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Clinical Genetic Phenotyping Of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$582,114.00
Summary
Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have difficulty with communication, social interaction and intellectual disability. The cause is generally not known although most cases have a genetic basis involving multiple genes and possibly environmental factors. We will study families of children with ASD and carefully characterize features related to ASD in family members. This will help us to understand how ASD is inherited and serve as the basis for the discovery of autism genes.
Prostate Cancer Survivorship Essentials For Men With Prostate Cancer On Androgen Deprivation Therapy: Transforming Care To Improve Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,133,942.00
Summary
Up to half of all men diagnosed with prostate cancer will undergo androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) as part of their treatment at some point. Although ADT is effective in treating prostate cancer, many men will experience considerable side effects that negatively impact their quality of life. This research study will identify if a nurse-led survivorship care intervention, delivered by phone or video-call, improves the quality of life for men with prostate cancer who are receiving ADT.
Age-related Changes In Vision And Cognitive Performance: Are There Cognitive Benefits From Cataract Surgery?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$101,074.00
Summary
It is possible that some of the confusion and memory loss experienced by older people is due to perceptual errors resulting from poor vision. If this is the case, then treating visual impairment may improve everyday cognitive functioning in some older people. This study aims to find out if the improvement in vision experienced after cataract surgery leads to improvement in memory and cognitive processing among older persons. The study will follow a group of adults aged 70 and older who are about ....It is possible that some of the confusion and memory loss experienced by older people is due to perceptual errors resulting from poor vision. If this is the case, then treating visual impairment may improve everyday cognitive functioning in some older people. This study aims to find out if the improvement in vision experienced after cataract surgery leads to improvement in memory and cognitive processing among older persons. The study will follow a group of adults aged 70 and older who are about to undergo cataract surgery and test them on measures of cognitive performance before surgery, and 3 and 12 months after surgery. Another group of older adults with cataracts who have not yet had surgery and a non-cataract group will also be studied over the 12 month period. The hypothesis of the study is that the group who have had cataract surgery will show greater improvement on the measures of memory and cognitive processing over the follow-up period than the other two groups. The design of the study will allow us to determine whether improvement is due to either; a) simply being able to see the tests better, b) improvement in mood and social participation as a result of cataract surgery; c) changes in the brain that occur from increased sensory stimulation; or d) a combination of these factors.Read moreRead less
Potential Avian Influenza-induced Pandemic: Minimising Public Panic
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$249,854.00
Summary
Communication appearing in the Australian media regarding a potential bird flu epidemic can serve to accurately and effectively inform the public OR misinform and contribute to panic and undesirable behavioural responses. The Australian Government has time to develop communication strategies and specific messages that can effectively convey desired information at different stages of the anticipated pandemic. This research team proposes to develop communication strategies (including specific mess ....Communication appearing in the Australian media regarding a potential bird flu epidemic can serve to accurately and effectively inform the public OR misinform and contribute to panic and undesirable behavioural responses. The Australian Government has time to develop communication strategies and specific messages that can effectively convey desired information at different stages of the anticipated pandemic. This research team proposes to develop communication strategies (including specific messages, media vehicles, spokespeople, images etc for the different target audiences) that government, medical authorities, NGOs and other relevant organisations can use to increase the public's understanding of the risk. Such strategies will ensure that we can minimise fear, refute misinformation the public may encounter from individuals (e.g., co-workers) or media sources, and enhance the likelihood of the public taking the recommended preventive and remedial actions should an Avian Influenza pandemic occur. Additionally, the research team will then utilise these communication strategies to develop evidence-based guidelines for communication strategies to be used in cases of similar serious health threats in Australia. Based at the University of Wollongong, the project team is a sophisticated and synergistically qualified team of experts. The team includes: a main media health promotions expert (Associate Professor Sandra Jones); two marketing communications experts, one of whom has an academic focus and the other a practitioner focus (Professor John Rossiter and Dr Max Sutherland respectively); a public health and medical expert in health behaviour change (Professor Don Iverson); a senior public health campaigns expert (Professor Chris Puplick), and an expert in communicable diseases and infection control education and programs (Professor Julian Gold).Read moreRead less
Psychosocial Impact Of Genetic Counselling And Testing
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$782,856.00
Summary
This research program assesses the psychological and behavioural impact of new genetic technologies to allow the identification of individuals most at risk of developing negative outcomes and the planning of appropriate targeted interventions. It will lead to the development, evaluation and dissemination of highly innovative patient education strategies that facilitate informed choices and support people in translating their choices into appropriate screening and risk-reducing behaviours.
Increasing Adolescent Resilience Against Depression: Extending RAP To Include A Peer-Interpersonal Relatedness Component
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$76,361.00
Summary
Adolescence is a challenging time and depression may develop due to the stress of school work, parental expectations, peer pressure, or family conflict. The Resourceful Adolescent Program (RAP) teaches coping strategies to build self-esteem and deal with stress. Good peer relationships also protect youths from depression: The RAP-PIR project teaches adolescents additional social skills, strategies for managing bullying, and friendship skills. We expect RAP-PIR will help prevent youth depression.
Early Development, MicroRNAs, Dendritogenesis And Cognition
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$313,557.00
Summary
Neurodevelopmental disorders are characterised by a marked disruption of learning and memory, which is reflected by structural changes in the brains of affected individuals. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms of this pathology or whether it is directly related to cognitive deficits across the lifespan. How the brain is wired during early development and its relationship to learning and memory in adulthood will therefore be determined.
The Next Generation Of Impact In Cystic Fibrosis - Adolescent Mental Health And Beyond
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$76,365.00
Summary
My project studies adolescents with cystic fibrosis and explore how mental health issues influence and associate with important health outcomes relating to respiratory health, sleep quality, pain issues, family functioning, financial and social status and ability to manage treatment plans. I will recruit participants from the AREST CF (Australian Respiratory Early Surveillance Team for Cystic Fibrosis) project that studies children with CF from diagnosis.