majority that are carried harmlessly by pregnant women and are of little risk to their babies. Eventually this should allow doctors to identify women whose babies are most at risk, reduce unnecessary antibiotic use.Read moreRead less
Can Lure And Kill Strategies Prevent Dengue Transmission In North Queensland, Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,621.00
Summary
Dengue fever is a growing threat to human health in the tropics. In north Queensland, 11 dengue outbreaks have resulted in 985 confirmed cases since 2000. Furthermore, 2004 saw the emergence of severe disease, with 4 cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever resulting in at least one death in the Torres Strait. The current dengue managment plan employs methods to control larvae and adults of the mosquito vector, Aedes aegypti. Adult control consists of spraying dark, protected areas inside houses and b ....Dengue fever is a growing threat to human health in the tropics. In north Queensland, 11 dengue outbreaks have resulted in 985 confirmed cases since 2000. Furthermore, 2004 saw the emergence of severe disease, with 4 cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever resulting in at least one death in the Torres Strait. The current dengue managment plan employs methods to control larvae and adults of the mosquito vector, Aedes aegypti. Adult control consists of spraying dark, protected areas inside houses and buildings with a residual pyrethroid insectcide. However, this method is laborious and exposes residents and the environment to pesticide. Our research team, funded by NHMRC project grant no. 279401, has developed lure and kill methods to kill Ae. aegypti mosquitoes using traps. These traps are baited with chemicals that attract female dengue mosquitoes trying to bite (host-seeking traps; HSTs) or trying to lay eggs (lethal ovitraps; LOs). The use of traps to kill specific target insects is termed lure and kill strategy. This strategy reduces the amount of pesticide used by 1000X, and are twice as fast to employ than house spraying. We are seeking funding to conduct a series of field trials to provide proof of concept that the lure and kill strategy will rapidly reduce populations of Ae. aegypti and thus stop dengue transmission. These trials will be conducted in the Cairns area. We will also trial a biodegradable lethal ovitrap that could be put into yards without having to return to retrieve the trap. The trap would simply biodegrade after 4 weeks, and thus pose no threat to become a mosquito breeding site once the pesticide had become ineffective. A biodegradable trap would be especially useful in the Torres Strait where return visits are costly and time consuming. Finally, we propose to trial a new paper strip device that emits vapors of the pyrethriod insecticide metofluthrin, shown to repel mosquitoes for weeks, to set in dengue case houses.Read moreRead less
Improving Global Tuberculosis Control With The AuTuMN Platform
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$655,059.00
Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) is the world’s leading infectious killer, with the failure of global control responsible for the vast majority of Australia’s cases. Using our robustly developed software platform, we have performed several country-level studies to predict the future burden of disease and compare the impact of alternative responses to controlling the epidemic. In this project, we will extend our platform to perform simulations at the global level and answer key questions in TB control.
An Evidence Based Framework For Establishing Public Health Microbial Genomics In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,413,093.00
Summary
Microbial genomics is a powerful laboratory tool to characterise human pathogens at the highest level, allowing greater understanding of the source and spread of pathogens that infect humans. In this project, through close links with the Victorian Government, we will determine how this exciting new technology can best be applied to prevent the spread of high risk human pathogens, and inform public health action.
Development Of Contemporary Surveillance And Control Methodologies For Dengue And Other Mosquito-borne Viral Diseases.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$512,290.00
Summary
This research proposal will address the need for better surveillance and control methodologies for mosquito-borne viral diseases and their vectors, including dengue and its global mosquito vector, Ae. aegypti, and a range of other important arboviral diseases throughout Australia. Research will focus in three areas: surveillance and control of Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses; development of contemporary risk management frameworks for dengue; and innovative investigations of insect age to pr ....This research proposal will address the need for better surveillance and control methodologies for mosquito-borne viral diseases and their vectors, including dengue and its global mosquito vector, Ae. aegypti, and a range of other important arboviral diseases throughout Australia. Research will focus in three areas: surveillance and control of Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses; development of contemporary risk management frameworks for dengue; and innovative investigations of insect age to provide evidence based monitoring and novel approaches to arbovirus disease prevention.Read moreRead less
Statistical Methods To Assist The Control Of Communicable Diseases, And Their Application
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$211,527.00
Summary
A range of programs, such as vaccination schedules and intervention in outbreaks, is in place to reduce our burden of illness from infectious diseases. This project aims to develop new methods, based on models and associated statistical analyses, to help ensure that our control programs are based on the best available evidence. There are five specific themes: 1. Developed methods for predicting major outbreaks of diseases and appy them to Australian data on measles, pertussis and Ross River viru ....A range of programs, such as vaccination schedules and intervention in outbreaks, is in place to reduce our burden of illness from infectious diseases. This project aims to develop new methods, based on models and associated statistical analyses, to help ensure that our control programs are based on the best available evidence. There are five specific themes: 1. Developed methods for predicting major outbreaks of diseases and appy them to Australian data on measles, pertussis and Ross River virus. The new methods will enable timely intervention to reduce the population risk from these diseases, and to guide the proposed elimination of measles from Australia. 2. The current concept of vaccine efficacy, which is central to the epidemiological assessment of vaccines, performs poorly when the vaccine provides only partial protection, when immunity wanes over time and when infected vaccinees have a lower infectivity. A concept of vaccine efficacy will be developed that overcomes these weaknesses. This concept will find widespread use in epidemiology. 3. Data available from 80 outbreak investigations of transmissible diseases will be analysed to assess the relative effectiveness of various intervention steps. 4. A comprehensive model, and associated computer software, will be developed as a tool for assessing the relative merits of different vaccination schedules. It will be applied to address Australian policy issues for vaccination against pertussis, chickenpox and rubella. 5. The method of backprojection for estimating trends in HIV infection and predicting AIDS incidence will be enhanced to incorporate newly available data in which HIV and AIDS diagnoses are linked. This will enable a precise assessment of infection incidence among heterosexuals and other exposure categories with relatively few cases, to ensure that HIV does not spread more widely.Read moreRead less
Monocytes On Patrol – Key Mediators Of Renal Injury In Glomerulonephritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$772,888.00
Summary
The glomerulus is the filtering component of the kidney. In many diseases, it can be the target of an inappropriate inflammatory response. As part of this response, white blood cells accumulate in the glomerulus where they cause damage. In this project, we make use of special microscopes to examine the glomerulus during an inflammatory response, with the aim of understanding the actions of white blood cells present in glomeruli and how they cause inflammation and damage the glomerulus.
Optimising disease surveillance to support decision-making. COVID-19 has demonstrated the critical role of epidemic data and analytics in guiding government response to pandemic threats, reducing disease and saving lives. The demand for epidemic analytics for response to threats of national significance will only grow. The goals of this project are to 1) determine the combination(s) of surveillance methods that provide the most useful data for epidemic analysis and 2) translate these findings in ....Optimising disease surveillance to support decision-making. COVID-19 has demonstrated the critical role of epidemic data and analytics in guiding government response to pandemic threats, reducing disease and saving lives. The demand for epidemic analytics for response to threats of national significance will only grow. The goals of this project are to 1) determine the combination(s) of surveillance methods that provide the most useful data for epidemic analysis and 2) translate these findings into the blueprint for a next-generation infectious disease surveillance system for Australia. We will use a simulation-evaluation approach, coupling methods from infectious disease modelling with those from information theory optimal design. Outcomes will enable more tailored and effective pandemic response.Read moreRead less