Early Detection Of Pulmonary Exacerbation In Cystic Fibrosis Using Nocturnal Measurements Of Cough And Sleep
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$140,949.00
Summary
Cystic Fibrosis (CF), the most common lethal inherited disorder effecting Australians, is a medical success story, with survival increasing from 5 years in 1970 to 40 years now. However, lower respiratory tract infections remain the major problem in CF. This project will develop and test a simple, non-invasive device to detect early chest infections, allowing early treatment, improving quality of life and preventing lung scarring. Less hospitalisations will benefit both patients and hospitals.
Sleep-disordered Breathing In Pregnancy-induced Hypertension And Preeclampsia: Maternal And Fetal Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$129,559.00
Summary
Our study aims to compare signs of sleep-disordered breathing (such as snoring and breathing pauses) in pregnant women affected by hypertension or preeclampsia to those with a healthy pregnancy, and to see if they respond differently to the breathing problems. To do this we will examine whether snoring and breathing pauses during sleep have an impact on the pregnant woman’s blood pressure and the unborn baby’s heart rate overnight, and scans will monitor whether the baby’s growth is affected.
Improving Health-related Quality Of Life In Patients Receiving Home Mechanical Ventilation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$121,793.00
Summary
Home mechanical ventilation (HMV) is a treatment that assists someone to breathe using a machine. People may need HMV when their breathing has failed due to conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), neuromuscular disease (NMD) or severe obesity. This project will examine the quality of life of patients receiving HMV in Australia and Canada. It will also determine if we can improve the treatment by using a sleep study to monitor breathing when patients first start HMV.
Non-invasive Methods Of Measuring Work Of Breathing In Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$41,267.00
Summary
Sleep-disordered breathing such as obstructive sleep apnoea, is currently diagnosed if a child stops breathing more than once per hour. For children with asthma or cystic fibrosis, who may not stop breathing during the night, how hard their breathing muscles work can have a significant impact on their health. A non-invasive method of measuring respiratory effort, and incorporating this measurement into how sleep-disordered breathing is diagnosed, can revolutionize how sleep-disordered breathing ....Sleep-disordered breathing such as obstructive sleep apnoea, is currently diagnosed if a child stops breathing more than once per hour. For children with asthma or cystic fibrosis, who may not stop breathing during the night, how hard their breathing muscles work can have a significant impact on their health. A non-invasive method of measuring respiratory effort, and incorporating this measurement into how sleep-disordered breathing is diagnosed, can revolutionize how sleep-disordered breathing in children are managed world-wide.Read moreRead less
Chronotherapy For Hypertension In Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$57,921.00
Summary
This randomised, double blind placebo controlled cross-over trial aims to determine whether evening ingestion of blood pressure medication results in superior blood pressure control as compared to morning ingestion in patients with high blood pressure and obstructive sleep apnoea.
Towards Better Management Of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea In Chronic Tetraplegia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$71,636.00
Summary
Approximately 50% of people with tetraplegia have obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA); a condition where their throat closes during sleep. OSA is known to make living with tetraplegia much more difficult. This project aims to develop a way to screen for OSA in tetraplegia without a full sleep study (an expensive and often inaccessible test) and to understand the issues faced by clinicians in managing OSA in this group of patients so that strategies can be designed to improve diagnosis and treatment.
Neurobiology Of Relaxin-3/RXFP3 Systems: Anatomical And Functional Studies In Transgenic Mice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$94,242.00
Summary
Mental illness is an economic and health burden worldwide, with huge costs in medical spending, lost productivity, poor quality of life for sufferers and mortality. Relaxin-3 is a peptide that acts widely within neural circuits to modulate brain activity that is altered in conditions such as anxiety and mood/sleep disorders. Our research assessing the effect of genetic removal of relaxin-3 signaling on behaviour will add to our knowledge of brain function and improve mental health outcomes.
Sleep, Telomere Length And Cardiorespiratory Phenotype In 11-12 Year Old Children: Cross-sectional Australian National Population Based Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$84,800.00
Summary
Telomeres are special areas at the ends of our chromosomes that ‘protect’ our DNA as our body cells divide. With ageing, our telomeres slowly become shorter, but the rate at which this happens varies. My project will investigate the associations between poor sleep duration and quality, increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, poor respiratory health and increased vulnerability to viral infections to shorter telomere length.
Mothers' Sleep In The Postpartum Period: Effects On Safety-sensitive Tasks
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$71,252.00
Summary
Mothers' elevated sleepiness levels in the postpartum period and their exposure to safety-sensitive tasks is a significant issue that requires investigation. Research suggests that elevated sleepiness levels are associated with reduced cognitive and motor performance, which are vital when performing tasks with safety implications. This study will determine whether mothers' risk of injury, due to sleepiness, can be significantly reduced via improved knowledge and an evidence based intervention.
Protracted Bacterial Bronchitis(PBB) In Children - Natural History, Innate Immunity And Obstructive Sleep Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$97,438.00
Summary
Recurrent episodes of prolonged wet cough in children, termed Protracted Bacterial Bronchitis (PBB), may cause long term lung damage. I am a paediatric respiratory and sleep subspecialist in training. Through our research we will investigate for abnormalities in the immune system of children with recurring episodes of PBB and follow these children over a 2 year period to determine whether they go on to develop lung scarring. We will also be looking for a link between PBB and obstructive sleep pr ....Recurrent episodes of prolonged wet cough in children, termed Protracted Bacterial Bronchitis (PBB), may cause long term lung damage. I am a paediatric respiratory and sleep subspecialist in training. Through our research we will investigate for abnormalities in the immune system of children with recurring episodes of PBB and follow these children over a 2 year period to determine whether they go on to develop lung scarring. We will also be looking for a link between PBB and obstructive sleep problems in children.Read moreRead less