A Clinical Trial To Determine The Optimal Timing Of Androgen Deprivation In Relapsed Or Non-curable Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$627,600.00
Summary
The aim of the study is to clarify when is the optimal time to start hormone treatment for men with certain stages of prostate cancer. It has long been known that testosterone removal impedes prostate cancer growth, although not permanently. The removal of testosterone, however, has side effects , including loss of libido, hot flushes, weight gain, and in the longer term osteoporosis, loss of muscle bulk and mental changes such as loss of memory. Any benefit to be gained for a patient must there ....The aim of the study is to clarify when is the optimal time to start hormone treatment for men with certain stages of prostate cancer. It has long been known that testosterone removal impedes prostate cancer growth, although not permanently. The removal of testosterone, however, has side effects , including loss of libido, hot flushes, weight gain, and in the longer term osteoporosis, loss of muscle bulk and mental changes such as loss of memory. Any benefit to be gained for a patient must therefore be weighed against these side effects. This is particularly relevant in situations in which cure is not possible, when the aim of treatment should be to manage symptoms (either by preventing or delaying them or treating them as they arise). There are two situations in which a man may be diagnosed as having active prostate cancer but be without symptoms requiring immediate treatment. The first is after the failure of curative treatment, shown by the presence of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in the blood, but without any other evidence of prostate cancer. The second is a man newly diagnosed with asymptomatic prostate cancer, but with other reasons (such as heart disease) which make an attempt at cure inappropriate. We do not know in either case whether or not men live longer if treatment is started immediately, or whether it is reasonable to wait until symptoms develop, thus potentially postponing the side effects of treatment. The trial will therefore include these two groups of men. Half the men will be randomised to receive immediate treatment, and half to treatment starting when symptoms develop, or when there is evidence of progressive disease. The main endpoint is overall survival, balanced against quality of life and side effects from the disease and treatment. The hypothesis is that early treatment will improve survival with acceptable effects on quality of life.Read moreRead less
This project will improve our understanding of how painkiller medicines work in very old and frail people which will improve the use of these medicines in pain management. This study will carefully examine pain control with two of the most commonly used pain killer medicines - paracetamol and oxycodone. By understanding all the factors that influence an older persons pain control we will be able to improve the safe and effective use of painkiller medicines in this special group of people.
A Multi-component Supermarket Intervention To Promote Healthy Eating
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$547,005.00
Summary
Most food in Australia is bought in supermarkets, and so there is a public health imperative for supermarkets to encourage healthy food purchases. This proposal is to conduct a randomised-controlled trial in 10 supermarkets to test the impact of a package of interventions that improve the healthiness of the supermarket environment. Intervention components were chosen by the retail, government and academic partners based on feasibility, sustainability and positive results from our pilot studies.
Harnessing The Power Of Elite Sport Sponsorship To Promote Healthy Eating By Young Adults
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$304,220.00
Summary
Concerns have been raised about the role of unhealthy food sponsorship of elite sport in promoting unhealthy diets to vast numbers of the public, including young adults who are avid spectators of sport. This innovative project consists of two studies which systematically investigate the utility of alternative, health-oriented sport sponsorship models and counter-advertising strategies in promoting healthier diets among young adults.
Assessing The Impact Of A Multi-component Intervention To Improve Dietary Intake Of Indigenous Australian Children And Their Families Living In Remote Communities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,455,043.00
Summary
Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption seems to contribute to obesity and diabetes. We aim to test the impact of multi-component intervention including a school-based nutrition education program combining high levels of parental involvement plus a supportive environment to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and improve healthy eating among Indigenous Australian children and their families living in remote communities.
Working With Horses To Promote The Wellbeing Of Aboriginal Youth: An Experiential Learning Approach For The Kimberley
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,516,797.00
Summary
This project aims to implement an Aboriginal-led Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) program in multiple locations across the Kimberley to enhance the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal youth. EAL is a learning approach where participants learn important life skills by 'doing' activities with horses. These activities enhance problem-solving skills, communication, self‐awareness, and emotional regulation by engaging multiple brain systems, which can help cope with disruptive life stressors.
