Bilateral Cochlear Implants for Children: Does a Second Implant Improve Language, Psychosocial and Other Outcomes? Severe-profound congenital hearing loss engenders significant costs to society. In 2005, specialised education cost -- on average $25,000 per child, loss of productivity cost -- $6.7 billion, and social security benefits were paid to approximately 129,000 individuals who were unemployed due to hearing loss. If bilateral cochlear implantation results in improved language, social dev ....Bilateral Cochlear Implants for Children: Does a Second Implant Improve Language, Psychosocial and Other Outcomes? Severe-profound congenital hearing loss engenders significant costs to society. In 2005, specialised education cost -- on average $25,000 per child, loss of productivity cost -- $6.7 billion, and social security benefits were paid to approximately 129,000 individuals who were unemployed due to hearing loss. If bilateral cochlear implantation results in improved language, social development, and academic outcomes, the community benefits arising will be greatly improved quality of life for these individuals and significant savings to society. In partnership with Cochlear Ltd, this study will provide some of the first data worldwide comparing the effects of an additional implant on language, social and educational outcomes.Read moreRead less
Biophysical identification of natural human antibody targets. A natural human antibody, PAT-SM6, isolated using technology developed by the partner organisation (Patrys), offers promise as a therapy to reduce mortalities due to cancer, the leading cause of death in Australia. The novelty of the approach pioneered by Patrys is the direct production of human antibodies which avoids undesirable side effects associated with the use of antibodies containing non-human components. This project is to ....Biophysical identification of natural human antibody targets. A natural human antibody, PAT-SM6, isolated using technology developed by the partner organisation (Patrys), offers promise as a therapy to reduce mortalities due to cancer, the leading cause of death in Australia. The novelty of the approach pioneered by Patrys is the direct production of human antibodies which avoids undesirable side effects associated with the use of antibodies containing non-human components. This project is to discover the specificity of PAT-SM6 for proteins and protein complexes and how these interactions lead to tumour cell death. This work will enhance the effectiveness of human antibody therapies and help in the development of this fast growing area within the biotechnology industry in Australia.Read moreRead less
Cellular genomic approach to the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. This project compares the levels of gene usage in two important immune cell types between patients with multiple sclerosis and people who do not have the disease. It aims to identify the molecular basis for the disease, in order to identify new diagnostic, preventative and treatment options.
Development of the PD GeneChip: a research and diagnostic tool for Parkinson's disease. The PD GeneChip will provide both social and economic benefits to Australia. It will be a key research platform for Australian scientists, and will facilitate collaboration both within Australia and overseas. It will assist with health care management of PD (Parkinson's disease) patients by providing a cost-effective diagnostic tool and the possibility of predicting the clinical course of disease. This inform ....Development of the PD GeneChip: a research and diagnostic tool for Parkinson's disease. The PD GeneChip will provide both social and economic benefits to Australia. It will be a key research platform for Australian scientists, and will facilitate collaboration both within Australia and overseas. It will assist with health care management of PD (Parkinson's disease) patients by providing a cost-effective diagnostic tool and the possibility of predicting the clinical course of disease. This information will provide the basis for tailoring treatment to a patients needs. It is anticipated that marketing of the PD GeneChip within Australia and overseas may produce revenue of at least $40 million annually.Read moreRead less
Improving Employment Outcomes in Early Psychosis: Social and Economic Benefits of Early Intervention. Over 74% of people with psychotic illnesses like schizophrenia, despite wanting to work, are unemployed, more than any other disability group. This project examines an evidence-based method in which young people with psychosis can be effectively supported to return to the competitive labour market. In Australia, unemployment of people with schizophrenia costs $927 million, over half the total il ....Improving Employment Outcomes in Early Psychosis: Social and Economic Benefits of Early Intervention. Over 74% of people with psychotic illnesses like schizophrenia, despite wanting to work, are unemployed, more than any other disability group. This project examines an evidence-based method in which young people with psychosis can be effectively supported to return to the competitive labour market. In Australia, unemployment of people with schizophrenia costs $927 million, over half the total illness costs of schizophrenia. For people with psychosis, unemployment exacerbates social and economic marginalisation. This project aims to reduce the economic cost of unemployment among the mentally ill as well as using employment to reduce social marginalisation of people with mental illness.Read moreRead less
