Centre Of Research Excellence In Medicines Intelligence
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,500,000.00
Summary
The NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Medicines Intelligence is a co-ordinated research program that will accelerate the development and translation of evidence on prescribed medicines use and outcomes for regulators and payers. The CRE is perfectly placed to embrace the national ‘call to action’ from the Health Minister's recent announcement to establish Quality Use of Medicine Safety as a National Health Priority.
Pharmaceutical Opioids For Chronic Non-cancer Pain: Evaluating Health Outcomes And Economic Impact Over Five Years
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$775,922.00
Summary
Chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) is a major contributor to disability. Increased opioid prescribing for CNCP has produced concern about dependence and overdose in the absence on data on its long-term effectiveness. Novel statistical methods will test causal relationships over 5 years between treatment, outcomes, and costs on 1,514 CNCP patients prescribed opioids. We will answer critical questions on 5-year outcomes, and whether, and for whom, opioids and other clinical interventions reduce costs.
Using Big Data To Reduce Inappropriate Medication Use
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
Potentially inappropriate medication use both increases patient harm and wastes considerable health resources. However methods for measuring patterns of use are not well developed nor utilised in policy. This research will measure the scope, variation and burden of potentially inappropriate medication use in Australia. My unique combination of biostatistical, data and policy expertise will enable this research to create new actionable tools for evaluating the Australian healthcare system.
Creating Sustainable Healthcare: Ensuring New Diagnostics Avoid Harms, Improve Outcomes, And Direct Resources Wisely
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,497,658.00
Summary
Novel imaging, biomarkers and genomic tests for risk assessment and early detection are emerging as major forces for change in clinical practice. While providing advances and new benefits for patients, new technologies can also have harmful, unintended consequences - overdiagnosis and overtreatment. This multidisciplinary CRE will investigate how to respond to emerging technologies to optimise health outcomes while avoiding harms and directing healthcare resources wisely.
Optimising Care For Patients Diagnosed With Pancreatic Cancer: A Prospective Cohort Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,399,839.00
Summary
There is evidence from previous research in Queensland and NSW that elements of care provided to patients with pancreatic cancer are sub-optimal. We aim to improve compliance with evidence-based guidelines in Victoria and NSW by collecting high quality data, providing reports to hospitals benchmarking their performance against peers and working with health services to reduce variation. Making sure care known to improve practice is being delivered is as important as developing new targeted thera
Preventing Hospital Readmission In A Regional Australian Hospital Setting
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$565,695.00
Summary
Hospitals face high levels of emergency presentations and demand for inpatient care particularly for Aboriginal Australian people from remote communities. Readmissions lead to overcrowded emergency departments and poorer patient outcomes. We will evaluate the efficacy of a multidimensional case-based management intervention linking hospital and primary health in a regional Australian hospital with the aim of reducing hospital readmission and improving patient outcomes.
The Treatment Of BOoking Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Study: The TOBOGM Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,197,280.00
Summary
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) related pregnancy complications are reduced with treatment from 24-28 weeks pregnant. Many women are diagnosed/treated earlier without evidence of benefit and possible risk of harm. In TOBOGM women under 20 weeks pregnant with mildly raised blood glucose will be allocated by chance to either immediate treatment, or awaiting a repeat diabetes test at 24-28 weeks pregnant to decide treatment. Harmful and beneficial effects on mother and baby will be compared.
How Does Paternal Obesity Influence Offspring Glucose Tolerance?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$503,398.00
Summary
Obesity and diabetes are closely related to these conditions in either parent, but how the father contributes is unclear. We have shown that normal females mated with obese fathers consuming high fat diet, produce offspring who develop glucose intolerance and impaired insulin secretion. This work will examine the mechanisms underlying this effect in the rat, testing a novel role for environmental factors in the father on disease in offspring that may be relevant to the growing obesity epidemic.
Sydney Epilepsy Incidence Study To Measure Illness Consequences (SEISMIC)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$694,067.00
Summary
Epilepsy is common, costly and neglected. This study is a prospective cohort study of newly diagnosed cases of epilepsy and aims to fill clinical, psychosocial and economic knowledge gaps in epilepsy. The network will use this new evidence for policy recommendations and strategic plans, for health systems and guidelines to improve efficiency and care and to enlighten community-based support programs, education, driving and workplace legislation. This study was developed by a health service, Epil ....Epilepsy is common, costly and neglected. This study is a prospective cohort study of newly diagnosed cases of epilepsy and aims to fill clinical, psychosocial and economic knowledge gaps in epilepsy. The network will use this new evidence for policy recommendations and strategic plans, for health systems and guidelines to improve efficiency and care and to enlighten community-based support programs, education, driving and workplace legislation. This study was developed by a health service, Epilepsy Action, Epilepsy Society of Australia and the George Institute.Read moreRead less
Insulin resistance (the inability of ordinarily insulin-sensitive tissues such as muscle and adipose tissue to respond to insulin) contributes to a number of diseases including diabetes and obesity. A key metabolic step in these tissues is the uptake of glucose from the blood stream. This step is accelerated by insulin thus allowing efficient clearance of glucose from the bloodstream after a meal. Our laboratory has played a major role in showing that insulin regulates glucose uptake into muscle ....Insulin resistance (the inability of ordinarily insulin-sensitive tissues such as muscle and adipose tissue to respond to insulin) contributes to a number of diseases including diabetes and obesity. A key metabolic step in these tissues is the uptake of glucose from the blood stream. This step is accelerated by insulin thus allowing efficient clearance of glucose from the bloodstream after a meal. Our laboratory has played a major role in showing that insulin regulates glucose uptake into muscle and adipose tissue by stimulating the movement of a glucose transport protein from inside the cell to the cell surface (see http:--www.imb.uq.edu.au-groups-james-glut4 for an animated description of this process). The purpose of this proposal is to dissect the molecular mechanisms by which this glucose transporter can be held inside the cell in the absence of insulin and then allowed to be released from this site moving to the surface in the presence of insulin. Our studies over the past 5 years have brought us much closer to understanding this process in detail. The identification of the molecules responsible for this regulatory step will not only aid our understanding of this process but it will also provide a valuable target for development of therapeutic agents that can be used to combat insulin resistance.Read moreRead less