Fast And Efficient Assessment Of Dose In Small Targets In Radiotherapy: Effect Of Motion In Clinical Research And Implementation Of Dynamic Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$501,265.00
Summary
The continued progress of radiation therapy for cancer patients has been driven by technology developments that have increased the complexity of radiation delivery, but has come at the cost of increased potential for errors in radiation planning and delivery. The aim of this project is to implement an instrument for verification of treatment delivered to organs with large variation of shape and position due to respiration. This will enhance treatment outcome and patient quality of life.
The Validity Of ‘8 Instruments’ Used To Include Quality Of Life In Economic Evaluation In 8 Disease Areas And 6 Countries
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$856,212.00
Summary
The Quality of Life is incorporated in the economic evaluation of health services using different ‘utility instruments’. Small scale comparative studies reveal large discrepancies between measurements. Very few studies combine multiple utility and disease specific instruments and to date no studies have compared utility instruments with scales measuring subjective wellbeing (happiness) or human capabilities. This project will mount the largest cross national survey to date of these questions.
Long Term Consequences Of Perturbing Early Embryo Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$549,515.00
Summary
Assisted reproductive techniques are normally considered safe, but there are increased risks for these newborns which may be caused by these procedures. We have developed mouse models that are sensitive to these effects and have used them to show that gene expression is altered in mice that develop from cultured embryos. Now we will use these models to work out how to reduce these effects and ensure the ongoing health of babies born with assisted reproduction.
Splice Correction As A Treatment For Rare Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$824,316.00
Summary
We propose that a strategy of bringing effective and personalised treatments to amenable patients with rare genetic diseases, though ambitious, is readily achievable and opportune. Importantly, a consensus approach will facilitate expediting potentially curative treatments for many patients with rare diseases that would be unlikely to be commercially viable if considered individually.
Metabolic And Molecular Basis Of Embryo Signalling
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$409,836.00
Summary
Cells in the body are powered by mitochondria that essentially generate the energy required for development. This grant will determine how the environment affects the mitochondria in the developing embryo and determine the impacts to the embryo and pregnancy if a mitochondria is partially shut down.
Artificial Synthesis Of The Type III Secretion System Translocon. A New Approach To Vaccine Design
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$668,742.00
Summary
Today hospitals are plagued with bacterial infections that do not respond to antibiotics. The problem exists because although antibiotics are effective at killing bacteria, this paradoxically also helps the drug-resistant bacteria thrive. We will pioneer a completely new approach to vaccine design that allows us to construct a vaccine that protects us from bacterial infection without killing the bacteria. The vaccine should therefore be far less susceptible to drug resistance.
Three percent of children born in Australia are from IVF. It is typical in IVF to replace 2 or more embryos in order to attain an acceptable pregnancy rate. However, twin pregnancies are common as a result, with 25% of all twins coming from IVF. Twins represent a real medical issue for mother and infants. Therefore, this research will use new highly innovative technologies to determine the health of an individual embryo in the culture dish prior to transfer, making the selection and transfer of ....Three percent of children born in Australia are from IVF. It is typical in IVF to replace 2 or more embryos in order to attain an acceptable pregnancy rate. However, twin pregnancies are common as a result, with 25% of all twins coming from IVF. Twins represent a real medical issue for mother and infants. Therefore, this research will use new highly innovative technologies to determine the health of an individual embryo in the culture dish prior to transfer, making the selection and transfer of an individual embryo a reality.Read moreRead less
Recent Changes In IVF Clinical Practice: Data Linkage To Investigate Their Impact On Fetal Growth And Birth Defects.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$219,076.00
Summary
In Australia 1 in 25 births are conceived from IVF treatment and this is increasing with the continuing trend towards later childbearing. This study will use linked population data to assess fetal growth and birth defects in IVF-conceived children following major changes to IVF practice in the last decade. There are limited data internationally on health outcomes following the use of more recent IVF techniques and insufficient data to allow for adequate pre-treatment counselling.
Engineering An Osteochondral Tissue For Cartilage Defect Repair
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$438,568.00
Summary
Osteoarthritis is the leading cause of pain and disability in Australia. Our team has developed a novel method to make new cartilage tissue from patients' own bone marrow stem cells. Through NHMRC funding we will optimize this process and test the repair technology in a large animal model.
Medically Assisted Fertility Treatment And Infant Outcomes: The Role Of IVF (in Vitro Fertilisation), Ovulation Induction And Subfertility
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$463,001.00
Summary
Medically assisted fertility treatment such as IVF and fertility medications account for the birth of at least one in 25 children born in Australia. While the health outcomes of these children are reassuring there is a lack of conclusive findings on the clinical role of IVF and non-IVF treatments and on their safety, particularly the newer forms of IVF. This research will fill this evidence gap, informing patients and clinicians on the safety and effectiveness of fertility treatments.