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Estimating The Burden Of Group A Streptococcal Diseases In Victoria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$386,760.00
Summary
Despite the considerable advances in the diagnosis and treatment of group A streptococcal (GAS) diseases made during the last century, the impressive spectrum of infections caused by this organism continues to have a significant impact in developed countries. This spectrum includes diseases that are mild but common (e.g. sore throat, skin sores), rare but very severe (e.g. bloodstream infections, flesh-eating bacteria) and those that are more common in developing countries and the Aboriginal pop ....Despite the considerable advances in the diagnosis and treatment of group A streptococcal (GAS) diseases made during the last century, the impressive spectrum of infections caused by this organism continues to have a significant impact in developed countries. This spectrum includes diseases that are mild but common (e.g. sore throat, skin sores), rare but very severe (e.g. bloodstream infections, flesh-eating bacteria) and those that are more common in developing countries and the Aboriginal population (e.g. rheumatic fever, kidney disease). Streptococcal sore throat remains one of the most common childhood infections, and severe group A streptococcal diseases are thought to be increasing in incidence in Australia. Yet, there are no accurate data on the incidence and costs of these or other GAS diseases in non-Aboriginal Australians, or in most other populations around the world. It is becoming more urgent to collect this data as numerous vaccine candidates are entering human trials, new approaches to the treatment of sore throat are emerging, and new strategies to treat and control the spread of severe disease are being developed. We propose a comprehensive strategy to measure the incidence, prevalence and costs of each group of GAS diseases. We will follow a group of families for 12 months to detect cases of GAS sore throat and skin sores and measure the impact on the family. We will survey children in schools to estimate the prevalence of skin sores. We will check hospital records to calculate the number of cases of rheumatic fever and kidney disease. And we will maintain surveillance for severe diseases by checking hospital and laboratory records. We will also check to see if family members of people with severe disease have the GAS bacterium in their throats. We will then compile these data into a comprehensive estimate of the burden of disease in Victoria, and estimate the cost-effectiveness of different treatment and prevention strategies.Read moreRead less
A New Model For The Pathogenesis Of Rheumatic Fever: Superantigen Priming Of The Immune Response To Group A Streptococci
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$248,820.00
Summary
Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is now rare in developed countries. However, it remains a major problem in Aboriginal Australians in the NT where the rate of ARF is the highest in the world. This leads to high rates of rheumatic heart disease (up to 3% of individuals in some communities) and a premature mortality of over four times that for developing countries. Immunisation and improved living conditions offer a long-term solution but these remain a distant prospect. In the short and medium term, c ....Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is now rare in developed countries. However, it remains a major problem in Aboriginal Australians in the NT where the rate of ARF is the highest in the world. This leads to high rates of rheumatic heart disease (up to 3% of individuals in some communities) and a premature mortality of over four times that for developing countries. Immunisation and improved living conditions offer a long-term solution but these remain a distant prospect. In the short and medium term, control of this ARF will partly depend on new and better treatment and prevention strategies. To achieve these goals a deeper understanding of the immune mechanisms underlying this disease is urgently needed. It is known that ARF is caused by an abnormal immune response following streptococcal infection. This leads to the production of cells called T cells that attack the body s own tissues rather than the bacteria itself. This autoimmune disease is responsible for the heart damage that underlies ARF. It is believed that this proces only occurs when susceptible individuals are infected with specific rheumatogenic strains of streptococci. However there are a number of deficiencies in this model and it is proposed that there is an additional factor responsible for the abnormal immune response in ARF. This project will explore the possibility that bacterial toxins called superantigens are the critical missing factor , by studying the immune response in ARF. Superantigens are produced by certain streptococci and staphylococci, and are potent in minute quantities causing widespread activation of the immune system. They have been found to play an important role in a number of autoimmune diseases and the type of immune response found in ARF fits well with that expected if superantigens were involved. If superantigens play an important role in causing the abnormal immune response in ARF then a number of new avenues would open for the treatment and prevention of this disease.Read moreRead less
Group 13 Mixed Halide-Hydride and Rare Earth Complexes - New Selective Chiral Hydridic or Low Valent Reducing Agents. This project will make a landmark contribution to two areas of metallohydride chemistry. Both studies will utilise and develop metals that have traditionally been mined and exported from these shores while concurrently imported as value added products at vastly inflated cost. This research will identify knock-on applications in order to stem this financial bias. The new paths to ....Group 13 Mixed Halide-Hydride and Rare Earth Complexes - New Selective Chiral Hydridic or Low Valent Reducing Agents. This project will make a landmark contribution to two areas of metallohydride chemistry. Both studies will utilise and develop metals that have traditionally been mined and exported from these shores while concurrently imported as value added products at vastly inflated cost. This research will identify knock-on applications in order to stem this financial bias. The new paths to rare earth (= Ln) hydrides will have broad industrial appeal, particularly for new materials, where, like similar group 13 materials, they may be used in the deposition of Ln films or even as precursors to superconducting solids. It is anticipated industrial collaboration will ensue. Australia will be promoted as a developer and innovator of frontier technologies.Read moreRead less
