Allergies And Chronic Respiratory Diseases: Causes, Biological Pathways And Interventions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$420,872.00
Summary
Allergies and chronic respiratory diseases are major causes of illness and death in Australia. Worryingly there are still many gaps in knowledge on how best to prevent and manage these diseases. The proposed program will investigate these questions and provide evidence to guide health policy and clinical management. As this program is built on state-of the-art methods and technology, these original Australian findings will be of great importance internationally.
The Relationship Between Environmental Exposures And The Development Of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia In Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$88,141.00
Summary
Leukaemia is the most common childhood cancer and is potentially preventable. Little is known about the causes, although it is likely that both genetic and environmental factors play a role. The early age at diagnosis suggests that exposures before birth or in early childhood, may be involved in its development. This study will investigate whether non-occupational environmental exposures in these key time periods increase the risk of disease and thus may help to prevent the disease.
Cardiac Effects Of Exposure To Melbourne Air Pollution Caused By The 2006/2007 Bushfires In Victoria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$59,000.00
Summary
This project investigates whether the air pollution that was caused by the 2006-2007 Victorian bushfires, had an effect on the health of people living in Melbourne. Cardiovascular effects will be studied by looking at hospital admissions, out-of-hospital heart attacks and the associated death toll. As it is the expectation that bushfires will increase in the future it is important to determine the impact this may have. This research will inform appropriate public health strategies.
Investigating The Role Of Psychosocial Factors: The Impact Of Contextual Influences On Cardiovascular Risk
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$315,898.00
Summary
Understanding the mechanism by which contextual features are associated with risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) has implications for the development of efficient and targeted interventions. In three different studies we assess if the link between the context in which individuals live or work and risk for CVD (1) is indirect through effects on psychosocial factors and (2) varies as a function of such psychosocial factors in the general population and in populations at elevated risk.
The Impact Of Outdoor Aeroallergen Exposure On Asthma Exacerbations In Children And Adolescents
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,924.00
Summary
Asthma is a chronic condition usually diagnosed in childhood and an important public health concern. We do not fully understand what triggers an asthma attack, although outdoor pollen and moulds may be important. This project will establish the relative importance of pollen and moulds in triggering asthma attacks among Australian children. It will fill gaps in our knowledge of environmental triggers of asthma. Such knowledge will improve asthma management and ultimately public health.
Familial, Behavioural And Environmental Determinants Of Respiratory And Metabolic Fitness In Regional South Australia.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$287,321.00
Summary
South Australia is the fattest state in Australia. Limited health surveillance data suggests that Whyalla is fatter, less active, consumes more alcohol and has worse respiratory health than Adelaide. Obesity is linked to poorer respiratory health. Public concern over the effects of air pollution on the health of Whyalla families has prompted us to examine respiratory and metabolic health in Whyalla families in comparison to those in the north-west suburbs of Adelaide.
Risk Factors For Chronic Respiratory Diseases In Middle Age: 36-year Follow-up Of The Tasmanian Asthma Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$358,750.00
Summary
This project will improve our understanding of the causes of chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) in adults. CRDs are clearly a major public health problem, but there are no good data on the natural history and risk factors for these diseases. Regular follow-up through childhood to adulthood is the best method to examine these factors, but such data is lacking due to difficulties in conducting long-term studies. The Tasmanian Asthma Study (TAS), based on 8,585 Tasmanians (i.e. probands) born in 1 ....This project will improve our understanding of the causes of chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) in adults. CRDs are clearly a major public health problem, but there are no good data on the natural history and risk factors for these diseases. Regular follow-up through childhood to adulthood is the best method to examine these factors, but such data is lacking due to difficulties in conducting long-term studies. The Tasmanian Asthma Study (TAS), based on 8,585 Tasmanians (i.e. probands) born in 1961, is one of the worlds most important resources of such information. The probands, their parents (16,267) and siblings (21,044) were first investigated for respiratory problems in 1968. Subsequently, three follow-up surveys were carried out at ages 13 (1974), 20 (1981) and 31 (1992) on either the total or sub-samples of the probands. In 1992, the children and spouses of the probands were also surveyed. Information on all respiratory problems was collected in all the follow-ups, although the main focus of the TAS to date has been asthma. The probands are now reaching the age at which all CRD as a group are beginning to inflict an increasing disease burden, which will become greater in the next two decades. Hence, TAS now provides an ideal opportunity to examine the potential risk factors and natural history of and of CRDs using data collected to date and new data collected at age 43. Also, it will provide a platform for future studies to investigate the progression of CRDs in this cohort. Hence, we propose to carry out the 36 year follow-up of this cohort focusing on CRDs. This will provide important information for preventing chronic respiratory morbidity and disability in the future, which will be original and significant not only in Australia but also internationally.Read moreRead less
Comprehensive Assessment Of Genetic And Environmental Risk Factors For Melanoma: A Population-based Family Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$150,679.00
Summary
Excessive sunlight can cause melanoma, a serious type of skin cancer. However, there are other factors including a person's genetic make-up that are thought to put some people at higher risk. Many 'healthy' people have small changes in their genes that might make them more likely to develop melanoma. We need to know more about these genetic factors. Our study will investigate how particular small genetic changes influence a person's likelihood of developing melanoma.
Investigating Low Sun Exposure And Other Possible Early Life Determinants Of Type 1 Diabtes Mellitus
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$342,795.00
Summary
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is becoming more common among Australian children. The project explores aspects of the modern child's environment that may increase the risk of type 1 diabetes. In particular it aims to assess whether very low sun exposure in early life is adverse. Low sun exposure may be adverse because sun exposure -derived vitamin D is vital for the developing child's immune system. We need to know what level of sunlight and vitamin D children need to prevent disease.
Genes And Environment In Late AMD: Pooling A State And Population Resource
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$701,642.00
Summary
This study will pool cases from the West Australian Macular Degeneration database with the Blue Mountains Eye Study (NSW), to investigate the interplay of genes and environmental factors on risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), in particular the late, vision threatening stage. It will provide insights into the underlying causes of AMD, and could allow us to target people with AMD susceptibility genes for preventive approaches, which could reduce the burden of this disease.