The Predictors Of Asthma And Lung Function Deficits In The Third Decade: Longitudinal Study Of MACS Sibships
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,176,908.00
Summary
This will be the world’s first birth cohort study to use substantial prospective data to investigate how biological, psychosocial, and environmental markers from birth will predict asthma and lung function in the third decade of life. Our findings will be crucial to the development of new policy and practice for the prevention and management of these conditions and uncover crucial risk factors for young adult asthma.
Information Encoding By Temporal Structure Of Afferent Spike Trains
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$231,175.00
Summary
Our ability to sense, discriminate and interpret touch stimuli underpins some of the most crucial functions of the human hand that relate to object exploration and manipulation. The fundamental mechanism of how nerve impulses generated by tactile receptors are interpreted by the nervous system is not understood. Only by discovering the underlying neural encoding mechanisms can we appreciate the functional impairments in patients and learn to identify them before they become widespread and irreve ....Our ability to sense, discriminate and interpret touch stimuli underpins some of the most crucial functions of the human hand that relate to object exploration and manipulation. The fundamental mechanism of how nerve impulses generated by tactile receptors are interpreted by the nervous system is not understood. Only by discovering the underlying neural encoding mechanisms can we appreciate the functional impairments in patients and learn to identify them before they become widespread and irreversible.Read moreRead less
Do Exposures Before Conception Influence The Risk Of Asthma In Offspring?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$688,586.00
Summary
Asthma and poor lung function are major causes of public health issues. Emerging evidence suggests adverse exposures even before the conception of a child may cause these conditions. The proposed project is part of an international study across generations to identify these factors. This study will provide novel evidence to guide interventions and identify studies to advance this area further. These original findings will be of great importance both nationally and internationally.
M-PreM Study: Reproductive Factors, From Menarche To Pre-menopause, And The Risk Of Cardiometabolic And Respiratory Conditions Before Menopause
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,366,831.00
Summary
This study will investigate links between reproductive factors and body size of premenopausal women with their risk of major chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and asthma. It builds on two decades of survey data from Australia’s flagship study of women’s health with a new biomedical assessment. Findings will guide the use of indicators of women’s reproductive health as a trigger for early and targeted approaches for chronic disease prevention.
The health effects of electronic cigarette use are virtually unknown. They have only recently been introduced into widespread use, and as such their effects on human health will not be known for many years. We will use our expertise in exposure models and health outcome measurement to provide timely hard-data on their potential to impact health – data that are urgently required to guide policy makers in this area.
Determining The Role Of Vitamin D In The Development Of Asthma And Allergic Diseases In High Risk Families
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$351,127.00
Summary
Allergic diseases like asthma, eczema and hay-fever, prevent our children from getting a healthy start to life, and we don’t know how to prevent these conditions. Vitamin D levels may be critical in the development of childhood asthma and allergies, and they can be easily modified! Using a group of 620 children who we have followed for 20 years, we will identify the role of vitamin D levels in the development of allergic conditions, and factors that modify these relationships.
Asthma is a National Health Priority in Australia. This project follows the major international study of asthma and allergic diseases in adults. We will re-examine people who have taken part in previous studies in Melbourne. The project also surveys people of the same age currently living in the same area. Participants complete a short postal questionnaire. In the follow-up group, responders complete a more extensive questionnaire and come to our laboratory for clinical assessments.
Clinical Review Of A Cohort Aged 22-33 Years Conceived Using Assisted Reproductive Technologies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$946,454.00
Summary
In a recent study, using telephone-interviews, we compared the health and wellbeing of 547 singleton young adults born following assisted reproductive technologies (ART), with 549 matched controls. Reviewing their health when they are 22-33 years is possible because of their ongoing interest. We have a protocol in place to measure their cardiac and respiratory function and other aspects of growth and development. Our findings will fill a major knowledge gap about the longer term safety of ART.
The Impact Of Therapy On T-cell Recognition Of Mutated Tumour Neo-antigens
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,126,685.00
Summary
Cancer is caused by mutations which should be 'seen' and destroyed by the patients immune cells, similar to how immune cells protect us against viruses. But they don't. This grant will study how current cancer treatments help the immune cells 'see' these mutations. We will undertake these studies in the important cancers lung cancer and mesothelioma.
A Population-based Longitudinal Assessment Of Early Life Vitamin D And Risk Of Food Allergy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$466,086.00
Summary
There has been a dramatic and unexplained increase in food allergy over recent decades. The increase in food allergy may relate to a concordant increase in early vitamin D insufficiency, however this hypothesis has never been directly tested. This project will use existing/funded samples from two NHMRC funded studies to conduct a detailed investigation of (i) the determinant and predictors of early life vitamin D insufficiency; and (ii) the association of vitamin D insufficiency and food allergy ....There has been a dramatic and unexplained increase in food allergy over recent decades. The increase in food allergy may relate to a concordant increase in early vitamin D insufficiency, however this hypothesis has never been directly tested. This project will use existing/funded samples from two NHMRC funded studies to conduct a detailed investigation of (i) the determinant and predictors of early life vitamin D insufficiency; and (ii) the association of vitamin D insufficiency and food allergy.Read moreRead less