Building Research Capacity In Indigenous Australians And Community Controlled Health Services
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,450,234.00
Summary
In addition to building the research capacity of a cohort of Indigenous and non-indigenous researchers based in Northern Australia and Victoria this project will establish a network to promote Indigenous health research and build capacity in three Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services already involved in Indigenous and population health research and in employees within those three Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services. The project will investigate and evaluate models of how U ....In addition to building the research capacity of a cohort of Indigenous and non-indigenous researchers based in Northern Australia and Victoria this project will establish a network to promote Indigenous health research and build capacity in three Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services already involved in Indigenous and population health research and in employees within those three Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services. The project will investigate and evaluate models of how Universities can best build research capacity in Indigenous population health researchers.Read moreRead less
I am a public health researcher in cardiovascular science and epidemiology evaluating programs for lowering the risk of chronic illness in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations.
The DRUID Study: Diabetes And Related Disorders In Urban Indigenous People In The Darwin Region.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,116,052.00
Summary
Indigenous Australians suffer a high burden of ill health from diabetes and related conditions, but very little is known about the burden of diabetes and its complications among Indigenous people in urban areas, and how to reduce it. Unlike Indigenous people in rural and remote areas, Indigenous people in urban areas (the majority of Indigenous Australians) have rarely been the subjects of health research and have even more rarely been the drivers of such research. The DRUID Study (Diabetes and ....Indigenous Australians suffer a high burden of ill health from diabetes and related conditions, but very little is known about the burden of diabetes and its complications among Indigenous people in urban areas, and how to reduce it. Unlike Indigenous people in rural and remote areas, Indigenous people in urban areas (the majority of Indigenous Australians) have rarely been the subjects of health research and have even more rarely been the drivers of such research. The DRUID Study (Diabetes and Related Disorders in Urban Indigenous People in the Darwin Region) is a partnership between researchers and members of the Darwin Indigenous community to: examine the health of adults aged 15 years and over; refer people with disease to appropriate health care and related services; follow people over time to collect information on the state of their health and their use of health services; and test the effectiveness of a program to improve dietary quality, increase physical activity and reduce tobacco smoking among those at highest risk for diabetes. The results will be of significant value to policy-makers, health practitioners, researchers, and, most importantly, Indigenous people and organisations. The study will provide the first-ever data on the burden of diabetes and related conditions in an urban Indigenous population. This information can be directly compared with recently collected national data from the AusDiab study, and used to inform the development and implementation of strategies for reducing the impact of diabetes and related conditions. The study will provide an important vehicle for the training and development of Indigenous researchers, and the central involvement of Indigenous people in the study will promote improved local awareness and understanding of diabetes among Indigenous people and increase the capacity of Indigenous people and service providers to manage diabetes and related disorders.Read moreRead less
With particular interest in developing data analysis techniques, I am an epidemiologist assessing risk factors and developing risk calculators for non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, in Aboriginal people.
A Randomised Trial Of Fish And Fruit To Improve Survival Of Aboriginal People With End Stage Renal Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$184,500.00
Summary
End stage renal disease (ESRD) is a devastating disease which affects Aboriginal Australians disproportionately: The average survival time for Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory is 3.6 years from the onset of kidney failure, compared to 12.3 years for non-Aboriginal people. There has been a dramatic rise in incidence of kidney failure over the past 20 years, with the prevalence doubling every 4-5 years in many NT communities and other remote parts of Australia. Mortality for patients wi ....End stage renal disease (ESRD) is a devastating disease which affects Aboriginal Australians disproportionately: The average survival time for Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory is 3.6 years from the onset of kidney failure, compared to 12.3 years for non-Aboriginal people. There has been a dramatic rise in incidence of kidney failure over the past 20 years, with the prevalence doubling every 4-5 years in many NT communities and other remote parts of Australia. Mortality for patients with ESRD is approximately 5 to 10 fold that of the general population, with heart disease accounting for approximately half of deaths. The aims of this study are to determine whether a dietary intervention of fish and fruit three times a week will decrease cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in patients on haemodialysis in Darwin and Alice Springs. There is a strong scientific rationale for this simple dietary intervention. Fish are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, believed to reduce the risk of heart attack . Fruit is a good source of anti oxidants and other chemicals that may amplify the beneficial effects of fish. This simple combination is also practical to include in usual clinical care. Dialysis is done three days each week, with people allocated to intervention or control groups according to the day of dialysis. Nutritional and cardiovascular status will be measured at commencement of the study and then at intervals of 3, 6 and 12 months. Strategies have been incorporated into the project design to ensure understanding, informed consent and participation of Aboriginal people in a number of domains: the participant, their family, urban and remote communities, and service providers. If successful this intervention will result in changes to the clinical management of renal patients worldwide.Read moreRead less
Stress During Pregnancy And The Developmental Origins Of Renal Disease In Aboriginal Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$866,044.00
Summary
There is an epidemic of renal failure in Aboriginal people who also have high rates of premature birth of small babies. This project aims to understand the causes of kidney failure in Aboriginal people through testing if stress during pregnancy leads to the birth of preterm, small babies with small poorly formed kidneys that lead to kidney failure in later life. The effect of stressors impacting on pregnant women including infections, exposure to smoking and social stressors will be examined.