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Rectal Invivo Radiotherapy Dosimetry Using A Fibre Optic Array
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$438,963.00
Summary
For pelvic cancer patients too much radiation causes rectal problems which are hard to avoid. To reduce the problem we have developed a tiny dosimeter, which we will network to measure the radiation in the rectum as it is being received. This will tell us the maximum safe dose of radiation we can give before causing rectal complications. This will be an effective quality assurance and radiation safety tool.
Development Of Vinorelbine As A Tablet Based Therapy To Cure Ectopic Pregnancies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$361,594.00
Summary
Ectopic pregnancies occur if the pregnancy implants in the Fallopian tube. They can be deadly and most are treated surgically. We will examine the exciting possibility that instead of surgery, ectopic pregnancies may be cured with a tablet taken just once. We will perform laboratory studies and a clinical trial, giving vinorelbine to women with ectopic pregnancies.
Development Of New Anti-fibrotic Drugs For Prevention Of Diabetic Nephropathy.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$133,800.00
Summary
Diabetic kidney disease is the leading cause of kidney failure in the developed world. Currently there is no treatment that reduces the excessive scarring that leads to kidney failure. This project aims to test whether a series of novel compounds that have been specifically designed to reduce scarring can prevent diabetic kidney disease.
Individualising Care For Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C: Predicting Side Effects And Treatment Response Using Genomic And Proteomic Approaches.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$55,575.00
Summary
Patients undergoing treatment for hepatitis C must endure a treatment characterized by unpredictable treatment side effects and uncertainty about the likelihood of cure. This project will investigate genetic predictors of treatment related side-effects and protein markers to predict treatment response. Better definition of the risks and benefits of therapy, may facilitate patients and clinicians to make more informed decisions about treatment, thus individualising treatment and potentially impro ....Patients undergoing treatment for hepatitis C must endure a treatment characterized by unpredictable treatment side effects and uncertainty about the likelihood of cure. This project will investigate genetic predictors of treatment related side-effects and protein markers to predict treatment response. Better definition of the risks and benefits of therapy, may facilitate patients and clinicians to make more informed decisions about treatment, thus individualising treatment and potentially improving the safety and efficacy of therapy.Read moreRead less
A Double-blind Randomised Controlled Multi-site Study Of Sertraline Compared With Placebo For Refractory Breathlessness
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$603,517.00
Summary
People with optimally treated emphysema often have breathlessness at rest or with little effort (dressing, preparing a meal). No medications are registered to reduce this breathlessness. This 3 year project will study whether a commonly used anti-depressant, sertraline, can reduce this breathlessness even if people are not depressed. Across Australia, 150 people will take part for at least 4 weeks to rate the unpleasantness of their breathlessness on sertraline or an identical sugar tablet.
The Clinical Burden Of Campylobacter Infection In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$99,448.00
Summary
Campylobacter is a leading but less well recognised cause of gastroenteritis in Australia. This research seeks to better quantify and describe serious health outcomes resulting from Campylobacter infections by examining hospitalisations (including risk factors for admission) and estimating rates of death and long-term health problems following infection. The project will also examine the role GPs play in managing cases, particularly their use of antibiotics.
The Use Of Electronic Portal Imaging Devices For The Dosimetric Verification Of Complex Radiotherapy Treatments
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$260,949.00
Summary
The prognosis for someone diagnosed with cancer is much better than commonly believed. If detected early, malignant tumours are generally well localised. During these early stages of tumour growth high doses of radiation therapy can with a high probability, eradicate a cancer but come with the cost of causing unacceptable damage to normal tissue. A specific goal of improving the technology of radiation therapy is to reduce the probability of damage to normal tissue. Achieving this goal may allow ....The prognosis for someone diagnosed with cancer is much better than commonly believed. If detected early, malignant tumours are generally well localised. During these early stages of tumour growth high doses of radiation therapy can with a high probability, eradicate a cancer but come with the cost of causing unacceptable damage to normal tissue. A specific goal of improving the technology of radiation therapy is to reduce the probability of damage to normal tissue. Achieving this goal may allow delivery of higher doses with an associated increase in the chance of controlling the tumour. One of the challenges in radiation therapy is that tumours do not come in shapes that are easy to treat. Tumours extend into cavities and push aside healthy organs growing into complex 3D shapes. The careful shaping of the radiation beams to deliver dose distributions that match the 3D shape of the target is known as 3D conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT). Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) is an advanced form of 3DCRT that allows the delivered dose to be closely tailored to the shape of complex tumour volumes while sparing neighbouring healthy tissues. One of the consequences of increasing the conformality of radiation therapy is an increased sensitivity to errors in the preparation and execution of the treatment. If the maximum gain in the treatment outcome using 3DCRT and IMRT techniques is to be achieved then it is crucial that the correct volume is treated to the correct dose on each day of the treatment. This requires new improved methods and techniques for verifying the daily delivery of the treatment. In this project we aim to develop the use of online digital imaging devices for measuring the delivered dose during treatment. This will increase the confidence with which these new conformal radiotherapy techniques can be delivered allowing their true potential for improving patient treatment outcomes to be realised.Read moreRead less
Severe Malaria In Children In Papua New Guinea: A Longitudinal Study Of Pathophysiology, Management And Outcome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$484,808.00
Summary
The features of severe infection in children living in tropical countries may not allow differentiation between malaria and bacterial-viral causes. This can create significant problems with deciding on appropriate management. In addition, the main complications of malaria such as coma, increased acid levels in the blood and anaemia are not well understood. We plan to characterise infections in Papua New Guinean children in detail and explore mechanisms behind important malarial complications.
TIR Signalling Pathway Pharmacogenomics And Opioid Response: Beyond The Mu Opioid Receptor
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$246,396.00
Summary
This project will identify why some people respond poorly and others have toxic side effects to the major group of pain relieving medications, the opioids. The basis will be the genetics of the immune system and both acute postoperative and chronic cancer pain patients will be studied in this international pharmacogenetics project.