Cancer is now the leading cause of death in our community. Dramatic progress in genomic technologies is impacting on cancer treatment and risk management internationally. My vision is an Australian Genomic Cancer Medicine Program (AGCMP), uniting than 15 cancer centres and three major medical research institutes in all states and territories, and bringing genomics through research into the clinic to improve health outcomes for all Australians.
Pain is a prevalent condition and a major cause of disease burden. The research program will address important questions in the clinical management of pain to reduce its the enormous burden. The program will: 1) investigate whether opioid medicines and oral steroids are effective in treating acute low back pain and neck pain, and sciatica, and 2) assess and improve the appropriate use of strong pain medicines in primary care.
Motor Impairment: Physiology, Pathophysiology And Intervention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,814,215.00
Summary
It is very common to get Motor Impairments in many diseases and disorders, such as stroke and multiple sclerosis, and even with ageing. These affect our ability to move and function properly. I will use multidisciplinary expertise in basic, applied and clinical science to answer key questions about mechanisms and management of the Motor Impairments of weakness and fatigue, impaired sensation and balance, and muscle contracture. Results will be rapidly applied in clinical populations.
Overcoming The Barriers To Treatment Of Multi-drug Resistant Gram-negative Bloodstream Infections In Australian Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$447,603.00
Summary
There is a critical need to develop new treatments for children with antibiotic resistant infections. The most important bacteria causing resistant infections are known as Gram-negative bacteria. Doctors treating children with resistant Gram-negative infections are faced with few antibiotic options. This project will discover the most important resistant infections in Australian children, and trial a new antibiotic to help doctors to use it in the right children and at the right dose.
Healthy Diet And Weight Management In Pregnancy: Evidence To Ease A Hefty Clinical Burden.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,705,260.00
Summary
Approximately 50% of women are overweight or obese on entering pregnancy, placing women at increased risk of well documented pregnancy complications. This proposal will: 1) Translate RCT evidence into clinical practice to provide dietary advice for pregnant women 2) Address why pregnancy interventions have not impacted weight gain despite improved maternal diet 3) Consider the key features of an intervention before conception 4) Evaluate a pilot RCT weight loss intervention
Creating Treatment Options For Endometrial Cancer Through High-level Clinical Trials
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,508,156.00
Summary
Endometrial cancer (EC) arises from the inner lining of the womb. Treatment typically involves surgery (hysterectomy) to remove the womb and explore if cancer has affected the lymph glands in the pelvis. The benefit of surgery on the lymph glands is doubtful. My research program will generate evidence to inform clinical practice on the treatment of EC and explore non-surgical treatment alternatives to a hysterectomy for better patient outcomes, particularly in women who wish to start a family.
Transforming Treatment For Mental Health And Substance Use Disorders: Leveraging Technology To Bridge The Evidence-practice Gap
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,090,576.00
Summary
This research program will reduce the 25 year gap between research about treatments for mental and substance use disorders and the implementation of these treatments into clinical care. New treatments will be developed, driven by the needs of the key stakeholders in policy, industry, service provision, and lived experience. This will provide new knowledge about how to manage mental health and substance use problems.
Optimising Patient & Health System Outcomes In Chronic Respiratory Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,613,220.00
Summary
In Australia, lung disease is a more common cause of preventable hospital admission than any other chronic disease. Non-drug treatments are recommended to reduce hospital stays, but they are under-used and under-researched. This research program will optimise non-drug treatments for people with chronic lung disease, focusing on rehabilitation, oxygen therapy and self-management. This research will improve access to effective care, enhance patient wellbeing and reduce health system costs.
Improving Cardiovascular Outcomes Through Better Trials
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,714,215.00
Summary
Randomised trials are the cornerstone of high quality medical practice. There is an urgent need to do more trials but there are major challenges - timely recruitment of participants, inclusion of representative patients and control of costs are issues we face every day. I will commence a series of new trials evaluating interventions for cardiovascular disease. In parallel I will develop and test innovative solutions to the practicalities of doing large-scale studies.
Advancing The Midwifery Workforce In Sydney, Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
It is predicted that Australia will have a midwifery workforce crisis in the future. As such it is important to provide innovative solutions to retain midwives for the safety of women and their babies. There are few embedded strategies in place for midwives in NSW that support the wellbeing and emotionally demanding practise of midwives. This project aims to deliver empirical data that describes the impact of new structured support innovations for midwives in NSW.