Through this Australia Fellowship, Prof Keall and his tream will substantially improve the accuracy and effectiveness of radiation therapy for cancer by developing new techniques that will be able to ‘target’ a tumour in real-time and ‘concentrate fire’ on the most resistant and aggressive parts of it. Success in physiological targeting will create a paradigm shift in radiation therapy and could literally be a lifesaver. It’s a big challenge, but if this five-year research program succeeds, it w ....Through this Australia Fellowship, Prof Keall and his tream will substantially improve the accuracy and effectiveness of radiation therapy for cancer by developing new techniques that will be able to ‘target’ a tumour in real-time and ‘concentrate fire’ on the most resistant and aggressive parts of it. Success in physiological targeting will create a paradigm shift in radiation therapy and could literally be a lifesaver. It’s a big challenge, but if this five-year research program succeeds, it will pay big dividendsRead moreRead less
Mental illness is the largest single cause of disability in Australia. While mental illness is increasingly recognised as a disorder of the brain, a patient’s diagnosis, treatment and prediction of course of outcome is seldom guided by the results of a biological test. My research aims to combine the power of modern brain imaging and cutting-edge bioinformatics to enable a biological approach to the problem of mental illness.
Lipid Biology For Prediction And Prevention Of Psychotic Disorders And Persistent Depression In Young People
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$638,517.00
Summary
My vision for the next 5 years is to establish ?-3PUFAs as a first-line treatment for indicated prevention of psychosis and persistent depression, as an alternative to conventional antidepressants for the treatment of moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms in adolescents and to build capacity in this area by training the next generation of researchers.
Public Health Communication Strategies To Reduce Population Smoking Prevalence
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$753,300.00
Summary
This research program will investigate the potential for and impact of advanced tobacco control policies in reducing population smoking prevalence. My research will assess the effects of tobacco taxation, further tobacco marketing restrictions and mass communication strategies on smoking attitudes and behaviours. I will also extend the methods and measures I have developed in tobacco control to improve health communication in obesity prevention and alcohol harm prevention.
Neurobiological ‘risk’ And ‘resilience’ Biomarkers Of Severe Mental Illness
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$926,980.00
Summary
Mental disorders of childhood (schizotypal disorder, autism spectrum disorders) and adolescence (psychoses, schizophrenia) represent a major burden of disease. We will use sophisticated neuroimaging to examine trajectories of brain growth from childhood to adulthood and identify factors (stress, drugs, inflammation, genes) relevant to risk and resilience to developing these disorders. This will lead to novel early interventions to reduce or ameliorate these conditions.
A-Prof Roberst is a clinical haematologist caring for patients with blood cancers, who is committed to developing new therapies for currently incurable diseases through laboratory and clinical trial research.
Alcohol,tobacco, Illicit And Prescribed Drugs: Prospective Cohorts And RCTs
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$714,745.00
Summary
This research addresses the important areas of infant, childhood, adolescent, adult, and family well-being and the effects of exposure to tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use. The impacts of these substances on psychological, cognitive, vocational, and physical well-being remain poorly researched. A related set of research projects is aimed to build the evidence base for effective intervention to prevent or manage psychological and cognitive sequelae from such exposure.