Immunological Changes During Pregnancy And The Impact On Viral Hepatitis Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$353,355.00
Summary
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can cause long term health problems particularly affecting the liver and can be passed from mother to baby. Despite the availability of a HBV vaccine babies can still become infected. During pregnancy there are changes in a woman’s immune system which may impact on HBV infection and make transmission to the baby more likely. This research aims to explore the changes in a woman’s immune system and the impact this has on risks for hepatitis and transmission to the baby.
Hepatitis C infection can be cured by using highly effective, simple, recently developed medications. This fellowship will explore new modes of delivering hepatitis C treatment outside of traditional hospital clinics. It will also explore the potential for successful treatment to prevent transmission of the hepatitis C. The fellowship will involve the first clinical trial of its type, along with modelling the benefits and cost-effectiveness of treatment and prevention.
Surveillance And Treatment Of Prisoners With Hepatitis C (SToP-C)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,560,494.00
Summary
SToP-C will investigate whether a significant reduction in hepatitis C infection in NSW prisons is possible with a “treatment as prevention” strategy. It will treat prisoners for hep C infection both to improve their own health and to make onward transmission to others less likely. There is currently a lack of available effective strategies; however through delivery of simple, effective new therapies this world-first trial offers significant opportunities to reduce the burden of liver disease.
Disease Burden, Risk Factors And Treatment Of Knowlesi Malaria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$95,564.00
Summary
Plasmodium knowlesi is a form of monkey malaria recently found to also cause increasing numbers of natural infections in humans in South-East Asia. This research will describe the burden of P. knowlesi malaria in an area of Malaysian Borneo. The risk factors for acquiring P. knowlesi malaria will be assessed. Finally the optimal treatment for non-severe cases of P. knowlesi and P. vivax malaria will also be evaluated by comparing the 2 currently recommended anti-malarial medications in Malaysia.
Modelling The Effects Of Immunity On Influenza Transmission - Implications For Prevention And Vaccine Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$275,767.00
Summary
There is uncertainty about how many people can be infected by a single person with influenza at the start of an outbreak. Some data suggest that a single generation of transmission can infect 10-20 other people. With such a rate of growth (ie 10-20 fold every 3 days) the spread of an influenza outbreak is virtually unstoppable. Other data suggest that each person with influenza infects less than 2 other people on average. With such a lower rate of growth, control would be more feasible. Our proj ....There is uncertainty about how many people can be infected by a single person with influenza at the start of an outbreak. Some data suggest that a single generation of transmission can infect 10-20 other people. With such a rate of growth (ie 10-20 fold every 3 days) the spread of an influenza outbreak is virtually unstoppable. Other data suggest that each person with influenza infects less than 2 other people on average. With such a lower rate of growth, control would be more feasible. Our project will use data from historic and contemporary outbreaks of influenza and build mathematical models to explain the rate of growth of an influenza outbreak in terms of: 1. The proportion of people exposed to influenza who do not become ill (although there can be evidence of infection if careful studies are made). This proportion is about 33%. 2. The proportion of people who are protected from influenza by immunity, whether induced by vaccination or by past exposure to natural influenza infection (this can vary from 0% in isolated populations which have not seen influenza for many years up to 80 or 90% in urbanised populations that are exposed to influenza almost every season). 3. Different rates of contact between different people and groups of people - some may be exposed so often that their immunity is boosted regularly without them becoming severely ill; others, living in more isolated circumstances, may be rarely exposed, but when they are, they are more likely to become severely ill. 4. The effects of influenza vaccine in inducing protective immunity - it is well known that there is good protection if the vaccine is well matched to the circulating virus. 5. The effects of live virus infection in inducing (short-lived) protection against a wider range of influenza viruses. Our model results will be used to guide vaccine design and pandemic planning.Read moreRead less
The HITS Study: Modes Of Transmission, Natural History And Determinants Of Outcome From Primary Hepatitis C Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$948,250.00
Summary
Hepatitis C (HCV) affects approximately 200,000 Australians, of whom a significant minority develop long term complications, including cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. The dominant mode of transmission of this virus is via blood-to-blood contact, particularly via injecting drug use. Prisons appear to be a key focus of transmission of hepatitis C in the community as the majority of inmates are incarcerated for drug-related crimes, and injecting drug use remains prevalent whilst in priso ....Hepatitis C (HCV) affects approximately 200,000 Australians, of whom a significant minority develop long term complications, including cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. The dominant mode of transmission of this virus is via blood-to-blood contact, particularly via injecting drug use. Prisons appear to be a key focus of transmission of hepatitis C in the community as the majority of inmates are incarcerated for drug-related crimes, and injecting drug use remains prevalent whilst in prison. In addition, as almost one in two inmates are already infected at the time of incarceration, those who are uninfected appear to be at significant risk of becoming infected through other (non-injecting) routes such as tattooing, fights and other coincidental blood exposures. This application seeks support for the HITS study (Hepatitis C Incidence and Transmission in Prisons study) - a prospective cohort study of inmates of NSW prisons. Following a successful pilot in which the substantial bureaucratic and logistical hurdles were resolved, the main cohort has been enroling since late 2000. The initial data have confirmed a high rate of at risk behaviour amongst inmates and three primary HCV infections acquired in prison have been documented featuring an unusual antibody negative pattern which would typically pass undetected in screening assays for HCV infection. After exposure to HCV and the development of primary infection, approximately one in five individuals successfully resolves the infection and clears the virus, presumably via an efficient immune response or a non-virulent virus, or a combination of these factors. Therefore, in addition to the public health aspects of the HITS study, the research also aims to define the immunological and virological factors which allow clearance of HCV. These studies will provide key information to guide treatment and immunisation strategies against hepatitis C.Read moreRead less
The Impact Of Reduced Plasmodium Falciparum And Plasmodium Vivax Transmission On The Epidemiology Of Malaria And The Acquisition Of Antigen-specific Recall Responses In Children From Papua New Guinea.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,166.00
Summary
Malaria represents a significant global health burden in endemic countries. Individuals gradually develop a level of immunity to the clinical symptoms of malaria as a result of continued exposure throughout their lifetime. Efforts to implement effective malaria control strategies are increasing, thereby reducing exposure. This project will investigate how such strategies will impact on the development of immunity to malaria and the amount of clinical disease observed in different age groups.