I am a speech pathologist working with patients who have suffered a traumatic brain injury or stroke. Brain injury is the leading cause of disability in young Australians with devastating life consequences. A common problem is communication difficulties, which leads to relationship breakdowns, unemployability, and social isolation. This Fellowship will deliver innovative communication treatments to improve the social outcomes of people with brain injury, their families and the community.
The proposed program of research consists of (i) conducting a new trial to examine feasible and relatively low-cost physical activity promotion programs for adults with pre-diabetes; (ii) completing a series of existing major-funded studies relating to health promotion and education programs to promote physical activity; and (iii) I will serve as the Director for the University of Newcastle’s recently-funded Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition.
Innovative School-based Interventions To Improve Mental Health And The Social And Emotional Development Of Australian Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$763,845.00
Summary
I am a Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Western Australia and the Telethon Kids Institute. My research develops and delivers interventions that improve the quality of life, health, education, safety and social justice outcomes for Australian children. My work is particularly focused on ways to reduce harms from bullying and cyberbullying among children and adolescents.
Through this Australia Fellowship, Prof Keall and his tream will substantially improve the accuracy and effectiveness of radiation therapy for cancer by developing new techniques that will be able to ‘target’ a tumour in real-time and ‘concentrate fire’ on the most resistant and aggressive parts of it. Success in physiological targeting will create a paradigm shift in radiation therapy and could literally be a lifesaver. It’s a big challenge, but if this five-year research program succeeds, it w ....Through this Australia Fellowship, Prof Keall and his tream will substantially improve the accuracy and effectiveness of radiation therapy for cancer by developing new techniques that will be able to ‘target’ a tumour in real-time and ‘concentrate fire’ on the most resistant and aggressive parts of it. Success in physiological targeting will create a paradigm shift in radiation therapy and could literally be a lifesaver. It’s a big challenge, but if this five-year research program succeeds, it will pay big dividendsRead moreRead less
Mental illness is the largest single cause of disability in Australia. While mental illness is increasingly recognised as a disorder of the brain, a patient’s diagnosis, treatment and prediction of course of outcome is seldom guided by the results of a biological test. My research aims to combine the power of modern brain imaging and cutting-edge bioinformatics to enable a biological approach to the problem of mental illness.
Lipid Biology For Prediction And Prevention Of Psychotic Disorders And Persistent Depression In Young People
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$638,517.00
Summary
My vision for the next 5 years is to establish ?-3PUFAs as a first-line treatment for indicated prevention of psychosis and persistent depression, as an alternative to conventional antidepressants for the treatment of moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms in adolescents and to build capacity in this area by training the next generation of researchers.
Public Health Communication Strategies To Reduce Population Smoking Prevalence
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$753,300.00
Summary
This research program will investigate the potential for and impact of advanced tobacco control policies in reducing population smoking prevalence. My research will assess the effects of tobacco taxation, further tobacco marketing restrictions and mass communication strategies on smoking attitudes and behaviours. I will also extend the methods and measures I have developed in tobacco control to improve health communication in obesity prevention and alcohol harm prevention.