Low back pain affects one in four people in Australia and is responsible for over $8 billion spent on treatments and work loss every year. Surgery is a popular treatment approach for this multifactorial condition but we still lack high quality science to support the role of surgery for low back pain. We also lack research capacity in this field. In my fellowship, I propose to conduct high quality studies to generate and implement scientific knowledge in this field.
Refining Methods For Obtaining, Synthesising And Interpreting Research Evidence In Surgery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,312.00
Summary
Research evidence plays a crucial role in improving clinical care. However the main forms of evidence and the tools that facilitate evidence use - namely randomised controlled trials (RCT) and structured systematic reviews of existing research - have had limited application in surgery for a variety of reasons. This project aims to promote the use of research evidence in surgical decision making by developing tools tailored to the predominance of non-RCTs in surgery and surgeons' information need ....Research evidence plays a crucial role in improving clinical care. However the main forms of evidence and the tools that facilitate evidence use - namely randomised controlled trials (RCT) and structured systematic reviews of existing research - have had limited application in surgery for a variety of reasons. This project aims to promote the use of research evidence in surgical decision making by developing tools tailored to the predominance of non-RCTs in surgery and surgeons' information needs.Read moreRead less
Improving The Quality, Efficiency And Outcomes Of Stroke Care: Transforming Policy And Practice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$466,492.00
Summary
This Fellowship supports an innovative body of research focussed on interventions to improve the care and outcomes of stroke. In Australia, stroke is a leading cause of death and disability. Unfortunately, variability in clinical care is resulting in some preventable disability. Over the next 4 years A/Prof Cadilhac will conduct clinical trials (n=2) and observational studies (n=3) aimed at improving the health system and outcomes of stroke. She uses economic evaluation to ensure findings are us ....This Fellowship supports an innovative body of research focussed on interventions to improve the care and outcomes of stroke. In Australia, stroke is a leading cause of death and disability. Unfortunately, variability in clinical care is resulting in some preventable disability. Over the next 4 years A/Prof Cadilhac will conduct clinical trials (n=2) and observational studies (n=3) aimed at improving the health system and outcomes of stroke. She uses economic evaluation to ensure findings are used for changing policy.Read moreRead less
Preventing And Treating Significant Infections In The Community And In Hospitals
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$328,990.00
Summary
Infections that require hospitalisation are common and a significant event for patients. This research will look at severe influenza and define how protective the influenza vaccination is against hospitalisation. It will also look at preventing healthcare associated infections and in particular those involving antibiotic resistant "superbugs".
Understanding And Preventing Population-level Harm From Alcohol
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,048.00
Summary
This project will support Dr Livingston's world-leading work to better understand the reasons that alcohol consumption and related-harm changes at the population level. It will also support projects that will directly assess the impact of changes to alcohol policies in Australia and the development of policy simulation models, to provide critical evidence and ensure well-informed policy decisions can be made to reduce alcohol-related harm.
Alcohol-related harm is a major contributor to the total burden of disease and social problems experienced both globally and in Australia. Considerable burden is placed on health and policing sectors and at substantial financial cost. This project will significantly improve Australian capacity to monitor alcohol related harms at local, state and national levels, enhance the underlying epidemiology and understanding of relations between alcohol and harm and enable reliable and timely evaluation o ....Alcohol-related harm is a major contributor to the total burden of disease and social problems experienced both globally and in Australia. Considerable burden is placed on health and policing sectors and at substantial financial cost. This project will significantly improve Australian capacity to monitor alcohol related harms at local, state and national levels, enhance the underlying epidemiology and understanding of relations between alcohol and harm and enable reliable and timely evaluation of alcohol policy.Read moreRead less
Evaluation Of New Screening Strategies For Prevention Of Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$251,144.00
Summary
Governments, clinicians and consumers have a need for accurate and up-to-date information about the cost-effectiveness, benefits and harms of cancer screening. This project will evaluate whether further changes to cervical screening will be needed after the release of next generation HPV vaccines, whether new screening programs should be implemented for lung cancer and Lynch syndrome, the potential role of new technologies for bowel screening, and whether prostate testing can be improved.
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.
Toward An Evidence-based Approach For Treating End-stage Knee Arthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,048.00
Summary
World-wide more than one million total knee replacements (TKR) will be performed for end-stage knee osteoarthritis in 2016 alone. With an ageing population, demand for this procedure will increase dramatically, placing burden on a constrained health system. Up to 25% of TKR recipients experience on going pain after surgery and are dissatisfied with TKR. My research seeks to improve efficiencies and equitability of this important surgical procedure and in doing so optimise patient outcomes
Health and obesity are socially patterned, with lower socio-economic status associated with worse health and higher obesity prevalence. With its high, and increasing prevalence, obesity is likely to be a substantial contributor to increased social inequalities in health. I will estimate the contribution of current obesity trends to social inequalities in diabetes and cardiovascular disease in Australian adults, and identify obesity prevention and management strategies most likely to reduce socia ....Health and obesity are socially patterned, with lower socio-economic status associated with worse health and higher obesity prevalence. With its high, and increasing prevalence, obesity is likely to be a substantial contributor to increased social inequalities in health. I will estimate the contribution of current obesity trends to social inequalities in diabetes and cardiovascular disease in Australian adults, and identify obesity prevention and management strategies most likely to reduce social inequalities in these major health outcomes.Read moreRead less