I am an epidemiologist using record linkage to investigate the causes and consequences of developmental disabilities such as birth defects, intellectual disability and autism and to identify possibilities for their prevention and amelioration.
I am an epidemiologist using high quality data collections and novel methods to generate new knowledge that will help reduce the impact or prevalence of birth defects and related disability.
Christine Roberts’ research program uses the most advanced research methods to address new challenges in maternal and child health in a portfolio that extends from bench-to-bedside-to-policy. Four interrelated themes target: accurate identification of at-risk pregnancies; maternity care requirements to improve outcomes in future pregnancies; clinical trials to provide best evidence for obstetric practice; and an improved ability to respond rapidly to emerging issues in policy and practice.
Harnessing Multiple Large Datasets To Answer Critical Questions On Diabetes Epidemiology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,370.00
Summary
This proposal will examine novel causes and consequences of diabetes using three approaches. Firstly, it will examine diabetes trends. Secondly, it will use the Australian Diabetes Registry linked to several key government database to explore important research questions, related to diabetes treatment, dementia and endstage kidney disease, which previously were not able to be answered. Thirdly, it will examine the role of environmental pollutants in the development of chronic disease.
Large-scale Epidemiology, Chronic Disease And Disadvantaged Populations: Evidence And Translation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$849,540.00
Summary
Nationally and internationally, we face an increasing burden of chronic disease and health care costs. Health risk factors and premature ill-health are increasingly concentrated in the disadvantaged. A large proportion of the chronic disease burden is preventable through better evidence and implementation. This application is to conduct innovative large-scale research on Indigenous health, chronic disease and the health of disadvantaged populations, including work on implementation of solutions.
Child Disability:understanding Determinants And Improving Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$697,605.00
Summary
The overall goals of my research are: to learn more about the causes of developmental disorders so that we can either prevent them occurring, or develop effective treatments for them; to improve the understanding, diagnosis and management of rare genetic disorders by developing and maintaining registers and by collaborating internationally; and to investigate the impact of rare and common developmental disorders on the health and quality of life of the affected child and their family.
Applying Next Generation Sequencing To Family Studies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$182,622.00
Summary
Recent advances in technology can determine the DNA composition of a person for much longer stretches of DNA, at a much cheaper cost. I use statistical analysis to identify regions of the human genome that harbour mutations that cause diseases such as epilepsy in families. These regions contain 5-15 million base pairs. We need to find the ONE base pair that causes disease. This application deals with the development of new tools to exploit new technology for the identification of mutations.
Clinical Application Of Genomic Approaches For Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$707,370.00
Summary
Cancer is the cause of 1 in 8 deaths worldwide. Cancer occurs due to errors or mutations in the DNA of normal cells. I will identify the mutations in tumour cells, which will tell us: i) How the tumour started and grew ii) How to treat the tumour and kill the cancer The work involves a variety of cancer types including mesothelioma, melanoma, oesophageal and breast cancer. The overall aim is to apply some of the research findings or approaches into patient care to improve patient survival.
Computational Approaches To Making Sense Of Cancer -omics Data
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$706,370.00
Summary
Evolution is a hallmark of cancer. It underlies tumorigenesis, metastasis, disease progression, the emergence of drug resistance, and patient death. My research will develop the essential bioinformatics methods and computational models to understand cancer evolution using -omics data, and apply these to discover the molecular mechanisms that cause complex genome rearrangements; investigate the evolution of advanced melanoma; and translate our tools and discoveries into the clinical setting.