A Randomised Placebo-controlled Trial Of Antibiotics To Prevent Urinary Tract Infection In Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$735,000.00
Summary
This study is needed to determine whether a common clinical practice long-term antibiotic treatment for children following urinary tract infection (UTI) - is safe and effective in preventing further UTI and if so, whether all appropriate children are being treated. UTI will affect about 10% of Australian children by high school age (88,000 children per year). Because UTI may damage the kidneys, the management priority for children with UTI has been prevention of further infection. Currently this ....This study is needed to determine whether a common clinical practice long-term antibiotic treatment for children following urinary tract infection (UTI) - is safe and effective in preventing further UTI and if so, whether all appropriate children are being treated. UTI will affect about 10% of Australian children by high school age (88,000 children per year). Because UTI may damage the kidneys, the management priority for children with UTI has been prevention of further infection. Currently this means the identification of children thought to be most at risk of recurrent UTI by renal tract imaging. Those found to have reflux of urine from the bladder to the kidney (present in about 30% of those with UTI) are then placed on antibiotics fro 2-5 years. Unfortunately there has never been a properly designed trial to test whether antibiotics do really prevent UTI and if so, whether children with reflux are the appropriate and only group requiring treatment. Long term antibiotics may in fact do more harm than good because of side effects like skin, bowel and blood problems and because resistant bacteria may develop. The design of this study involves the random allocation of placebo or antibiotic (cotrimoxazole, the usual antibiotic given in this case) to about 800 children after their first symptomatic UTI. These children are treated and followed for one year to determine the rate of futher UTI in both groups. Any difference in outcome between the two groups of children will be because of the antibiotic treatment. This study may prove long-term antibiotics are ineffective and therefore should not be routinely used. In this case investigation of children to detect vesicoureteric reflux would serve little purpose and should be abandoned. Alternatively antibiotic treatment may be shown as effective treatment for preventing further UTI and in this case the study will clearly identify those children who will benefit.Read moreRead less
How do qualifications delivered by enterprises contribute to improved skill levels and other benefits for companies, workers and the nation? This project investigates the role of employer-based qualifications training in developing the skills and prospects of the Australian workforce and the competitive capabilities of companies. It focuses on enterprises that are accredited to deliver qualifications to their own workers, providing data to improve and expand this form of training.
Crucibles of creativity? Australian universities and path-breaking intellectual work. The project will investigate path-breaking creative work by 60-80 Australians working at home and abroad, focusing on the role of Australian universities in forming creative persons and agendas and providing conditions for (or inhibiting) creativity. The practical question is ‘How might the role of universities in path-breaking work be enhanced?'
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190101141
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$340,383.00
Summary
Globalising school reform through online teacher professional learning. This project aims to explore how new online modes of professional learning can inform professional knowledge and practice in teaching. The project will examine how international forms of evidence and expertise, and emergent private policy networks, are reshaping teacher knowledge, learning and practice in Australia and the United States of America. Through interviews, Internet and social media searches and document analysis, ....Globalising school reform through online teacher professional learning. This project aims to explore how new online modes of professional learning can inform professional knowledge and practice in teaching. The project will examine how international forms of evidence and expertise, and emergent private policy networks, are reshaping teacher knowledge, learning and practice in Australia and the United States of America. Through interviews, Internet and social media searches and document analysis, the project will highlight the changing nature of evidence-informed solutions, and create opportunities for teachers and policymakers to learn how to use professional learning and evidence to influence local schooling practices. The project will enhance teacher professional learning on student learning outcomes, as well as potentially improve the cost-effectiveness of delivering professional development programs for teachers.Read moreRead less
Organizational Change And Treatment Of Depression And Dementia In Aged Care Facilities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$567,052.00
Summary
Mental health disorders are common in aged care settings. However, these problems are not well managed. This situation results in distress for residents and family members, as well as high levels of burnout and turnover among staff. This project will address the organizational barriers with the aim of better managing and treating depression and behavioural problems associated with dementia.
Alfred And Baker Medical Unit Centre For Clinical Cardiovascular Research
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,000,000.00
Summary
This Centre has three objectives: to create clinical research platforms; to provide time and training for advanced cardiology trainees, young clinical academics, research nurses, allied health staff and non-medical science graduates; and to translate previously established local and international research outcomes into knowledge, education and health benefits for the wider Australian community.
National and global public goods in higher education. This project will compare case studies in Australia, the United Kingdom, central Europe and China to clarify the definition, measurement and creation of public (social and community) benefits in higher education, including global benefits. It will inform government policies and institutional and philanthropic strategies designed to maximise those public benefits.
Adult Numeracy and New Learning Technologies: An Evaluative Framework. In the adoption of new learning technologies [NLTs] (e.g., online, CD-ROMS) as alternative means of delivery for adult numeracy, high quality educational products, informed by a well-founded research base, are essential to benefit the individual student, and tutors/trainers (if any). Given that concept of adult numeracy itself is ill-defined and under-theorised in Australia, and that there are no entry standards for numeracy ....Adult Numeracy and New Learning Technologies: An Evaluative Framework. In the adoption of new learning technologies [NLTs] (e.g., online, CD-ROMS) as alternative means of delivery for adult numeracy, high quality educational products, informed by a well-founded research base, are essential to benefit the individual student, and tutors/trainers (if any). Given that concept of adult numeracy itself is ill-defined and under-theorised in Australia, and that there are no entry standards for numeracy tutors/trainers, or even producers of resources, research is needed to establish a defensible definition of adult numeracy in the Australian context, and to synthesise this with evolving research on NLTs to guide producers and enable proper consumer evaluation.Read moreRead less
Leadership in entrepreneurial universities: cross-national investigations of engagement and diversity. Attracting and retaining academics in leadership is critical to developing twenty-first century universities that promote innovative and creative economies and inclusive civil societies. This comparative study will provide policy makers and universities with empirical evidence and policy options to build leadership capacity and increase diversity in leadership.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190101140
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$383,157.00
Summary
The role of teacher expertise, authority and professionalism in education. This project aims to provide new insights about the role of education in modern democratic societies, with a particular focus on teachers and teacher expertise. Specifically, the project will use case studies from three Western Democracies - Australia, United Kingdom, and the United States of America - to investigate the role of teachers in these education systems, and the ways in which contemporary policy and practice is ....The role of teacher expertise, authority and professionalism in education. This project aims to provide new insights about the role of education in modern democratic societies, with a particular focus on teachers and teacher expertise. Specifically, the project will use case studies from three Western Democracies - Australia, United Kingdom, and the United States of America - to investigate the role of teachers in these education systems, and the ways in which contemporary policy and practice is impacting their professional expertise and authority in their classrooms and schools. Using an innovative approach to comparative case studies, this project will advance knowledge about the relationship between schools, professional expertise and democracy, and the role of teachers within these spaces.Read moreRead less