Regenerative Neuroscience Strategies For Healthy Brain Ageing And Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$463,652.00
Summary
Promotion of healthy brain ageing and prevention of dementia are amongst Australia's greatest medical challenges and of utmost concern to the public. This Fellowship will support a multidisciplinary approach to these challenges based around regenerative neuroscience. Valenzuela's group is a world leader in the science and practice of brain plasticity, and will lead twelve interlinked studies aimed at developing better ways to prevent dementia.
Public Health Interventions For The Control Of Group A Streptococcal Disease And Scabies In Endemic Populations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$470,144.00
Summary
The bacterium Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality globally. The skin infestation scabies is an important portal of entry for GAS because it predisposes to skin sores. I propose to develop two research programs aimed at controlling these diseases: one is development of GAS vaccines and the other is investigating population-based interventions for control of scabies and related GAS skin infection.
Integrated Exploration Of Novel Therapies For Depression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$476,728.00
Summary
There is a clear need for new therapies for psychiatric illnesses, particularly depression. Current antidepressant therapy is useful but leaves many with a shortfall to functional recovery. My research program investigates new therapies for depression, in the context of the biological understanding of depression.
New Approaches To The Prevention And Treatment Of Musculoskeletal Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$466,492.00
Summary
In Australia, musculoskeletal conditions like osteoarthritis and back pain are responsible for much pain and disability. Although until recently these were considered to be purely due to wear and tear, Associate Professor Wluka, a rheumatologist, has shown that these are not simply due to overuse and loading but metabolic factors also play a role. This award will enable the role of these factors to be examined and new therapies tested in clinical trials, providing evidence to improve the managem ....In Australia, musculoskeletal conditions like osteoarthritis and back pain are responsible for much pain and disability. Although until recently these were considered to be purely due to wear and tear, Associate Professor Wluka, a rheumatologist, has shown that these are not simply due to overuse and loading but metabolic factors also play a role. This award will enable the role of these factors to be examined and new therapies tested in clinical trials, providing evidence to improve the management of these conditions.Read moreRead less
Improving And Evaluating The Health Of Mothers And Babies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$320,848.00
Summary
This research program considers new ways to monitor an unborn baby’s health and to provide better care for childbearing women. Several projects will test the unborn baby’s well being. A new study will consider two forms of cooling treatments to help relieve pain following childbirth. Further research involves studies of the genetics of increased blood pressure in pregnant women and a structured way of looking at existing evidence to consider how well it delivers.
Understanding And Effectively Treating Cognitive And Functioning Impairments In Youth With Psychosis And Other Mental Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,000.00
Summary
Impaired thinking skills, such as memory, concentration and problem solving, emerge early in psychotic and other mental disorders, which has a negative impact on functioning in work and other daily activities. Current treatments are not very effective at addressing this. The research proposed in this fellowship will improve knowledge about these impairments and develop and test a range of interventions that treat thinking skill difficulties and improve daily functioning in youth mental illness.
First Line Treatments For Common Musculoskeletal Conditions: Establishing Effectiveness And Cost-effectiveness
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$452,583.00
Summary
Dr Christine Lin is an outstanding young researcher whose research focuses on investigating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness (value-for-money) of treatments for common musculoskeletal conditions. These conditions, such as back pain and fracture, are a major cause of disability in Australia and abroad. Dr Lin will lead a series of large clinical studies with an aim to improve patient outcomes while minimising the economic burden on the individual, health system and society.
Low back pain affects one in four people in Australia and is responsible for over $8 billion spent on treatments and work loss every year. Surgery is a popular treatment approach for this multifactorial condition but we still lack high quality science to support the role of surgery for low back pain. We also lack research capacity in this field. In my fellowship, I propose to conduct high quality studies to generate and implement scientific knowledge in this field.
Ageing, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and obesity are becoming more common in the community. Each is associated with increased heart disease and metabolic disorders. Understanding how androgen dysregulation exacerbates OSA, obesity and ageing and how androgen treatments alter these conditions may lead to reduced cardiometabolic dysfunction and improved health.