Consumer Information Materials And A Communication Aid For Diagnostic Tests For Breast Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$105,863.00
Summary
Many studies have now shown that the majority of patients want to participate in clinical decisions about medical treatments they might receive. As a result, information materials are being developed to help consumers and doctors work together to reach satisfying treatment decisions which are based on the best available evidence and also reflect the individual patient's needs and preferences about the treatment options. Very little is known, however, about whether consumers also want to particip ....Many studies have now shown that the majority of patients want to participate in clinical decisions about medical treatments they might receive. As a result, information materials are being developed to help consumers and doctors work together to reach satisfying treatment decisions which are based on the best available evidence and also reflect the individual patient's needs and preferences about the treatment options. Very little is known, however, about whether consumers also want to participate in decisions about whether to have a medical test. Tests can be trivial, such as a blood or urine test, or quite major and invasive, such as a biopsy or a colonoscopy. People considering a medical test might want to know the answers to the following questions: What is my chance of having the disease being tested for? If the test result is positive what is the chance I have the disease? If the test result is negative what is the chance I have the disease anyway? How will the test result influence treatment of my condition? What are possible side-effects of the test? Generally information materials about medical tests only describe the test itself, and do not contain the information people need to answer these questions. Even doctors may not have to hand the data needed to answer these questions. Yet without this information, consumers cannot make truly informed and rational choices about whether to have the test. This project aims to find out whether consumers want to participate in decisions about medical tests, what information they would want to do this, and to develop and trial information materials and a communication aid for a small number of breast cancer tests. We will use tests for diagnosing breast cancer as our model but we anticipate the work will be applicable across a wide range of medical tests.Read moreRead less
Development Of A Novel Biosensor Using Magnetically Amplified Luminescence For The Early Detection Of Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$267,500.00
Summary
Cancer is often not detected until it has invaded surrounding tissues and spread to other organs. Current treatment is then often ineffective, and prognosis poor. Early detection of cancer is therefore essential for improved disease management. Such methods must be cheap, non-invasive, and rapid with high sensitivity and specificity. We are investigating a new biosensor technology that satisfies these criteria. This method uses magnetically amplified luminescence for the detection of low levels ....Cancer is often not detected until it has invaded surrounding tissues and spread to other organs. Current treatment is then often ineffective, and prognosis poor. Early detection of cancer is therefore essential for improved disease management. Such methods must be cheap, non-invasive, and rapid with high sensitivity and specificity. We are investigating a new biosensor technology that satisfies these criteria. This method uses magnetically amplified luminescence for the detection of low levels of cancer cells in clinical samples (urine, faeces, blood, biopsy), using telomerase as a marker.Read moreRead less
PROTEIN PROFILING FOR THE IDENTIFICATION AND MONITORING OF LYSOSOMAL STORAGE DISORDERS AND OTHER NEUROLOGICAL DISEASES
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$469,500.00
Summary
Lysosomal storage disorders (LSD) are a group of more than 45 progressive genetic diseases, that result from the absence or impaired function of a specific enzyme in each of the body's cells. Lysosomes rid the cell of excess waste. Impaired enzyme function halts this process and waste begins to accumulate (or 'store') in the cell. Disease severity and patient longevity is variable, but severely affected patients often die by their mid-teens. LSD can affect the skeleton and joints, respiratory an ....Lysosomal storage disorders (LSD) are a group of more than 45 progressive genetic diseases, that result from the absence or impaired function of a specific enzyme in each of the body's cells. Lysosomes rid the cell of excess waste. Impaired enzyme function halts this process and waste begins to accumulate (or 'store') in the cell. Disease severity and patient longevity is variable, but severely affected patients often die by their mid-teens. LSD can affect the skeleton and joints, respiratory and cardiovascular systems, the brain, the eyes, the ears and the airways. As affected children become older, symptoms worsen. Patients often require frequent hospitalisation, and medical and surgical intervention. Approximately 10 to 15% of the general population are affected or carriers of an LSD. In Australia, one LSD child