The Prevention, Early Detection, & Effective Management Of Neurocognitive Disorders In The Elderly
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,929,014.00
Summary
The unprecedented greying of the world population is posing a major challenge to health care in meeting the needs of older individuals with cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer�s disease. At the same time, drugs are being developed to prevent these disorders, or to treat them effectively. Our proposal is a comprehensive attempt at dealing with the neuropsychiatric aspects of these neurocognitive disorders. Our group is endeavouring to better define the early stages of these disorders, and study ....The unprecedented greying of the world population is posing a major challenge to health care in meeting the needs of older individuals with cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer�s disease. At the same time, drugs are being developed to prevent these disorders, or to treat them effectively. Our proposal is a comprehensive attempt at dealing with the neuropsychiatric aspects of these neurocognitive disorders. Our group is endeavouring to better define the early stages of these disorders, and studying methods of detecting them at an early stage, using the latest neuropsychological and neuroimaging techniques. We wish to investigate new drugs for the prevention of dementia. Much of dementia is not treated early because of lack of training of primary care physicians in identifying dementia, and we are developing methods to deal with this problem. We are also examining the role of cognitive disorders in accidents and suicides in the elderly, and the development of depression. We are determining the role of psychiatric disorders in the care of these patients, and the methods of alleviating the burden of disease. We expect that this research will make a major impact on health policy for these disorders in Australia. We also hope to make our Program the premier centre for training in geriatric neuropsychiatry.Read moreRead less
Prevention, Early Detection And Effective Management Of Neurocognitive Disorders In The Elderly
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$6,547,975.00
Summary
The Program comprises a number of longitudinal studies of ageing individuals to develop methods of diagnosing dementia before symptoms become prominent. We are also examining factors that increase the risk of developing dementia. We wish to translate this research into early and better diagnosis, and the development of new treatments and strategies for dementia care. We expect that this research will make a major impact on health policy in Australia for cognitive disorders in the elderly.
Patient Safety: Enabling And Supporting Change For A Safer And More Effective Health System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$8,878,409.00
Summary
Internationally, patient safety is a growing concern. Patient harm occurs in 10% of hospital admissions. A million adverse events occur in general practice each year in Australia. Overseas data reports that patients receive recommended care only 50% of the time. We will significantly advance this work by investigating how and why this ccurs, with a focus on the roles of teamwork, safe medication use and the application of information technology to support improved decision-making.
This program, run by an established team with skills in public health, clinical epidemiology, biostatistics, health economics and behavioural science addresses the under-researched issues of whether, when and how to use medical tests. The elements of the program follow the sequence in which testing is often done: for screening (early detection), for diagnosis on which to base treatment decisions, and for monitoring the effects of treatment. A common approach throughout is the identification of t ....This program, run by an established team with skills in public health, clinical epidemiology, biostatistics, health economics and behavioural science addresses the under-researched issues of whether, when and how to use medical tests. The elements of the program follow the sequence in which testing is often done: for screening (early detection), for diagnosis on which to base treatment decisions, and for monitoring the effects of treatment. A common approach throughout is the identification of the benefits and harms of testing and assessing their trade-off; how benefits weigh up against harms. This research is relevant to all partners in healthcare, (consumers, clinicians and policy-makers), who currently are being tested or using tests without being fully informed about the accuracy and effects of these tests.Read moreRead less
Health Outcomes Monitoring And Evaluation: Learning About Activity, Nutrition, Diet And Social Factors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$7,486,989.00
Summary
Diabetes, Heart and Kidney disease occur in epidemic proportions among Indigenous Australians. Of particular concerns is the early age of onset of conditions that are to disease of older adulthood in the broader Australian community. While these chronic diseases are known to cause premature death and suffering in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, there are gaps in our knowledge. For example, we know very little about how these conditionsdevelop over time in different populations ....Diabetes, Heart and Kidney disease occur in epidemic proportions among Indigenous Australians. Of particular concerns is the early age of onset of conditions that are to disease of older adulthood in the broader Australian community. While these chronic diseases are known to cause premature death and suffering in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, there are gaps in our knowledge. For example, we know very little about how these conditionsdevelop over time in different populations. Probably the greatest knowledge gap is the area of effective intervention - both to prevent to prevent diabetes, kidney and heart disease in young people, and to treat existing cases effectivly. The main goal of this program is to bring together a multi skilled team of researchers to better understand the development of these chronic disease across the lifespan ( including differences between different populations), and to guuide the development of diet, lifestyle, and clinical interventions. Such interventions need to be simple, effective, acceptable to Indigenous people and able to be sustained over the long term. All interventions will be rigorously evaluated. The results will inform policies in ares such as quality and affordability of the food supply in remote communnities; infrastructure to promote physical activity; and provision of high quality primary health care focussing on early intervention and care of people at risk of chronic disease.Read moreRead less
Insult, Injury And Recovery In Brain Disease: From Molecules To Therapeutic Outcome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$8,215,611.00
Summary
