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
FluMum: A Prospective Cohort Study Of Mother-infant Pairs Assessing The Effectiveness Of Maternal Influenza Vaccination In Prevention Of Influenza In Early Infancy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,598,377.00
Summary
Influenza is a serious illness for young babies. Currently there are no vaccines that can be given to babies under 6 months of age to protect them from infection. This study aims to determine whether influenza vaccine given in pregnancy can prevent infection in babies up to 6 months of age.
Improving Evidence-based Treatment Of Latent Tuberculosis Infection In Public-hospital Based Chest Clinics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$176,250.00
Summary
The aim of this project is to implement an electronic decision support (EDS) tool for preventive tuberculosis treatment into clinical practice. Information needs of patients and physicians as well as practical concerns regarding the use of the EDS will be evaluated before performing pilot testing and evaluating the impact of the EDS tool on simulated doctor-patient interactions and clinical workflow.
The use of social marketing strategies and adult education principles to improve asthma self management in older people. Asthma is estimated to affect up to 10 per cent of people aged 65+ some of whom experience the condition for the first time later in life. Mortality rates from asthma in Australia are highest in the older population and statistics show that older people are most likely to be admitted to hospital following attendance at an Emergency Department for asthma. Older people lack aw ....The use of social marketing strategies and adult education principles to improve asthma self management in older people. Asthma is estimated to affect up to 10 per cent of people aged 65+ some of whom experience the condition for the first time later in life. Mortality rates from asthma in Australia are highest in the older population and statistics show that older people are most likely to be admitted to hospital following attendance at an Emergency Department for asthma. Older people lack awareness about asthma, often manage it poorly, and their health related quality of life is impacted by asthma. There is disparity in asthma information, management and service provision targeted specifically to the needs of the elderly. This project will provide much-needed evidence on the effectiveness of carefully researched and targeted programs for older asthmatics.Read moreRead less
TEXTMEDS – TEXT Messages To Improve MEDication Adherence And Secondary Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,406,875.00
Summary
TEXTMEDS will evaluate a highly innovative strategy to improve cardiovascular disease secondary prevention using cheap and widely available mobile phone technology. TEXTMEDS is a randomised controlled trial of 1400 patients with acute coronary syndrome that will examine the effect of a semi-personalised secondary prevention support program sent via mobile phone text message on the proportion taking appropriate medications for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease and on cardiovascul ....TEXTMEDS will evaluate a highly innovative strategy to improve cardiovascular disease secondary prevention using cheap and widely available mobile phone technology. TEXTMEDS is a randomised controlled trial of 1400 patients with acute coronary syndrome that will examine the effect of a semi-personalised secondary prevention support program sent via mobile phone text message on the proportion taking appropriate medications for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease and on cardiovascular risk factors levels (e.g. cholesterol).Read moreRead less
Understanding The Unique Contribution Of Sedentary Behaviour To The Cardio Metabolic Health Of Women
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$83,149.00
Summary
The risk of heart disease for women increases significantly with the menopause. New evidence suggests that sedentary behaviour (too much sitting as distinct from too little exercise) is also related to heart disease risk. Ms Howard's PhD research will identify whether TV time and other prolonged sitting pose a particular risk for women during and after the menopause. Her studies will identify whether there is a need for women's health recommendations on reducing sitting time.
Accurate Prediction Of Individual Risk To Disease From Genome-wide Association Studies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$269,371.00
Summary
Risk for many complex diseases (such as psychiatric disorders or heart disease) has a substantial genetic component, however few specific high risk variants have been identified. Evidence is mounting that there are likely to be hundreds of risk loci each individually conferring a very low increase in relative risk for disease. We aim to develop methods that utilise information from multiple genetic risk variants simultaneously to create a 'genomic profile' of risk.
A Longitudinal Investigation Of The Efficacy Of Pharmacological Smoking Cessation Aids In Real-life Settings
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$592,837.00
Summary
Currently around 3 million Australians, or 17% of people aged 14 years and over, smoke tobacco daily. These smokers are at major risk of developing coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, and a variety of cancers, including lung, laryngeal, oral, kidney, bladder, breast, pancreas and colon cancers. At any one time almost half of Australian smokers intend to quit smoking or have already set a date to do so but few (around 10%) succeed on each attempt. Clinical trials of quitt ....Currently around 3 million Australians, or 17% of people aged 14 years and over, smoke tobacco daily. These smokers are at major risk of developing coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, and a variety of cancers, including lung, laryngeal, oral, kidney, bladder, breast, pancreas and colon cancers. At any one time almost half of Australian smokers intend to quit smoking or have already set a date to do so but few (around 10%) succeed on each attempt. Clinical trials of quitting aids, such as nicotine patches, gum and Zyban, suggest that smokers are around twice as likely to quit if using these. However clinical trials are conducted in artificial environments and these quitting aids appear to have a far smaller impact on successful quitting rates in the 'real world'. Pharmaceutical quitting aids are heavily advertised by drug companies and widely used in Australia. Futhermore the Commonwealth Government has invested over $133 million dollars subsidising such aids to Australian smokers in the past four years. However it is not known to what extent these quitting aids have made a difference to Australian smoking rates. Sales volumes of pharmaceutical quitting aids appear not to have translated into expected increases in numbers of smokers successfully quitting, suggesting they are less effective than clinical trials suggest. The present study aims to investigate whether pharmaceutical quitting aids actually are less effective in the 'real world', and if so, why.Read moreRead less
Development Of Contemporary Surveillance And Control Methodologies For Dengue And Other Mosquito-borne Viral Diseases.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$512,290.00
Summary
This research proposal will address the need for better surveillance and control methodologies for mosquito-borne viral diseases and their vectors, including dengue and its global mosquito vector, Ae. aegypti, and a range of other important arboviral diseases throughout Australia. Research will focus in three areas: surveillance and control of Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses; development of contemporary risk management frameworks for dengue; and innovative investigations of insect age to pr ....This research proposal will address the need for better surveillance and control methodologies for mosquito-borne viral diseases and their vectors, including dengue and its global mosquito vector, Ae. aegypti, and a range of other important arboviral diseases throughout Australia. Research will focus in three areas: surveillance and control of Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses; development of contemporary risk management frameworks for dengue; and innovative investigations of insect age to provide evidence based monitoring and novel approaches to arbovirus disease prevention.Read moreRead less
Retinal Microvascular Signs In Angina And Coronary Artery Disease: The Australian Heart Eye Study (AHES)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,223.00
Summary
The Australian Heart Eye Study will determine whether vessel signs from the retina at the back of the eye are an independent marker of heart disease as assessed by a coronary angiogram. New imaging techniques permit a rapid assessment of these signs. This project could lead to the development of an innovative, non-invasive test that could be used to screen people for the risk of coronary heart disease, in addition to traditional risk factors like blood pressure, smoking, cholesterol and obesity.