Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of The 13-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine On Pneumococcal Serotypes Causing Pneumonia In Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,137,532.00
Summary
Streptococcus pneumonia (Pneumococcus) is a bug that is a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality world-wide. Vaccinations have been recently brought onto the national immunisation program to try and combat this. This study aims to assess the new 13 valent Pneumococcal vaccine by studying its effectiveness in preventing childhood pneumonia in Australia by analysing the strains of Pneumococus in the blood and the fluid surrounding the lining the lung in complicated pneumonia using sens ....Streptococcus pneumonia (Pneumococcus) is a bug that is a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality world-wide. Vaccinations have been recently brought onto the national immunisation program to try and combat this. This study aims to assess the new 13 valent Pneumococcal vaccine by studying its effectiveness in preventing childhood pneumonia in Australia by analysing the strains of Pneumococus in the blood and the fluid surrounding the lining the lung in complicated pneumonia using sensitive molecular techniques.Read moreRead less
Enhancing The Efficacy Of Pneumococcal Vaccination Using A Probiotic Adjuvant
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$302,123.00
Summary
This study will examine the ability of probiotics to enhance the human immune system response of infants immunised with the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Probiotics able to improve the immune system would provide greater protection against pneumococcal disease, a major cause of childhood illness and death of Indigenous Australians and among the developing world.
Links2HealthierBubs: Influenza And Pertussis Vaccine Effectiveness And Safety In Pregnancy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$676,333.00
Summary
Vaccination during pregnancy can offer protection against severe respiratory disease for infants in the first six months of life. For this reason, influenza and pertussis vaccines are routinely recommended during each pregnancy. Unfortunately, little is known about the ‘real world’ effect of both vaccines. We plan to conduct the largest and most comprehensive study to date to evaluate all vaccines routinely recommended in pregnancy in Australia.
The Immunogenicity Of 7-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine In Sick Elderly People For Whom Vaccine Is Not Registered
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$443,800.00
Summary
The bacteria pneumococcus (also known as streptococcus pneumoniae) is the most common cause of pneumonia in the community, and a major cause of illness and death in the elderly. Rates of antibiotic resistance are also increasing. The pneumococcus is a complex bacteria, with over 80 known serotypes. Most human disease in Australia is caused by 23 of these serotypes. Australia has an ageing population. The health and wellbeing of the elderly has been identified as a national priority. Vaccination ....The bacteria pneumococcus (also known as streptococcus pneumoniae) is the most common cause of pneumonia in the community, and a major cause of illness and death in the elderly. Rates of antibiotic resistance are also increasing. The pneumococcus is a complex bacteria, with over 80 known serotypes. Most human disease in Australia is caused by 23 of these serotypes. Australia has an ageing population. The health and wellbeing of the elderly has been identified as a national priority. Vaccination and prevention of serious infections, a common cause of illness in the elderly, is an achievable public health goal. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia recommends that adults aged 65 years and over should be immunised with 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine (PPV). PPV has been available long term in Australia, but the dilemma associated with its use is that it is least effective in those at greatest risk of pneumococcal disease and its complications, the sick elderly population. A new 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-7) has been available since the end of 2000, but is currently indicated only for children, because it has never been tested in adults. This vaccine uses different technology, and is conjugated to a protein to make it more effective. Clinicals trials of PCV7 have largely been limited to children aged 0-4 years, and have shown it protects 93.9% of children under 2 years of age against invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). Our study aims to look at the efficacy of this new vaccine, currently only registered for children, in the sub-group of the population who are at highest risk for pneumococcal disease - hospitalised elderly. We will vaccinate hospitalised elderly people with PCV or PPV and compare their immune response to the two different vaccines. If PCV is more effective than PPV, this has implications for the development and use of conjuagated pneumococcal vaccines for adults.Read moreRead less
Preventing And Treating Significant Infections In The Community And In Hospitals
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$328,990.00
Summary
Infections that require hospitalisation are common and a significant event for patients. This research will look at severe influenza and define how protective the influenza vaccination is against hospitalisation. It will also look at preventing healthcare associated infections and in particular those involving antibiotic resistant "superbugs".
Prevalence Of Genital HPV Infection In Males Following Introduction Of Universal Male HPV Vaccination
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$320,891.00
Summary
As Australia is the first and only country to implement a free universal school based male human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program (in 2013), this project has the unique opportunity to be first to study to assess the effectiveness of the male HPV vaccination program in Australia by measuring a change in the prevalence of HPV among young (aged 17-20) heterosexual and homosexual men following the implementation of the vaccination program.
Travellers Visiting Friends And Relatives: New Approaches To Understanding And Reducing Infectious Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$117,331.00
Summary
Travel is the single most important factor in the spread of infections globally and travellers who visit friends and relatives in their country of birth are at increased risk of infections. This project will provide necessary evidence to guide an effective response to reducing travel-associated infectious disease in this target at-risk group.
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.
Effectiveness And Cost-Effectiveness Of HPV Vaccination And HPV-Based Cervical Cancer Screening Strategies In China
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$420,692.00
Summary
In the absence of preventative initiatives, up to 187,000 women will develop cervical cancer in China every year. However, the disease is preventable using human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and primary HPV screening. Building on previous work, we will evaluate the most effective and cost-effective options for cervical cancer prevention, in order to provide an comprehensive evidence base for China’s health decision-makers.
Applied Research In The Prevention And Control Of Infections In The Hospital Setting
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$174,434.00
Summary
Hospital infections result in increased: (1) length of stay; (2) costs to the healthcare system and individual and (3) morbidity/mortality. Vaccination and hand hygiene are both proven infection control practices. However, compliance rates are still less than ideal. I will study how a new innovative method impacts on uptake of both. Barriers to masks as an infection control strategy will also be examined, as they are one of the few strategies that can be guaranteed to be available in a pandemic.