A La CaRT: Australasian Laparoscopic Cancer Of The Rectum Trial. A Phase III Prospective Randomised Trial Comparing Laparoscopic-assisted Resection Versus Open Resection For Rectal Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$599,054.00
Summary
The major treatment for rectal cancer is surgical removal of tumour with a large cut through the abdomen. There is a newer, less invasive procedure known as laparoscopic resection which enables the same surgery to be performed using a scope inserted in the abdomen and another smaller incision for removal of the tumour. This study is being conducted to determine whether the newer procedure is as safe and effective as the current procedure. Patients on the trial will be given either laparoscopi
Improving Outcomes For People With Depression In Community Settings: A Cluster RCT
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$803,554.00
Summary
Depression affects 350 million people worldwide. Given the pivotal role of primary care in the management of depression, effective strategies are needed to assist GPs in the delivery of patient-centred depression care. This study will test the effectiveness of providing GPs with education; as well as feedback about patients’ self-reported depressive scores using a standardised instrument and perceived need and preferences for help. This cluster RCT will be the first Australian trial of its kind.
Deep Brain Stimulation In The Treatment Of Severe Depression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,008,087.00
Summary
Some patients with depression fail to respond to a variety of standard treatments and in this group, deep brain stimulation (DBS) is being evaluated as an alternative treatment option. This study will investigate the use of DBS applied to a novel brain target site in patients with highly treatment refractory depression.
Improving Alcohol Treatment Outcomes: The Impact Of Client, Intervention And System Variables On Treatment Outcomes.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,525,879.00
Summary
Patient outcomes are significantly influenced by a number of factors including the characteristics of the patient, the type of treatment provided, and the characteristics of the system in which care is delivered. This study aims to determine how these factors influence outcomes for people seeking treatment for alcohol dependence. It will provide critical information for policy makers on which to base minimum service standards.
Testing A Combination Of 2 Clinical Drugs, An IAP Inhibitor And P38 Inhibitor, To Treat AML
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,890.00
Summary
Current treatments only cure 50% of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) patients, and novel approaches to treatment are desperately needed to improve survival of patients with leukaemia. One new drug, Birinapant, is currently being tested in clinical trials to treat AML. I have found that some AMLs are resistant to Birinapant treatment but the addition of a second drug (called “p38 inhibitors”) can now overcome this resistance. I will test how effective combining these two drugs can be to treat AML.
Does Palliative Chemotherapy Palliate? Measuring Symptom Benefit In Recurrent Ovarian Cancer Using Patient Reported Outcomes: The Symptom Benefit Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$405,024.00
Summary
Clinical trials for women with recurrent ovarian cancer traditionally use a reduction in tumour size and time to progression to measure the benefit of chemotherapy, but do not document whether women have symptom improvement as well. The aim of the Symptom Benefit Study is to validate an instrument that will allow patients to report their symptoms and degree of improvement and for the first time allow clinical trials to include a measure of symptom improvement when new drugs are being tested.
Phase-Based Treatment For Posttraumatic Stress Disorder In Traumatized Refugees
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,003,340.00
Summary
Refugees report high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Low response rates to psychological interventions for PTSD in refugees may be explained by their failure to target co-morbid emotion regulation difficulties. In this project, we will test the efficacy of a phase-based intervention that first targets emotion regulation difficulties before implementing trauma-focused therapy to reduce PTSD in refugees. Findings will advance knowledge and inform clinical interventions for refugees.
Optimising The Diagnosis And Management Of Treatment Refractory Benign Positioning Vertigo
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$286,466.00
Summary
Benign Positioning Vertigo, the most common and correctable cause of dizziness, is caused by freely floating calcium carbonate crystals in the semicircular canals of the inner ear. Localizing the affected semicircular canal holds the key to effective treatment.A proportion of sufferers will not respond to conventional repositioning treatments due to incorrect diagnoses. This study will explore refractory BPV in detail, develop test methods that accurately localize the affected canal and devise t ....Benign Positioning Vertigo, the most common and correctable cause of dizziness, is caused by freely floating calcium carbonate crystals in the semicircular canals of the inner ear. Localizing the affected semicircular canal holds the key to effective treatment.A proportion of sufferers will not respond to conventional repositioning treatments due to incorrect diagnoses. This study will explore refractory BPV in detail, develop test methods that accurately localize the affected canal and devise treatments for resistant BPV subtypes.Read moreRead less
The Phenomenology And Treatment Of Emotion Dysregulation In Traumatized Refugees
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$242,631.00
Summary
Refugee mental health is a crucial public health concern in Australia. Difficulty regulating emotions has been strongly linked to psychological disorders after trauma, however no research has studied this in refugees. This research program uses experimental methods to test a model of emotion dysregulation in refugees, and evaluates the impact of a treatment designed to improve emotion regulation and general mental health in refugees.
Determining The Tumour Suppressor Function Of The MCC Gene And Its Significance To Treatment Outcomes In Colorectal Cancer.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$620,716.00
Summary
This project analyses the early stages of bowel cancer, where we have discovered a new gene defect. We want to determine how the MCC gene defect promotes tumorigenesis and how it affects treatment outcomes, by studying a novel mouse model of bowel cancer. This will determine which cellular functions are altered following loss of MCC in bowel tumours and if the MCC defect can be exploited to identify patients who would benefit from radiotherapy or specific chemotherapies.