How Language Develops, What Goes Wrong, And Why It Matters: Following The Early Language In Victoria Study To Age 13
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$857,242.00
Summary
One in five children start school with low language. Little is known about the long term effects on developmental, educational attainment and other outcomes later in life. In this landmark study we will track the children's language, literacy and wellbeing from ages 8 to 12 years. We will capture the children's ability as they finish their primary school education and prior to the crucial transfer to high school.
The Contribution Of Home Language Exposure To Intergenerational Transmission Of Inequality
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,281,706.00
Summary
The amount of language stimulation from parent to child could be the key driver behind intergenerational inequality. Children learn language through social interaction and this study will significantly enhance our current understanding of exposure to language in the child's home environment. The study will demonstrate how inequalities in the early years have far reaching consequences for later health and development.
Examining The Impact Of Language Reclamation On Social And Emotional Well Being Among The Barngarla
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,111,633.00
Summary
Indigenous Australians are at high risk of experiencing mental illness. For many, it is the loss of land, culture, and identity that are causes of ill health. The Barngarla people of South Australia seek to reclaim their language due to its potential reinvigorating cultural identity and wellbeing. This offers a unique opportunity to document the links between language reclamation and wellness in Aboriginal people for the first time.
Salt (sodium) is an essential electrolyte. Our convincing and complementary findings provide compelling evidence for a link between evolutionarily ancient “instincts” and substance abuse. This proposal is translational, including studies in opiate dependent humans. Our studies will establish how and where in the brain endogenous opioids are implicated in the gratification of salt appetite, how salt appetite is altered in opiate dependency and if salt appetite recovers following opiate withdrawal
Understanding The Neurobiology Of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,630,739.00
Summary
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition that causes difficulties with social interactions and communication, and unusual or intense behaviours. In most cases, the cause is unknown; however, there is evidence that the cause is likely genetic. We are using a new method to discover genes for ASD in families by looking at how features of ASD are inherited. Discovering genes for ASD will aid the development of new therapies and help parents of children with ASD with family planning.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorde(ADHD) is the most prevalent mental disorder of childhood affecting around 7.5% of Australian school age children. The disorder is strongly genetic and causes significant impairments in academic functioning, family and peer relations with sufferers at increased risk for drug abuse. Identification and characterisation of rare mutations will enhance our knowledge of the neurobiology and advance the search for next generation drug treatments for the disorder.
Mothers’ And Their Children’s Health Study: Understanding Disparities In Health And Health Service Utilisation Among Australian Families
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$684,744.00
Summary
The Mothers’ and their Children’s Health study will advance understanding of the risks to child health and development and help guide health policies for families across Australia. It builds on 17 years of data from a leading study of Australian women’s health with a new survey on all the children of 4000 mothers from that study. It is uniquely placed to investigate how the history of maternal and family characteristics affects the health and development of all the children in a family.