Catalytic Questions: Facilitating Evidence-based Partnerships Between Health Professionals And Health Consumers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$199,117.00
Summary
This research program will address the key issues of encouraging consumers to be more actively involved in their healthcare by testing the effectiveness of a set of questions to prompt doctors to discuss evidence. The program will go on to investigate ways to encourage patients to ask those questions when consulting with their healthcare practitioner and will develop an education program for consumers to learn more about how make smart health choices.
Novel Strategy For The Treatment Of Large Bone Defects Using A Unique Biomaterial With Tailored Microstructure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,644.00
Summary
There is a rapidly increasing and pressing medical need for the development of synthetic implants that can regenerate large amounts of lost or diseased bone. This project will produce a unique implant with optimal mechanical and biological performance, which represents a viable alternative to bone grafting with broad applications for the repair of large or challenging bone defects. Such an achievement will produce significant healthcare benefits and improved long-term outcomes.
Design Of Cas9 Nucleases With Reduced Basal DNA Binding And Enhanced Recombinase Activity For Human Genome Engineering
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$385,761.00
Summary
Cas9 has recently emerged as a transformative tool for genome engineering. The enzyme is guided by a short RNA to pair with a DNA sequence of interest and to introduce a break. This DNA break becomes a substrate for repair pathways: Non-Homologous End-Joining or Homologous Recombination. The rate of HR is typically lower, limiting the efficiency of insertion of new DNA. The project aims to determine these reasons for limited rates of HR, and to improve these rates through protein engineering.
Using SMS And New Information Communication Technologies To Improve Health In Indonesia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$427,337.00
Summary
Information and communication technologies, including mobile phones and the internet have dramatically changed the ways in which people communicate and interact, helping to reduce barriers to accessing information. Health providers should take full advantage of these technologies, integrating them into health programs to help improve access to healthcare and health-related information. This proposal aims to pilot and evaluate the integration of new technology in health services and programs.
Engineered Spiky Silica Nanoparticles As Effective Immune Adjuvants By Activating Inflammasome And Enhancing Cellular Uptake
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
Vaccination is a triumph of preventative healthcare in Australia and worldwide. Despite substantial advances in vaccine development, some of the most lethal diseases still lack effective vaccines. This project aims to generate a novel immune adjuvant with excellent safety to promote antigen immunity by rationally designing surface structure of nanomaterials. Successful completing of this project has great potential to bring new, safe and potent vaccines for some infectious disease and cancer.
Functional Nano-cement Scaffolds For The Treatment Of Osteoporotic Bone Defects
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,768.00
Summary
Osteoporosis affects 1.2 million Australians and will cost $33.6 billion by 2022. This study aims to develop a novel nano-cement platform for custom-designed bone repair in osteoporosis, by using purpose-designed nanomaterials and advanced 3D printing technique. The research findings will lead to the development of a new bone repair strategy, expand knowledge on both biomaterials engineering and osteoporosis treatment, and improve the quality of life of Australians.