Improving Patient Safety In Radiation Therapy With The Watchdog Real-time Treatment Delivery Verification System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$593,742.00
Summary
Radiation therapy is a highly effective cancer treatment with extremely high doses delivered using very complex treatment machines. Unfortunately errors have occurred resulting in cases of patient death and mistreatment. We have developed a novel method to assess the treatment delivery in real-time to prevent errors. The method uses imaging devices that are already present on the treatment machine meaning that this method could have a major impact on patient safety in modern radiation therapy.
Reducing The Greatest Uncertainty In Radiotherapy.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$594,197.00
Summary
The weakest link in radiotherapy is defining treatment volumes (contouring). Lack of accuracy and consistency in clinical trial contouring has been shown to result in reduced patient outcomes. Manual review of contouring is resource intensive, expensive and for advanced treatments unachievable in a timely fashion. We will assess an automated approach to contouring assessment using 4 clinical trial datasets, changing practice for future studies and enabling consistent assessment in the clinic.
Improving Global Tuberculosis Control With The AuTuMN Platform
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$655,059.00
Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) is the world’s leading infectious killer, with the failure of global control responsible for the vast majority of Australia’s cases. Using our robustly developed software platform, we have performed several country-level studies to predict the future burden of disease and compare the impact of alternative responses to controlling the epidemic. In this project, we will extend our platform to perform simulations at the global level and answer key questions in TB control.
Optimising Intervention Strategies To Reduce The Burden Of Group A Streptococcus In Aboriginal Communities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$856,896.00
Summary
Skin sores are highly prevalent in remote Australian Indigenous communities and can lead to invasive infections and rheumatic heart disease. We will develop mathematical models to understand the transmission of skin sores, allowing us to define the optimal extent (household, community, region), timing and triggers for interventions to interrupt transmission. This will guide public health policy in reducing the prevalence of skin sores and scabies, and their accompanying disease burden.
Biofocussed Prostate Cancer RadioTherapy (BiRT): A Personalised Approach To Delivering The Right Dose To The Right Place
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$753,565.00
Summary
We propose a new approach to treating prostate cancer with radiotherapy to move from the standard whole prostate treatment to a personalised treatment that varies radiation intensity throughout the prostate. We will mathematically combine features that influence radiotherapy effect from advanced imaging, clinical and biopsy information. This model will map out the radiotherapy dose required at each part of the prostate, to maximise killing of the cancer whilst minimising harm to normal tissue
Modelling The Impact Of Strategies To Control Gonorrhoea And Minimise The Threat Of Antimicrobial Resistance In Remote Indigenous And Other High Risk Populations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$467,079.00
Summary
Gonorrhoea is a serious public health issue in Australia. Notification rates are disproportionately high among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and men who have sex with men, and there is evidence of an emerging epidemic in the general heterosexual population. Additionally, available treatments are under threat from resistant strains. We will use mathematical modelling to evaluate strategies for controlling gonorrhoea and for minimising the threat of antimicrobial resistance.
The Development Of A Composite Index Of Need For Regional Maternity Services: The Australian Regional Birthing Index (ARBI)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$486,975.00
Summary
the Australian Regional Birthing Index (ARBI) is to be developed in response to the National Maternity Services Plan recommendation for an index to guide the provision of maternity services in rural and remote Australia. This index uses the size, remoteness, and vulnerability of the community, plus lessons learnt from the Canadian rural birth index. An Expert Panel of experienced clinicians, health planners and policy makers and managers of services will guide and test the feasibility of impleme ....the Australian Regional Birthing Index (ARBI) is to be developed in response to the National Maternity Services Plan recommendation for an index to guide the provision of maternity services in rural and remote Australia. This index uses the size, remoteness, and vulnerability of the community, plus lessons learnt from the Canadian rural birth index. An Expert Panel of experienced clinicians, health planners and policy makers and managers of services will guide and test the feasibility of implementing this index.Read moreRead less
Real Time Models To Inform Prevention And Control Of Emerging Infectious Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$549,728.00
Summary
This proposed research addresses the need for real-time tracking of emerging infectious diseases (EID), both spatially and temporally, to inform international and national outbreak response teams, aid in the implementation of real-time containment strategies and ultimately the timely control of emerging infectious diseases. Outcomes will directly enhance & inform policy-making and EID preparedness at a national and international level.
The Contribution Of Subunit Interfaces To Receptor Activation In Ligand Gated Ion Channels
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$309,070.00
Summary
This project seeks to provide insights into new mechanisms that could be used to enhance or inhibit neuronal signalling. The family of pentameric neurotransmitter receptors that are key components in the process of neuronal signalling and are the target of this study. It will investigate the molecular motions that occur when the receptor shifts from the resting state to the activated state in the presence of neurotransmitter. This critical to understanding the normal function of these receptors ....This project seeks to provide insights into new mechanisms that could be used to enhance or inhibit neuronal signalling. The family of pentameric neurotransmitter receptors that are key components in the process of neuronal signalling and are the target of this study. It will investigate the molecular motions that occur when the receptor shifts from the resting state to the activated state in the presence of neurotransmitter. This critical to understanding the normal function of these receptors in the brain and how they can be modulated.Read moreRead less
Understanding The Origins Of Diabetes And Kidney Disease In Aboriginal Children And Their Mothers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,784,613.00
Summary
Aboriginal people experience increased rates of diabetes and kidney disease than non-Aboriginal Australians. This project seeks to understand the role played by the intrauterine events, maternal nutrition, breastfeeding and early growth in the development of diabetes and kidney failure in both Aboriginal mothers and their children.