Targeted Nutrition To Improve Maternal And Child Health Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,500,000.00
Summary
Nutrition is vitally important to support the rapid growth and development occurring from conception to a child’s second birthday – the first 1000 days. Failure to meet nutritional needs during this critical period can have profound consequences for lifelong health. Through our CRE in Targeted Nutrition to Improve Maternal and Child Health Outcomes, we will provide nutritional interventions which optimise a mother’s health outcomes and ensure her children achieve their full potential.
Hip fracture secondary to falling in the elderly represents a large and rising health care problem in Australia. At least 12,000 such hip fractures occur in the elderly in Australia each year and this number is expected to increase substantially over the next several decades. Long term disability, nursing home placement, reduced quality of life, and excess mortality are known sequelae of hip fracture despite successful surgical repair. Factors have been previous identified in epidemiological res ....Hip fracture secondary to falling in the elderly represents a large and rising health care problem in Australia. At least 12,000 such hip fractures occur in the elderly in Australia each year and this number is expected to increase substantially over the next several decades. Long term disability, nursing home placement, reduced quality of life, and excess mortality are known sequelae of hip fracture despite successful surgical repair. Factors have been previous identified in epidemiological research which predict poor recovery of function and the most prominent of these are advanced age, pre-exiting mental or functional impairment, malnutrition, depression, poor social support networks, and poor gait, balance and muscle function. Current treatment paradigms for hip fracture do not uniformly screen for or appropriately address potentially reversible factors such as poor nutrition, neuromuscular dysfunction, depression, strength of social supports, or risk factors for recurrent injurious falls. It is unlikely that a unidimensional treatment will ever optimize long term functional independence in such a multifactorial syndrome. Therefore, we propose to apply a multifaceted targeted experimental treatment package (HIPFIT) to elderly patients admitted to hospital for repair of a fractured hip secondary to a fall. HIPFIT would begin in hospital and continue throughout the 12 months of follow up, using individualized treatment strategies based on periodic reassessments in these vital domains over time. The goal of the study is to reduce the number of patients requiring nursing home care at the end of 12 months, as well as to improve independence in a range of activities of daily living among experimental subjects. This would have significance not only in terms of large economic savings for the health care system but reduced personal suffering and dependency on the part of the affected individuals.Read moreRead less
Overcoming Barriers To Protected Mealtimes Implementation To Prevent And Treat Malnutrition
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$176,250.00
Summary
Protected mealtimes, where patient meals are protected from negative interruptions, is a systems approach to address the vast problem of in-hospital malnutrition. It aims to positively improve food intake at mealtimes, treating and preventing malnutrition. Observational studies have previously shown promising clinical outcomes, limited due to reports of barriers to implementation of the strategy. This is the first study internationally to implement protected mealtimes in subacute care.
Relationship Between Oral Motor Skills, Gross Motor Attainment And Nutrition In Preschool Children With Cerebral Palsy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$116,563.00
Summary
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most common cause of physical disability in childhood, present in approximately 2/1000 live births. Just as movement of the larger muscles may be altered, the brain lesion can also affect the oral muscles associated with eating. This study will explore oral motor and feeding skills in a population-based sample of children with CP at two ages, 18-24 and 30-36 months (corrected ages) and relationships with gross motor skills (movement and posture) and nutrition.
Healing Pressure Ulcers: Efficacy And Cost Effectiveness Of Nutrition Interventions In The Treatment Of Pressure Ulcers And Chronic Wounds
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$153,975.00
Summary
It makes sense that good nutrition should help with healing of pressure ulcers, yet there is little evidence of what type of diet or nutritional supplements, if any, can assist in pressure ulcer healing. This research program will investigate the value of different types of diets and nutritional supplements in the healing of pressure ulcers, in comparison with other forms of treatment and whether this is a cost effective approach.
Fat Sensing In The Gut: Role In Appetite Regulation In Health And Obesity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$391,076.00
Summary
Dr Little has an international reputation for her research relating to the sensing of nutrients in the gut. During the next 4 years her goal is to establish herself as an independent researcher leading a team and program focussed on characterising the molecular and physiological mechanisms by which fat is sensed in the gut, and the role of these mechanisms in energy intake regulation in health and obesity. These insights are likely to result in more effective management strategies for obesity.
Regulation Of Growth Hormone Profile By Metabolic Balance: Neuronal, Neuroendocrinal And Molecular Mechanism
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$413,257.00
Summary
Obesity is associated with a reduction in growth hormone secretion. As growth hormone maintains muscle mass at the expense of fat this may further promote the obese condition. This project will determine the physiological role of ghrelin, a hormone that signals hunger, in maintaining growth hormone secretion under normal, fasting and obese conditions. Clarification of the role of ghrelin in regulating growth hormone secretion may aid in the development of pharmacological agents to assist and mai ....Obesity is associated with a reduction in growth hormone secretion. As growth hormone maintains muscle mass at the expense of fat this may further promote the obese condition. This project will determine the physiological role of ghrelin, a hormone that signals hunger, in maintaining growth hormone secretion under normal, fasting and obese conditions. Clarification of the role of ghrelin in regulating growth hormone secretion may aid in the development of pharmacological agents to assist and maintain weight loss.Read moreRead less