Guiding Intervention Choices To Reduce Health Costs, Health Inequalities, And Improve The Health Of Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,200,000.00
Summary
As health care costs rise, governments increasingly will need objective evidence on the benefits and costs of health intervention options, whilst taking into account the need for greater health equity, transparency of decision making and stakeholder acceptability. This project will provide the health intelligence to guide such health priority setting in Australia, with a focus on prevention of non-communicable diseases, the implications for Indigenous Australians and the most efficient ways of i ....As health care costs rise, governments increasingly will need objective evidence on the benefits and costs of health intervention options, whilst taking into account the need for greater health equity, transparency of decision making and stakeholder acceptability. This project will provide the health intelligence to guide such health priority setting in Australia, with a focus on prevention of non-communicable diseases, the implications for Indigenous Australians and the most efficient ways of implementing priority interventions in primary care.Read moreRead less
Burden Of Disease&cost Effectiveness Of Intervention Options:informing Policy Choices & Health System Reform In Thailand
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$787,978.00
Summary
This research project aims to improve the scientific basis for health services provision in Thailand by filling important gaps in knowledge about the causes of disease and the possibility of effectively intervening to reduce them. Since the accuracy of the routine death registration system in Thailand is unknown, it cannot be confidently used to guide policy. The team will evaluate how accurately causes of death are being recorded, both in urban and rural areas. It will also calculate how much d ....This research project aims to improve the scientific basis for health services provision in Thailand by filling important gaps in knowledge about the causes of disease and the possibility of effectively intervening to reduce them. Since the accuracy of the routine death registration system in Thailand is unknown, it cannot be confidently used to guide policy. The team will evaluate how accurately causes of death are being recorded, both in urban and rural areas. It will also calculate how much disease and injury in Thailand is being caused by major risk factors, such as tobacco and unsafe sex. Using this information the team will evaluate the effectiveness of the major interventions to reduces diseases and injuries from risk factors that are affordable and applicable in the Thai context.Read moreRead less
A Prospective Study To Examine The Effectiveness And Safety Of Antivirals Against Pandemic Influenza
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$142,394.00
Summary
Pandemic influenza could cause significant mortality in populations of Australia and the south-east Asian region. Currently, avian influenza A (H5N1) is a concern to public health agencies because of its extreme pathogenicity. At present this strain is not transmitted readily between humans. A number of drugs are available to treat influenza infection in humans and research has shown these to be effective in preventing significant mortality in the setting of seasonal influenza epidemics (specifi ....Pandemic influenza could cause significant mortality in populations of Australia and the south-east Asian region. Currently, avian influenza A (H5N1) is a concern to public health agencies because of its extreme pathogenicity. At present this strain is not transmitted readily between humans. A number of drugs are available to treat influenza infection in humans and research has shown these to be effective in preventing significant mortality in the setting of seasonal influenza epidemics (specifically the influenza neuraminidase inhibitors _NIs). As a consequence public health agencies around the world have been stockpiling these drugs and developing sophisticated plans for their use if an influenza pandemic was announced. However, there are no data indicating that the neuraminidase inhibitors (NIs) are safe and effective when used to manage pandemic influenza. Neither are there any data to support the use of these drugs on a population basis. Genetic resistance to NIS has been described but it is not clear if this has any relevance to public health. Our research will clarify this issue. This project will develop a number of clinical trials that could be implemented rapidly should pandemic influenza ever be announced by health authorities in Australia-Singapore or Hong Kong. Patients with suspected influenza infection will be asked to provide informed consent prior to commencing NI therapy. Clinical information will then be collected for a period of approximately one month along with some blood samples and swabs from the throat and nasal passages. Data will be analysed as quickly as possible to help inform the continued use of NI therapy as a cornerstone of the public health agency response to pandemic influenza. In addition, the study team will prepare clinical trials to be conducted in essential workers who are likely to receive long-term NI preventive treatment as well as the immediate contacts of people with presumed influenza infection who are likely to receive short-term prophylaxis with NIs.Read moreRead less
Efficacy Of Treatment For Resistant Command Hallucinations.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$343,875.00
Summary
