Therapeutics For Repair And Regeneration Of The Cornea
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$166,087.00
Summary
Corneal disease is the commonest cause of irreversible blindness and of the 50 million people world-wide who are bilaterally blind, 10 million are blind from corneal involvement. This proposal will address corneal disease by 1. innovative translational research for corneal repair and regeneration; 2. developing evidence-based management guidelines for corneal disease, and 3. by optimising health service delivery.
Mobile Phones, Radiofrequency Exposure And The Development Of Cognitive Function In Primary School Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$551,477.00
Summary
Increasingly widespread exposure to radiofrequency fields from mobile telephones has raised concern about potential adverse health effects. The WHO has called for further research in children. We will conduct a 3 year study of 600 primary school students focussing on their exposure to mobile phones and cognitive development. If there are no significant effects, the community can be reassured. However if effects are demonstrated, we would need to restrict the use of mobile phones by children.
Linking Research, Policy And Health Services To Build A Better Evidence Base For Workplace
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,683,991.00
Summary
This application brings together four of Australia’s leading population and occupational health researchers to develop much needed national research capacity to reduce the burden of the largely hidden problem of occupational disease and to improve health and wellbeing in Australian workplaces. It is designed to develop a wide range of skills in a group of post-doctoral Team Investigators to improve the link between research, policy and practice. This program will address several of the National ....This application brings together four of Australia’s leading population and occupational health researchers to develop much needed national research capacity to reduce the burden of the largely hidden problem of occupational disease and to improve health and wellbeing in Australian workplaces. It is designed to develop a wide range of skills in a group of post-doctoral Team Investigators to improve the link between research, policy and practice. This program will address several of the National Health Priorities such as asthma, cancer, mental health and musculoskeletal disorders.Read moreRead less
The cornea is essential for vision. Corneal blindness affects all ages, and is often irreversible. Infection of the cornea is a significant cause of corneal blindness. Despite the development of wide-spectrum antibiotics, corneal infections are on the rise. The aim of this project is to provide up-to-date information on the range of bacteria causing corneal infections, their antibiotic sensitivities, and antibiotic prescribing patterns by the ophthalmic profession.
A Randomised, Multi-Centre, Placebo Controlled Trial Of Fenofibrate For Treatment Of Diabetic Macular Oedema With Economic Evaluation (FORTE Study)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,588,132.00
Summary
Our project aims to test if adding an inexpensive oral medication, fenofibrate, is effective at improving treatment of diabetic macular oedema. We will use a well-designed, adequately powered, multi-centred randomised placebo controlled trial to test if fenofibrate can treat currently untreatable forms of diabetic macular oedema, and if it can be combined with current treatments to improve outcomes and reduce costs and risks to patients.
Biomechanical And Physiological Responses Of Children And Young Adults To Different Computer Workstations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$207,352.00
Summary
Computer use is increasing with 95% of Australian primary school children now using computers. Two out of three children and three out of four adult workers report pain associated with computer use. This has lead to concerns that increased computer use may be responsible for an increase in musculoskeletal disorders in young people. Little is known about the physical consequences of children's use of computers. The information we have on adult use is now out of date because of changes to computer ....Computer use is increasing with 95% of Australian primary school children now using computers. Two out of three children and three out of four adult workers report pain associated with computer use. This has lead to concerns that increased computer use may be responsible for an increase in musculoskeletal disorders in young people. Little is known about the physical consequences of children's use of computers. The information we have on adult use is now out of date because of changes to computer technology and how computers are used. It is therefore not possible to provide evidence-based recommendations for safe use of computers by young people. Critical gaps in our knowledge include the appropriate desk design and computer display position. The proposed studies will use recent advances in biomechanical and physiological measurement and modelling of musculoskeletal stress to evaluate a range of desk designs and computer display positions for young adults, preadolescentchilden and early school age children. The outcomes will include the first detailed description of the physical stresses of computer use by children and preliminary guidelines for workstation design.Read moreRead less
The goal of this research is to improve outcomes for people at risk of becoming blind or visually impaired. The focus is on those who require a corneal transplant, or who suffer from inflammatory eye disease or painful disease of the ocular surface, on neonates with retinopathy of prematurity, or those with the eye disease, keratoconus. We will investigate new treatment options for eye diseases and will examine the evidence for the success of surgical and other therapeutic interventions.
Reducing Indoor Air Pollution In The Home: A Randomised Controlled Trial Of A Behavioural Intervention.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$85,552.00
Summary
Exposure to air pollution is not confined to pollution emitted outdoors by motor vehicles and industry. We are exposed to a diverse and complex mix of indoor pollutants produced in many cases by everyday activities. Since we spend about 70-90% of our time indoors, the potential effect of these pollutants on our health is important and of concern. There is a growing number of scientific studies that confirm the importance of indoor air pollution to our health. Two indoor pollutants commonly found ....Exposure to air pollution is not confined to pollution emitted outdoors by motor vehicles and industry. We are exposed to a diverse and complex mix of indoor pollutants produced in many cases by everyday activities. Since we spend about 70-90% of our time indoors, the potential effect of these pollutants on our health is important and of concern. There is a growing number of scientific studies that confirm the importance of indoor air pollution to our health. Two indoor pollutants commonly found in the home are nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emitted from gas appliances and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). ETS, or passive smoking, is known to increase lower respiratory tract illness in children, asthma, lung cancer and cardiovascular disease. Studies have shown that NO2 may increase respiratory symptoms and exacerbate the response of asthmatics to allergens such as house dust mites. In this project we extend our earlier work on indoor air pollution, with the aim of evaluating simple and effective ways to improve air quality in the home. Parents of school children from the Newcastle area will be invited to participate in the study. Parents will receive information about the health risks of indoor air pollution and advice on how to decrease the levels in their home. We will monitor the air quality in each participant's home to see whether the education program has helped parents to decrease the levels of NO2 and ETS in their home. We will also examine whether a reduction in these pollutants has improved the lung health of the children in the study.Read moreRead less
A Telephone And SMS Intervention To Promote Screening For Diabetic Retinopathy In People With Diabetes In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$28,796.00
Summary
One in two people with diabetes in Australia do not receive adequate screening or follow-up for diabetic retinopathy, a leading complication of diabetes and cause of vision loss and blindness. To tackle this issue, a new Australian study will evaluate a new telephone intervention designed to inform people with diabetes about diabetic retinopathy screening. This intervention is expected to improve future adherence to national screening guidelines for diabetic retinopathy.