The Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) invites you to participate in a short survey about your
interaction with the ARDC and use of our national research infrastructure and services. The survey will take
approximately 5 minutes and is anonymous. It’s open to anyone who uses our digital research infrastructure
services including Reasearch Link Australia.
We will use the information you provide to improve the national research infrastructure and services we
deliver and to report on user satisfaction to the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research
Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) program.
Please take a few minutes to provide your input. The survey closes COB Friday 29 May 2026.
Complete the 5 min survey now by clicking on the link below.
Mechanism/s Of Disease Caused By Respiratory Viral Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$479,517.00
Summary
A newly discovered respiratory virus, human metapneumovirus (HMPV), causes clinical disease that is very similar to human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and co-circulates with RSV. Human RSV is a major cause of morbidity and life-threatening respiratory tract disease in infants and young children worldwide, and is recognised as an important respiratory pathogen in elderly adults and immune compromised patients. The recent isolation of HMPV from children hospitalised with respiratory tract ill ....A newly discovered respiratory virus, human metapneumovirus (HMPV), causes clinical disease that is very similar to human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and co-circulates with RSV. Human RSV is a major cause of morbidity and life-threatening respiratory tract disease in infants and young children worldwide, and is recognised as an important respiratory pathogen in elderly adults and immune compromised patients. The recent isolation of HMPV from children hospitalised with respiratory tract illness similar to RSV, but with an unknown etiology, suggests that HMPV may mediate similar clinical pathology. Nothing is currently known about the immune response to HMPV, or the association of these responses with lung disease. The objectives of this proposal are to elucidate the mechanisms of immunity and disease pathogenesis associated with human metapneumovirus (HMPV) and to investigate the use of a novel vaccine to protect against HMPV infection. Once this data is obtained, the study will provide the foundation for further research in the development of vaccines or therapeutic protocols to treat HMPV. It will also provide valuable information for understanding the disease in humans. Also,it is likely that HMPV, like hRSV, may prove to be an agent associated with long-term decreased pulmonary function and airflow limitation perhaps developing to asthma.Read moreRead less
RNAi Therapeutic Intervention Of Human Viral Respiratory Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$584,117.00
Summary
Human metapneumovirus (HMPV), causes clinical disease that is very similar to human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and co-circulates with RSV. HMPV is emerging as a major cause of morbidity and life-threatening respiratory tract disease in infants, young children and the elderly worldwide. No treatment is currently available. The objectives of this proposal are to develop novel antiviral drugs that silence the expression of viral genes and to examine protection against the disease.
Acute Respiratory Illness In Indigenous And Non-Indigenous Australian Children And The Pathways To Chronic Lung Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,218.00
Summary
Dr Kerry-Ann O'Grady aims to establish a comprehensive research program addressing acute and chronic respiratory infections in Australian children in urban, rural and remote areas. Drawing on national and international collaborations, Dr O'Grady will undertake a range of epidemiological and clinical studies that will address burden, risk, pathways to chronic lung disease and novel interventions aimed at improving lung health.
Reducing The Community Burden Of Respiratory Infections In Indigenous Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$320,891.00
Summary
Lower respiratory infections are the leading cause of preventable mortality among Indigenous children in the Northern Territory. Streptococcus pneumoniae remain one of the major paediatric respiratory pathogens. In this proposal I will describe the impact of past and present pneumococcal vaccination strategies on the burden of infant respiratory infections in this region.
Otitis Media In Indigenous And Non-Indigenous Children: Microbiological And Immunological Risk Factors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$534,400.00
Summary
Otitis media (middle ear infections) is a major health problem in children. Many children suffer repeated attacks requiring frequent courses of antibiotics, some need surgery and some suffer serious consequences, particularly hearing loss. This can affect performance at school, hence employment and social circumstances in adulthood. Indigenous children suffer much higher rates of disease with more complications than non-Indigenous children. Many factors predispose to the heavy burden of disease. ....Otitis media (middle ear infections) is a major health problem in children. Many children suffer repeated attacks requiring frequent courses of antibiotics, some need surgery and some suffer serious consequences, particularly hearing loss. This can affect performance at school, hence employment and social circumstances in adulthood. Indigenous children suffer much higher rates of disease with more complications than non-Indigenous children. Many factors predispose to the heavy burden of disease. In the Kalgoorlie-Boulder area we are following Indigenous and non-Indigenous children from birth to 24 months to look at a broad range of factors in order to proceed as soon as possible to appropriate intervention programs. Samples from the back of the nose are collected to find out the relationship between carriage of a range of bacteria or viruses and risk of getting otitis media. Information on antibiotic resistance of the bacteria we isolate will assist in ensuring appropriate treatment of otitis media. We also collect a sample of breast milk from mothers and several samples of saliva to find out about the immune system of babies and how this relates to disease to assist in an ongoing program of vaccine development for prevention of otitis media. We will find out how environmental factors such as crowding or passive smoking relate to carriage of bacteria and whether a combination of different factors increase risk of disease. A new vaccine called pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, recently licensed in Australia, is highly effective in preventing severe diseases such as pneumonia and meningitis and affords some protection against ear infections. It is likely to be offered first to Indigenous children because they suffer very high rates of pneumococcal disease. The vaccine may alter the types of bacteria in the nose. This needs to be monitored carefully which will be possible during this study.Read moreRead less
Burden Of Respiratory Infection In The First 2 Years Of Life: A Birth Cohort Study Of Emerging Respiratory Pathogens.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,168,963.00
Summary
Respiratory illnesses are extremely common, but there is little information about patterns of infection in the community using modern diagnostic tests. Children have the highest rates of infection and transmit to all other age groups. We intend to recruit 138 newborns to monitor respiratory symptoms and collect specimens for testing in the first two years of life. This will allow us to document illnesses due to known and newly identified respiratory pathogens.
