Development Of High-throughput Screening Assays For Detecting Early Gastric Cancer: Translating Proteomics Research Into Clinical Outcomes Using Emerging Mass Spectrometry And Photonics Technologies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$655,438.00
Summary
Gastric cancer (GC) is the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide, claiming the lives of >11,000 Australians from 1996-2006. Individuals diagnosed with GC have an expected 5-year survival rate of 10-30%. This could be improved if cases were identified in the early stages of the disease where treatments are more effective. Researchers from Adelaide and Melbourne are developing a diagnostic assay for early-stage GC based on a novel detection system that requires only a drop of blood.
EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EXPANDED NEWBORN SCREENING BY TANDEM MASS SPECTROMETRY
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,250.00
Summary
Newborn babies in Australia are routinely tested for certain treatable disorders. Testing began in the 1960's with systematic testing for phenylketonuria, a rare amino acid enzyme defect. It causes severe mental retardation which can only be prevented if treatment is begun in the first few weeks of life. By 1997, only three other disorders, congenital hypothyroidism, cystic fibrosis, and galactosaemia, had been added to the testing protocol as tests became available. Using the new technology of ....Newborn babies in Australia are routinely tested for certain treatable disorders. Testing began in the 1960's with systematic testing for phenylketonuria, a rare amino acid enzyme defect. It causes severe mental retardation which can only be prevented if treatment is begun in the first few weeks of life. By 1997, only three other disorders, congenital hypothyroidism, cystic fibrosis, and galactosaemia, had been added to the testing protocol as tests became available. Using the new technology of tandem mass spectrometry (MSMS) it is now possible to screen for up to 30 extremely rare, treatable metabolic disorders simultaneously and cheaply, but it is not clear how effective this is. A formal trial of MSMS screening, randomly assigning babies to be tested or not tested, does not seem feasible because of the rarity of the individual disorders (most with a birth prevalence much less than 1: 50,000). Huge numbers would be needed in the trial for statistical significance. We began MSMS screening in NSW April 1998 and in South Australia in February 1999. Victoria is proposing to start screening now, but there are as yet no plans for this screening in the other states. We would like to assess the effectiveness of MSMS newborn screening using the best possible evidence drawn from all data available in the whole of Australia. We plan to undertake an economic evaluation, comparing costs and benefits such as development, hospitalisations, medical complications and other outcome measures, in screened and unscreened babies and also assess harms from screening. Because only 6 specialised laboratories in Australia, in Brisbane (2), Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth can diagnose these disorders, we are confident that we know of all diagnosed cases of the disorders in question. We hope to be able to show whether or not there is a benefit to affected babies by implementing newborn screening tests for these rare diseases.Read moreRead less
Developing A Scalable, Woman-centred Model For Cervical Cancer Screening In Vulnerable Women In India
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,330,369.00
Summary
Cervical cancer is a devastating but preventable disease and 1 in 5 cases of cervical cancer in the world occur in India. We will work with women, communities, and health services in two States of India (Tamil Nadu and Mizoram) to design a woman friendly approach to prevent cervical cancer. This project brings together international and Indian experts to overcome current barriers to cervical screening by using a newer, more effective way of screening to reach underserved women and save lives.
Targeting At Risk Relatives Of Glaucoma Patients For Early Diagnosis And Treatment (TARRGET)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$595,375.00
Summary
Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in Australia but early detection and treatment can prevent blindness. We will recruit patients with advanced glaucoma from an Australia wide registry and refer their close relatives to have an eye exam and genetic testing to see if they are at risk of glaucoma. We will evaluate how a coordinator can improve the uptake of this screening program referring people to local eye care providers and in rural WA providing screening in 16 remote locations.
A Novel Multi-gene Marker Blood Test To Increase Community Participation In Colorectal Cancer Screening.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$581,116.00
Summary
Bowel cancer screening programs are vital for early detection and prevention, but participation with the traditional faecal testing mode is less than 35%. Reasons include dislike or unsuitability for faecal testing. These barriers could be overcome and participation could increase using a different sampling mode for the screening test. We have developed a blood test for bowel cancer and will investigate if people who will not screen with the stool test will screen with the blood test instead.
Comparative Effectiveness Of Breast Tomosynthesis And Mammography In Real-world Population Screening: Evidence To Underpin And Improve Breast Cancer Screening
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,851,430.00
Summary
This research addresses key evidence gaps in breast cancer screening by investigating tomosynthesis (3D mammography) versus standard 2D mammography screening to establish the effectiveness of tomosynthesis in Australia and internationally, including impact on cancers not detected at screening that progress clinically. Large-scale studies will be done in real world screening services including a prospective comparative study planned collaboratively with BreastScreen to guide screening policy.
Centre For Research Excellence In Cervical Cancer Control (C4)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,486,383.00
Summary
Cervical cancer remains common globally despite over 50 years of Pap testing. Australia led the world in HPV vaccination and in 2017 will be the first to deliver a national screening program based on HPV testing. Our CRE, led by cervical cancer prevention experts at CCNSW,VCS, and Kirby, will marry cross-disciplinary research and evaluation of HPV vaccination and screening to provide solid evidence about these new approaches with a view to ultimately reducing the global burden of this cancer.
Population Based Genetic Testing For High-risk Breast And Ovarian Cancer Predisposition Genes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,112,985.00
Summary
Inherited mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 confer a very high risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Importantly, once carriers are identified, effective strategies are available that can dramatically reduce the risk of cancer. We will perform genetic testing of a healthy western population to identify breast/ovarian cancer genes before the women develop cancer. Population-based screening could significantly reduce the incidence of these diseases.