Bioproduction and bioavailability of steroidal saponins, bioactives in herbal medicines. Steroidal saponins are a class of natural products that are common constituents of many herbal medicines and have been associated with many biological activities. Comprehensive studies into their biological activities are hampered by the small quantities available through isolation and the complexity of synthesis. The aim of this project is to identify, isolate and express the biosynthetic genes responsible ....Bioproduction and bioavailability of steroidal saponins, bioactives in herbal medicines. Steroidal saponins are a class of natural products that are common constituents of many herbal medicines and have been associated with many biological activities. Comprehensive studies into their biological activities are hampered by the small quantities available through isolation and the complexity of synthesis. The aim of this project is to identify, isolate and express the biosynthetic genes responsible for the critical steps in the synthesis of these compounds in the herbs themselves. This will allow for production of steroidal saponins using the isolated enzymes, facilitate biological studies and allow the production of critical standards required by the herbal industry for validation and regulation of herbal extracts.Read moreRead less
Therapeutic pluralism in pregnancy, labour and birthing: Decision-making, communication and inter-professional dynamics. Women are frequent users of practices outside 'mainstream' medicine. Pregnancy, labour and birthing (PLB) is a key area of integration, but no research has examined how women perceive obstetrics, midwifery and complementary medicine, or the impact on their health and wellbeing. This study systematically document Australian women's experiences of PLB with a nationally-represe ....Therapeutic pluralism in pregnancy, labour and birthing: Decision-making, communication and inter-professional dynamics. Women are frequent users of practices outside 'mainstream' medicine. Pregnancy, labour and birthing (PLB) is a key area of integration, but no research has examined how women perceive obstetrics, midwifery and complementary medicine, or the impact on their health and wellbeing. This study systematically document Australian women's experiences of PLB with a nationally-representative sample of women of child-bearing age to document decision making, lay-professional communication, and inter-professional dynamics.Read moreRead less
Navigating back pain care: a sociological study of women's illness pathways within and between intersecting social worlds. Back pain affects most people at some point in their life. It is difficult to treat, choosing a provider can be confusing, and it is costly for the Government. This project will provide comprehensive data on women's journeys through back pain care, their experiences of different providers, and how they negotiate competing ideological perspectives.
The changing landscapes of medical pluralism: a sociological analysis of patient experiences and decision making in Australia, India and Brazil. This project examines the respective roles of biomedicine and traditional, complementary and alternative medicine in supporting health needs in Australia, Brazil and India. It will be the first sociological study to compare how different countries balance biomedical approaches to health with more alternative approaches.
Pharmacological investigation of medicinal plant products from Kaanju Homelands, Wenlock and Pascoe Rivers, Cape York Peninsula. This research will examine the potential for products to be developed from plants on Kaanju homelands. Kaanju people have an immense ecological knowledge accumulated over generations, about the natural resources in an area recognised as being one of Australia's most biologically diverse. Preservation of this knowledge is critical not only to Kaanju people but to the he ....Pharmacological investigation of medicinal plant products from Kaanju Homelands, Wenlock and Pascoe Rivers, Cape York Peninsula. This research will examine the potential for products to be developed from plants on Kaanju homelands. Kaanju people have an immense ecological knowledge accumulated over generations, about the natural resources in an area recognised as being one of Australia's most biologically diverse. Preservation of this knowledge is critical not only to Kaanju people but to the heritage of the Nation as a whole. The research also addresses the National priority 'Promoting & maintaining good health' through the investigation of novel pharmacological activities in areas of cardiovascular health, diabetes and cancer. The collaborative research partnership will serve as a model to assist other Aboriginal organisations, particularly in rural & remote areas.Read moreRead less
Mechanism of synergy of ingredients in natural products and functional foods. Synergism is the interaction of two substances to produce an effect larger than the sum of the separate effects. This project aims to determine the basic biological mechanisms or molecular targets by which the synergy is occurring and to identify the bioactive compounds involved. Understanding how synergism works should help us to identify other synergistic compounds, allowing optimization of products for better effica ....Mechanism of synergy of ingredients in natural products and functional foods. Synergism is the interaction of two substances to produce an effect larger than the sum of the separate effects. This project aims to determine the basic biological mechanisms or molecular targets by which the synergy is occurring and to identify the bioactive compounds involved. Understanding how synergism works should help us to identify other synergistic compounds, allowing optimization of products for better efficacy and quality, and leading to new products that have a significant market advantage over currently available products. This project will help to develop improved natural products that could push this industry advantage further.Read moreRead less