Inflammatory diseases, such as autoimmune diseases, result from an overactive immune system. A new therapy that is currently under trial is the use of special blood cells, called Treg cells, whose function is to suppress unwanted immune responses. This application evaluates the efficacy and safety of such treatments.
Understanding The Key Attributes Of CD8 T Cell Receptor Transfer As An Antiviral Strategy And Harnessing The Process To Combat Persistent Viral Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$612,885.00
Summary
We have recently discovered a new process through which the numbers of antiviral immune cells can rapidly expand, without dividing, to combat a virus infection that may otherwise be fatal. This represents a significant advance in our knowledge on how a speedy, virus-specific response can be mounted. We will study how this process can be applied to therapeutic strategies to overcome medically significant persistent viral infections.
HLA-G/H2-Bl Is Critical For Regulating Inflammation In The Liver
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$494,050.00
Summary
The key factor to induction of liver fibrosis, progression to cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma is inflammation. Liver transplant and liver regeneration following liver resection are also dramatically impaired by elevation of inflammation. We have identified a potent anti-inflammatory protein, HLA-G, that is critical for regulating post-surgical inflammation in the liver. We will determine if HLA-G can reverse and/or block liver fibrosis and modify HLA-G for improved clinical potential.
Assessing The Impact Of A Multi-component Intervention To Improve Dietary Intake Of Indigenous Australian Children And Their Families Living In Remote Communities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,455,043.00
Summary
Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption seems to contribute to obesity and diabetes. We aim to test the impact of multi-component intervention including a school-based nutrition education program combining high levels of parental involvement plus a supportive environment to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and improve healthy eating among Indigenous Australian children and their families living in remote communities.
Adding An Electronic-cigarette To Standard Behavioural Treatment For Low-socioeconomic Status Smokers: A Randomised Trial.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,381,127.00
Summary
Behavioural and pharmacological approaches to smoking cessation are effective at helping people to quit but long-term quit rates remain low, especially among low-SES Australians. The electronic cigarette may complement current treatment approaches. We will conduct a large-scale trial to determine if “e-cigarettes” can improve on the efficacy of existing treatments. The findings would have immediate practical implications that could reduce the preventable deaths of many tobacco smokers.
School Versus Community-based Albendazole Deworming For Control Of Soil Transmitted Helminths In School-age Children In The Philippines – A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,336,408.00
Summary
Intestinal parasites are a global health problem. The World Health Organization recommends regular distribution of deworming drugs, targeting school aged children. This is effective for the children receiving the drugs but does not have an impact in the wider community. We aim to determine the best strategy for delivery of deworming drugs, to achieve the maximum benefit both for children and wider community, by directly comparing the benefits of a school-targeted vs a community-mass approach.
Improving School Transition By Improving Child Sleep: A Translational Randomised Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$745,827.00
Summary
A successful transition to school sets a child on a path for life. A poor transition can lead to early drop out, poor peer relationships and poor emotional skills. In 2008/09, we found that a brief sleep intervention for children improved key determinants of a successful transition including social-emotional functioning and parent mental health. We now plan to see if the same intervention, delivered by school nurses, can have a similar effect.
Community Action For Smoking Cessation In Remote Aboriginal Communities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,162,650.00
Summary
Smoking rates halved in Australia over the past 30 years to below 20% in 2004. However, Indigenous Australians continued to smoke at more than double this rate. In remote Aboriginal communities in the NT's 'Top End', over two-thirds of the population smoke. Smoking tobacco causes the greatest burden of disease for Australians generally. For Indigenous Australians, it is the single most important reversible risk factor for morbidity and premature mortality. With no sign of reduction in smoking le ....Smoking rates halved in Australia over the past 30 years to below 20% in 2004. However, Indigenous Australians continued to smoke at more than double this rate. In remote Aboriginal communities in the NT's 'Top End', over two-thirds of the population smoke. Smoking tobacco causes the greatest burden of disease for Australians generally. For Indigenous Australians, it is the single most important reversible risk factor for morbidity and premature mortality. With no sign of reduction in smoking levels, Indigenous Australians remain at greater risk of hospitalisations or death from many tobacco-related illnesses. Smoking in Australia was reduced through individually-oriented measures, public education and supply control. These strategies have either not been tried or have not been adequately studied in Aboriginal communities. Effective interventions could provide major health gains for Aboriginal Australians and reduce health costs. The intervention we propose will be based on an agreement whereby four remote communities in the 'Top End' will make a pact with the researchers to jointly try to reduce tobacco smoking using community-wide mobilisation, training and education. The intervention with have multiple components. We will not evaluate each component separately. The effect of the whole intervention on smoking will be assessed. Tobacco sales for the whole community in these small isolated localities, a sensitive and reliable measure, should decline if the intervention works. Tobacco smokers will be assessed before the intervention in each community and followed up twice to assess quit rates. Quit rates should go up. Five years are needed for the study because smoking behaviour change does not happen quickly or at peoples' first attempt. With staggered implementation of the intervention, i.e. not starting in all communities at once, reductions in smoking in more than one community will make us confident that the intervention worked.Read moreRead less
De Novo Mutations And The Pathogenesis Of Childhood-onset Autoimmune Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,406,510.00
Summary
This project aims to reveal the gene abnormalities that cause devastating autoimmune diseases to develop in some children, such as Type 1 diabetes, juvenile arthritis and autoimmune destruction of blood cells. The project will use new technologies to identify alterations in the DNA sequence of a child compared to either of their parents, and to test suspicious DNA alterations in laboratory mice in order to understand the gene effects and evaluate new treatments.
The Effectiveness Of A Comprehensive ‘universal’ And ‘targeted’ Intervention To Prevent Substance Use And Related Harms In Adolescents: The CAP Project
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$755,906.00
Summary
Alcohol and other drug use are common amongst Australian adolescents and the disability associated with this use is considerable. Prevention is clearly needed, yet we have few models of well implemented prevention programs that are effective in maximisising prevention outcomes.The current proposal addresses this gap by evaluating a novel approach to preventing substance use and related harms in adolescents by combining effective 'universal' and 'targeted' school-based prevention programs in a su ....Alcohol and other drug use are common amongst Australian adolescents and the disability associated with this use is considerable. Prevention is clearly needed, yet we have few models of well implemented prevention programs that are effective in maximisising prevention outcomes.The current proposal addresses this gap by evaluating a novel approach to preventing substance use and related harms in adolescents by combining effective 'universal' and 'targeted' school-based prevention programs in a sustainable delivery platform.Read moreRead less