Bayesian statistical models for understanding outcomes and improving decision-making for women screened for breast cancer. This project has two key benefits: (i) the development of frontier statistical methods for spatio-temporal analysis and data synthesis, which are imperative in a wide range of disciplines; and (ii) the application of these methods for improved understanding of breast cancer outcomes for women screened in Queensland. The project results will lead to direct health and financi ....Bayesian statistical models for understanding outcomes and improving decision-making for women screened for breast cancer. This project has two key benefits: (i) the development of frontier statistical methods for spatio-temporal analysis and data synthesis, which are imperative in a wide range of disciplines; and (ii) the application of these methods for improved understanding of breast cancer outcomes for women screened in Queensland. The project results will lead to direct health and financial benefits through targeted policies for increasing screening uptake and reducing cancer morbidity and mortality and therefore health spending in this area. Importantly, the project represents an excellent training opportunity to develop a PhD candidate into an experienced interdisciplinary researcher.Read moreRead less
REDucing Delays In Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Haemorrhage: The REDDISH Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$436,022.00
Summary
Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) is a rare form of stroke that kills at least 30% of sufferers within 1 month. Outcome can be improved through quickly receiving medical care but many people do not and this likely contributes to the poor outcomes. The REDucing Delays In Subarachnoid Haemorrhage (REDDISH) study will look at cases of aSAH across Tasmanian and Victoria so that we can understand the factors that contribute to delays in treatment and ultimately improve outcomes.
Mechanism design for next generation random access wireless protocols. Australia is well placed to take the lead in replacing carbon-intensive travel by teleconferencing, because of its isolation and geographic dispersion. Because these large distances introduce inevitable delays, it is important that the network itself add as little delay as possible for such real-time services. Our novel and practical resource allocation scheme will enable Australians (including Australian industries and rural ....Mechanism design for next generation random access wireless protocols. Australia is well placed to take the lead in replacing carbon-intensive travel by teleconferencing, because of its isolation and geographic dispersion. Because these large distances introduce inevitable delays, it is important that the network itself add as little delay as possible for such real-time services. Our novel and practical resource allocation scheme will enable Australians (including Australian industries and rural communities) to receive better service at lower cost. This project will put Australia on the international stage as a leading contributor to wireless Internet technology. We will provide training for PhD students and postdoctoral fellows in this important area.Read moreRead less
WaterLog - A mathematical model to implement recommendations of The Wentworth Group. In 2003, The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists released their 'Blueprint for a national water plan' with the primary objective to 'protect river health and the rights of all Australians to clean usable water'. Currently, there are significant water restrictions in all the Australian mainland capital cities. In January 2007, the Prime Minister of Australia, announced a bold plan to rescue the Murray-Darling ....WaterLog - A mathematical model to implement recommendations of The Wentworth Group. In 2003, The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists released their 'Blueprint for a national water plan' with the primary objective to 'protect river health and the rights of all Australians to clean usable water'. Currently, there are significant water restrictions in all the Australian mainland capital cities. In January 2007, the Prime Minister of Australia, announced a bold plan to rescue the Murray-Darling Basin. The plan incorporates political management changes, and an investment of $10Bn. Now is the time to develop improved techniques for management of water storage systems. This project will develop the fundamental mathematical principles required for this improved management.Read moreRead less
Building An Evidence Base For Funding Evidence-based Medicine
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$316,338.00
Summary
Funding schemes should be subject to the same scientific scrutiny as the proposals they scrutinize. If funding schemes could be improved, and higher quality proposals funded more reliably, then evidence-based medicine throughout Australia could be improved. Current evidence shows a concerning variability in funding decisions. We will examine the costs and reliability of the Project Grant scheme and two cheaper alternatives. Any savings we find could be re-invested back into medical research.
Predicting Fracture Outcomes From Clinical Registry Data Using Artificial Intelligence Supplemented Models For Evidence-informed Treatment (PRAISE) Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$636,217.00
Summary
This project will establish the role of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to improve the prediction of clinical and longer-term patient reported outcomes following wrist fracture. Prediction models based on existing, routinely collected registry data with will be compared with models based on registry data enhanced by AI analysis of X-ray images, radiology reports and surgical reports. The AI analysis will reason on both image and text data, better replicating how humans learn.
Doubly Stochastic Matrices & The Hamiltonian Cycle Problem. The classical hard problem of determining whether a given graph possesses a Hamiltonian cycle contains the essential difficulty of the famous 'Travelling Salesman Problem'. A characterisation of this difficulty in terms of variability of returns (to the initial state) in a controlled stochastic process will be a significant conceptual advance with repercussions in a number of fields including optimisation and theoretical computer scien ....Doubly Stochastic Matrices & The Hamiltonian Cycle Problem. The classical hard problem of determining whether a given graph possesses a Hamiltonian cycle contains the essential difficulty of the famous 'Travelling Salesman Problem'. A characterisation of this difficulty in terms of variability of returns (to the initial state) in a controlled stochastic process will be a significant conceptual advance with repercussions in a number of fields including optimisation and theoretical computer science. Algorithmic advances exploiting such a characterisation will significantly contribute to existing technologies for solving problems in applications ranging from logistics to cryptography. Since TSP describes certain efficient ways of routing its applicability to information networks is clear.Read moreRead less
Individualising Care For Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C: Predicting Side Effects And Treatment Response Using Genomic And Proteomic Approaches.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$55,575.00
Summary
Patients undergoing treatment for hepatitis C must endure a treatment characterized by unpredictable treatment side effects and uncertainty about the likelihood of cure. This project will investigate genetic predictors of treatment related side-effects and protein markers to predict treatment response. Better definition of the risks and benefits of therapy, may facilitate patients and clinicians to make more informed decisions about treatment, thus individualising treatment and potentially impro ....Patients undergoing treatment for hepatitis C must endure a treatment characterized by unpredictable treatment side effects and uncertainty about the likelihood of cure. This project will investigate genetic predictors of treatment related side-effects and protein markers to predict treatment response. Better definition of the risks and benefits of therapy, may facilitate patients and clinicians to make more informed decisions about treatment, thus individualising treatment and potentially improving the safety and efficacy of therapy.Read moreRead less
Centre Of Research Excellence In Cardiovascular Outcomes Improvement
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,500,000.00
Summary
Quality, safety and the effectiveness of providing prevention and treatments to those with cardiovascular disease is the focus of research of the CRE in Cardiovascular Outcomes Improvement. Utilizing data derived from clinical registries and large patient databases of patients receiving various treatments for heart problems, we will investigate what factors are important in delivering cost-effective favorable outcomes. The centre will train future leaders in cardiovascular research focusing on
Chronic Kidney Disease: Natural History Of Disease, Cost And Quality Of Life
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$72,281.00
Summary
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is present in 12% of Australians aged over 25. CKD is associated with poor health outcomes including cardiovascular disease and progression to End Stage Kidney Disease. Many questions about CKD remain. My research aims to increase our understanding of the natural history of CKD in the Australian population, with focus on outcomes of CKD progression, cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, quality of life, and costs to society.