Intelligent CRM through Conjoint Data Mining of Heterogeneous Sources. This project aims to investigate and develop techniques to improve customer relationship management (CRM) for public and private organisations. It aims to develop an intelligent framework to assist in adaptive marketing and management of customers. The framework is designed to manage multiple information resources for information sharing, and to synthesise knowledge through visualisation. Intended outcomes are standardised XM ....Intelligent CRM through Conjoint Data Mining of Heterogeneous Sources. This project aims to investigate and develop techniques to improve customer relationship management (CRM) for public and private organisations. It aims to develop an intelligent framework to assist in adaptive marketing and management of customers. The framework is designed to manage multiple information resources for information sharing, and to synthesise knowledge through visualisation. Intended outcomes are standardised XML profiles for the different data sets and business processes, novel techniques for conjoint mining of structured and semi-structured data, and adaptive business intelligence techniques. The results will be validated using large real-world data sets provided by the partner organisation.Read moreRead less
ARC Research Network in Enterprise Information Infrastructure. EII targets consolidated research towards the comprehensive development & establishment of advanced information infrastructures. Its prime purpose is to provide a forum for intellectual exchange by diverse yet complementary research groups, to address the fundamental research problems faced by scientific & business communities when dealing with deployment of information technology to globally distributed, and data intensive environme ....ARC Research Network in Enterprise Information Infrastructure. EII targets consolidated research towards the comprehensive development & establishment of advanced information infrastructures. Its prime purpose is to provide a forum for intellectual exchange by diverse yet complementary research groups, to address the fundamental research problems faced by scientific & business communities when dealing with deployment of information technology to globally distributed, and data intensive environments. EII will address 3 tightly coupled research themes: Ability to interoperate across existing heterogenous platforms & applications; Efficient processing of very large data sets; Technology adoption & impact. Generic results will be applicable to e-science and large business information systems installations.Read moreRead less
Theory and applications of symmetries of relational structures. Relational structures underpin information science, and symmetries of the structures determine their behaviour. This project exploits the interplay between several distinct branches of mathematics concerned with symmetries of relational structures, and will lead to new understandings and breakthroughs of high theoretical interest.
Accounting for Sustainability: Developing an Integrated Approach for Sustainability Assessments. In today's challenging world, we need to find new ways to sustain our cities, communities and organisations. In the past decade, various bodies have developed highly sophisticated indicators for monitoring and measuring sustainability. However these indicators often become detached from practical tasks at hand - managing businesses, preserving the environment, or promoting social and cultural well-be ....Accounting for Sustainability: Developing an Integrated Approach for Sustainability Assessments. In today's challenging world, we need to find new ways to sustain our cities, communities and organisations. In the past decade, various bodies have developed highly sophisticated indicators for monitoring and measuring sustainability. However these indicators often become detached from practical tasks at hand - managing businesses, preserving the environment, or promoting social and cultural well-being. This project will develop a framework and software system for evaluating and applying indicators in common planning and reporting situations. The project will benefit Australian organisations by a) developing clear, practical sustainability goals; b) lowering cost of reporting compliance and c) improving sustainability practices.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100023
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
Integrated command and control facility for large-scale critical infrastructure management. This is a test bed facility for achieving sustainable operation of Australia's critical infrastructure, particularly at airports. The facility will enable an integrated and coordinated strategy to increase operational resilience while not losing sight of the complex nature and dynamic requirements of critical infrastructure management.
Development of computer-based decision support tools using population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic models. Diabetes is an epidemic that presents an enormous burden to health systems of both developed and developing nations. Australia spends an estimated $35 billion on the condition annually, with costs set to rise with increasing diagnosis rates. Additionally, the burden of diabetes is more prominent in indigenous Australians. We intend to improve management of this disease in non-indigenous ....Development of computer-based decision support tools using population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic models. Diabetes is an epidemic that presents an enormous burden to health systems of both developed and developing nations. Australia spends an estimated $35 billion on the condition annually, with costs set to rise with increasing diagnosis rates. Additionally, the burden of diabetes is more prominent in indigenous Australians. We intend to improve management of this disease in non-indigenous and indigenous Australians by development of a user-friendly computer-based decision support tool for doctors. Once established, this tool will have applications in other fields of health care where support is needed to make informed dosing decisions for critical medications and have the potential to reduce financial and social impacts of chronic disease.Read moreRead less
Smart micro learning with open education resources. This project aims to enhance personalised learning systems for mobile device users . Open online education is gaining in popularity with its ease of use. The project tackles the problems in relation to more and more popular mobile and ‘micro learning’, where people learn on the move and within small units of time. Ontology and machine learning technologies used in this project will help to optimise the offering of open education resources, by p ....Smart micro learning with open education resources. This project aims to enhance personalised learning systems for mobile device users . Open online education is gaining in popularity with its ease of use. The project tackles the problems in relation to more and more popular mobile and ‘micro learning’, where people learn on the move and within small units of time. Ontology and machine learning technologies used in this project will help to optimise the offering of open education resources, by providing solutions meeting each individual learner’s needs. The main outcome will consolidate a cloud based micro learning framework through integrating a group of novel algorithms.Read moreRead less