The vision we rely on every day to read and recognise faces depends upon the health of the central portion of our retina, the macula. Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in Australia and the western world. Researchers at the Australian National University are collaborating to bring a new test for AMD severity to the market within 3 years. The objective is to provide doctors with a rapid, cost-effective tool to help them manage treatment.
Validation Of A Multiplexed Blood Based Screening Assay For The Diagnosis Of Colorectal Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$556,712.00
Summary
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cancer in Australia with poor patient outcome due to late detection of the disease. We have developed a simple blood based test that can diagnose individuals with CRC at an early stage when the chance of cure is greater than 80%.
Uncovering The Basis Of Inflammatory And Immunodeficiency Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$15,718,075.00
Summary
A world-class team from 3 institutions, spanning disciplines of clinical and experimental immunology, therapeutics, signalling and genetics, will identify how immune and inflammatory responses are controlled in both health and disease. The major outcomes of this work will be the generation of new knowledge, concepts and approaches to diagnose, prevent and treat the major human health problems of autoimmune diseases, inflammation, allergy and immunodeficiency.
The Role And Inheritance Of Constitutional Epimutations In Early-onset Colorectal Cancer.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$347,551.00
Summary
Traditionally familial cancers are thought to be caused by spelling mistakes within the genetic code of cancer prevention genes. Our group has found that chemical attachments to one gene (MLH1) stops it working, even where there is no spelling mistake, and that those chemical changes can be inherited in families with bowel cancer. We will determine how frequently this type of defect occurs in bowel cancer patients, how and why it arises, and if other cancer genes are similarly affected.
Centre Of Research Excellence In Eradicating Food Allergy: Prevention, Cure And Reducing Adverse Events
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,496,041.00
Summary
Australia has the highest reported rate of food allergy in the world. We aim to eradicate food allergy through improved prevention and cure, supported by evidence generated by our collaborative network of research. In addition, we aim to help prevent children with food allergy having anaphylaxis through improved public health policy and clinical pathways. As a second wave of the allergy epidemic, we are well positioned to turn back the tide of this newly emergent health threat to the public.
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354771
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$20,000.00
Summary
Australian Population Research Network: Cross-Disciplinary Collaborations in Research on Australia's Population Transformations and Their Social, Economic and Environmental Implications. The wellbeing and sustainability of Australia's population are national priority issues. The primary outcome of the Initiative will be a plan for a Network that will promote collaboration among researchers across universities and disciplines whose work focuses on the following issues relating to Australia's pop ....Australian Population Research Network: Cross-Disciplinary Collaborations in Research on Australia's Population Transformations and Their Social, Economic and Environmental Implications. The wellbeing and sustainability of Australia's population are national priority issues. The primary outcome of the Initiative will be a plan for a Network that will promote collaboration among researchers across universities and disciplines whose work focuses on the following issues relating to Australia's population: family and work; health and longevity; immigration and identity; and environment and settlement. Linkages will be established with Commonwealth and State/Territory governments to better communicate the results of population research for policy development, and with researchers internationally to facilitate comparative work that is crucial to further theoretical and methodological development in the population field.Read moreRead less
Centre Of Research Excellence On Sitting Time And Chronic Disease Prevention – Mechanisms, Measurement And Interventions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,657,874.00
Summary
Australian research has identified serious health consequences arising from the 7 to 10 hours of daily sitting that most people do, especially in relation to ‘diseases of inactivity’ – type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and breast and colon cancer – that are an unwelcome burden on individuals, families and health systems. This new research examines the practical feasibility and the preventive-health benefits of changing children’s and adults’ sitting time in schools, workplaces and the home ....Australian research has identified serious health consequences arising from the 7 to 10 hours of daily sitting that most people do, especially in relation to ‘diseases of inactivity’ – type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and breast and colon cancer – that are an unwelcome burden on individuals, families and health systems. This new research examines the practical feasibility and the preventive-health benefits of changing children’s and adults’ sitting time in schools, workplaces and the home environment.Read moreRead less
Life history responses to habitat heterogeneity and implications for conservation. This exciting new research project will provide a novel understanding of how animals respond and adapt to environmental variation. This will fill a critical gap between ecological theory and real-world populations and initiate a major shift in how we view the relationship between environments and the species that inhabit them. Natural resource use practices like forestry are rarely considered compatible with biodi ....Life history responses to habitat heterogeneity and implications for conservation. This exciting new research project will provide a novel understanding of how animals respond and adapt to environmental variation. This will fill a critical gap between ecological theory and real-world populations and initiate a major shift in how we view the relationship between environments and the species that inhabit them. Natural resource use practices like forestry are rarely considered compatible with biodiversity conservation. This research will provide on-the-ground management recommendations to integrate such land uses with conservation, thereby providing both economic and conservation benefits to the Australian community.Read moreRead less
Sitting Less And Moving More: Population Health Research To Understand And Influence Sedentary Behaviour
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$6,367,518.00
Summary
The majority of Australian adults spend most of their waking hours sitting: at home, at work, and in their cars; most do not participate in exercise or sport. This leads to weight gain and to diseases of inactivity (particularly diabetes, heart disease, cancer and depression). New research will measure sitting time and the physical activity in people's daily lives, what factors encourage inactivity, and how to increase activity levels, especially among the ageing 'baby boomer' population.
Integrating population perspectives in Asian environmental debates. Sustainable development in Asia is crucial for the future welfare of all Asians, and for Australia. The population of Asia is over 60 percent of global population and the region is rapidly urbanizing and industrializing, thus creating an ever more onerous environmental footprint. The economic analytical work underpinning the assessment and amelioration of environmental challenges in Asia has long utilized simple population proje ....Integrating population perspectives in Asian environmental debates. Sustainable development in Asia is crucial for the future welfare of all Asians, and for Australia. The population of Asia is over 60 percent of global population and the region is rapidly urbanizing and industrializing, thus creating an ever more onerous environmental footprint. The economic analytical work underpinning the assessment and amelioration of environmental challenges in Asia has long utilized simple population projections. This project's methodologies will inform better policy and public debate to ensure that governments have more realistic understandings of the interaction between human population, human welfare and environmental integrity.Read moreRead less