Improving Access To Optimal Clinical Care For People With Chronic Hepatitis B Through The Implementation Of A Nurse-led Model Of Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$176,250.00
Summary
Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a global public health issue. Best practice guidelines indicate that early diagnosis and treatment can reduce mortality, however, guidelines are not being followed because uptake of management and treatment is low. This project aims to address the gap between optimal and current CHB management through implementation of a nursing service, which will build capacity, and target the need for improved management for this vulnerable group of patients.
Development Of A PET Detection System Prototype With Depth Of Interaction Capability
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,906.00
Summary
This development project invovles the development of a slim-line Positron Emission Tomogrphy (PET) detection sub-module, the crucial component of PET scanners, that is small and extremely flexible. It is planned to utilize this module in the design of customized new commercial PET scanners ideal for diagnosing human brain and breast disorders. The development will proceed in collaboration with Insight Oceania-ADAC, Sydney. Insight Oceania-ADAC are very excited by the potential applications and f ....This development project invovles the development of a slim-line Positron Emission Tomogrphy (PET) detection sub-module, the crucial component of PET scanners, that is small and extremely flexible. It is planned to utilize this module in the design of customized new commercial PET scanners ideal for diagnosing human brain and breast disorders. The development will proceed in collaboration with Insight Oceania-ADAC, Sydney. Insight Oceania-ADAC are very excited by the potential applications and future markets (Australia and overseas) of the newly developing PET detection sub-modules for dedicated PET scanners. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a functional imaging tool, which is able to quantify physiological and biochemical processes in vivo, using short-lived cyclotron-produced radiotracers. PET is emerging as an extremely important diagnostic procedure used in the early detection of cancers, neurological diseases and as an aid in treatment monitoring and drug development. The unique advantage of PET over anatomical imaging techniques, such as X-ray CT and MRI, arises from its ability to measure changes in tumour biology, at the molecular level, prior to anatomical changes in involved tissues, using trace amounts of a radiolabelled compound (radiotracer). The full potential of PET however, is not being completely utilized due to constraints within the current designs of PET scanners. When used to its full potential PET, in principle, would be an excellent diagnostic and treatment monitoring tool for breast cancer, brain tumours and other neurological conditions such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, post stress disorder, dementia, and depression. Lack of flexibility in current PET scanner designs to date has meant that no commercial human brain or breast imaging scanners exist. Pilot project data proved the feasibility of our new flexible PET detection module design.Read moreRead less
M-Health: Efficacy And Cost-effectiveness Of A Smartphone App To Reduce Unmet Needs And Distress In People With Cancer (ACE): A Randomized Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$394,294.00
Summary
Patients experience significant levels of both psychological distress and unmet needs during cancer treatment. This study will trial an innovative approach to streamlining best practice in cancer management through the use of Smartphone technology. Given the reach of Smartphones, should this trial prove successful, it will provide the basis for additional modules supporting specific areas of care such as management of chemotherapy side effects and treatment compliance.
Use Of Innovative Mobile Telehealth Technology To Enable A New Service Delivery Solution For Dysphagia Management
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$207,231.00
Summary
Dysphagia, the term used to describe a swallowing difficulty, affects up to 30% of people over 65 years of age. Speech pathologists are responsible for diagnosing and managing dysphagia, however there is a shortfall between the number of clinicians available and the large number of individuals with this condition. The study aims to validate a way to assess dysphagia using telehealth, to increase access to speech pathology services particularly for patients in rural health settings.
Understanding And Preventing Avoidable Readmissions: Development Of A Patient Centered And Disease Specific Screening Tool
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$100,000.00
Summary
This study aims to develop a screenings tool to prevent unplanned re-admissions, based on specific patient centred and disease specific factors. We will include index admission data (367,782 in 2015) of five MACH hospitals. The cohort will be divided into a group for index derivation and a group for internal validation. Variables on patient and admission characteristics are based on literature. After internal validation we will validate the tool externally and implement it in clinical practice
Reducing The Burden Of Joint Replacement: An Innovative Biofeedback Device For Post-Surgical Rehabilitation.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$169,500.00
Summary
This project aims to develop a robust wearable device capable of providing immediate audible feedback with respect to knee motion for enhanced post-knee replacement surgery rehabilitation, suitable for use by older people both independently and supervised at home or in the clinic. As there is a current unmet need for such wearable biofeedback devices, this project will lead to intellectual property generation, strengthened partnerships between the involved parties and identification of an indust ....This project aims to develop a robust wearable device capable of providing immediate audible feedback with respect to knee motion for enhanced post-knee replacement surgery rehabilitation, suitable for use by older people both independently and supervised at home or in the clinic. As there is a current unmet need for such wearable biofeedback devices, this project will lead to intellectual property generation, strengthened partnerships between the involved parties and identification of an industry partner to commercialise the technology.Read moreRead less
Systematic And Sensitized Screens For Novel Genes That Regulate The Neural Differentiation Of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,634.00
Summary
Embryonic stem (ES) cells are cells in the embryo that can transform into any cell type. Genes that direct mouse ES cells to transform into cells of the nervous system will be uncovered by selecting a group of likely suspects, and disrupting the DNA sequences of these genes to see whether neural differentiation occurs normally in their absence. The effects of the gene disruptions will be examined in the developing neural system of the mouse embryo.
Identifying Rare Genetic Variants Conferring Susceptibility To Multiple Sclerosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$293,898.00
Summary
Recently there has been success in identifying common genetic variants that confer susceptibility to multiple sclerosis. The variants that have been discovered so far have modest effects on risk of disease, and only explain a small proportion of familial aggregation of disease. In this study we aim to identify rarer genetic variants that have stronger effects on risk of disease, using new statistical methods and new methods to sequence very large amounts of DNA.
Fundamental flaws in the design and reporting of research outcomes can undermine evidence-based medicine, impede patient-centred care, cause harm to patients, and result in a waste of research dollars. Our 3-year multinational project engages with patients, caregivers, clinicians, researchers and policy makers, to establish core outcomes in haemodialysis. This will ensure that patient-centred outcomes are consistently measured and reported in haemodialysis trials and other forms of research.