Prevention Of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) And Blood Borne Viruses (BBVs) In Victoria's Vulnerable Populations: The Impact Of Early And Regular Testing.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$96,183.00
Summary
The primary aim of this research is to investigate the relationship between early and regular testing of STIs and BBVs and transmission outcomes to inform effective strategies to prevent ongoing transmission of STIs and BBVs in at-risk populations. Specifically it will examine HIV, chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhoea in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Victoria. This project will aim to identify prevention and health promotion strategies and methods of implementation to reduce the individual an ....The primary aim of this research is to investigate the relationship between early and regular testing of STIs and BBVs and transmission outcomes to inform effective strategies to prevent ongoing transmission of STIs and BBVs in at-risk populations. Specifically it will examine HIV, chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhoea in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Victoria. This project will aim to identify prevention and health promotion strategies and methods of implementation to reduce the individual and community cost associated with STIs and BBVs.Read moreRead less
Towards HIV And Hepatitis C Elimination: Real-world Trials And Innovations In Disease Surveillance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$640,210.00
Summary
Over the next five years I will undertake a program of research centred on developing and implementing strategies to help eliminate hepatitis C and HIV as major public health problems. In particular, I will use innovative monitoring systems and field trials to explore ways to diagnose and treat HIV and hepatitis C in vulnerable populations in a more timely way and study the influence this has on reducing the onward transmission of these infections to others.
The Role Of EBV And HHV-6 Infection In Demyelinating Disease With A Consideration Of Past UVR Exposure.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$305,800.00
Summary
The marked increase in immune disorders over the past fifty years is thought to reflect modern environmental and lifestyle factors, rather than changes in diagnosis. The hypothesis that has the most evidence to support it is the 'hygiene hypothesis'. That is, that a reduction in early life infection among modern children leads to immune system dysfunction and thus an increase in immune disorders. Delayed child infection, particularly of Epstein-Barr Virus has been prospectively linked to multipl ....The marked increase in immune disorders over the past fifty years is thought to reflect modern environmental and lifestyle factors, rather than changes in diagnosis. The hypothesis that has the most evidence to support it is the 'hygiene hypothesis'. That is, that a reduction in early life infection among modern children leads to immune system dysfunction and thus an increase in immune disorders. Delayed child infection, particularly of Epstein-Barr Virus has been prospectively linked to multiple sclerosis (MS) risk. This project aims to document the role of herpes virus (EBV, HHV-6) infection in the onset of first demyelinating events, a precursor to MS. The strength of this proposal is that it lies within an existing study framework - the Ausimmune Study, allowing detailed exploration of related associations with latitude, early life infant contact and past sun exposure. The incidence of MS has doubled from 1.2-100,000 to 2.4-100,000 from 1961 to 1996 in Newcastle, Australia. Although incidence is low, the disease has a median age of first onset of 24 years and progresses to serious disability even with immunomodulatory therapy (50% will need assistance in walking within 13 years) thus the current prevalence of 1 per 1,000 adults in Tasmania and 0.8 per 1,000 in Newcastle represent a serious burden of morbidity.Read moreRead less
Human Papillomavirus Infection In Gay Australian Men: Natural History Of The Serological Response And The Relationship Between Seropositivity, Risk Factors And Anal Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$185,822.00
Summary
Anal cancer rates are increasing globally. Gay men are 20 times more likely than other men to develop anal cancer and for those people living with HIV, the risk is even higher. Human papillomaviruses (HPV) have been shown to cause anal cancer. This research explores the natural history of anal HPV infection and the relationship between HPV infection and anal cancer. These results will potentially inform the development of guidelines for an anal cancer screening program for gay Australian men.
Behavioural, Virological And Immunological Factors Influencing Hepatitis C Virus Infection In Injecting Drug Users
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$963,437.00
Summary
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health problem affecting over 170 million people worldwide. In Australia an estimated 157,000 people have HCV and are at risk of serious disease, and 16,000 new infections occur each year. Treating HCV-related disease is expensive, and this healthcare burden is projected to grow significantly in coming years. Almost all new HCV infections in Australia occur among injecting drug users (IDUs), and despite our world-leading prevention programs, the viru ....The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health problem affecting over 170 million people worldwide. In Australia an estimated 157,000 people have HCV and are at risk of serious disease, and 16,000 new infections occur each year. Treating HCV-related disease is expensive, and this healthcare burden is projected to grow significantly in coming years. Almost all new HCV infections in Australia occur among injecting drug users (IDUs), and despite our world-leading prevention programs, the virus is spreading. Consensus is emerging that the best hope for control of HCV and related disease lies in a vaccine; our research will lay much of the groundwork for its development. The applicants' research to date shows that IDUs are being infected with HCV more frequently than previously assumed, that many carry multiple strains, and that dominant strains vary rapidly in individuals over time. These results reinforce the view that our prevention methods will not reduce infection rates and that current anti-viral treatments are not the solution. Nevertheless, we also found that some IDUs remain free of HCV infection despite risky behaviour with infected associates; intensive study of the immune functioning of these persistently non-infected individuals holds promise for vaccine development. In our proposed research, a collaboration of leading Australian epidemiologists, virologists and immunologists, we will recruit 210 young IDUs and follow them regularly for two years. Recruits will describe their social networks and nominate IDUs with whom they inject, provide blood samples and be interviewed about their behaviour at 3-month intervals. Individuals with recent and resolved HCV infection, change of dominant strain and lack of infection despite risky behaviour will be identified and their blood analysed for genetic factors that may be linked to immune protection. The outcomes will be crucial to the development and trialling of a vaccine against HCV.Read moreRead less
Innovative Approaches To Reducing The Impact Of Blood Borne Viruses And Sexually Transmitted Infections On Young People.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$246,859.00
Summary
Over the next 5 years I will undertake a program of research centred on reducing the impact of blood-borne viruses (BBVs) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in vulnerable populations, particularly young people. I will study how these infections are transmitted, associated risk behaviours including drug and alcohol use and sexual risk, and develop interventions to improve the detection and management of infected individuals.
Injecting Drug Use, Incarceration, Infection: Investigating Opportunities For Public Health Interventions In Disadvantaged Populations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$329,564.00
Summary
New knowledge required to address infectious diseases and mental illness among two disadvantaged and overlapping groups -people who inject drugs (PWID) and prisoners – will be produced: Cross sectional and longitudinal studies will examine HIV risk in specific populations; A system to track the emergence of injecting will be developed; The global scale of mental illness and TB among PWID will be determined; and how to improve coverage and delivery of TB prevention and treatment will be explored.
Hepatitis B In The Top End Of The Northern Territory: Epidemiology, Burden Of Disease And Health Literacy Among Those Affected.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$118,574.00
Summary
I am an Infectious Diseases doctor working with Hepatitis B in the Top End of the Northern Territory. I will provide detailed information about the prevelance of Hepatitis B infection, the specific subtypes found in this region and the burden of disease attributable to it. This information is not currently available for this region. I will also explore the levels of knowledge in the community about Hepatitis B infection using this information to develop and evaluate an educational tool.
School Versus Community-based Albendazole Deworming For Control Of Soil Transmitted Helminths In School-age Children In The Philippines – A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,336,408.00
Summary
Intestinal parasites are a global health problem. The World Health Organization recommends regular distribution of deworming drugs, targeting school aged children. This is effective for the children receiving the drugs but does not have an impact in the wider community. We aim to determine the best strategy for delivery of deworming drugs, to achieve the maximum benefit both for children and wider community, by directly comparing the benefits of a school-targeted vs a community-mass approach.