Influence of an innovative shoe design on lower limb joint loading during walking. This project will provide new knowledge about the effects of shoe design features on lower limb loading and the influence of obesity and knee condition on the shoe-mediated biomechanical effects. This will be of relevance to researchers and clinicians. It is also likely to contribute to a marketable commercial product, a shoe designed to reduce knee loading. This shoe has the potential to contribute to reducing th ....Influence of an innovative shoe design on lower limb joint loading during walking. This project will provide new knowledge about the effects of shoe design features on lower limb loading and the influence of obesity and knee condition on the shoe-mediated biomechanical effects. This will be of relevance to researchers and clinicians. It is also likely to contribute to a marketable commercial product, a shoe designed to reduce knee loading. This shoe has the potential to contribute to reducing the societal and personal burden of knee osteoarthritis, one of the most prevalent and costly chronic conditions in the developed world. Read moreRead less
A longitudinal study of language learning to assess early intervention outcomes in pre-school children with impaired hearing. Overseas research suggests that young children with impaired hearing and normal non-verbal cognition can develop normal language if hearing aid fitting and intervention occur before 6 months of age. Australian studies show considerable language delays in most hearing-impaired children of primary-school age. We will study the spoken language learning of hearing-impaired ....A longitudinal study of language learning to assess early intervention outcomes in pre-school children with impaired hearing. Overseas research suggests that young children with impaired hearing and normal non-verbal cognition can develop normal language if hearing aid fitting and intervention occur before 6 months of age. Australian studies show considerable language delays in most hearing-impaired children of primary-school age. We will study the spoken language learning of hearing-impaired children up to age 6 years in Victoria. The project will investigate crucial factors in achieving normal language learning in hard-of-hearing children and the role of early intervention. Normal language outcomes would enhance the educational and career prospects of hearing-impaired children and result in community cost savings.
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Detecting language disorder in children with a language background other than English: the role of the Dynamic Assessment. 17.6% of Australia's culturally diverse population are born in non-English speaking countries. Recently, reports of unprecedented growth in the diagnosis of children with language disorders have emerged. There are difficulties in accurately identifying children at risk of language disorder. We hypothesize that some children with language backgrounds other than English (LBOTE ....Detecting language disorder in children with a language background other than English: the role of the Dynamic Assessment. 17.6% of Australia's culturally diverse population are born in non-English speaking countries. Recently, reports of unprecedented growth in the diagnosis of children with language disorders have emerged. There are difficulties in accurately identifying children at risk of language disorder. We hypothesize that some children with language backgrounds other than English (LBOTE) are mis-identified. If true, then scarce resources are being misdirected and inappropriately allocated, depriving children with true language disorder of support and intervention. The aim of this project is to determine the utility of the Dynamic Assessment to discriminate normal language learning from language learning difficulties in LBOTE children.
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ELEMENTS: A Virtual-Reality Augmented Workspace for Movement Rehabilitation of Traumatic Brain Injury Patients. The broad aim of the project is to design, develop and evaluate an interactive virtual environment (VE) called ELEMENTS that supports movement assessment and rehabilitation for patients recovering from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). We will use current knowledge of the neural basis of movement control and learning to create VEs that will help re-train patients' sense of multimodal space ....ELEMENTS: A Virtual-Reality Augmented Workspace for Movement Rehabilitation of Traumatic Brain Injury Patients. The broad aim of the project is to design, develop and evaluate an interactive virtual environment (VE) called ELEMENTS that supports movement assessment and rehabilitation for patients recovering from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). We will use current knowledge of the neural basis of movement control and learning to create VEs that will help re-train patients' sense of multimodal space, their position within it, and the predictive control of actions. We will adapt our training environments for use on readily available technologies, creating a treatment method amenable to remote delivery. This will extend rehabilitation practices beyond their current constraints.Read moreRead less
Factors influencing functional locomotion in older adults. Ageing is associated with increasing limitations of physical function such as walking. Many older people also have concurrent medical conditions which may further limit function. This project adopts a multidisciplinary approach to investigate key factors that affect the ability to perform functional tasks of everyday locomotion, such as stair climbing and obstacle avoidance, in older adults including those affected by osteoarthritis. The ....Factors influencing functional locomotion in older adults. Ageing is associated with increasing limitations of physical function such as walking. Many older people also have concurrent medical conditions which may further limit function. This project adopts a multidisciplinary approach to investigate key factors that affect the ability to perform functional tasks of everyday locomotion, such as stair climbing and obstacle avoidance, in older adults including those affected by osteoarthritis. The results will increase knowledge about the adaptability of the ageing human locomotor system in both health and disease. This will provide a theoretical foundation for creating new strategies to reduce the impact of physical degeneration in older people.Read moreRead less