Role Of Maternal And Obstetric Factors On Long-term Child Health & Educational Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$466,492.00
Summary
Natasha Nassar’s research program uses advanced research methods to address new challenges in child health in a portfolio that extends from bench-to-bedside-to-policy. She will investigate the role of maternal health, serum biomarkers, pregnancy complications and obstetric interventions, and birth on subsequent child health and development. Identification of at-risk children and involvement of clinicians and policy-makers should see her research result in improved child health outcomes.
Psychosocial Impact Of Genetic Counselling And Testing
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$782,856.00
Summary
This research program assesses the psychological and behavioural impact of new genetic technologies to allow the identification of individuals most at risk of developing negative outcomes and the planning of appropriate targeted interventions. It will lead to the development, evaluation and dissemination of highly innovative patient education strategies that facilitate informed choices and support people in translating their choices into appropriate screening and risk-reducing behaviours.
Developing And Measuring Palliative Care Decision Making Skill
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$137,000.00
Summary
Relationships and communication skills that health professionals develop with patients are critical to patient involvement in decision making. This project will build on previous decision making research and the development of palliative care education for undergraduate students. The key components of successful decision making skills will be investigated and an education program and skill measures for undergraduate and postgraduate health professional students will be developed and pilot tested ....Relationships and communication skills that health professionals develop with patients are critical to patient involvement in decision making. This project will build on previous decision making research and the development of palliative care education for undergraduate students. The key components of successful decision making skills will be investigated and an education program and skill measures for undergraduate and postgraduate health professional students will be developed and pilot tested.Read moreRead less
Infant Thyroid Hormone Levels And Long-term Child Educational Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$149,782.00
Summary
Adequate levels of newborn thyroid hormones are essential for brain development.Newborn screening for thyroid hormone deficiency ensures early identification, treatment & prevention of severe intellectual disability.But there is clinical uncertainty in mildly abnormal levels.We will assess thyroid hormone levels & subsequent educational outcomes in 1.5M Australian babies.There is potential to identify infants who, without treatment, may suffer longterm disability & lower educational achievement
Infant Thyroid Hormone Levels And Long-term Child Educational Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$490,495.00
Summary
Adequate levels of newborn thyroid hormones are essential for brain development.Newborn screening for thyroid hormone deficiency ensures early identification, treatment & prevention of severe intellectual disability.But there is clinical uncertainty in mildly abnormal levels.We will assess thyroid hormone levels & subsequent educational outcomes in 1.5M Australian babies.There is potential to identify infants who, without treatment, may suffer longterm disability & lower educational achievement
Understanding How Language And Reading Problems Develop: A Population-based Longitudinal Study From Infancy To Age 7
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$667,507.00
Summary
Early language and reading problems are common and therefore significant public health problems. They are disabling and have life-long implications for oral and written communication skills, social and emotional well-being, cognition, behaviour, academic achievement and employment. This study will address the following three problems: 1. To date no study has documented how language and reading problems develop from infancy (8 months) through to school age (7 years). 2. Little is known about risk ....Early language and reading problems are common and therefore significant public health problems. They are disabling and have life-long implications for oral and written communication skills, social and emotional well-being, cognition, behaviour, academic achievement and employment. This study will address the following three problems: 1. To date no study has documented how language and reading problems develop from infancy (8 months) through to school age (7 years). 2. Little is known about risk factors, identified early in infancy and childhood, that can be reliably used to predict language and reading problems later in childhood. 3. The relationships between language difficulties and reading problems are poorly understood. Therefore, we currently have no satisfactory methods for reliably detecting which children at much younger ages are at risk of later language disorders or reading problems. Without this information it is impossible to develop effective prevention and early intervention programs. These programs are critical if we are to: a) Prevent language and reading problems from occurring, thereby reducing the prevalence of the problem b) Intervene early in childhood, thereby reducing in the longer term the burden and cost associated with language and reading problems. The proposed study builds on an existing substantial investment by the NHMRC in the Early Language in Victoria Study (ELVS). It will provide a world-first description of the evolution of language difficulties and reading problems from infancy through to school age within a single population cohort.Read moreRead less
The Pen, Or Is It The Spoken Word, That Is Mightier Than The Sword. A Study Focussed On Defining, Teaching And Assessing Skills In Effective And Therapeutic Communication
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$125,503.00
Summary
The aim of this research is to define the essential elements in effective and helpful health professional communication, convert these elements to measurable learning objectives, develop a valid method to assess competency and evaluate change that occurs when students participate in programs designed to develop communication competencies. (500 character limit including spaces and line breaks)
Increasing Adolescent Resilience Against Depression: Extending RAP To Include A Peer-Interpersonal Relatedness Component
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$76,361.00
Summary
Adolescence is a challenging time and depression may develop due to the stress of school work, parental expectations, peer pressure, or family conflict. The Resourceful Adolescent Program (RAP) teaches coping strategies to build self-esteem and deal with stress. Good peer relationships also protect youths from depression: The RAP-PIR project teaches adolescents additional social skills, strategies for managing bullying, and friendship skills. We expect RAP-PIR will help prevent youth depression.
Early Development, MicroRNAs, Dendritogenesis And Cognition
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$313,557.00
Summary
Neurodevelopmental disorders are characterised by a marked disruption of learning and memory, which is reflected by structural changes in the brains of affected individuals. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms of this pathology or whether it is directly related to cognitive deficits across the lifespan. How the brain is wired during early development and its relationship to learning and memory in adulthood will therefore be determined.