Optimising Large-scale Public Health Interventions To Control Neglected Tropical Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
Neglected tropical diseases (NTD) are a group of health conditions that affect the poorest of the poor, particularly in remote and rural areas. They affect the most vulnerable communities and cause substantial, chronic health harms impairing personal and social development. Several debilitating NTD are common in remote indigenous communities and Pacific islands. I propose a series of studies to investigate new strategies to control NTD in large populations where these diseases are endemic.
Cluster Randomised Trial Comparing One Versus Two Doses Of Ivermectin For Mass Drug Administration To Control Scabies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$540,512.00
Summary
Scabies is a common skin disease in developing countries, in particular in the Pacific region. In the Western Province of Solomon Islands, one in two children suffer from the infestation, and 20% of the population. We know that mass drug administration with two doses of oral ivermectin is effective to reduce the burden of scabies in the community. We now propose a study to determine whether one single dose is as effective. This would have major public health benefits.
Does Mass Drug Administration For Scabies Result In Control Of Serious Bacterial Complications? A Proof Of Concept Towards Global Elimination.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$883,760.00
Summary
Scabies is common skin disease in developing countries, in particular in the Pacific region. In Fiji, one in two children suffer from the infestation, which affects over 20% of the population. A recent study conducted in Fiji on 2000 people showed that mass drug administration (MDA) with oral ivermectin is a safe and effective way to reduce the burden of scabies in the community. We will expand the MDA program to 100,000 people, the largest study of MDA ivermectin for scabies ever undertaken.
A Transmission-Blocking Vaccine To Prevent Toxoplasmosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$850,225.00
Summary
Toxoplasma gondii causes a globally important zoonotic disease. It is transmitted by cats, and finds its way into our food chain via infected meat and contaminated water. We have used a unique functional genomics pipeline to discover proteins crucial for reproduction of Toxoplasma in the cat. We will now test combinations of these proteins to immunise cats and prove that we can develop a vaccine that blocks transmission of this highly significant parasitic disease.
BRAIN-MEND: Biological Resource Analysis To Identify New Mechanisms And Phenotypes In Neurodegenerative Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$861,866.00
Summary
Current classification of neurodegenerative diseases (ND) based on clinical phenotypes does not take into account underlying disease heterogeneity, or overlapping disease mechanisms, thus hindering therapy development. Segregation and re-classification of ND phenotypes is urgently needed. BRAIN-MEND will reclassify existing phenotypic classifications using using pathway and network analyses within and across complex NDs.
Nodal Function In Peripheral Neuroinflammatory Disorders: Target Antigens, Functional Significance And Treatment Response
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$605,172.00
Summary
Inflammatory neuropathies are autoimmune disorders which produce severe disability and represent a costly burden to the healthcare system, but the causes remain unknown. Recent evidence from our team suggests that antibodies against parts of the peripheral nerve at the node of Ranvier are involved. The project aims to identify these specific targets and monitor treatment responsiveness, stabilise nerve function and prevent persistent disability.
Optimising Heart Disease Prevention And Management
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,647,175.00
Summary
As we become older and risk factors such as obesity become more common, our biggest contributor to death and disability, cardiovascular disease (including heart disease), will continue to exert an enormous burden on our health care system and society. We will extend our ground-breaking research on multidisciplinary teams to create new and innovative health care programs to optimise the prevention and management of new heart disease and chronic forms of heart disease.
Periodontal Disease And Chronic Kidney Disease Among Aboriginal Adults; An RCT
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,035,550.00
Summary
Chronic Kidney Disease is a growing public health concern in Australia, especially among Aboriginal populations. It is associated with progression to end stage kidney disease requiring dialysis, cardiovascular disease burden and high mortality. This study will use a randomised controlled trial design to determine if comprehensive periodontal therapy reduces progression of kidney disease among Aboriginal adults with chronic kidney disease residing in Central Australia.
The Role Of Capsid Protein Nucleolar Localisation In Chikungunya Virus: Implications For Vaccine Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$520,520.00
Summary
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a globally widespread mosquito-borne alphavirus capable of causing considerable human morbidity and mortality. With no CHIKV vaccine or antiviral available this proposal aims to develop a live attenuated CHIKV vaccine, rationally designed by investigating the host cell nucleolar trafficking of CHIKV capsid protein. This vaccine has the potential to provide cross-protection against additional arthritogenic alphaviruses endemic to Australia such as Ross River virus.
Randomised Controlled Trial To Determine Efficacy And Safety Of Prescribed Water Intake To Prevent The Progression Of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (PREVENT-ADPKD)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$746,751.00
Summary
Increasing the daily intake of water is well known to reduce the risk of developing kidney stones but there is growing evidence that it may also benefit other kidney diseases, particularly autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). This study will determine if adequate hydration can slow the progression of ADPKD, and could provide a relatively simple and cheap treatment for preventing the onset of kidney failure due to this disease.