Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of The 13-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine On Pneumococcal Serotypes Causing Pneumonia In Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,137,532.00
Summary
Streptococcus pneumonia (Pneumococcus) is a bug that is a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality world-wide. Vaccinations have been recently brought onto the national immunisation program to try and combat this. This study aims to assess the new 13 valent Pneumococcal vaccine by studying its effectiveness in preventing childhood pneumonia in Australia by analysing the strains of Pneumococus in the blood and the fluid surrounding the lining the lung in complicated pneumonia using sens ....Streptococcus pneumonia (Pneumococcus) is a bug that is a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality world-wide. Vaccinations have been recently brought onto the national immunisation program to try and combat this. This study aims to assess the new 13 valent Pneumococcal vaccine by studying its effectiveness in preventing childhood pneumonia in Australia by analysing the strains of Pneumococus in the blood and the fluid surrounding the lining the lung in complicated pneumonia using sensitive molecular techniques.Read moreRead less
Comparing Pneumococcal Vaccines In A High Risk Population: A Randomised Controlled Trial Of Immunogenicity, Safety And Impact On Carriage Of Pneumococcal Conjugate And Polysaccharide Vaccines In Infants In Papua New Guinea
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,042,670.00
Summary
Pneumococcal disease is a major cause of pneumonia and meningitis in infants in developing countries in particular resulting in an estimated 800,000 deaths each year. This project will study how well pneumococcal vaccines perform in 260 high-risk infants in Papua New Guinea. We will examine how well the vaccines stimulate protective immunity and reduce babies carrying the pneumococcal bacteria in their nose and how long this immunity lasts for. The study will inform global immunisation policy.
Evaluation Of Antibody Levels And Function In Otitis-prone And Healthy Australian Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$413,040.00
Summary
Middle ear infections are the most common reason for a child to see a doctor, receive antibiotics and undergo surgery. We have collected blood and saliva samples from children with and without ear infections to compare their antibody responses to bacteria that cause middle ear infections. We will also investigate whether there is a good host response at the site of inflammation, i.e. the middle ear.
Mechanisms Of Respiratory Virus Induced Pneumococcal Infection In The Middle Ear.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$646,304.00
Summary
Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) is a common bacterium that temporarily lives in the nose of most young children, usually not causing any disease. Predisposing conditions, such as infection with a respiratory virus, may result in development of clinical disease. We will investigate how influenza virus mediates inflammation of the middle ear (otitis media) leading to pneumococcal infection. In particular, modulation of the middle ear innate immune response by viral protein will be stud ....Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) is a common bacterium that temporarily lives in the nose of most young children, usually not causing any disease. Predisposing conditions, such as infection with a respiratory virus, may result in development of clinical disease. We will investigate how influenza virus mediates inflammation of the middle ear (otitis media) leading to pneumococcal infection. In particular, modulation of the middle ear innate immune response by viral protein will be studied.Read moreRead less
Understanding The Role Of The Two Major Bacterial Pathogens In The Upper And Lower Airways Of Indigenous Children With Chronic Lung Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$743,282.00
Summary
Lung infections are a major disease burden worldwide. Indigenous Australians are affected more; adults with severe lung disease can die in their 30s and 40s. These diseases start early, yet no in-depth studies of bacteria causing lung infections in children have been done. Our expert team proposes to use existing lung fluids from nearly 500 children with chronic lung disease (58% Indigenous), and state-of-the-art laboratory methods, to inform the design of vaccines to prevent lung disease.
Otitis Media, Hearing Loss And School Readiness Of Indigenous Children Followed From Birth In Two Randomised Controlled Trials Of Novel Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Schedules (VOICES. Vaccines To Prevent Otitis Media In Children Entering School)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,317,169.00
Summary
Educational and health outcomes of Indigenous children are extremely poor, particularly in remote areas. High rates of ear disease, particularly “runny ears” and “glue ear”, and hearing loss throughout early childhood contribute to developmental delay. Vaccines to prevent ear disease could be used more effectively. This project is evaluating a novel combination schedule of two different licenced vaccine formulations to maximise protection and improve ear health, hearing and school readiness.
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) Schedules For The Northern Territory (NT): Randomised Controlled Trial Of Booster Vaccines To Broaden And Strengthen Protection From Invasive And Mucosal Infections.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,078,861.00
Summary
Very few Indigenous children in remote communities have healthy ears or lungs; almost 20% have eardrum perforations. The associated hearing loss causes educational disadvantage with life long impacts on quality of life. New pneumococcal conjugate vaccines target a broader diversity of pathogens that cause eardrum perforation and lung infections, but the best schedules and combinations have not been tested. This randomised controlled trial will compare immune response, bacterial carriage and clin ....Very few Indigenous children in remote communities have healthy ears or lungs; almost 20% have eardrum perforations. The associated hearing loss causes educational disadvantage with life long impacts on quality of life. New pneumococcal conjugate vaccines target a broader diversity of pathogens that cause eardrum perforation and lung infections, but the best schedules and combinations have not been tested. This randomised controlled trial will compare immune response, bacterial carriage and clinical outcomes of different vaccine schedules.Read moreRead less
Novel Ways Of Utilizing Genome-wide DNA Methylation Data From Peripheral Blood Samples In Genetic Epidemiology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$285,186.00
Summary
The aim of this project is to develop statistical methods and paradigms to better leverage the considerable amount of peripheral blood DNA methylation data that has been collected from large scale epidemiological studies. In particular, our focus is on developing and optimizing statistical methods of using DNA methylation profiles to “tag” environmental exposures, so that this information can be better utilized to investigate the genetic and environmental basis of complex traits and diseases.
Anxiety and depression are common during early- to mid-adulthood and a major cause of disability. Few studies track individuals over this age range or assess how their experience of anxiety/depression affects them at midlife when many of life’s work, family and personal achievements coalesce. The PATH to Midlife project extends an existing community survey to understand the patterns of anxiety and depression from early to mid-adulthood and identify the personal, social and economic consequences.
Using Methods In Genetic Epidemiology To Elucidate The Relationship Between Viral Infection And Risk Of Autoimmune Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$622,446.00
Summary
Autoimmune diseases occur when the body's natural defense mechanisms attack healthy tissues by mistake. It has long been thought that viral infections might play a role in triggering autoimmune disease. Our study aims to find genes that influence the body's response to viral infection and subsequently whether the same genes are involved in autoimmune disease pathology. If the same genes are important in both situations then this will provide evidence that viruses trigger autoimmune disease.