A Randomised Phase III Trial Of Anastrozole For Breast Cancer Prevention In Postmenopausal Women At High Risk.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,593,125.00
Summary
Each year over 10,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in Australia and over 2500 women die. This project (IBIS 2) is designed to continue the work started by the IBIS 1 prevention trial in determining whether a chemopreventive strategy towards breast cancer is beneficial. IBIS 1 investigated the use of tamoxifen as a preventative agent for women with moderate to increased risk of developing breast cancer and was found to prevent 48% of oestrogen receptor positive breast cancers. IBIS 2 ....Each year over 10,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in Australia and over 2500 women die. This project (IBIS 2) is designed to continue the work started by the IBIS 1 prevention trial in determining whether a chemopreventive strategy towards breast cancer is beneficial. IBIS 1 investigated the use of tamoxifen as a preventative agent for women with moderate to increased risk of developing breast cancer and was found to prevent 48% of oestrogen receptor positive breast cancers. IBIS 2 investigates anastrozole (Arimidex) as a preventative agent for women with moderate to increased risk of developing breast cancer. It is a multi-centre, randomised, double blind control trial which has the potential to benefit many millions of women worldwide. Anastrozole is an aromatase inhibitor (AI). AIs are a class of endocrine drug which have been shown to be at least as effective as tamoxifen but without the serious side effects seen with tamoxifen. Anastrozole has been shown to be 60% better than tamoxifen in preventing a second breast cancer in women already diagnosed with breast cancer. Women who participate in this study will be postmenopausal with a relative risk of at least two-fold of developing breast cancer. They will be randomised to receive either anastrozole or placebo as a daily tablet, and neither the woman nor her treating clinician will know which treatment has been allocated (double blind study). To investigate whether anastrozole effects bone density, a baseline bone density scan will be measured prior to study entry. This sub-study will investigate bone density in greater detail and the potential role of bone preserving treatment (bisphosphonate). The primary endpoint for the IBIS 2 study is the development of histologically confirmed breast cancer, invasive or non-invasive.Read moreRead less
IBIS II: A Randomised Phase III Trial Of Anastrozole For Breast Cancer Prevention In Postmenopausal Women At High Risk.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,732,559.00
Summary
The IBIS II trial builds on the successful IBIS 1 breast cancer (BC) prevention trial in determining whether a chemopreventive strategy towards BC is beneficial. Women who are postmenopausal with an increased risk of BC are randomised to receive either anastrozole (an aromatase inhibitor) or placebo as a daily tablet. Neither the woman nor her clinician know which treatment has been allocated (double blind study). IBIS 2 has the potential to benefit many higher risk women worldwide.
A Population Based Investigation Of Early Life Lung Development And Immune Programming
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$176,719.00
Summary
Asthma and allergic diseases cost Australia in excess of 7.8 billion per year. We are yet to identify any substantially effective preventative strategies. The applicant is a highly successful early stage clinician-researcher based in regional Victoria. This collaborative project will involve extending two existing NHMRC projects, in addition to establishing a new unselected Australian birth cohort, in to investigate the early life gene-environment determinants of asthma and allergic disease.
Prevention Of Late Breast Cancer (BC) Events In Postmenopausal Women With Endocrine Responsive BC.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,687,599.00
Summary
This proposal is from Australia's national breast cancer (BC) trials group, the ANZ BCTG, for a new phase III, multi-centre clinical trial evaluating whether much later endocrine therapy with an aromatase inhibitor can prevent BC recurrence in postmenopausal women who have: had hormone sensitive BC at least 6 years ago; were treated by Tamoxifen more than 1 year ago; and, are currently disease free. Subjects will randomly receive letrozole or placebo as a daily tablet for five years.
Several natural chemicals in the brain and gut that regulate food intake and body weight have been identified. Their actions in regulating these processes are achieved through a complex yet little understood interaction with various molecules and receptors which leads to a cascade of reactions in the central nervous system. The aim if this PhD project is to elucidate the mechanisms of these interacting molecules to develop novel and effective leads for the prevention and treatment of obesity.
