Assessing Vaccine Effectiveness Of Publicly Funded Vaccination Programs In Queensland
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$99,883.00
Summary
I will measure how well three vaccines on the national immunisation schedule prevent disease in Queensland. Pertussis (whooping cough), rotavirus, and varicella (chicken-pox) vaccines will be assessed using routinely collected health data, such as disease notifications and hospitalisations, and vaccination data. The findings of this research will contribute to evaluating the effectiveness of these publicly funded vaccination programs and will provide an evidence base for future decision-making.
Understanding Influenza-specific T Cell Immunity In The Indigenous And Non-Indigenous Populations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$49,202.00
Summary
Hospitalisation and mortality rates from influenza are high in the Indigenous population. There is an urgent need for one-shot universal vaccine that protects against seasonal and pandemic strains. To identify potential vaccine targets we firstly have to determine which viral proteins will induce a large protective immune response. These responses vary between ethnicities thus comparisons will be drawn between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians to determine multiple vaccine candidates tha ....Hospitalisation and mortality rates from influenza are high in the Indigenous population. There is an urgent need for one-shot universal vaccine that protects against seasonal and pandemic strains. To identify potential vaccine targets we firstly have to determine which viral proteins will induce a large protective immune response. These responses vary between ethnicities thus comparisons will be drawn between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians to determine multiple vaccine candidates that will be protective across ethnicities.Read moreRead less
A vaccine against the bacteria Group A streptococcus (‘strep’) could prevent common minor infections like sore throat and school sores as well as deadly ones like necrotising fasciitis (‘flesh eating disease’). It would also reduce long-term heart (rheumatic heart disease) and kidney problems. We are going to try and deliberately give a sore throat to adult volunteers under very close medical supervision so that we can learn more about immunity to strep and to help make and test new vaccines.
Severe Influenza: Epidemiology, Clinical Aspects & Public Health Responses
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$120,659.00
Summary
The 2009 flu pandemic exposed gaps in Australia's surveillance & public health policies. Using a hospital surveillance system (FluCAN) set up after the emergence of the pandemic virus, I will assess epidemiological, clinical & public health aspects of influenza to answer questions such as: what is the effectiveness of the influenza immunisation program? What is the burden of disease of severe influenza? Which forms of surveillance are best for different settings in Australia & in Asia-Pacific?
Adaptive Immunity To Non-typeable H. Influenzae In Children With Bronchiectasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$81,143.00
Summary
Bronchiectasis is a chronic disease of the lungs which affects at least 1 in 68 NT Indigenous children. It causes recurring lung infections, hospitalisations and deteriorating lung function. This study will provide important data on the immune response of Indigenous children to NTHi, the most important pathogen associated with chronic respiratory infections and why this immune response is not protective. This is the first step in targeting therapies to the prevention of bronchiectasis.
Investigating The Role Of TGF-beta In Resident Memory T Cell Induction And Maintenance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$92,495.00
Summary
I am a research scientist interested in the immune system. Specifically, I intend to investigate immunological memory, which is the basis of vaccination. This refers to the ability of certain immune cells such as T and B cells to ‘remember’ a pathogen, so that a rapid and enhanced response can be generated upon re-infection with the same pathogen. This can be investigated by experimental techniques such as flow cytometry, histology and confocal microscopy on cells from infected mouse tissue.