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Addressing Evidence-practice Gaps To Improve Maternal And Child Health Outcomes In Vulnerable Populations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$622,655.00
Summary
The overall goal of this fellowship program is to contribute to ‘closing the gap’ in maternal and child health outcomes in Indigenous, refugee and other vulnerable and socially disadvantaged population groups by working at the interface of policy, health services and community to co-design and implement policy-relevant research needed to achieve sustained improvements in maternal and child health outcomes.
Diseases of the 21st century are complex with environmental and genetic causes. At the interface of these is Epigenetics - factors not specified by DNA sequence that control genes. Recent data show much of the risk associated with disease is set early in life, even during the time in the womb. The MCRI CDDE laboratory has assembled teams of researchers of diverse expertise investigating epigenetics of human development and complex disease to hopefully prevent or reverse them early in life.
Leveraging Women’s Health Data Resources To Reduce Chronic Disease Risk And Extend Healthspan
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$763,845.00
Summary
Chronic diseases, such as osteoporosis and asthma, pose serious risks for Australian women. Reproductive health is central to women’s use of health services across life and is linked with the risk of chronic diseases. This research will build on two decades of linked data in Australia’s leading study of women’s health. It aims to guide development of women’s use of reproductive and maternal health services as an opportunity to prevent chronic diseases and improve long-term health.
Delivering Quality Maternal And Newborn Care: Translating ‘evidence-based Practice’ Into ‘every-day Practice’
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$849,540.00
Summary
More than 300,000 women each year in Australia use maternity services. Unfortunately these are not always based on the best available evidence and there are considerable variations across the country. This research will provide much needed information to ensure that all women receive evidence-based care not just some women. The research will be initially conducted in south western Sydney but will ultimately improve the quality of care offered to women and babies across the country and beyond.
Christine Roberts’ research program uses the most advanced research methods to address new challenges in maternal and child health in a portfolio that extends from bench-to-bedside-to-policy. Four interrelated themes target: accurate identification of at-risk pregnancies; maternity care requirements to improve outcomes in future pregnancies; clinical trials to provide best evidence for obstetric practice; and an improved ability to respond rapidly to emerging issues in policy and practice.
Improving The Outcomes Of Mothers And Babies Through Nutritional Interventions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$763,409.00
Summary
Dr Makrides will undertake extensive investigations to determine optimal levels of a range of nutrients in the diet of pregnant women and preterm and term babies. The period from conception until 2 years after birth, the ‘first 1,000 days’, is designated by the World Health Organisation as the “window of opportunity” that is critical to ensuring a healthy start to life which in turn leads to improved long term health of the population.
Personalised Medical Nutrition Therapy To Improve Diet Related Health Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$687,975.00
Summary
Poor eating habits are common across all lifestages and increase the risk for heart disease, diabetes and the cost of health care. This novel research will use technology to connect people to online assessment of their dietary intake with a personally tailored nutrition report provided in realtime. Healthcare professional will use these to help people improve their eating and health. This will create new knowledge on the impact of better nutrition on health outcomes and the cost of health care.
Many dietary recommendations are inconsistent and based on inadequate research based on 1970s technologies. As a result, the current recommendations are almost impossible to meet from foods, without nutritional supplements. Using state-of-the-art technology, this research aims to redefine the nutritional requirements omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, iron and iodine, as well as the correct balance of energy producing macronutrients in the diet of mothers and their children.
A Translational Model For Indigenous Mental Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$949,893.00
Summary
This Fellowship will be supporting research into indigenous psychosocial wellbeing, as well as the psychological health of refugees and people living in post-conflict settings.