Improving Protection Against Childhood Tuberculosis: The Influence Of BCG Vaccine Strain And Age On Protective Immunity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,739.00
Summary
BCG vaccine is of vital importance in the fight against the increasing problem of TB worldwide, particularly in children. This project will compare the 3 most commonly used different strains of BCG vaccine to determine which produces the best protective immunity in newborns. It will also determine whether BCG at birth or at 2 months of age provides better protection. Optimising the timing and strain used for BCG immunisation would prevent large numbers of cases and deaths from TB at low cost.
This fellowship aims to develop evidence-based clinical and public health approaches to the control of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. Projects include identifying optimal treatment approaches to drug resistant tuberculosis by using meta-analyses; analysing the cost-effectiveness of strategies to prevent drug resistant tuberculosis; understanding transmission of drug resistance within households and implementing a major clinical trial of antibiotic therapy to prevent the disease.
Development And Validation Of A Latent Tuberculosis Diagnostic
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$534,865.00
Summary
Globally, tuberculosis is a leading cause of death with 9.6 million new diagnoses in 2014. The diagnosis of latent TB infection is important, but is difficult to make because current assays are suboptimal. We have developed a very simple assay which detects responses to TB antigens by co-expression of two surface markers expressed by CD4+ T cells. We propose to develop this into a highly standardised kit for the diagnosis of TB with our commercial partner Cytognos.
Towards The Elimination Of Tuberculosis And Rheumatic Heart Disease In Northern Australia And Our Region
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$258,600.00
Summary
My research program addresses tuberculosis and rheumatic heart disease, which are leading challenges for Northern Australia and our region. Both are diseases caused by infections with long-term complications. They cause illness and death in young Aboriginal people and neighbouring Southeast Asian populations. There are many gaps in our ability to effectively detect and prevent these diseases. My research targets these gaps, from cutting-edge science to translation of guidelines into practice.
Functional And Structural Studies Of A Glycosyltransferase Essential For Complex Glycolipid Biosynthesis In Mycobacteria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$508,838.00
Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) kills more than three million people each year while the causative bacterial species, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, infects one-third of the entire human population. An alarmingly high rate of TB exists in Australia's indigenous population. This proposal aims to identify and characterise essential processes involved in synthesis of the outer coat of the bacterium which are potential targets for new drugs for the treatment of this devastating disease.
Pathophysiology And Treatment Of Malaria And Other Tropical Infectious Diseases Prevalent In Our Region
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$560,284.00
Summary
Nick Anstey is internationally recognised for his discoveries in malaria and other tropical infectious diseases. He leads a major tropical infectious disease research program in Darwin and SouthEast Asia that attracts some of the brightest researchers and students from Australia and beyond to understand disease mechanisms and work on new ways to treat illness and prevent death. He uses results to change policy and practice not only in Australia but around the world.
Factors That Influence Disease Severity In Tuberculosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$149,076.00
Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) is a major global health problem and is one of the leading causes of death from an infectious disease worldwide. The severity of disease that occurs with TB is dependent on many complex factors including the infected person’s immune system and factors related to the TB organism itself. This research will determine the key factors that cause severe disease in TB which will translate into improved care of TB patients and enhance further research in this field.