Bioproduction and bioavailability of steroidal saponins, bioactives in herbal medicines. Steroidal saponins are a class of natural products that are common constituents of many herbal medicines and have been associated with many biological activities. Comprehensive studies into their biological activities are hampered by the small quantities available through isolation and the complexity of synthesis. The aim of this project is to identify, isolate and express the biosynthetic genes responsible ....Bioproduction and bioavailability of steroidal saponins, bioactives in herbal medicines. Steroidal saponins are a class of natural products that are common constituents of many herbal medicines and have been associated with many biological activities. Comprehensive studies into their biological activities are hampered by the small quantities available through isolation and the complexity of synthesis. The aim of this project is to identify, isolate and express the biosynthetic genes responsible for the critical steps in the synthesis of these compounds in the herbs themselves. This will allow for production of steroidal saponins using the isolated enzymes, facilitate biological studies and allow the production of critical standards required by the herbal industry for validation and regulation of herbal extracts.Read moreRead less
Therapeutic pluralism in pregnancy, labour and birthing: Decision-making, communication and inter-professional dynamics. Women are frequent users of practices outside 'mainstream' medicine. Pregnancy, labour and birthing (PLB) is a key area of integration, but no research has examined how women perceive obstetrics, midwifery and complementary medicine, or the impact on their health and wellbeing. This study systematically document Australian women's experiences of PLB with a nationally-represe ....Therapeutic pluralism in pregnancy, labour and birthing: Decision-making, communication and inter-professional dynamics. Women are frequent users of practices outside 'mainstream' medicine. Pregnancy, labour and birthing (PLB) is a key area of integration, but no research has examined how women perceive obstetrics, midwifery and complementary medicine, or the impact on their health and wellbeing. This study systematically document Australian women's experiences of PLB with a nationally-representative sample of women of child-bearing age to document decision making, lay-professional communication, and inter-professional dynamics.Read moreRead less
Neuroimaging changes underpinning improvements in cognition in the elderly. Natural supplements are often used to improve brain and cognitive function, however, we do not know how these supplements work in the brain. Using novel brain imaging scans, the project will investigate whether 12-month administration of two promising natural supplements improves brain markers of ageing and cognitive decline in an elderly population.
Navigating back pain care: a sociological study of women's illness pathways within and between intersecting social worlds. Back pain affects most people at some point in their life. It is difficult to treat, choosing a provider can be confusing, and it is costly for the Government. This project will provide comprehensive data on women's journeys through back pain care, their experiences of different providers, and how they negotiate competing ideological perspectives.
The changing landscapes of medical pluralism: a sociological analysis of patient experiences and decision making in Australia, India and Brazil. This project examines the respective roles of biomedicine and traditional, complementary and alternative medicine in supporting health needs in Australia, Brazil and India. It will be the first sociological study to compare how different countries balance biomedical approaches to health with more alternative approaches.
Evaluating viscum album in tumour eradication strategies. Extracts from the plant parasite mistletoe are, internationally, the most widely used complementary cancer treatments. Providing clear evidence-based research, this project will focus on enhancing mistletoe anti-cancer treatment through the development of novel liposome-based tumour therapies.
Nanoliposomal delivery of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to neuronal cells. Omega-3 fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are essential for brain function. They are effective as adjunct treatments for depression, but at high doses. The project will develop nanoliposomes to target delivery of DHA to brain cells. Efficient delivery of DHA to brain cells will increase its effectiveness as a dietary supplement and lessen the burden of disease.
Examining healthcare professionals' communication across the surgical pathway to improve patient safety. Recent data show breakdowns in communication contributed to 16% of sentinel events in Australia, the majority of which were of a surgical nature. Financial costs associated with adverse events are enormous, estimated at around $A2billion/year. Economic burden is predicted to increase with further complexities surrounding patients' surgical care. This study will result in new knowledge about c ....Examining healthcare professionals' communication across the surgical pathway to improve patient safety. Recent data show breakdowns in communication contributed to 16% of sentinel events in Australia, the majority of which were of a surgical nature. Financial costs associated with adverse events are enormous, estimated at around $A2billion/year. Economic burden is predicted to increase with further complexities surrounding patients' surgical care. This study will result in new knowledge about communication patterns to inform the development of reporting methods and strategies that positively influence the practices of healthcare professionals. Strategies could be extrapolated to the broader healthcare sector, and provide tactical direction aimed at averting clinical errors, preventing patient harm and reducing healthcare costs.Read moreRead less
Studying the impact of pulsed magnetic fields on neural tissue. This project will determine the optimal parameters of pulsed magnetic fields for treating the ageing and/or damaged brain. The safety features, low cost and compact size of the medical device being investigated maximise compliance and make it relevant to populations in remote and rural areas.
Mechanism of synergy of ingredients in natural products and functional foods. Synergism is the interaction of two substances to produce an effect larger than the sum of the separate effects. This project aims to determine the basic biological mechanisms or molecular targets by which the synergy is occurring and to identify the bioactive compounds involved. Understanding how synergism works should help us to identify other synergistic compounds, allowing optimization of products for better effica ....Mechanism of synergy of ingredients in natural products and functional foods. Synergism is the interaction of two substances to produce an effect larger than the sum of the separate effects. This project aims to determine the basic biological mechanisms or molecular targets by which the synergy is occurring and to identify the bioactive compounds involved. Understanding how synergism works should help us to identify other synergistic compounds, allowing optimization of products for better efficacy and quality, and leading to new products that have a significant market advantage over currently available products. This project will help to develop improved natural products that could push this industry advantage further.Read moreRead less