Does Regular Tai Chi Practice Delay Ageing Of Cells And Improve Cellular Energy Functions?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$417,873.00
Summary
Tai Chi is a popular traditional health exercise that has been shown to be effective in improving health-related quality of life in aged populations and patients with acute and chronic conditions. However, the scientific evidence and mechanisms of Tai Chi at the level of the cells in the body is not clear. This project aims to investigate the mechanisms of Tai Chi to provide a better understanding of the scientific basis and offering greater confidence in using Tai Chi to promote health. We prop ....Tai Chi is a popular traditional health exercise that has been shown to be effective in improving health-related quality of life in aged populations and patients with acute and chronic conditions. However, the scientific evidence and mechanisms of Tai Chi at the level of the cells in the body is not clear. This project aims to investigate the mechanisms of Tai Chi to provide a better understanding of the scientific basis and offering greater confidence in using Tai Chi to promote health. We propose to do a study to compare cellular measures in a group of established Tai Chi practitioners with a group who have not practised Tai Chi. It will include at least 400 members of the general public aged 30 years and over. One group will comprise long-term Tai Chi practitioners (3 years or more) and the comparison group will be those who are just starting to learn Tai Chi. The participants will come from many Tai Chi centres around Melbourne. Our collaborators (2 renowned Tai Chi teachers) will facilitate recruitment. We will collect mouth wash samples from participants and measure two major biomarkers (telomere and mitochondria). The end sections of a chromosome are called the telomere and there is evidence that telomeres get shorter as we age and when we get sick with conditions such as heart problems. Mitochondria are the powerhouse within cells that convert energy from food into a form that cells can use. The mitochondria and its function can be affected by stress in a person’s life and this might be helped by Tai Chi. Since this study aims at analysing the much-claimed benefits of Tai Chi using a scientific evidence-based approach, the two biomarkers we are planning to measure will tell us whether such benefits are reflected in the improvement of the function of cells. Using the biomarkers and some questionnaire information, we will analyse the data to see whether Tai Chi practitioners have longer telomere and better mitochondrial function than those who have not practiced Tai Chi.Read moreRead less
Using The Results Of Genome Wide Association Studies To Reduce The Burden Of Disease: A Case For Type II Diabetes?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$332,255.00
Summary
Only half of those with type II diabetes (T2D) have been diagnosed. The delay allows for the progression of associated problems like blindness, cardiovascular disease and heart failure. Advances in genetics have helped identify genes increasing the risk of T2D. Using this information, we see whether we can predict if someone will develop the disease. We then determine whether a test at birth followed by preventive measures reduces the problems associated with T2D and helps people live longer.
Complementary Medicines Based On Propolis Produced By Honeybees From Australian
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$285,855.00
Summary
Propolis produced by honeybees is a very complex mixture and its chemical composition varies in relation to its floral source. To produce propolis honey bees collect leaf bud and flowerbud exudates also secretions exuded from wounds in plants. These materials have high antibiotic activity as they have a natural function to protect delicate growing or wounded plant tissue from attack from microorganisms and animals. Honey bees use propolis to sterilize the hive and to protect it against outside i ....Propolis produced by honeybees is a very complex mixture and its chemical composition varies in relation to its floral source. To produce propolis honey bees collect leaf bud and flowerbud exudates also secretions exuded from wounds in plants. These materials have high antibiotic activity as they have a natural function to protect delicate growing or wounded plant tissue from attack from microorganisms and animals. Honey bees use propolis to sterilize the hive and to protect it against outside intruders and infection and to seal cracks in the hive. Consequently, humans have made use of propolis since ancient time for medicinal purposes. Modern research shows that a valuable property of propolis is its immunostimulant activity, now widely used in preventive medicine to boost the immune system. Furthermore, its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are also believed to contribute to its current use in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). As part of research into the medicinal use of propolis produced in Australia, we identified two novel classes of biologically active constituents in Kangaroo Island (KI) propolis, which are for the first time identified to occur in propolis. Despite KI propolis being currently exported to Japan for use as CAM there is no study to determine its chemical composition or to evaluate its biological activities. Therefore we aim to research the KI propolis and evaluate its medicinal properties for use as CAM. Propolis from specific regions with defined floral sources and the identified constituents will be evaluated for their antioxidant property and protective activities against cell damaged after exposed to light source equivalent UV radiation of the sunlight with the aim to establish a defined propolis formula for topical use as CAM to prevent UV-induced skin cancers, known as melanoma, which is prevalent in Australia. This research will add value to a beekeeping product currently exported from KI and provide a health benefit.Read moreRead less
Genetic Markers For Retinal Arteriolar Narrowing And Risk Of Hypertension And Cardiovascular Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$438,991.00
Summary
This submission proposes a study to identify the genes that determine retinal arteriolar narrowing - a marker of hypertension, and to examine how these genes interact with environmental factors, and to investigate if these genes do indeed predict persons at risk of heart disease.