Faecal Microbiota Transplantation For Active Ulcerative Colitis - A Randomised Controlled Trial: Clinical, Microbial & Immune Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$700,126.00
Summary
This is a placebo controlled clinical trial to see whether giving healthy donor faeces to people with active ulcerative colitis can get them into remission. We will also examine how long the donor microbiome stays in the recipients stool, and examine the effects of faecal transplantation on the immune response in the lining of the colon in recipients.
Identification And Characterisation Of Sensory Receptors In The Human Rectum
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$69,500.00
Summary
Normal rectal function (with respect to storage and evacuation of faeces) is highly dependent on intact rectal sensation. Identification and characterisation of biomarkers of rectal sensation in health would allow more accurate diagnosis and a better understanding of prevalent bowel disorders, such as constipation and faecal incontinence. It would also give opportunity to identify potential novel therapeutic targets, and accurately assess the efficacy of existing and new treatment strategies.
Investigating Mechanisms Of Action Of Sacral Nerve Neuromodulation In Faecal Incontinence
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$81,181.00
Summary
Faecal incontinence (accidental bowel leakage) is a common problem in the Australian community with devastating impacts on quality of life and psychological well-being. Treatment of this condition remains a challenge due to limited scientific knowledge. Sacral nerve modulation (electrostimulation of nerves in the lower back) is an exciting new treatment but we don’t understand how it works. This project aims to improve our understanding of how nerve stimulation improves symptoms.
Elucidation Of Mechanisms By Which Fibre Promotes Or Protects From Colorectal Tumorigenesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$196,527.00
Summary
In a carefully controlled animal model of colon cancer development, dietary fibre can increase or decrease the likelihood of colon cancer development. It depends upon the type of fibre being fed to the animal. The mechanisms by which fibres can increase or decrease the likelihood of colon cancer developing are, however, poorly understood. In this proposal, we will attempt to elucidate at least some of the mechanisms. We plan to define whether animals consuming fibres that increase cancer develop ....In a carefully controlled animal model of colon cancer development, dietary fibre can increase or decrease the likelihood of colon cancer development. It depends upon the type of fibre being fed to the animal. The mechanisms by which fibres can increase or decrease the likelihood of colon cancer developing are, however, poorly understood. In this proposal, we will attempt to elucidate at least some of the mechanisms. We plan to define whether animals consuming fibres that increase cancer development have factors in their faeces that affect the health of the cells that line the colon (the ones that form the cancers). This will be examined in both the test tube and in healthy rats. Whether fibres influence the access of these factors to the lining cells by sequestering or hiding the factors in the jelly-like consistency some fibres produce in the colon will also be examined. The results will help identify conditions in the faeces that alter the susceptibility of colons to developing cancer. By identifying these conditions, we can then apply our knowledge to human subjects, so that we might be able to identify those at a higher or lower risk of developing colon cancer and we can advise and (subsequently prove) ways of modifying diet to reduce the risk of colon cancer.Read moreRead less
Quantitative Proteomic Analysis Of Faecal Biomarkers For Colon Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$562,398.00
Summary
We have identified a number of potential biomarkers present in the stools of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). We will use quantitative mass spectrometric techniques that we have developed to validate these biomarkers on a large number of faecal samples from patients with CRC and multiple control groups. We believe these studies will lead to a new panel of biomarkers which will improve the detection of early forms of colon cancer, thus reducing death from this disease.
Screening For Colorectal Cancer: Attitudes Affecting Participation And Implementation Of Strategies For Improvement.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$468,760.00
Summary
There is good evidence that population screening for bowel cancer (CRC), based on the detection of blood in stools, is effective in reducing deaths from bowel cancer by around 30-40%. Screening depends on the use of a simple test to identify those who most need the complex and costly test which is capable of accurately detecting curable cancers and precancer lesions. This can be achieved with moderate effectiveness using simple tests (FOBTs) which detect microscopic amounts of blood in the faece ....There is good evidence that population screening for bowel cancer (CRC), based on the detection of blood in stools, is effective in reducing deaths from bowel cancer by around 30-40%. Screening depends on the use of a simple test to identify those who most need the complex and costly test which is capable of accurately detecting curable cancers and precancer lesions. This can be achieved with moderate effectiveness using simple tests (FOBTs) which detect microscopic amounts of blood in the faeces. If we are to reduce the rate of death from CRC, we must have an effective way of encouraging people to do these tests. While much has been learnt from experience with screening for breast and cervical cancer, CRC presents a series of quite different issues that have never been comprehensively studied. These are: (1) men and women need to be screened. (2) symptoms due to CRC are more complex , (3) the high-risk settings for CRC are much more complex), (4) the community is not as aware of the benefit of screening, (5) the initial test can be performed at personal convenience in one's home, (6) participants must handle bodily excretions, and (7) inconvenience of attending a central facility is avoided. We will survey participants and non-participants to more accurately identify the barriers to screening, and the proportion who have not participated for informed reasons. To test the real value of attempts to overcome these, we will then offer screening by various approaches designed to overcome these. We are in a unique position to do this as we have well-identified populations who have been offered faecal occult blood test (FOBT)-based screening These studies will assist in the design and implementation of effective screening programs for the early detection of CRC in Australia, which in the long term will significantly reduce deaths from this disease.Read moreRead less
A Population Based Communication Strategy To Optimise Colorectal Cancer Screening Behaviour In Australia.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$532,425.00
Summary
There is good evidence that population screening, based on the detection of blood in faeces, is effective in reducing deaths from bowel cancer (CRC) by around 30-40%. The process depends on the use of a simple faecal occult blood test (FOBT) to identify those who need a more complex and costly test (colonoscopy), which is capable of accurately detecting curable cancers and precancers so that they can be removed. If we are to reduce deaths from CRC at the population level, we must have an effecti ....There is good evidence that population screening, based on the detection of blood in faeces, is effective in reducing deaths from bowel cancer (CRC) by around 30-40%. The process depends on the use of a simple faecal occult blood test (FOBT) to identify those who need a more complex and costly test (colonoscopy), which is capable of accurately detecting curable cancers and precancers so that they can be removed. If we are to reduce deaths from CRC at the population level, we must have an effective way of encouraging as many people as possible to do FOBT tests. While much has been learnt about how to offer screening from experience with programs for breast and cervical cancer, CRC screening involves different behavioural, psychological and social issues. We need to better understand how these factors influence participation in CRC screening. We plan a series of studies that will lead to improvements in participation in CRC screening programs: a) a survey of a randomly selected group of the general population to measure a range of behavioural features that are of importance to CRC screening, especially as they relate to participation. b) an offer of FOBTscreening to those invited to complete the survey, to match population characteristics with intentions and actual participation, c) on the basis of these studies, to design new screening program strategies, especially in relation to the communication of messages to encourage community participation, d) to test the effectiveness of the new communication strategies by offering FOBT screening to another randomly selected group from the general population. This will allow us to optimise the delivery of messages that encourage participation. If we can design a better communication strategy that achieves an increase in screening participation and has minimum cost implications, we will substantially reduce the number of deaths from CRC in Australia.Read moreRead less
Can Human Neural Stem Cells Form Enteric Nerves In Human Hirschsprungs Disease Colon?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$598,815.00
Summary
The intestine has its own nervous system which develops from cells that migrate into the intestine during early development. Sometimes this does not work and part of the bowel has no nerves and cannot function. This is treated now by cutting out this bad bowel and joining the sections of good bowel. But it may be possible to grow new nerves in the bad bowel using stem cells. This project aims to test whether this treatment, which would avoid loss of bowel, is possible.