Improving Skin Cancer Prevention: Motivating Preventive Behaviours Using Knowledge Of Personalised Genomic Risk Of Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,041,720.00
Summary
The aim of our study is to evaluate whether we can improve the Australian public’s skin cancer prevention behaviours, particularly reducing exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, by giving personalised information about melanoma genetic risk. We will also explore the psycho-social, ethical, and economic implications of receiving this information. The results of our study are likely to influence the future of skin cancer prevention in Australia.
Randomised Controlled Trial Of HPV Self-sampling For Improving Participation In Cervical Screening: The IPAP Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$534,461.00
Summary
Effectiveness of cervical cancer screening relies on maximising participation. Unlike a Pap test, an HPV test may be self-collected and this may overcome some of the barriers to Pap testing. Overseas trials have found higher uptake for HPV self-sampling (between 3-30%) compared with Pap test reminder letters. We will conduct the first randomised trial in Australia comparing home-based HPV self-sampling with a reminder letter, to evaluate whether this improves participation and followup.
My research aims to (1) find ways to minimise the impact of pancreatic cancer through improved prevention, diagnosis and management; (2) contribute to the vigorous international debate about the benefits of vitamin D and the best way to balance the harms and benefits of sun exposure.
M-SAKHI : Mobile Health Solutions To Help Community Providers Promote Maternal And Infant Nutrition And Health - A Community-based Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial In Rural India
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,379,427.00
Summary
The proposed research will examine the impact of the mobile phone counselling on child feeding practices, & undernutrition & cognitive development in a rural setting in India. The study aims to collect high-level evidence of whether mobile phone counselling about nutrition in pregnancy, and child feeding, directed at pregnant women and mothers in rural India will i) reduce low birthweight, ii) improve infant & child feeding, and iii) reduce child undernutrition at 24 months.
A Randomised Trial Of Allowing Men Who Have Sex With Men To Have HIV And Syphilis Tests Between Clinic Consultations.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$381,414.00
Summary
Rates of HIV and syphilis are rising in gay men in Australia. If these men have HIV and syphilis blood tests more frequently this is likely to reduce the spread of these infections. This trial tests the hypothesis that increased access to testing will increase the rate of testing. We are comparing the rate of testing in 420 gay men, half of whom are allowed to test whenever they choose, without having another clinical consultation.
A Cluster RCT Of The Impact Of A Community-based Hygiene And Sanitation Programme On Infection With Intestinal Parasites Following Mass Albendazole Chemotherapy In Timor-Leste
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,178,136.00
Summary
Intestinal parasites cause anaemia, stunting, wasting and poor mental development in childhood, and are related to poverty and poor hygiene. Treatment with antiparasitic drugs cures infections in human hosts, but does not prevent rapid re-infection when people contact a parasite-contaminated environment. We will quantify the impact of a hygiene and sanitation programme that reduces environmental contamination in communities that receive mass treatment with the antiparasitic drug albendazole.
Prenatal Repeat Corticosteroids In Women At Risk Of Preterm Birth For Improving Neonatal Health - An Individual Patient Data Review
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$461,063.00
Summary
Giving repeat doses of prenatal corticosteroids to women at high risk of preterm birth reduces the risk of their babies having serivous health problems in the early weeks of life. It is unclear what dose, number of doses and interval between doses of corticosteroids is optimal. This review will determine if and how individual women should be treated with repeat corticosteroids to improve the health of their baby born too soon.
Long Term Impact Of A Community-based Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial Of Peer Counselling To Improve Infant Feeding On Growth & Cognitive Function Of Children Up To 5 Years In Urban Bangladesh
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$851,345.00
Summary
Bangladesh still faces high levels of inappropriate infant feeding leading to child undernutrition and delayed development. Effective programs are urgently needed to help reduce undernutrition and improve child development. This study in poor urban communities in Dhaka, Bangladesh will see if long-term counseling provided by local women to mothers about appropriate infant feeding can improve child’s nutritional status, growth and cognitive function in their children at 5 years.
Immunising Aboriginal Mothers With Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine To Prevent Infant Ear Disease And Carriage
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,131,530.00
Summary
Aboriginal children experience the highest rates of acute and chronic ear infections in the world, with resultant permanent ear damage, hearing loss and educational disadvantage. These infections are mainly bacterial, and Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is the predominant pathogen. Pneumococcal colonisation and infection begins within days of birth, many months before any potential immunological protection from infant pneumococcal conjugate vaccine may be expected. New strategies are nee ....Aboriginal children experience the highest rates of acute and chronic ear infections in the world, with resultant permanent ear damage, hearing loss and educational disadvantage. These infections are mainly bacterial, and Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is the predominant pathogen. Pneumococcal colonisation and infection begins within days of birth, many months before any potential immunological protection from infant pneumococcal conjugate vaccine may be expected. New strategies are needed to eliminate, or at least delay, this early-onset pneumococcal colonisation. One such strategy is the administration to the mother of pneumococcal vaccine, which may protect the newborn infant by leading to higher titres of transplacental or breast milk pneumococcal antibodies and-or by reducing carriage (and transmission to the infant) of maternal pneumococci. Previous small studies using this strategy have been encouraging, but there have been no studies properly evaluating carriage or disease endpoints in infants. The polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine is currently recommended for all Aboriginal and Torres Islander persons aged 15 years or more in the Northern Territory but uptake of the vaccine has been poor. We propose to conduct a pilot study to determine if maternal immunisation with this vaccine, either in the third trimester of pregancy of immediately following delivery, can reduce pneumococcal carriage and the prevalence of middle ear disease among Aboriginal infants at seven months of age. We aim to recruit 210 Aboriginal women who have uncomplicated pregnancies from Darwin and remote communities in the Top End of the Northern Territory. Each subject and their infant offspring will be followed-up after vaccination and at birth, one , two and seven months after birth.Read moreRead less