Development Of A Computer-based Retinal Imaging Program For Identification Of People At Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$254,714.00
Summary
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and imposes an enormous financial and healthcare burden on the Australian community. This project will develop and deliver a novel clinical prediction tool, incorporating retinal vascular imaging and assessment, to improve identification of asymptomatic people who are at high risk of cardiovascular disease at an early stage, allowing implementation of preventative strategies and medical interventions to effectively prevent CV disease.
A Novel Treatment For Ameliorating Retinal Vascular Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$366,685.00
Summary
Retinal vascular disease is a leading cause of blindness and is currently treated by laser photocoagulation surgery. Although successful, this treatment is associated with serious side effects. Recently, Ellex Pty has developed a novel laser called the 2RT laser that is likely to be effective without the accompanying side effects. This study will allow examine the effect of the 2RT laser in animal models of retinal vascular disease so as to complete preclinical development of this laser.
New Dynamometric Techniques For Predicting Glaucoma Progression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$171,825.00
Summary
Glaucoma is a major cause of blindness in our community. The biggest risk factor for glaucoma is raised intraocular pressure. However, the exact cause of the disease remains unknown. Through our basic science studies in animals we have discovered that changes in blood flow in the vessels at the optic disk may be involved in the disease process. In recent clinical trials we discovered that the presence or absence of pulsations in the retinal veins at the disk was both an indicator of severity and ....Glaucoma is a major cause of blindness in our community. The biggest risk factor for glaucoma is raised intraocular pressure. However, the exact cause of the disease remains unknown. Through our basic science studies in animals we have discovered that changes in blood flow in the vessels at the optic disk may be involved in the disease process. In recent clinical trials we discovered that the presence or absence of pulsations in the retinal veins at the disk was both an indicator of severity and progression of glaucoma. This is a major breakthrough because there is no other means of predicting in which glaucoma patients vision loss will develop most rapidly. This information will be very helpful in deciding which patients should have the most agressive treatment to restore normal intraocular pressure. This project seeks to develop a new commercial device to make such an examination easy for any clinical ophthalmologist. The device allows the doctor to examine the vessels at the disk whilst applying slight pressure to the eye to temporarily raise intraocular pressure. A footswitch is pressed when the doctor sees the vessels pulsate. The required force is recorded by a laptop computer and the data stored along with the patients details. Now we have confirmed the ability of such a measurement to predict the rate of visual field loss in glaucoma, such a measurement will become much more widespread in clinical ophthalmology, offering a new and large scale opportunity for such instrumentation. Our device will be easy to operate, more comfortable for the patient, and will be of major diagnostic value in glaucoma clinics worldwide.Read moreRead less
Development Of A Slit Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope As A Screening Tool In Glaucoma Diagnostics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$195,830.00
Summary
Glaucoma is typified by progressive optic disc cupping and loss of fibres with consequent characteristic field defects. Direct imaging of the retina and quantitative assessment of such images greatly increases early diagnosis of this blinding disease. The proposed device, a laser line scanning ophthalmoscope, could support non-invasive imaging to obtain 3-D information in a simple and cost effective way. This could provide objective clinical parameters to support the decision making process.
Dynamic In Vivo Size & Shape Measurement Of The Human Upper Airway Using Endoscopic Long-range Optical Coherence Tomogra
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$184,250.00
Summary
This project will fund the construction of a clinically deployable prototype device to measure changes in upper airway size and shape in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. We have recently developed and validated a technique based on endoscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT). Preliminary in vivo studies have been performed in the human upper airway and the results published. To our knowledge, this is the only such system world-wide capable of making these important measurements. The tec ....This project will fund the construction of a clinically deployable prototype device to measure changes in upper airway size and shape in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. We have recently developed and validated a technique based on endoscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT). Preliminary in vivo studies have been performed in the human upper airway and the results published. To our knowledge, this is the only such system world-wide capable of making these important measurements. The technique has wide commercially applicability as it can be used to measure the internal dimensions of any hollow organ system.Read moreRead less
The DietAdvice Website A New Innovation For Dietitians In Clinical Practice.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$140,975.00
Summary
Due to the growing incidence of obesity within Australia, use of computer technology may be a method of targeting these people by increasing access to dietary services. Currently available dietary software in the Australian context only allows analysis of nutrient information. Thus when a dietitian sees a patient they must manually translate food intake to nutrient information, a largely time consuming exercise. DietAdvice is a website that was developed for people to enter in their own food int ....Due to the growing incidence of obesity within Australia, use of computer technology may be a method of targeting these people by increasing access to dietary services. Currently available dietary software in the Australian context only allows analysis of nutrient information. Thus when a dietitian sees a patient they must manually translate food intake to nutrient information, a largely time consuming exercise. DietAdvice is a website that was developed for people to enter in their own food intakes. The food information is sent to a dietitian who develops individualised dietary advice for them. A pilot study of the website has already found it to be feasible in the primary healthcare setting. Tested for 12 months the website was used by 224 patients from GP practices in the Illawarra region of NSW. Approximately 73% of patients were overweight and patients with a high BMI were 1.88 times more likely to use the website in the comfort of their home. Further research about the website however was needed. The research to follow on from the pilot study will aim to refine the DietAdvice website, leading towards its commercialisation for dietitians in clinical practice. The research will be broken into 3 phases. Phase 1 will involve a usability test of the website, assessing the underlying algorithms and testing it with dietitians in private practice. Phase 2 will see volunteers using the website on multiple occasions after being given pre-weighed amounts of food to eat. This will determine how reliable and accurate the information is; and phase 3 will evaluate whether the website is cost effective and if it increases accessibility of health services especially in rural areas. By confirming these attributes there will be a sound basis to commercialise the product.Read moreRead less