Investigating Best Practice Primary Care For Older Australians With Diabetes Using Data Linkage
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$522,278.00
Summary
This study will use data linkage to examine questions about health service use by older Australians to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes. It will lead to a better understanding of the uptake of community based care initiatives and incentives through general practice, the factors that assist or impede uptake, and the impact of these on patient outcomes such as hospitalisation. The research findings will address important questions of interest to practitioners and policy advisors.
A Novel Mechanism For Manipulation Of Peripheral Glucose Utilization In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$283,500.00
Summary
Significance: Over 600,000 Australians have type 2 diabetes (approximately half are undiagnosed) and it is estimated that this number will increase substantially to 10% of the adult population over the next 10 years. At the conclusion of this grant we expect to understand whether specific signalling molecules might plausibly represent the basis of a novel therapeutic approach to control blood glucose. If successful, this work could contribute to improved metabolic control and prevention of diabe ....Significance: Over 600,000 Australians have type 2 diabetes (approximately half are undiagnosed) and it is estimated that this number will increase substantially to 10% of the adult population over the next 10 years. At the conclusion of this grant we expect to understand whether specific signalling molecules might plausibly represent the basis of a novel therapeutic approach to control blood glucose. If successful, this work could contribute to improved metabolic control and prevention of diabetic complications through new blood glucose lowering agents. Hypotheses: Muscle is the major site of glucose disposal in the body and the two most relevant stimuli for glucose uptake into muscle are insulin and muscle contraction (exercise). The insulin pathway is impaired in patients with type 2 diabetes leading to high blood glucose and complications. Glucose uptake in response to exercise however appears to be normal in patients with type 2 diabetes. Indeed we have evidence to suggest that this pathway may compensate for impaired insulin action in type 2 diabetes. We hypothesise that molecules activated by contraction (exercise) may be useful as therapies to improve resting glucose control in type 2 diabetic patients. Aims: We plan a series of three studies to examine whether glucose uptake may be improved both acutely and chronically at rest by an agent implicated in exercise mediated glucose uptake.Read moreRead less
The Diamond Cohort Study - Long Term Outcomes Of Depressive Symptoms In Primary Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$567,538.00
Summary
The diamond study follows what happens to almost 800 people with depressive symptoms whom attend general practice for care over 5 years of their life. This study will map the severity of depressive symptoms, life circumstances, use of health care services and treatments and allow us to understand factors associated with relapse and recovery from depression in order to improve care. This will assist us to develop models of care that better suit the needs of people experiencing depressive symptoms ....The diamond study follows what happens to almost 800 people with depressive symptoms whom attend general practice for care over 5 years of their life. This study will map the severity of depressive symptoms, life circumstances, use of health care services and treatments and allow us to understand factors associated with relapse and recovery from depression in order to improve care. This will assist us to develop models of care that better suit the needs of people experiencing depressive symptoms.Read moreRead less
Health, Wellbeing, Disability And Service Pathways In Older (80+) Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$373,792.00
Summary
Over the next 40 years there will be a rapid increase in the numbers of people aged 80 year and over. In this study we will examine the health status and service use needs and patterns of a sample of older Australian who form part of an existing 12 year longitudinal study on ageing and who are now moving intoold-old age. The study will provide inmportant insights for service planners and older people themselves about the health and community service needs for people in the study age group.
Iron/hemin Transport Systems Of Porphyromonas Gingivalis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$392,036.00
Summary
Periodontitis is a bacterial-associated disease of the supporting structures of the teeth and can result in tooth loss. The disease is classified as a major public health problem with an enormous economic burden. A bacterium, Porphyromonas gingivalis, has now been implicated as a major causative agent of periodontitis in adults. To survive and grow within humans pathogenic bacteria must be able to acquire essential elements, including iron. The human host has developed a variety of mechanisms to ....Periodontitis is a bacterial-associated disease of the supporting structures of the teeth and can result in tooth loss. The disease is classified as a major public health problem with an enormous economic burden. A bacterium, Porphyromonas gingivalis, has now been implicated as a major causative agent of periodontitis in adults. To survive and grow within humans pathogenic bacteria must be able to acquire essential elements, including iron. The human host has developed a variety of mechanisms to restrict the amount of iron available as a means of limiting the growth of bacterial pathogens. In response to this iron limitation Porphyromonas gingivalis has developed novel ways of obtaining this essential element. We have identified a novel iron transport system that P. gingivalis uses to obtain iron from the human host. A component of this transport system, FetB is a surface protein antigen. The aims of this project are to: i. Determine the mechanism by which this novel iron transport system functions by genetic manipulation of the organism using molecular biology techniques. ii. Determine how important this transport system is for the pathogenicity of the bacterium. iii. Prepare the FetB protein using recombinant DNA technology. iv. Test the recombinant FetB protein and another iron transport protein (Tlr) in animal models to determine their efficacy as a vaccine for periodontitis. The expected outcomes of this research are:- i. the understanding of how P. gingivalis transports iron. ii. an understanding of the importance of iron transport systems to the pathogenicity of the bacterium. iii. a P. gingivalis vaccine with efficacy in animals based on an iron transport protein(s).Read moreRead less
Use Of Innovative Mobile Telehealth Technology To Enable A New Service Delivery Solution For Dysphagia Management
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$207,231.00
Summary
Dysphagia, the term used to describe a swallowing difficulty, affects up to 30% of people over 65 years of age. Speech pathologists are responsible for diagnosing and managing dysphagia, however there is a shortfall between the number of clinicians available and the large number of individuals with this condition. The study aims to validate a way to assess dysphagia using telehealth, to increase access to speech pathology services particularly for patients in rural health settings.