Towards Reducing Resistance And Haematological Toxicity Of Linezolid
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$135,825.00
Summary
Multi-drug resistance in bacteria is increasing at an alarming rate. We have diminishing therapeutic options, and there are few antibiotics in the drug development pipeline that offer much hope. It is therefore important that we look towards ways of further optimising the use of antibiotics that we currently have available. An important last line of defense drug, linezolid, has been available in Australia for less than 2 years and already resistance is occuring. In addition, with broader use of ....Multi-drug resistance in bacteria is increasing at an alarming rate. We have diminishing therapeutic options, and there are few antibiotics in the drug development pipeline that offer much hope. It is therefore important that we look towards ways of further optimising the use of antibiotics that we currently have available. An important last line of defense drug, linezolid, has been available in Australia for less than 2 years and already resistance is occuring. In addition, with broader use of this drug outside clinical trials, there has been an increasing concern over its toxicity to important blood cells. We seek to better understand the determinants of linezolid resistance and toxicity, so that novel dosing strategies may be developed to optimise its use (reduce toxicity and enhance efficacy) thereby extending the usefulness of this last line of defense antibiotic.Read moreRead less
Nasal CPAP For Very Preterm Infants At Birth: Does It Improve Outcome? A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$460,604.00
Summary
Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in preterm infants. Many of these infants need ventilatory support to keep them alive. In 1996 and 1997, 10,471 infants in Australia and New Zealand needed ventilatory support for a total of 72,544 days. This treatment is a great physical burden for the infants and an enormous emotional stress for their parents. Each day of treatment costs about A$2000 so their hospital treatment costs about $72 million a ....Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in preterm infants. Many of these infants need ventilatory support to keep them alive. In 1996 and 1997, 10,471 infants in Australia and New Zealand needed ventilatory support for a total of 72,544 days. This treatment is a great physical burden for the infants and an enormous emotional stress for their parents. Each day of treatment costs about A$2000 so their hospital treatment costs about $72 million a year. Of infants born less than 29 weeks' gestational age, about 40% of the survivors subsequently developed chronic lung disease (CLD). This condition is defined as prolonged dependence on supplementary oxygen therapy. CLD is associated with further costs and increased lung problems and readmissions to hospital in the first year of life. Thus, CLD is an expensive and time-consuming condition that has a high social cost. This project will determine whether treating these very premature babies from birth simply by applying oxygen under a low continuous positive pressure (CPAP) into their nose rather than the present treatment of placing a tube in the windpipe (known as intubation) and ventilation will reduce the incidence and severity of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome and subsequent chronic lung disease. The project will involve 600 babies from different, high quality neonatal intensive care units. Babies who are born at less than 29 weeks' gestation and who show signs of breathing at birth will be randomly allocated to be treated with either nasal CPAP or intubation and ventilation. This project will determine whether CPAP treatment at birth improves survival and reduces the severity of the RDS and subsequent CLD, or has no long term beneficial effect. If the trial is successful, this will be one of the most useful new treatments in neonatal medicine because it is simple to use, easier for the babies, and cheaper than ventilation.Read moreRead less
Adding An Electronic-cigarette To Standard Behavioural Treatment For Low-socioeconomic Status Smokers: A Randomised Trial.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,381,127.00
Summary
Behavioural and pharmacological approaches to smoking cessation are effective at helping people to quit but long-term quit rates remain low, especially among low-SES Australians. The electronic cigarette may complement current treatment approaches. We will conduct a large-scale trial to determine if “e-cigarettes” can improve on the efficacy of existing treatments. The findings would have immediate practical implications that could reduce the preventable deaths of many tobacco smokers.
Innovative Models Of Early Intervention For Conduct Disorders In Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$826,854.00
Summary
Most mental health problems begin in childhood, and Oppositional-defiant and conduct problems are the most reliable precursor of adult mental health problems. The lifetime costs on public services for these children are large. Australia has no strategy for managing this problem, and urgently needs to develop evidence-based approaches. This program of research will develop improved methods for identifying, assessing and treating child conduct disorders as part of our national strategy for early i ....Most mental health problems begin in childhood, and Oppositional-defiant and conduct problems are the most reliable precursor of adult mental health problems. The lifetime costs on public services for these children are large. Australia has no strategy for managing this problem, and urgently needs to develop evidence-based approaches. This program of research will develop improved methods for identifying, assessing and treating child conduct disorders as part of our national strategy for early intervention for mental health.Read moreRead less