PhD Research
Dr John Burgess
j.burgess@ pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
Early life risk factors for respiratory disease in middle age
This PhD research project examines early life risk factors for respiratory disease in middle age, using data from the Tasmanian Asthma Study, a large longitudinal study that began in 1968, and draws on a cohort of all children born in Tasmania in 1961. The current survey of the surviving members of the cohort is nearly complete. Commenced in August 2004, this work is also based on John's background of many years in clinical medicine, and his Master's in Epidemiology (Melbourne University).
Stephen Colgan
Cost utility analysis of the domiciliary use of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation to treat respiratory insufficiency in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive, currently incurable and invariably fatal condition that affects approximately one in every 3500 live male births. There is currently no cure for DMD or any form of treatment that significantly slows the rate of progression of the disease. Without the use of some form of mechnical ventilation death from respiratory muscle failure occurs usually before the age of 21, with few individuals living beyond the age of 25. There is a stated need in the literature for an economic evaluation of the domiciliary use of mechanical ventilation for individuals with neuromuscular diseases such as DMD. This study directly addresses this need, using a Markov process cost utility model, that takes into account the effectiveness of the intervention, the healthcare sector costs and how the intervention impacts on the quality of life of treated individuals and that of their primary carers.
Jayantha Dassanayake
j.dassanayake@ pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
Physical activity and cardiovascular disease risk among migrants in Australia
This research examines the association between chronic disease, physical activity and diet in Adults. Implicit in this topic are issues of measuring physical activity, barriers to participation in physical activity, the public health care cost of physical inactivity and promotion of physical activity.
Tessa Keegel
Tell me about it: Hazard communication in the workplace
Occupational hazard communication is designed to inform about the inherent dangers of substances that are in use in the workplace. Effective communication regarding the occupational use of hazardous substance is vital for the adequate protection of human health and the environment. The aim of my research project is to articulate a theory of hazard communication, map out hazard communication pathways and compare these with actual conditions and practices in a range of work contexts.
Adrian Lowe
The role of maternal and childhood exposures in the development of atopy in children with a genetic predisposition.
After completing a Masters of Public Health in 2001 with the Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, Adrian worked within the Royal Melbourne Hospital on a range of research projects. He began his PhD in March 2004, which will examine the development of allergic diseases in children with a family history. His studies will be largely based on the Melbourne Atopy Cohort Study. This study recruited over 600 infants from prior to birth, collecting data on exposures and illness every 4 weeks of life until the infants second birthday. The 10 year follow-up from this study is currently being completed, including spirometry and skin prick test data.
Melissa Russell
m.russell@ nari.unimelb.edu.au
A randomised controlled trial to reduce further falls and injuries for older fallers presenting to Emergency Departments.
With the ageing of the population the number of older people sustaining falls and injuries is projected to escalate in the coming years. Multidisciplinary intervention programs have been found to be effective in preventing falls, however there is currently no evidence regarding the effectiveness of this approach in preventing falls related injuries (injury is associated with high health care costs and ongoing disability).
The aim of this randomised controlled trial is to investigate the effectiveness of a targeted multidisciplinary intervention program in preventing falls and falls injuries in community dwelling older fallers who have presented to Emergency Departments and been discharged directly home. This project is being conducted through the National Ageing Research Institute and University of Melbourne in collaboration with the Monash University Accident Research Centre, Melbourne Health, Western Health, Northern Health, Austin Health and Bayside Health. Seven hundred participants have now been recruited into the trial and the project is due for completion at the start of 2007.
Jennifer Stone
j.stone3@ pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
Genetic and environmental determinants of mammographically dense and non-dense breast tissue: Biomarkers of breast cancer risk.
Mammographic density has been shown to be a strong predictor of breast cancer risk. The radiologically dense areas that appear light on a mammogram represent the connective and epithelial tissue in the breast, and the radiologically non-dense areas that appear dark represent fat. Most recent studies express mammographic density as the proportion of the total breast area that is radiologically dense, typically expressed as the percent mammographic density (PMD). Current computer assisted methods of measurement of PMD allows separate examination of the absolute areas of dense and non-dense areas in the mammogram and their association with other factors. These associations are of interest because the association of PMD with risk of breast cancer must be explained by associations of one or both of the dense and non-dense areas with risk of breast cancer. It is my goal to investigate which genetic variants are associated with dense and non-dense area.
Dr Christine van Vliet
Conduct and Analysis of Family Cancer Cohort Studies in a Changing Legal, Ethical and Social Environment: The Victorian Colorectal Cancer Family Study
This PhD is a critical examination of the ethical and methodological issues surrounding the collection of family history and epidemiological data in a population-based colorectal cancer family study and the estimation of 10-year survival for early onset colorectal cancer and cancer risk to relatives.