Diseases of the 21st century are complex with environmental and genetic causes. At the interface of these is Epigenetics - factors not specified by DNA sequence that control genes. Recent data show much of the risk associated with disease is set early in life, even during the time in the womb. The MCRI CDDE laboratory has assembled teams of researchers of diverse expertise investigating epigenetics of human development and complex disease to hopefully prevent or reverse them early in life.
A National Population-based Study Of Rheumatic Heart Disease In Pregnancy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$877,826.00
Summary
Whilst overall a rare disease, Indigenous peoples have disproportionately high rates of rheumatic heart disease (RHD). This study explores the prevalence and distribution of RHD in pregnancy in Australia and New Zealand. It details current management, diagnostic and referral process and risk factors. Key attributes of culturally safe models of care for RHD in pregnancy are explored, particularly as they relate to Indigenous women. Findings will inform policy, guidelines and education resources.
Early Nutrition, Epigenetics And Developmental Outcomes In Children.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$550,093.00
Summary
Increasing evidence demonstrates that early nutrition, including in pregnancy, has long lasting programming effects on later health of children. Evidence implicates epigenetics (literally ‘above DNA’) in mediating these effects. The most convincing data exists for obesity and related disorders such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and heart disease. The focus of this project is on understanding how ‘epigenetic’ mechanisms are influencing the way our genes function to cause these disorders.
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354823
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
National network for the study of cognitive processes and treatment across the phases of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is associated with great costs to the community and individual. Controlled studies have demonstrated Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is efficacious in treating symptoms of schizophrenia. Studies of cognitive processes have also advanced understanding of psychotic phenomena. This initiative affords the opportunity to
1) Improve treatment efficacy by developing, testing and appl ....National network for the study of cognitive processes and treatment across the phases of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is associated with great costs to the community and individual. Controlled studies have demonstrated Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is efficacious in treating symptoms of schizophrenia. Studies of cognitive processes have also advanced understanding of psychotic phenomena. This initiative affords the opportunity to
1) Improve treatment efficacy by developing, testing and applying theoretically-driven models of psychotic symptoms.
2) Disseminate the findings of research on CBT for psychotic disorders in clinical settings by (a) training the work-force, and (b) facilitating CBT delivery in routine practice.
3) Apply CBT in various settings with a variety of psychotic populations to test its effectiveness in routine clinical settings.
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Child health and developmental inequities: Evidence for precision policy. The project aims to use cutting edge analytic approaches applied to existing data to identify how policy interventions related to parents’ mental health, preschool programs, and the built environment can be optimised to reduce inequities in children’s mental, academic, and physical health outcomes. The project will be informed by our partners and advisers from across government portfolios and service delivery, ensuring tha ....Child health and developmental inequities: Evidence for precision policy. The project aims to use cutting edge analytic approaches applied to existing data to identify how policy interventions related to parents’ mental health, preschool programs, and the built environment can be optimised to reduce inequities in children’s mental, academic, and physical health outcomes. The project will be informed by our partners and advisers from across government portfolios and service delivery, ensuring that the evidence generated has contemporary policy relevance. The project expects to identify clear and actionable policy pathways to reduce child inequities in Australia, which can benefit decision makers by helping them to direct limited public funds towards intervention opportunities that will have the greatest impact.Read moreRead less
Internet technologies, health informatics and statistical methods, and new delivery platforms in call centres. Although depression is the major cause of health disability, 60% of Australians with depression do not receive professional help. There are few systems for delivering health information and resilience skills to members of the community. This project aims to develop a workable system to reduce unmet need. It will provide a model of information delivery applicable to other areas of the ....Internet technologies, health informatics and statistical methods, and new delivery platforms in call centres. Although depression is the major cause of health disability, 60% of Australians with depression do not receive professional help. There are few systems for delivering health information and resilience skills to members of the community. This project aims to develop a workable system to reduce unmet need. It will provide a model of information delivery applicable to other areas of the health industry, particularly those involving chronic disease. It has applicability to education and other sectors which involve the delivery of information to the public. Because e-health is an emerging field, the project also has the capacity to build expertise in an area which is under-resourced. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100637
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$322,534.00
Summary
Finding the Path: Service access and navigation for serious mental illness. This project aims to inform health system change to ensure people with serious mental illness can access quality services. While improved access to quality mental health services has been a key target in Australian health policy for over 20 years, people with mental illness continue to report problems accessing and navigating the complex service system. The project aims to study consumers' mental health service experienc ....Finding the Path: Service access and navigation for serious mental illness. This project aims to inform health system change to ensure people with serious mental illness can access quality services. While improved access to quality mental health services has been a key target in Australian health policy for over 20 years, people with mental illness continue to report problems accessing and navigating the complex service system. The project aims to study consumers' mental health service experiences using policy, qualitative, quantitative and geographic analysis to identify systemic problems. Mental health consumers and service providers will be actively involved in developing final policy recommendations to ensure system change reflects their knowledge.Read moreRead less
A new quality of life instrument with older people for economic evaluation. This project aims to develop and validate a new preference-based quality-of-life instrument with applications in aged-care. The new instrument will be developed with older people receiving aged care services, and will focus upon incorporating their values into the measurement and valuation of quality of life for economic evaluation. The new instrument will have immediate applications in quality assessment and economic ev ....A new quality of life instrument with older people for economic evaluation. This project aims to develop and validate a new preference-based quality-of-life instrument with applications in aged-care. The new instrument will be developed with older people receiving aged care services, and will focus upon incorporating their values into the measurement and valuation of quality of life for economic evaluation. The new instrument will have immediate applications in quality assessment and economic evaluation, improving the quality of life and wellbeing of older Australians, and will assist in determining the relative cost effectiveness of new and existing services.
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Ageing in China and Australia: Promoting health, productivity and wellbeing. This project aims to provide insights into the ways in which life-span development and social change in China have influenced the development of policies to support the health, productivity and wellbeing of people entering later life. China’s population is rapidly ageing, bringing pressure on intergenerational support arising from smaller families, migration, urbanisation, and growing social inequalities. It may also br ....Ageing in China and Australia: Promoting health, productivity and wellbeing. This project aims to provide insights into the ways in which life-span development and social change in China have influenced the development of policies to support the health, productivity and wellbeing of people entering later life. China’s population is rapidly ageing, bringing pressure on intergenerational support arising from smaller families, migration, urbanisation, and growing social inequalities. It may also bring opportunities. Using an understanding of social determinants, cultural context and policy responses, the project plans to undertake cross-national comparisons with Australia and examine historical influences and social variations within China. The project aims to deliver a better understanding of how public policy can enhance productivity, health and wellbeing of an ageing population.Read moreRead less
Trust makers, breakers and brokers: building trust in the Australian food system. This research will compare and contrast the way that food trust is managed in Australia and the United Kingdom, with a particular focus on how trust is damaged and repaired. Using consensus-testing processes, best practice models will be developed to assist government, industry, media and consumer groups to build and maintain trust in the food supply.