IPrevent: Development And Pilot Testing Of An Evidence-based, Tailored, Computerised Risk Assessment And Decision Support Tool To Facilitate Discussions About Breast Cancer Prevention And Screening Measures.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,143.00
Summary
Women at increased risk for breast cancer should be identified and offered prevention and intensified screening. Yet most women don’t know their personal risk for breast cancer. We will develop a user friendly, computerised tool which, used with her doctor, will help each woman understand her personal breast cancer risk and the benefits and disadvantages of prevention and screening strategies. It will empower women to understand and take control of their breast cancer risk.
Central Aortic Blood Pressure In Children: Establishing A Gold Standard Non-invasive Assessment Of Cardiovascular Risk
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$694,342.00
Summary
The best way of assessing early risk of cardiovascular disease involves measuring blood pressure near the heart (central pressure), but existing devices used in adults for this purpose are inaccurate in children. We will develop a children-specific method and apply it to study early cardiovascular risk in a comprehensive health study of 2000 children Australia-wide. We will also investigate why children with congenital heart disease frequently develop ‘older-adult’ heart disease at a young age.
Improving Rapid Decision-Making In The Face Of Uncertainty: A Randomised Trial Of A 1-hour Troponin Protocol In Suspected Acute Coronary Syndromes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,095,320.00
Summary
Chest pain patients are a large burden of emergency department demand. Their effective care requires timely risk assessment. High-sensitivity assays for heart muscle damage (troponin) increases the ability to detect patients at low risk for heart attack but treatment rules based on these tests have not been fully validated. This randomised trial of clinical decision making based on new troponin tests will provide a guidelines for their efficient and effective use in emergency department care.
The CRISP Trial: An RCT Of Risk Assessment And Decision Support To Implement Risk-stratified Colorectal Cancer Screening In Primary Care.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$936,641.00
Summary
There is a mismatch between people’s use of bowel cancer screening tests through faecal occult blood testing or colonoscopy and their individual risk of bowel cancer. Building on the work of our NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence (CRE) on Optimising Colorectal Cancer Screening, this trial will test the effect of an electronic risk assessment tool, implemented in general practice, on use of the most appropriate screening test for bowel cancer based on a person’s risk of developing the condition
Approximately 7% of elderly men have an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and AAA rupture usually results in death. This research aims to improve the limitations in AAA risk assessment. Currently, the maximum diameter determines if the aneurysm is at risk of rupture. However, many small AAAs rupture and 75% of larger ones never burst. Using computer models generated from medical imaging can substantially improve the understanding of rupture risk, therefore, saving lives and reducing health care co ....Approximately 7% of elderly men have an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and AAA rupture usually results in death. This research aims to improve the limitations in AAA risk assessment. Currently, the maximum diameter determines if the aneurysm is at risk of rupture. However, many small AAAs rupture and 75% of larger ones never burst. Using computer models generated from medical imaging can substantially improve the understanding of rupture risk, therefore, saving lives and reducing health care costs.Read moreRead less
Circulating Tumour DNA (ctDNA) To Guide Adjuvant Chemotherapy And Surveillance Strategies In Patients With Stage II Colon Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,227,186.00
Summary
This study is attempting to demonstrate that an adjuvant therapy strategy based on ctDNA results will reduce the number of patients with stage II colon cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy without compromising recurrence free survival. Prospective multi-centre study enrolling 450 stage II colon cancer patients. Patients will be randomized 2:1 to be treated according to ctDNA results (Arm A, n = 300), or per standard clinical criteria (Arm B, n = 150).
Building A Simulation Model To Improve Cardiovascular Disease Risk Prediction And Treatment For Indigenous Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$580,986.00
Summary
This project will primarily focus on developing health economic simulation models to assess different methods for preventing and treating cardiovascular disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians . The aim will be to develop a research program to examine and evaluate policies designed to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease and thereby help close the health inequality gap.
Coronary Artery Calcium Score: Use To Guide Management Of Hereditary Coronary Artery Disease (CAUGHT-CAD)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,762,082.00
Summary
Lifetime risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) is doubled in families with premature CAD. This study will be the first randomized controlled trial of the use of coronary artery calcium scoring (CCS) in relatives of patients with premature CAD, in which treatment will be initiated based on CCS. At three years, the effectiveness of intervention will be assessed on change in plaque volume at CT coronary angiography. The results inform the guidelines regarding evaluation of families with CAD.
Benefit Of 2D-strain Surveillance In Improving Cardiovascular Outcomes In Cancer Patients Undergoing Cardiotoxic Chemotherapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,391,979.00
Summary
Cancer survivors are susceptible to heart failure (HF) caused by heart muscle damage from chemotherapy. The current testing for this problem is based on a measure that cannot identify minor changes of cardiac function. Cardiac strain is a sensitive new marker of cardiac function which is predictive of overt dysfunction & HF. This study seeks to identify whether strain can be used to assign treatments that lead to improved cardiac function and are eventually associated with a reduction in HF.
Clostridium Difficile: Assessing The Risks To Australia Of An Emerging Healthcare-related Pathogen
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,180,256.00
Summary
Clostridium difficile is a bacterium that causes inflammation of the large bowel that can lead to surgical removal of the bowel or death. In North America and Europe, an international epidemic strain has caused large outbreaks of severe, fatal disease. In 2009, this strain was identified for the first time in Perth, Australia. We will investigate strains currently present in Brisbane and Perth and risk of outbreaks occurring from imported and local strains.