RESTORE - Individualised Movement Rehabilitation And Movement Sensor Biofeedback For Chronic, Disabling Low Back Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,214,385.00
Summary
Low back pain is the leading cause of disability in Australia, with an enormous cost burden for society. Available treatments have resulted in only moderate improvements that typically do not last. We propose to investigate the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of two new treatments that have shown promising early results: i) an individualised movement and cognitive rehabilitation approach (‘Cognitive Functional Therapy’) and ii) biofeedback from wireless movement sensors worn on the spine
Intravascular Device Administration Sets: Replacement After Standard Versus Prolonged Use (The RSVP Trial)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,611,239.00
Summary
Most hospital patients need an IV drip, a small plastic tube in a vein, often the hand/arm. 14 million/yr are used in Australia. IV drips are connected to plastic tubing through which fluid & medicine is given. IV tubing is needed for a week or more, but is only used for 3-4 days as it was thought this might prevent infection. It is now thought that IV tubing can be used for a week. This would save $1 billion/year & reduce nurses workload. The research will test the safety of this approach.
Peripherally InSerted CEntral Catheter Securement: The PISCES Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,101,717.00
Summary
Cancer treatment often requires a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) for chemotherapy, transfusions, medicines, fluids, nutrition and/or blood sampling. Current PICC dressing and securement products are not preventing the 30% of PICCs that develop infection, occlusion, thrombosis or dislodgement. New products are available that may reduce complications. This trial will test their effectiveness, costs, comfort and practicality, working closely with patients, nurses and doctors.
New Methods And Guidelines For The Design, Analysis And Reporting Of Cluster-crossover And Stepped Wedge Randomised Trials In Clinical And Public Health Research
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$391,258.00
Summary
Cluster crossover and stepped wedge designs have emerged recently as study designs used in clinical and public health research settings. However, despite their use there has been very little methodological assessment of the statistical analysis methods used in current practice. The proposed research will assess the correctness of current methods and will produce a toolkit of state-of-the art, defensible trial design, analysis and reporting methods for the clinical/health researcher.
A COMMUNITY BASED STRENGTH TRAINING PROGRAM TO IMPROVE WORK TASK PERFORMANCE IN YOUNG ADULTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$180,649.00
Summary
This study will compare the outcomes of a 10 week twice a week community-based weight training program for young adults with Down syndrome with an art program. It will establish if a student-led exercise program can improve their performance of work tasks and their activity levels. Should the program prove beneficial, we aim to achieve the long-term outcome of exercise being implemented as a sustainable, inclusive recreation option for this group.
A Randomised Placebo-controlled Crossover Trial Of Micronised Resveratrol As A Treatment For Friedreich Ataxia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$556,287.00
Summary
Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is the most common inherited cause of ataxia (incoordination). There are currently no treatments proven to slow or reverse its inexorable progression. We have shown that resveratrol holds promise as a treatment in an open-label study and now propose a placebo controlled study that will provide evidence of whether resveratrol can slow or reverse symptoms in this devastating disorder.
SUcceSS: SUrgery For Spinal Stenosis - A Randomised Placebo-controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,303,245.00
Summary
This will be the first placebo-controlled randomised trial of surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis and aims to determine the efficacy and safety of this intervention in decreasing pain and improving disability in this population. The cost-effectiveness of surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis will also be determined.
Ketamine Therapy Among Patients With Treatment-resistant Depression: A Randomised, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,069,382.00
Summary
In the last decade, there have been reports of powerful antidepressant effects after a single injection of anaesthetic ketamine, with dramatic (though shortlasting) effects within 24 hours. This will be the first controlled study to test whether a course of repeated ketamine treatments, given over 4 weeks, is effective and safe in treating depression.
Plasma Exchange And Glucocorticoids In Anti-neutrophil Cytoplasm Antibody Associated Systemic Vasculitis: A Randomised Controlled Trial (PEXIVAS Australia)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$420,110.00
Summary
ANCA-associated vasculitis is a life-threatening disease. The PEXIVAS trial will investigate whether plasma exchange, in addition to immunosuppressive therapy and glucocorticoids, will reduce death and the development of severe kidney failure due to this disease. Additionally, the project will also look at whether using a reduced dose of glucocorticoids is just as effective as larger doses in lessening the infectious complications of treatment.
Community-wide Active Case Finding For Tuberculosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,422,325.00
Summary
During 2010, 8.8 million people developed TB and 1.45 million people died due to the disease. In this project, which will be conducted in Vietnam, one of the countries in our region with a particularly high prevalence of TB, we will test a new form of an old intervention: community-wide screening for TB, not with x-rays but by testing sputum. If the project is successful it has the potential to lead to a giant leap forward towards the elimination of TB as a global health problem.