Prospective Study Of Birth Defects From Fetotoxic Agents In The Public Water Supply
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$732,036.00
Summary
Recent research in Australia & internationally shows that birth defects are more common in areas where mothers are exposed to poor quality drinking water, particularly when treatment chemicals known as trihalomethanes (THMs) are present. We will determine the risk that high THM levels pose to unborn babies by accurately measuring individual exposures to THMs & correlating these with adverse birth outcomes. The study will be in Perth where THM levels are very high in a number of suburbs.
Better Data To Inform Interventions To Reduce The Risk Of Stillbirth In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$75,830.00
Summary
Stillbirth is a devastating experience for parents and families. Paucity of high quality data on causes and contributing factors is a major barrier to the development of research priorities and interventions to prevent stillbirths and improve the quality of care. This research will be a connected body of work that aims to better describe the epidemiology of stillbirth in Australia, contribute to the classification of stillbirths and determine the needs of parents in relation to autopsy consent.
The Ovarian Cancer Prognosis And Lifestyle (OPAL) Study: Long-term Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$871,657.00
Summary
Ovarian cancer affects 1500 women each year in Australia and 5-year survival is <45%. Affected women thus face a poor prognosis and often ask what they can do to improve this. There is no direct evidence whether a woman’s lifestyle might influence her outcomes, although data from breast cancer suggest this is possible. The OPAL Study is following 960 women with ovarian cancer to identify whether lifestyle is associated with long-term survival to provide evidence for women with this disease.
Improving Outcomes From Ovarian Cancer: Building The Evidence To Help Women Help Themselves
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,839,772.00
Summary
Ovarian cancer affects 1300 women each year in Australia and 5-year survival is <45%. Women with this cancer thus face a poor prognosis and many ask what they can do to improve this. There is no direct evidence whether a woman’s lifestyle might influence her outcomes, although data from breast cancer suggest this is possible. The OPAL Study will follow 1200 women with ovarian cancer to identify whether lifestyle is associated with survival to provide guidance for women with this disease.
Ovarian and endometrial cancer affect >3,200 women each year in Australia and 3 or 4 women die from these cancers every day. The overall aim of my program of research is to reduce the burden of these cancers in future generations of Australian women by increasing our understanding of (i) what causes them, (ii) how we can optimise patient management to enhance patient outcomes and (ii) how lifestyle changes might improve quality and life and survival, for women who are diagnosed with them.
Optimising Care For Patients Diagnosed With Pancreatic Cancer: A Prospective Cohort Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,399,839.00
Summary
There is evidence from previous research in Queensland and NSW that elements of care provided to patients with pancreatic cancer are sub-optimal. We aim to improve compliance with evidence-based guidelines in Victoria and NSW by collecting high quality data, providing reports to hospitals benchmarking their performance against peers and working with health services to reduce variation. Making sure care known to improve practice is being delivered is as important as developing new targeted thera
Minimising Infection Risks Associated With Water Exposure And With International Travel: Addressing Data Gaps To Improve Policy And Practice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$401,361.00
Summary
This project will provide better understanding of health risks associated with two areas of infectious diseases: i) exposure to water, including water recycling and ii) imported infections associated with international travel. Both these issues are highly topical, and new information about exposure risks is important to help guide appropriate preventive advice.