Determining The Potential For Porcine Foetal Islet Xenotransplantation.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$351,660.00
Summary
Tight glucose control by insulin injection minimises diabetic complications but restricts lifestyle. An alternative, pancreatic islet transplantation, is limited by donor shortage. With genetic technology, pig donor tissue is a feasible donor source. This project will use an inbred pig colony to assess long term foetal pig islet function in the absence of an immune response. It will outline the genetic characteristics of this pig colony and carefully catalogue the type, number and distribution o ....Tight glucose control by insulin injection minimises diabetic complications but restricts lifestyle. An alternative, pancreatic islet transplantation, is limited by donor shortage. With genetic technology, pig donor tissue is a feasible donor source. This project will use an inbred pig colony to assess long term foetal pig islet function in the absence of an immune response. It will outline the genetic characteristics of this pig colony and carefully catalogue the type, number and distribution of endogenous retroviruses within pig genes. It may provide a basis from which new strategies can be developed to overcome rejection. Ultimately a unique Australian resource will be developed which may provide unlimited islets for safe, large-scale transplantation of diabetics before they develop debilitating complications.Read moreRead less
Developing Youth-centred Health Promotion Strategies To Prevent And Mitigate The Adverse Health Impacts Of Adolescent Pregnancy In Papua New Guinea
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$702,235.00
Summary
Adolescent pregnancy is a major public health concern in Papua New Guinea, the Asia-Pacific region, and other low and middle income countries, with severe health and socio-economic outcomes for young women. This three-year qualitative study will examine the experiences of early pregnancy among young Papua New Guineans (15-24 years). Project outcomes will include the design of youth health services and community-outreach programs to curb the ongoing harm associated with adolescent pregnancy.
Enhancing Clinical Management Of Paediatric Malaria In Endemic Areas With Transmission Of Multiple Plasmodium Species
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$867,511.00
Summary
Malaria remains a major problem for children in developing countries especially where different types of the disease are common. This set of complementary studies, based at an established research site in PNG aims to develop new treatment strategies for childhood malaria. A novel method of giving medicine via a spray under the tongue for sick children before arrival at hospital and modified dosing schedules of an old drug used for treating parasites hidden in the liver will be studied.
Field-based Evaluation Of A Novel Magneto-optical Technique To Diagnose Malaria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$637,411.00
Summary
Highly sensitive and low-cost and rapid malaria diagnosis is crucial for renewed efforts to eliminate the disease. We have developed a magneto-optic technique that can diagnose the presence of malaria parasites in blood samples within minutes, with a sensitivity approaching that of high-tech molecular methods that are not applicable at point of care. Here we propose to take this method from the laboratory to clinical settings in malaria endemic countries to directly evaluate its performance.