Large Scale Studies To Inform And Guide Public Health Policy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$452,315.00
Summary
This research aims to develop existing and new large scale prospective cohort studies to enable research that investigates factors contributing to disease and ill health and thereby provide evidence to guide public health policy. It will specifically focus on adult infectious diseases. It will position Australia to be a leader internationally in large-scale research projects, attract research investment and talent and provide the basis to build public health research capacity.
Understanding The Development Of Dental Fear Among Australian Children And Adults By Applying A Comprehensive Conceptual Model
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$418,482.00
Summary
Dental fear acts as a significant barrier to obtaining dental care, and leads to poorer dental health, greater dental treatment needs and reduced school and work performance. Approximately 1 in 7 children and adults have high dental fear. Understanding how dentists are being trained, what they are doing in their dental practise, and how and why dental fear develops and is maintained, are fundamental steps in trying to reduce this important dental, mental, and public health issue.
Dependent drug use is associated with a range of physical and mental health problems. However the process by which drug-related changes to the human brain influence behaviours important to remaining abstinent is poorly understood. The current proposal investigates the neural and behavioural effects of drug dependence on cognitive control - responsible for impulse control and decision making - previously implicated in drug dependence.
The Hunt For New-generation Lipopeptide Antibiotics Targeting Gram-negative ‘Superbugs’
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,477.00
Summary
The dry antibiotic discovery and development pipeline, together with the increasing incidence of bacterial resistance in the clinic has been dubbed ‘the perfect storm’. This project involves the design, synthesis and preclinical evaluation of a new generation of polymyxin-like lipopeptides that have low nephrotoxicity and specifically target polymyxin-resistant Gram-negative ‘superbugs’.
Dissecting The Interactions Of Antimalarial Drugs With The Two Key Determinants Of Drug Resistance In The Malaria Parasite - The 'chloroquine Resistance Transporter' And The 'multidrug Resistance Transporter 1'
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,218.00
Summary
The malaria parasite is a single-celled organism which invades the red blood cells of its host. The aim of this fellowship is to study two proteins that are central to the parasite’s ability to evade the toxic effects of a number of drugs. The parasite's susceptibility to chloroquine, and other drugs, is altered by small changes in these proteins. This work will advance our understanding of the increasingly widespread phenomenon of antimalarial drug resistance, and of how it may be overcome.
Determining The Bacterial Contributions To Tuberculosis And Identification Of Drug Targets
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$443,946.00
Summary
Serious issues of drug resistance have emerged in tuberculosis prevention and are placing enormous pressure on global health systems. We have identified an enzyme of M. tuberculosis that is essential for its survival. This project will develop potent inhibitory compounds for this enzyme. Further, we will identify new drug targets through a screen to specifically identify the genes of the organism essential for its survival in the body. This information will be used to develop new TB drugs.
In this fellowship I will develop methods to improve the way drugs are delivered through the use of nanotechnology. Nanoparticles can be used to protect delicate drugs from degrading, and to make sure drugs are delivered where they are required. This helps to lower side effects and improve efficacy of a range of drugs. I lead a multi-disciplinary research team dedicated to understanding of how nanoparticles interact with biological systems, so we can engineer better drug delivery systems.