When nerve cells are damaged, destroyed or injured, through disease or trauma, common pathological processes are set in train. Even though there are many factors that might trigger disease, these inevitably lead to common processes that end in cell death or initiate protective processes. One theme involves the factors that surround these responses to nerve injury and stress, and the consequent protective and regenerative responses that ensue. Another theme, closely integrates with the first, is ....When nerve cells are damaged, destroyed or injured, through disease or trauma, common pathological processes are set in train. Even though there are many factors that might trigger disease, these inevitably lead to common processes that end in cell death or initiate protective processes. One theme involves the factors that surround these responses to nerve injury and stress, and the consequent protective and regenerative responses that ensue. Another theme, closely integrates with the first, is to exploit basic biological mechanisms with the aim of identifying and developing therapeutic targets for the management of a wider range of neurological conditions.Read moreRead less
This Program Grant investigates a number of important reproductive problems that affect the fertility of men, prostate cancer and the way the mother nurtures and protects the baby during pregnancy. The successful development of sperm requires the proper function of a number of biological processes. This grant investigates the way in which sperm are produced, the genes that are needed to control their development, and the way sperm propel themselves and fertilize the egg. The research also invest ....This Program Grant investigates a number of important reproductive problems that affect the fertility of men, prostate cancer and the way the mother nurtures and protects the baby during pregnancy. The successful development of sperm requires the proper function of a number of biological processes. This grant investigates the way in which sperm are produced, the genes that are needed to control their development, and the way sperm propel themselves and fertilize the egg. The research also investigates how sperm are protected during their development from infection and immunological rejection, achieved in part by a special environment within the tubes in the testis where they grow. It appears that the general mechanisms that the body uses to combat infections are modified within the testis and the way in which this occurs may provide clues that could be applied to prevent the rejection of transplanted organs in general. Some of the substances that control these processes appear to play an important role in the body�s defense against infection. The grant also investigates the processes that are involved in the development of prostate cancer. These changes can occur over many years and the grant will study some substances that appear to be involved. The work will provide new knowledge that may assist in new tests to identify whether a cancer is slow or fast growing, thereby helping each man to decide the most sensible form of treatment. The grant will investigate how a group of proteins, that also are involved in the control of processes discussed above, assist the mother in protecting her baby during pregnancy. The outcomes will assist in the management of disturbances of pregnancy that may put the fetus at risk of survival.Read moreRead less
To study the genetic alterations that give rise to cancer. In particular, exploring how too little death of cells can lead to a tumour. If too few cells in a tissue die, a tumour may develop there. The team is exploring how the cell death process is normally controlled. They plan to characterise the molecules inside cells that determine whether a cell lives or dies and hope that better understanding of those molecules will help to explain how tumours arise. It could also lead to new drugs that c ....To study the genetic alterations that give rise to cancer. In particular, exploring how too little death of cells can lead to a tumour. If too few cells in a tissue die, a tumour may develop there. The team is exploring how the cell death process is normally controlled. They plan to characterise the molecules inside cells that determine whether a cell lives or dies and hope that better understanding of those molecules will help to explain how tumours arise. It could also lead to new drugs that can kill tumour cells more effectively by directly triggering the normal death switch of the cell.Read moreRead less
MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR PATHOGENESIS OF HUMAN LIVER DISEASE
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,928,323.00
Summary
n humans, chronic liver diseases cause cirrhosis of the liver in some but not all individuals. This leads to protracted ill-health, complications (fluid retention in the abdomen, confusion, bloodstream infections, kidney failure, liver cancer) resulting in hospitalisation, liver transplantation and premature death. In Australia, cirrhosis is an important cause of death and of years of potential life lost, while liver cancer has recently doubled and is predicted to treble by 2020. The common caus ....n humans, chronic liver diseases cause cirrhosis of the liver in some but not all individuals. This leads to protracted ill-health, complications (fluid retention in the abdomen, confusion, bloodstream infections, kidney failure, liver cancer) resulting in hospitalisation, liver transplantation and premature death. In Australia, cirrhosis is an important cause of death and of years of potential life lost, while liver cancer has recently doubled and is predicted to treble by 2020. The common causes are hepatitis C, fatty liver disorders, alcohol and hepatitis B; when 2 of these are present together, there is a higher risk of cirrhosis. This program aims to unravel the pathological processes which cause cirrhosis at the molecular and cellular levels, in order to understand why some people are at higher risk. These processes could result from genetic predisposition, other constitutional factors (age, gender) or from lifestyle factors (overnutrition, inactivity, alcohol). The 3 chief investigators from Westmead s Millennium Institute and the Centenary Institute of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital are international experts in hepatitis C, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and other fatty liver disorders, autoimmune hepatitis, liver transplantation, and scarring processes that lead to cirrhosis of the liver. The new knowledge that will result from these studies will be used to help prevent people developing severe forms of chronic liver disease, and for treating cirrhosis if it has already occurred.Read moreRead less
Gynaecological, Oesophageal And Skin Cancer In Australia: Developing The Evidence-base
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$6,079,935.00
Summary
Our Program addresses cancers of the ovary, uterus, oesophagus and skin (both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers). The first three cancers together affect almost 4,000 people and cause more than 2,000 deaths every year while skin cancer affects almost 400,000 Australians each year. Our aims are, first, to understand better how these cancers are caused so that we can try to prevent them in the future; second, to enhance diagnosis of these cancers; and third, to improve the survival and qualit ....Our Program addresses cancers of the ovary, uterus, oesophagus and skin (both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers). The first three cancers together affect almost 4,000 people and cause more than 2,000 deaths every year while skin cancer affects almost 400,000 Australians each year. Our aims are, first, to understand better how these cancers are caused so that we can try to prevent them in the future; second, to enhance diagnosis of these cancers; and third, to improve the survival and quality of life for people who are diagnosed with these cancers in Australia.Read moreRead less