Age-related Macular Degeneration: A Cause And A Cure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$828,300.00
Summary
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss and there is urgent need for an intervention to slow disease progression. AMD is characterised by debris accumulation in the retina and I will investigate if loss of function in cells that should clear this debris is a critical step in the development of AMD. I will trial a novel laser intervention to slow progression of disease and use basic science techniques to investigate the mechanisms of action of the laser.
Patient-reported Outcomes And Treatment Preferences In 1,900 Men With Prostate Cancer Participating In Two International, Randomised Clinical Trials
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
Men with high-risk or metastatic prostate cancer are faced with difficult and uncertain trade-offs between quantity and quality of life when making a treatment decision. The proposed study extends two promising, ongoing clinical trials by describing the quality of life outcomes and treatment.
Saving Sight Through Novel BioTech Innovations For Inherited Retinal Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,534,523.00
Summary
Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are the leading cause of blindness in working-aged adults. My work focuses on learning more about IRDs, including the correlation between genes and the degenerative changes in the eye. I am developing new outcome measures to predict who might lose vision faster, and to use in clinical trials. I will then use this knowledge in two clinical trials for new IRD treatments - a gene therapy and an electronic device that is implanted into the eye.
Predicting Treatment Response To Onabotulinumtoxin-a In MS-related Tremor: A Combined Clinical, Electrophysiological And Neuroimaging Approach.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$546,359.00
Summary
Shaking (tremor) of the upper limbs occur in many people with multiple sclerosis (MS). We have previously shown that botulinum toxin (Botox) injections could help reduce tremor. This study aims to study the effect of Botox in a larger group of people with MS and will include detailed MRI scans and electrical tremor monitoring tests to define the underlying changes in the brain that causes tremor. The results will help make Botox available as a tremor treatment for people with MS.
Determining The Best Outcome Measures For Assessing Cost-Effectiveness Of Interventions For Childhood Mental Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,837.00
Summary
The aim of this study is to evaluate which are the best outcome measures to use to assess the cost-effectiveness of interventions and services for children with mental disorders. The study will have great policy and practice relevance as it will help ensure that only services and interventions which work and provide good-value-for money are offered to children with such problems.
Youth-specific Change And Outcome Measures For Effective Youth Mental Health Service Delivery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,522,563.00
Summary
Mental ill-health is the major issue facing young Australians and the Australian government has recognised this by investing in the headspace program which by 2016 will see 90 headspace centres operating across the nation. This project uses high quality research methods to establish best practice and ensure ongoing quality improvement and importantly, answer the question: “is headspace effective in addressing the mental health issues of young Australians?”