National Health and Medical Research Council grants
Dynamic postural stability and falls prediction in older people during walking in real-world environments
Associate Professor Rod Barrett; Dr Glen Lichtwark; Dr Peter Mills; Associate Professor Andrew Cresswell; Associate Professor Graham Kerr
This study seeks to enhance understanding of risk factors associated with falls by incorporating measures of neuro-mechanical properties and balance recovery into fall prediction models. This project aims to determine the effect of age-related differences in neuro-mechanical properties on balance recovery capacity from forward falls and also to determine how neuro-mechanical properties and balance recovery ability at baseline are related to falls incidence in older adults. Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s): University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology
Anti-bacterial immunity in the urinary tract
Dr Glen Ulett
The proposed studies will develop and utilise new accelerometer-based technologies and innovative tests of trunk stiffness to determine the fundamental mechanisms underlying balance control during walking and standing in older people. These tools will be used to investigate three critical issues that have an impact on dynamic postural control and falls risk. Overall aim: Construct the first global map of the innate immune response to UPEC in the bladder and define the contributions of selected innate immune elements including unique cellular and cytokine responses to the control of bacterial infection during Uropathogenic E. coli urinary tract infections.
Acupuncture and mucosal immunity in the upper respiratory tract
Cripps, Prof Allan; Smith, A/Prof Caroline; Smith, A/Prof Pete
Many details of the mechanism of acupuncture in immunomodulation are yet to be determined, however, broadly speaking, the evidence so far suggests that acupuncture activates neuroendocrine effects which can modulate immunity and reduce inflammation. The proposed study will clarify interactions between certain neuropeptides, neurotrophins, cytokines and immunity at the mucosal level.
Use of expression profiling to identify genes influencing cardiovascular risk in the Norfolk Island population isolate
Prof Lyn Griffiths; Dr Rod Lea; Dr Harald Goring; Dr Joanne Curran; Prof John Blangero
This study will use a unique population isolate from Norfolk Island. We aim to identify genes that play a role in cardiovascular disease risk. Norfolk has a population of 1200 permanent residents, most of whom are direct descendents of 18th century English Bounty mutineers and Polynesian women. We will undertake gene expression mapping to identify genomic loci that influence cardiovascular disease using samples from this population isolate. Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s): Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, San Antonio, Texas, USA