How Anti-inflammatory Drugs Differentially Affect The Bronchoprotective Signalling Of Protease-Activated Receptor-2
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$421,690.00
Summary
Asthma contributes significantly to the burden of ill health and impaired quality of life in Australian communities, and for many measures of asthma, Australia has amongst the highest prevalence when compared with other countries. Furthermore, there is evidence that the prevalence of asthma has increased during the latter part of the 20th century. There is currently no cure for asthma, and the need for better asthma therapies through the discovery of novel targets for drug development has never ....Asthma contributes significantly to the burden of ill health and impaired quality of life in Australian communities, and for many measures of asthma, Australia has amongst the highest prevalence when compared with other countries. Furthermore, there is evidence that the prevalence of asthma has increased during the latter part of the 20th century. There is currently no cure for asthma, and the need for better asthma therapies through the discovery of novel targets for drug development has never been more acute. PAR2 is a receptor that is located on the surface of many cell types in the respiratory tract, including the epithelial cells that line the airway tubes. When PAR2 is stimulated it causes the epithelial cells to produce and release large amounts of PGE2 (prostaglandin E2). PGE2 released from epithelial cells then binds to other proteins such as the prostanoid EP2 receptor located on smooth muscle cells. This causes the airway smooth muscle cells to relax. Drugs that cause airway smooth muscle cells to relax - called bronchodilators - make breathing easier, and are often used during an asthma attack to relieve bronchoconstriction. It also appears that activation of the PPP axis inhibits airway wall swelling (that is, has anti-inflammatory actions). Thus, drugs that activate the PPP axis may be beneficial in the treatment of asthma by reducing airway sweeling and producing smooth muscle relaxation. Thus, we we are investigating ways of optimally stimulating the PAR2-PGE2-prostanoid EP2 receptor axis (the PPP axis), as a means of develeping novel treatments for asthma.Read moreRead less
Progression Of Influenza Virus Within The Respiratory Tract
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$513,716.00
Summary
We are exploring how influenza virus moves down the respiratory tract after infecting the nose. We have identified a component of mouse saliva that can halt the progression from the nose to the trachea and lungs and will determine how it binds to the virus to stop infection. We will also examine how human and highly lethal avian viruses move from the upper respiratory tract to other organs in the mouse and also in the ferret, which is a much better model for mimicking what happens in man.
The Significance Of Human Metapneumovirus In The Australian Paediatric Population
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$457,625.00
Summary
A newly discovered paramyxovirus, human metapneumovirus (hMPV), shows clinical and virological charcteristics very similar to those of human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV). Human RSV is the major cause of acute lower respiratory illness in infants and accounts for more than 1 million deaths world wide annually. Most infants are infected in their first year of life, and re-infection is common. Genetic variation of the virus is thought to play a critical role in its ability to escape the immun ....A newly discovered paramyxovirus, human metapneumovirus (hMPV), shows clinical and virological charcteristics very similar to those of human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV). Human RSV is the major cause of acute lower respiratory illness in infants and accounts for more than 1 million deaths world wide annually. Most infants are infected in their first year of life, and re-infection is common. Genetic variation of the virus is thought to play a critical role in its ability to escape the immune response and establish multiple sequential infections in the same host. Currently, we have no knowledge of the extent that hMPV exists in the Australian population, nor do we know if hMPV is a significant respiratory pathogen in paediatric patients. This research aims to determine the importance of hMPV as a respiratory agent, and will establish the rate, age of exposure, and incidence of hMPV infection in Australian children. In addition, we will identify the hMPV strains (genotypes) that infect local children, and the difference, if any, between these and virus strains detected in children from other community groups, and from overseas. Such data is invaluable in devising a future vaccine strategy for hMPV, and the study of the genetic variability among Australian strains will have profound implications for public health. This research project is a preliminary study into the clinical and virological significance of hMPV, in children, and will form a basis for future research projects. Once this preliminary data is obtained, further studies are possible to determine the cellular immune response to hMPV infection and its role in long-term protection. Also,it is likely that hMPV, like hRSV, may prove to be an agent associated with long-term decreased pulmonary function and airflow limitation perhaps developing to asthma.Read moreRead less