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Using Evidence To Set Priorities In Health: An Analysis Of Decisions Of The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$174,575.00
Summary
Australia has pioneered the use of rigorous clinical and economic evidence in the evaluation of drugs prior to funding on our nationally subsidised Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. In the ten years since the introduction of the requirement that drugs demonstrate cost effectiveness prior to subsidy being granted there has been no formal independent evaluation of the system to assess its performance. This project will examine the recommendations of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee in ....Australia has pioneered the use of rigorous clinical and economic evidence in the evaluation of drugs prior to funding on our nationally subsidised Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. In the ten years since the introduction of the requirement that drugs demonstrate cost effectiveness prior to subsidy being granted there has been no formal independent evaluation of the system to assess its performance. This project will examine the recommendations of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee in the last decade and consider the factors that explain those decisions. At times it has been asserted that those decisions have been arbitrary or based on inappropriate considerations such as the financial cost to government or politics of the day rather than the value for money of the drug in question. We will examine the reasons behind the decisions against the objectives of providing access to life enhancing medicines in a cost effective manner. We will look at what are the key determinants of whether a drug is recommended for listing on the PBS or is rejected. A key focus will be on whether those determinants could be described as legitimate in terms of their consistency with the objectives of the scheme. For example whether the main cause of rejection is a lack of high quality evidence on effectiveness- cost effectiveness or simply because of factors such as the high financial cost to government. The project will create a database of all submissions to the PBAC 1992-2004 that will allow us to explore a number of questions about the effectiveness of the decision making process in using evidence on effectiveness and costs in health more broadly as well as those specific to the PBS. In highlighting some of the problems with the evidence and its interpretation the overall aim is to improve the quality of the decision making process in the future.Read moreRead less
The Design And Synthesis Of Sialyltransferase Inhibitors As Anti-metastatic Agents
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$273,629.00
Summary
The prevalence of cancer and, in particular, cancer that spreads throughout the body has risen over the past twenty years in the human population and causes significant human mortality. A correlation between some of a cancerous cell's surface componentary and the ability of this cell to spread throughout the body has been established. This research project will provide a range of chemical entities (probes) that will intervene in this spreading process (metastasis). These probes will be the basis ....The prevalence of cancer and, in particular, cancer that spreads throughout the body has risen over the past twenty years in the human population and causes significant human mortality. A correlation between some of a cancerous cell's surface componentary and the ability of this cell to spread throughout the body has been established. This research project will provide a range of chemical entities (probes) that will intervene in this spreading process (metastasis). These probes will be the basis for a drug discovery programme that targets a particular aspect of the spreading process. Through molecular modelling, drug candidate synthesis and evaluation of these compounds in relevant test tube (in vitro) assays it is envisaged that a number of candidate compounds will then be evaluated in an animal model (in vivo assay). The technology to be used in this project is comparable to that which we used in the discovery of the recently approved influenza drug, Relenza?.Read moreRead less
Aquaculture Nutrition Subprogram: Evaluation Of Value-added Grain Protein Products For Atlantic Salmon And Black Tiger Prawns
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$347,378.00
Summary
The need to reduce reliance of aquaculture industries on fish based protein resources has long been recognized as an important issue. Notably the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation have given this issue such importance it is rated among their 9 key challenges to address in the 2000 – 2005 Research and Development Plan. Substantial work has already been undertaken to address this challenge over the past 10 years. Notably, recent developments have seen the increased adoption of some gr ....The need to reduce reliance of aquaculture industries on fish based protein resources has long been recognized as an important issue. Notably the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation have given this issue such importance it is rated among their 9 key challenges to address in the 2000 – 2005 Research and Development Plan. Substantial work has already been undertaken to address this challenge over the past 10 years. Notably, recent developments have seen the increased adoption of some grain based alternatives being used by the aquaculture feed manufacturing industries. Lupin kernel meal use by this sector in particular is a prominent success story.
As the aquaculture feed industries begin to increase their use of alternative protein resources, such as lupin kernel meals, it becomes increasingly important to develop quality assurance (QA) assessment criteria for specific feed ingredients. The nature of these criteria will vary depending on the end use of the product. An improved understanding of the nutritional value and functional properties of the ingredients is also required to maximize the use of these ingredients by these industries and to begin the QA criteria development process.
Presently the extruded fin-fish feed sector (primarily salmonid feeds) is the largest aquaculture user of value-added grain products in Australia. However, it is apparent that further development of market confidence, through resolution of some of the nutritional value assessment and processing issues, is required for some additional aquaculture sectors (e.g. prawns) to encourage routine use of these products and work addressing these issues is planned in this proposal.
