Biology Of Speech Disorders: Advancing Diagnosis, Prognosis & Management
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,515,005.00
Summary
For 100 years, my field has focused on assessing and managing patients based on speech disorder symptomatology. We have ignored aetiology, preventing targeted care. My work will pioneer gene discovery to advance knowledge of the aetiology of human communication disorders, enabling targeted care to reduce disability. Proposed work will be directly translated to improve care and optimise outcomes in speech disorder via advancing detection, diagnosis and prognostic counselling of patients.
The Developing Microbiome As A Predictor And Modulator Of Mental Health Risk And Resilience: A Translational Gut-brain Axis Approach To Improving Childhood Mental Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
Most psychological problems start to emerge in childhood or adolescence, likely because the brain is most vulnerable while it is still growing. The latest research suggests that brain health is intimately linked to the gut. Could bacteria in the gut contribute to risk of (or resistance to) mental health problems in children? This project will investigate this question and the information gathered will then be used to trial new, gut-based, approaches to protect children’s mental health.
In Australia 2 in 3 adults live with overweight or obesity and unhealthy diet is the major modifiable contributor to death and disability. We know that retail marketing strategies like food product packaging, pricing and other promotions have a major impact on what we choose to buy and eat. My research program aims to build the novel evidence required to implement effective strategies to improve the healthiness of food provision at scale.
Regulatory Strategies To Promote Healthier Australian Diets
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
Unhealthy diets are a leading cause of ill health. In contrast to our global leadership in tobacco control, Australia remains slow to use law as a tool to support healthy eating. This project will generate new insights on features of effective food policies to target excess sugar consumption. Using an innovative fusion of law and science, its findings will inform and accelerate current proposals to improve food labelling and tax sugary drinks to promote healthier Australian diets.
Towards Evidence-based Use Of IVF Add-ons In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
A large number of extra ‘add-on’ treatments are available which claim to increase the chance of success of IVF. However, there is no evidence that these add-ons are safe or effective, and they can cost patients up to $2000. I will undertake research to measure use of add-ons in Australia and the factors that drive supply and demand. I will use this information to develop resources based on robust evidence which will help guide patients and clinicians in making decisions about using IVF add-ons.
Driving Advances In Sugar-sweetened Beverage Policy And Resolving The Unknown Substitution Effects Into Artificially-sweetened Beverage, Fruit Juice And Water Consumption.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,449,800.00
Summary
Many countries are introducing sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) taxes and other policy measures to curb consumption. However, artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs) and fruit juices are being excluded from these policy measures. This may have unintended consequences for consumption behaviours and create other negative health outcomes. We will examine substitution effects of SSB policy on water, ASBs and fruit juice consumption, and make recommendations for public health policy.
Advancing The Midwifery Workforce In Sydney, Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
It is predicted that Australia will have a midwifery workforce crisis in the future. As such it is important to provide innovative solutions to retain midwives for the safety of women and their babies. There are few embedded strategies in place for midwives in NSW that support the wellbeing and emotionally demanding practise of midwives. This project aims to deliver empirical data that describes the impact of new structured support innovations for midwives in NSW.
Optimising Colorectal Cancer Screening In High-income Countries And Low-and-middle Income Countries Using Australia And China As An Example
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
This research looks for ways to improve colorectal cancer (CRC) outcomes using CRC screening. It will identity effective and affordable ‘best buy’ screening methods in Australia, a high-income country with one of the highest CRC incidence rate in the world and has an established CRC screening program, and for China, a middle-income country with the largest number new CRC cases and deaths occurred in the world and has an increased interest in cancer screening.
Pathways To Vision Following Lesions Of The Primary Visual Cortex
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,500,000.00
Summary
Lesions due to stroke or trauma in the occipital lobe cause blindness, which can be complete or restricted to part of the visual field. My work has identified areas of the visual brain that remain active after such lesions. I want to find out if these areas can be used to partially restore vision. This project will study the potential roles of different surviving areas, how brain cells rewire their connections in response to damage, and how rehabilitation programs work at the cellular level.
Mapping Neurodevelopmental Disorders In A Zebrafish Model
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,760,520.00
Summary
The way in which the brain develops differently in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism is hard to reveal in humans, but can be addressed in a zebrafish model. Using cutting-edge imaging and computational techniques, this project will investigate how neural representations of the world develop differently between normal zebrafish and zebrafish mutant for a gene that causes autism. This will provide new insights into the mechanisms of altered circuit development in autism.