Optimisation Of Beta-lactam Antibiotic Therapy As A Strategy To Improve Efficacy And Combat The Emergence Of Resistance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$122,714.00
Summary
Antibiotic resistance is a global health priority that threatens to compromise advances in modern medicine to return practices to the pre-antibiotic era. Critically ill and patients with impaired immune function represent a vulnerable group who struggle to fight infections and who rely heavily on lifesaving antibiotics. This project aims to investigate how the efficacy of antibiotics can be optimised to prevent the emergence of resistance and preserve their effectiveness for the future.
Antibiotic Allergy Testing And Its Impact On Antimicrobial Stewardship In The Immunocompromised Host
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$124,714.00
Summary
While antibiotic allergy labels are common, the impact on immunosuppressed patients is unknown. This collaboration between Austin Health, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Vanderbilt University Medical Centre (USA) will be the first Australian assessment of the impacts of antibiotic allergy labels on immunosuppressed patients. This project will provide strategies to examine the impact of and revise the antibiotic allergy labels with skin prick allergy testing and advanced immunodiagnostics.
A Prospective, Randomised, Double-blind Trial Of Extended- Versus Bolus-infusion ?-lactam Therapy In Infective Exacerbations Of Cystic Fibrosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$148,431.00
Summary
I am an infectious diseases physician focused on the most effective way to use antibiotics to treat infections. People with cystic fibrosis often get lung infections and the bacteria that causes this, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, can be difficult to treat. I will be investigating whether infusing antibiotics over a prolonged period of time is more effective than standard therapy in treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections in patients with cystic fibrosis.
Bowel cancer is the 2nd most common cause of cancer death in Australia. Rectal cancer represents 40% of these, and is more common in the elderly who are frequently unable to tolerate chemoradiation therapy. The Mutated in Colorectal Cancer gene (MCC) could become a predictor to chemoradiotherapy in up to 30% of these patients. A defective MCC in tumours can predict a good response to this treatment. Our project will potentially identify patients that are more sensitive to chemoradiotherapy and l ....Bowel cancer is the 2nd most common cause of cancer death in Australia. Rectal cancer represents 40% of these, and is more common in the elderly who are frequently unable to tolerate chemoradiation therapy. The Mutated in Colorectal Cancer gene (MCC) could become a predictor to chemoradiotherapy in up to 30% of these patients. A defective MCC in tumours can predict a good response to this treatment. Our project will potentially identify patients that are more sensitive to chemoradiotherapy and lead to a personalized treatment of rectal cancer.Read moreRead less
A New Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibody Targeting CD302 In Acute Myeloid Leukaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$124,676.00
Summary
This project will develop a new antibody treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. Antibody treatments help the body to attack the leukaemia using its immune system. The prognosis of this leukaemia is poor. Our current treatments use high dose chemotherapy and sometimes a stem cell transplant. Many patients cannot have the current therapy due to their age or other medical problems. A new antibody therapy may be used on its own or with other therapies to help more patients achieve remission.
Advancing The Knowledge, Understanding And Management Of Respiratory Exacerbations In Children With Bronchiectasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$71,359.00
Summary
Bronchiectasis is a condition which causes significant morbidity, burden of disease and mortality in children as well as adults. Exacerbations in bronchiectasis influence the decline in lung function and quality of life for patients. Although the importance of treating exacerbations effectively is well accepted, there are no universally accepted guidelines for recognizing and managing an exacerbation of bronchiectasis in children. This study aims to fill this clinical and research gap.
Successful establishment of pregnancy requires a viable embryo and a receptive uterus. The contribution that reduced uterine receptivity makes to human infertility is unknown. IVF patients with implantation failure will be investigated using different approaches to identify gene pathways that are altered in reduced uterine receptivity. This study could lead to a clinical test for uterine receptivity and help to improve fertility treatment options for women with repeated implantation failure.
Lung cancer is the commonest cause of cancer death worldwide. There is growing interest in the genetic causes of lung cancer. The overall aim of this research is to gain a better understanding of the steps in the genetic pathway of lung cancer spread. This knowledge is essential in the development of new targeted therapies and improvement in lung cancer prognosis.
Dietary Therapies For The Treatment Of Drug-resistant Epilepsy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$69,757.00
Summary
Epilepsy affects about 225,000 Australians, with 30% of suffers still experiencing seizures despite being on medications. A reduction in seizures can significantly improve the health of people with epilepsy who do not respond to medications. Low carbohydrate, high fat diets are a well-established treatment option in children, but this has not previously been studied in Australian adults. The aim of this research is to evaluate if dietary therapies are an effective treatment in adult epilepsy.
Optimising Cooperative Group Cancer Clinical Trials In The Era Of Molecularly Targeted Treatments
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$55,778.00
Summary
Cancer treatments are tested in trials to ensure that they are effective and safe for use. Recently treatments have been developed that act on newly discovered pathways of cancer growth. I aim to research the way cancer clinical trials are designed and evaluate ways to improve them. This will help to ensure cancer medicines are brought into clinical use as efficiently as possible in this new era of drug treatment.