Auditory hallucinations (AHs), often described as voices, are a common symptom of schizophrenia and psychoses. Command hallucinations (CHs) are a type of AH in which the voice heard by the patient commands him or her to perform a particular action. The nature of the directive may vary from inconsequential actions to commands to harm the patient or others. There is widespread public concern about the danger individuals with schizophrenia or related disorders pose to themselves and to the communit ....Auditory hallucinations (AHs), often described as voices, are a common symptom of schizophrenia and psychoses. Command hallucinations (CHs) are a type of AH in which the voice heard by the patient commands him or her to perform a particular action. The nature of the directive may vary from inconsequential actions to commands to harm the patient or others. There is widespread public concern about the danger individuals with schizophrenia or related disorders pose to themselves and to the community. There is firm evidence pointing to the important role that CHs play in propelling psychotic individuals into serious and damaging actions. We have found, however, that most individuals who comply with dangerous CHs do so, not because they are angry, violent, antisocial or wish to cause harm, but because they feel powerless to resist. Though CHs are one of the most disturbing symptoms of psychosis, standard treatment has proved to be of limited benefit. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of Treatment of Resistant Command Hallucinations (TORCH), an innovative treatment for CHs. TORCH is an extension of an existing treatment for psychosis that we previously developed. TORCH aims to reduce the distress, worry and harmful or self-defeating behaviour associated with CHs by arming the patient with effective strategies that will enhance resistance and reduce compliance. The project has clear implications for improved clinical and therapeutic management of CHs with major public health, clinical and forensic repercussions. The consequences of being formally assessed as being at risk of acting violently result in the potential for substantial restrictions on the freedom of the individual. The availability of TORCH may prompt a less restrictive management of individuals at risk of dangerous behaviour and promote a more optimistic attitude amongst clinicians. Relatives and carers also stand to benefit through reduction in perplexing and fear-inducing behaviours.Read moreRead less
BCA: DNA Microsatellite Variation In Atlantic Salmon
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$5,272.01
Summary
Objectives: 1. To develop DNA microsatellite techniques in Atlantic salmon, and apply these to: i. a comparison of levels of microsatellite variation in farmed Tasmanian salmon and the parent stock in Nova Scotia (original objective 1) and ii. locating a male-sex (Ychromosone) marker for broodstock management
Australian Fisheries Economic Statistics: Stage 1 Scoping Paper
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$11,578.15
Summary
Objectives: 1. To develop options for an annual economic review and in doing so to assess its usefulness, feasibility, cost, and to determine who should pay
Objectives: 1. To develop DNA microsatellite techniques in Atlantic salmon, and apply these to: i. a comparison of levels of microsatellite variation in farmed Tasmanian salmon and the parent stock in Nova Scotia (original objective 1) and ii. locating a male-sex (Ychromosone) marker for broodstock management
The Australian Seafood CRC required a consultant/agency with relevant experience to create a campaign that celebrates and informs Australians of the legacy the CRC will leave behind to the Australian seafood industry and research community when it closes its doors on 30 June 2015.
Development Of An Independently Driven Production Reporting And Forecasting Survey For Australian Farmed Barramundi
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$5,000.00
Summary
For many years the ABFA has been concerned that the industy's own production estimates and forcasts exceed official statisitics. Also, a lack of information about production capacity and production scheduling across the industry has resulted in supplies to market not being synchronised with demand. This has resulted in substantial variabiluity in seasonal price and availablity. This damages the quality brand being built for Australian farmed barramundi and the important attribute of far ....For many years the ABFA has been concerned that the industy's own production estimates and forcasts exceed official statisitics. Also, a lack of information about production capacity and production scheduling across the industry has resulted in supplies to market not being synchronised with demand. This has resulted in substantial variabiluity in seasonal price and availablity. This damages the quality brand being built for Australian farmed barramundi and the important attribute of farmed produce being consistancy of quality, supply and price. This project will supply industy particpants with essential information about likely production volumes and market supplies. the data will enablle farmers to better manage feed regimes, stocking and harvesting to take best advantage of market forecasts. Objectives: 1. Provide accurate data about production of Australian farmed barramundi 2. Provide independent and creditable data about likely future production, current and future stocking and harvest times for Australian farmed barramundi 3. Provide farmers with the capacity better to match production to forecast market conditions Read moreRead less