Are Dietary Carbohydrates The Key To A Long, Healthy Life? Determining The Impact Of Dietary Carbohydrate Composition On Lifespan And Late-life Health.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
The disease burden associated with old age constitutes a major health challenge and the impact of nutrition on ageing is well established. It has recently been shown that a diet high in carbohydrates and low in proteins leads to increased lifespan and improved metabolic health. The aim of this project is to determine if these advantages are dependent on the type of carbohydrates consumed. This study will reveal the composition of diets that lead to longer and healthier life.
Reaching The Tenth Decade Of Life In Australia – A 20-year Longitudinal Study Of Older Men
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$890,063.00
Summary
There are increasing numbers of older people in Australia. A boy born in Australia in 2015 may expect to live to 92 years but how we will ensure that the health of these older men is maintained, and that ageing is a positive experience, is not yet known. We will study a large group of men initially aged over 65 years of age, and who have already been followed for 20 years, to work out how Australian men can reach the tenth decade of life, and how they can achieve this milestone successfully. .
Q Fever: How Common Is It And How Can We Best Prevent It? Research To Inform Q Fever Vaccine Policy In Australia And Internationally
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$743,376.00
Summary
Q fever is a disease of worldwide importance which has special significance for Australia where outbreaks continue to occur. We will measure the burden of Q fever in the Australian population for the first time, measure how long immunity lasts following vaccination, collect extra information on adverse events in young adults and survey knowledge and attitudes of Q fever disease and vaccine. The results will inform policies for the control of Q fever in Australia and internationally.
Defining Factors That Contribute To Individual Diversity In The Diet-health Axis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,668,059.00
Summary
There is a complex interplay between nutrition and genetics such that one diet maybe good for some but not for others depending on genetic makeup. Preliminary experiments in flies and mice support this. We found that for some flies, diets high in fat are harmful resulting in short life but certain flies resist the harmful effects of fat and live a longer lives. We propose to unravel the gene-environment interaction and determine which genes might lead to optimal health outcomes on certain diets.
I study hormone action at the molecular level, particularly that of growth hormone action. I focus on the mechanism of activation of its receptor, notably as a target for cancer therapy, since growth hormone is necessary for the progression of many types of cancer. The ability of growth hormone to activate neural stem cells for a prolonged period in response to voluntary exercise is also a key interest. So too is the 40% extension of lifespan in mice after genetically deleting the growth hormone ....I study hormone action at the molecular level, particularly that of growth hormone action. I focus on the mechanism of activation of its receptor, notably as a target for cancer therapy, since growth hormone is necessary for the progression of many types of cancer. The ability of growth hormone to activate neural stem cells for a prolonged period in response to voluntary exercise is also a key interest. So too is the 40% extension of lifespan in mice after genetically deleting the growth hormone receptor.Read moreRead less
Does Pneumococcal Vaccination Protect Against Cardiovascular Disease? A Randomised Placebo-controlled Double Blind Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,849,245.00
Summary
Australian researchers have set up a novel multi-centre trial to investigate the effects of the pneumococcal vaccination in reducing heart attacks and stroke. People aged 55 to 61 from 6 sites around Australia will be invited to participate in the study. The selected participants will attend a clinic in their area and will be randomly given the pneumococcal vaccine or a placebo vaccine. Outcomes on the expected 6000 participants will be ascertained by health record linkage with government databa ....Australian researchers have set up a novel multi-centre trial to investigate the effects of the pneumococcal vaccination in reducing heart attacks and stroke. People aged 55 to 61 from 6 sites around Australia will be invited to participate in the study. The selected participants will attend a clinic in their area and will be randomly given the pneumococcal vaccine or a placebo vaccine. Outcomes on the expected 6000 participants will be ascertained by health record linkage with government databases after 4 years.Read moreRead less