Methylation As A Risk And Prognostic Factor For Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$594,913.00
Summary
DNA methylation is a process playing critical roles throughout life by altering the expression of genes. This study aims to investigate the potential use of methylation as marker of risk and early diagnosis of breast cancer in women with no clinical evidence of disease and marker of prognosis and response to treatment in breast cancer cases.
Statistical Analysis Of An International 10 Year Prospective Family Study Of Gene-environment Interactions On Risk Of Female Breast Cancer.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,198.00
Summary
This study will provide new and credible information on how the effects of environmental and lifestyle factors on breast cancer risk depend on a woman's underlying genetic susceptibility using a large, international 10 year prospective family study.
Joint Longitudinal And Time-to-event Models For Applications In Health Research
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$86,073.00
Summary
A recently developed statistical technique ("joint modelling") allows for both repeatedly measured biomarker data (for example, blood pressure measurements) and event time data (for example, time until death) to be analysed together. There are several potential benefits to using these models, but since the methods are relatively new their uptake in applied health research remains limited. This PhD will consist of several distinct but interrelated projects which explore the use of these models.
Improving The Evaluation Of New Cancer Therapies To Expedite Patient Access
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$412,888.00
Summary
The government funds cancer drugs, but drugs have to provide value for money to Australian taxpayers. Most proposed cancer drugs provide a benefit to patients but reaching agreement on how much the government will pay for these drugs often delays access by months, and often over a year due to uncertainty regarding drugs’ long-term effects. This research will test methods and develop guidelines to reduce this uncertainty and provide earlier access to new cancer drugs.
Prognostic Significance Of Circulating Tumour Biomarkers In Patients Treated With Curative-intent Radiotherapy For NSCLC
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$877,098.00
Summary
More than 50% of cancer patients in Australia receive radiotherapy but many later die from distant metastases. This study of circulating biomarkers (tumour cells and DNA in the bloodstream) builds on evidence from research at Peter Mac showing that some lung cancers might spread during treatment with radiotherapy that would otherwise be curative. This study will help identify cancer patients at high risk of secondary cancers and could allow us to modify treatments to prevent them.
An International Population-Based Study Into The Genetic Epidemiology Of Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,768.00
Summary
Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer and is a major public health issue in Australia. This project aims to find genes and levels of sun exposure, plus ways the genes and exposure interact with each other, that increase people’s risk of melanoma and how long they survive after diagnosis. The results will help to identify people at a higher risk of disease earlier and also better predict prognosis in those already diagnosed.
Determining The Natural History Of Localized High-risk Melanoma And Risk Factors For Melanoma Metastasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$103,980.00
Summary
This PhD thesis aims to describe 2-year survival rates of patients with localised melanoma. We will investigate risk factors and patterns of melanoma spread in patients with high-risk localised lesions. Risk factors for developing ulcerated versus non-ulcerated melanomas will be explored. We aim to describe support service use in melanoma patients in rural, regional and urban areas in Queensland.
Risk Of Recurrence After Diagnosis Of Invasive Breast Cancer By Molecular Subtype As Defined By ER, PR And Her2 Status
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,622.00
Summary
Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease. Molecular subtypes have been identified that differ in terms of prognosis and response to treatment. This study aims to estimate recurrence free survival of breast cancer by molecular subtypes in a population-based sample of Australian women. The results will assist clinicians to guide their therapeutic decisions and will inform women about their anticipated outcome after diagnosis of breast cancer.
Who To Treat, When To Treat And How To Treat Prostate Cancer: Generating Evidence To Guide Prostate Cancer Treatment Decisions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,768.00
Summary
There is considerable uncertainty about which treatments lead to better outcomes for men with prostate cancer and whether treatment is always necessary. This project will compare different treatment options for prostate cancer, including active surveillance, to determine which offers the best chance of survival and least harm to men’s physical and mental wellbeing. It will also explore whether some men who do not receive active treatment (healthy older men) would benefit if they did.