is born in every 5,000 live births. Diagnosis often takes several years, and families often have other children before their affected child is diagnosed. LSD are, therefore, a considerable burden to not only the families but also to the health care system. The goal of the Lysosomal Diseases Research Unit is Diagnosis at birth and effective therapy for lysosomal storage disorders. To this end we have been working toward the development of a newborn screening program for LSD and improved methods for the diagnosis and monitoring of therapy in this group of diseases. In this project we propose to develop and evaluate the use of protein profiling (looking at many diagnostic markers at the same time) to achieve these goals. The technology developed in this project will have potential application beyond LSD. Lysosomal dysfunction has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease; in addition lysosomal proteins are reported to be involved in the spread of some cancers and may be useful markers for early detection. We will collaborate with other research groups to further develop protein profiling in these areas.Read moreRead less
Micropapillary Adenocarcinoma: The Emergence Of A Discrete Lung Cancer Phenotype And Its Genomic And Transcriptomic Characterization.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$117,565.00
Summary
I believe I can describe a new subtype of lung cancer, which has never been classified by the World Health Organization. This has been previously mis-classified or simply ignored. My hypothesis is that this is a distinct disease by virtue of patterns of genetic abnormalities as well as features visible under the microscope. I also believe it is one of the most aggressive cancers and needs new treatments.
Oxidation Of Mismatch: A New Concept For Mutation Detection Which Avoides A Separation Method In Mutation Scanning
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$143,000.00
Summary
Detection of faults (mutations) in genes is expensive but essential for proper genetic health care. Because of the cost of such tests many people are not diagnosed either through diagnostic labs or research of the cost of such tests many people are not diagnosed either through diagnostic labs or research projects. Such research projects are inhibited due to the complexity of the current methods. Current methods are complex and expensive, especially looking for a possible fault, due to what is ca ....Detection of faults (mutations) in genes is expensive but essential for proper genetic health care. Because of the cost of such tests many people are not diagnosed either through diagnostic labs or research of the cost of such tests many people are not diagnosed either through diagnostic labs or research projects. Such research projects are inhibited due to the complexity of the current methods. Current methods are complex and expensive, especially looking for a possible fault, due to what is called a preparation step on complex and expensive equipment. We will develop and commercialise a simpler test because separation is avoided.Read moreRead less
To Apply Evidence Based Practice To Optimise The Laboratory Diagnosis Of Muscular Dystrophies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$82,642.00
Summary
Currently in Australia, muscular dystrophy diagnosis entails detailed biochemical analyses mainly performed within research laboratories. We will use evidence based practice to optimise the laboratory diagnosis of muscular dystrophies, and provide information for genetic and clinical counselling and prevention to improve the standard of service for those with the disease. Assessment of diagnostic efficacy and cost-efficiency will aid in evaluating diagnostic approaches for other rare disorders.
I am a virologist exploiting basic and applied research on hepatitis viruses to develop biotechnology innovations in diagnostics and vaccines for a broad range of infectious diseases
Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification(LAMP): A Novel Tool For The Diagnosis Of Mixed Malaria Infections In Elimination Settings
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$101,877.00
Summary
The malaria elimination agenda will require the development of novel, field applicable diagnostic tools to detect asymptomatic carriers of P.falciparum and non-falciparum malaria infections. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) has been demonstrated to be a novel, sensitive, specific nucleic acid amplification technique. My project aims to optimise LAMP into a high-throughput field applicable molecular diagnostic tool capable of diagnosing malaria in elimination settings
Advanced Technologies For Improved Molecular Diagnostic And Prognostic Of Gastrointestinal Cancers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,477.00
Summary
The aim of this interdisciplinary research is to develop innovative and clinically relevant technologies for improved molecular diagnostic of gastrointestinal cancers. It integrates technological advances in physics, bioengineering and nanoscience with state-of-the-art molecular technologies towards the delivery of both fundamental and translational outcomes. These technologies will be applied to address important fundamental questions such as the role of circulating tumour cells.