Furthermore, exploration of new product possibilities has already begun in the GRDC project with the development of a series of very promising lupin protein concentrates. However, further evaluation of the potential and constraints for the use of these new and innovative products within aquaculture feeds is needed and additional evaluation in Atlantic salmon and prawns is required.
Objectives: 1. To determine the nutritional value of selected grain products, developed as part of the linked CLIMA-GRDC project, when included in feeds for Black tiger prawns and Atlantic salmon. 2. To evaluate any potential nutritional limitations of the grain products in aquaculture feeds. 3. To provide grain producers, grain processors, aquaculture feed manufacturers and the prawn and salmon aquaculture industries with information about the nutritional characteristics and quality assurance criteria of grain products so that they can be marketed and used with confidence in aquaculture feed formulations. Read moreRead less
Inter-rater Reliability And Predictive Validity Of A New Functional Capacity Evaluation For Chronic Back Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$105,794.00
Summary
Back pain costs the Australian community tens of billions of dollars. Back pain is one of the main causes of work injury and lost time from work. The longer a person is off work, the harder it is to get them back to work. Workers' compensation systems around Australia aim at getting the injured worker with back pain back to work as soon as possible. One of the difficulties in this process is determining what the person with back pain can physically do in the workplace. An evaluation technique, c ....Back pain costs the Australian community tens of billions of dollars. Back pain is one of the main causes of work injury and lost time from work. The longer a person is off work, the harder it is to get them back to work. Workers' compensation systems around Australia aim at getting the injured worker with back pain back to work as soon as possible. One of the difficulties in this process is determining what the person with back pain can physically do in the workplace. An evaluation technique, called functional capacity evaluation (known as FCE), is one method used to find out what the person with back pain physically can and cannot do. In a FCE, a trained health professional such as an occupational therapist, observes the person performing a range of physical activities like the ones he or she may have to perform in a job. The therapist closely observes the person performing activities such as lifting, carrying, kneeling, crouching, balancing, and walking and notes any limitations in the person's ability to complete the activities. The therapist makes comments about what difficulties the person may have on the job and recommendations about how these could be reduced or eliminated. The information gained from these evaluations can be valuable for the treating doctor in deciding whether the person is ready to go back to work and what duties the person can and cannot do on the job. Because of such value they provide, FCE is commonly used in rehabilitation programs endorsed by workers' compensation systems around Australia. This widespread use and endorsement of FCE occurs despite limited research on the soundness of the ratings made from these evaluations. There is a need to see whether recommendations made from FCEs are consistent between therapists (i.e. reliable) and to see if the FCE accurately predicts the person's physical capacity for work. This research will examine these issues with injured workers with back pain.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130101577
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$374,057.00
Summary
Retail price promotions in Australia: are consumers really better off? The number and variety of retail price promotions can confuse consumers, leading to poor purchase decisions. This project will explore how promotions affect consumer choices, with a view to improving consumers' understanding and the use of retail promotions to their advantage.
Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA) - Marine Oils From Australian Fish: Characterisation And Value Added Products
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$5,981.05
Summary
Objectives: 1. To assist Australian industry develop new marine oil based, value-added products from existing or new fisheries including the bycatch and waste generated by the fishing and related industries (See Attachment to B4)
Objectives: 1. Attract participants from Australian and overseas from industry, government, and the research community 2. Provide a basis for the Australian seafood industry to move from being a commodity supplier to a producer of value added products by making available the most advanced technology from around the world 3. Enable researchers, producers and regulators to meet and make personal contact with their peers from overseas countries
Objectives: 1. Investigate the economics of reclaiming the flesh left on the frames of white fish used for filleting at the Eden Fishermen's Co-operative Ltd
Depuration Of The Sydney Rock Oyster With Particular Reference To Vibrio Vulnificus
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$24,589.83
Summary
Objectives: 1. Optimise identification & enumeration of Vibrio vulnificus & other marine vibrios & microbiological contaminants of major oyster-growing areas in NSW. 2. Assess the incidence of V vulnificus and other marine Vobrios and traditional microbioliological contaminants (faecal coliforms, E. Coli) in the marine environment of major oyster growing areas in NSW 3. Determine rate & extent of accumulation in & removal of Vv from Sydney rock oyster in lab & ....Objectives: 1. Optimise identification & enumeration of Vibrio vulnificus & other marine vibrios & microbiological contaminants of major oyster-growing areas in NSW. 2. Assess the incidence of V vulnificus and other marine Vobrios and traditional microbioliological contaminants (faecal coliforms, E. Coli) in the marine environment of major oyster growing areas in NSW 3. Determine rate & extent of accumulation in & removal of Vv from Sydney rock oyster in lab & commonwealth depuration Read moreRead less