Determining The Impacts Of Epigenetic Modifying Drugs On Germline Programming And Offspring Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$863,918.00
Summary
New drugs have been developed that inhibit specific enzymes that regulate epigenetic pathways in cells. These pathways significantly affect growth and development in offspring and may represent a risk to future children of patients taking the drug. This project will determine these risks and provide data for developing clinical guidelines for safe use of the drugs.
Does Early Overnutrition Differentially Alter Hypothalamic Neuropeptides That Regulate Food Intake In The Rat
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$346,250.00
Summary
In Australia the incidence of obesity, in particular childhood obesity, is increasing dramatically, and the possible long term consequences of this are of great concern. The brain regulates appetite through a number of chemical transmitters such as neuropeptide Y (NPY) which is present in the brains of mammals and causes increased food intake. The effects of overeating from a young age on these brain transmitters has been largely ignored although this may impact on subsequent eating behaviour. I ....In Australia the incidence of obesity, in particular childhood obesity, is increasing dramatically, and the possible long term consequences of this are of great concern. The brain regulates appetite through a number of chemical transmitters such as neuropeptide Y (NPY) which is present in the brains of mammals and causes increased food intake. The effects of overeating from a young age on these brain transmitters has been largely ignored although this may impact on subsequent eating behaviour. In addition to NPY we will study other transmitters in the brain that have profound effects on appetite, some increasing, and others decreasing, food intake. These may form useful therapeutic targets for new drugs for obesity. Key targets we will study include melanocortins, glucagon-like peptide 1, urocortin, melanin concentrating hormone, agouti related peptide, and NPY. We will determine whether overnutrition from birth to weaning leads to changes in these appetite regulating neurotransmitters in the brain, and monitor the hormonal signals that impact on their activity. We will also determine whether early overnutrition exacerbates the subsequent responses to a high fat diet by comparison with rats made obese as adults. We will measure brain concentrations of the neurotransmitters, the amount released from the brain, and determine whether the feeding responses to injections of these agents is altered in obese animals. We have evidence that these transmitters interact in a co-ordinated fashion to affect feeding; this project will examine whether these interactions are maintained in the various types of obesity. Rats are commonly used for this type of study as the processes regulating feeding are very similar to those in humans and these agents cause similar effects in rats and humans. It is hoped that this information will provide new insight into the way brain adapts to overnutrition, and provide potential treatments for obesity and other feeding disorders.Read moreRead less
Impact Of Extreme Prematurity Or Extreme Low Birthweight On Young Adult Health And Well-Being: The Victorian Infant Collaborative Study (VICS) 1991-92 Longitudinal Cohort
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$725,496.00
Summary
Significant advances in medical care have increased survival of the tiniest and most premature babies. Those who have benefited from modern medicine are now in their mid-20s. We know they have more problems in childhood and adolescence compared with those born full term. However, we know little about their health problems in adulthood. This study will inform us of adult health problems in this vulnerable group and provide vital information about the best care for this increasing group of adults.
TELEPHONE COUNSELLING FOR MAINTENANCE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, WEIGHT LOSS And GLYCAEMIC CONTROL IN TYPE 2 DIABETES
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,285,894.00
Summary
Regular exercise, a healthy diet and weight loss are key to managing type 2 diabetes, yet these are major challenges for most people with diabetes. This study will evaluate the impact of a telephone counselling program to assist people with type 2 diabetes to exercise, eat a healthy diet and lose weight, with the goal of helping them to sustain these changes over the long-term. It is expected that these lifestyle changes will also result in improved blood glucose control and quality of life.
The Impact of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems on Australian Organizations. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation is one of the most pervasive sources of technological change in contemporary Australian enterprises. ERP systems are computer-based technologies that are designed to increase efficiency and achieve major cost savings across the entire organization. Their implementation has significant implications for the structure, nature and management of organizations. This project ....The Impact of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems on Australian Organizations. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation is one of the most pervasive sources of technological change in contemporary Australian enterprises. ERP systems are computer-based technologies that are designed to increase efficiency and achieve major cost savings across the entire organization. Their implementation has significant implications for the structure, nature and management of organizations. This project's innovative application of an organizational change model to eight detailed case studies across a range of organizational types will generate important new insights into the effects of ERP implementations at Australian organizations and help explain why some implementations are more successful than others.Read moreRead less
Organisational performance during environmental uncertainty: The impact of an influential human resource function and high involvement work practices. Australians will benefit from the project because it will: 1) assist in the promotion of strategies that manage the productivity of critical talent at a time of environmental uncertainty; 2) promote a strategic rather than a reactive approach to the management of the Australian workforce at a time when companies may be pressured to take a short te ....Organisational performance during environmental uncertainty: The impact of an influential human resource function and high involvement work practices. Australians will benefit from the project because it will: 1) assist in the promotion of strategies that manage the productivity of critical talent at a time of environmental uncertainty; 2) promote a strategic rather than a reactive approach to the management of the Australian workforce at a time when companies may be pressured to take a short term view; 3) help to generate a positive workplace relations climate through the carriage of employee-focussed human resource management practices; and 4) provide guidance for the development of the competencies required for HRM professionals to add value for employees and for organisational performance.Read moreRead less
Managing age in organisational context: a comparative study of the meaning of age among managers. Australians are currently being encouraged to work longer to maximise their contribution to the economy but they often report there are organisational barriers to doing so. This study offers a new approach to understanding age focusing on managers and offers a framework of effective strategies for employers in managing age.
Risk and Change In Institutional Fields: The Case Of Industrial Chemicals. This project aims to explore how to manage risk through sustainable organisational strategies and institutional transformations. Chemical risks arise as by-products of economic and technological progress and can cause untold harm to human health and the environment. Using a discursive approach to compare how organisations in Australia and Canada manage chemical risks, this project aims to show how organisations can act as ....Risk and Change In Institutional Fields: The Case Of Industrial Chemicals. This project aims to explore how to manage risk through sustainable organisational strategies and institutional transformations. Chemical risks arise as by-products of economic and technological progress and can cause untold harm to human health and the environment. Using a discursive approach to compare how organisations in Australia and Canada manage chemical risks, this project aims to show how organisations can act as institutional entrepreneurs and introduce sustainable field-level solutions to risk, instead of relying on government regulation to deal with dangerous chemicals. The intended outcomes include the development of a model that identifies the challenges associated with three different risk scenarios – managing established risks, managing emerging risks and eliminating risks – as well as identifying and evaluating strategies to address these challenges.Read moreRead less
An organizational perspective on risk assessment: comparing chemicals management in Australia and Canada. The project compares the managerial and organisational implications of chemical risk assessment in Australia and Canada. It will identify how governments can effectively manage the relationships among different stakeholder organisations involved in risk assessment; and explore how different cultural contexts influence risk assessment.
Advancing the theoretical bases of supply chain management through the lens of relational exchange theory. This project will explain and predict the behaviour of supply chain members better than current theories do. An integrated theory of supply chain management will be developed and tested empirically. This theory will enable better understanding of how supply chains function and guide actions of managers so that the expected benefits are realised.