Research Success

Fast, efficient goods shipment (PDF File 429.8 KB) (opens in a new window)
Dr Henry Lau and Dr Dilupa Nakandala of the School of Business with Professor Sven Axsater of Lund University, Sweden are developing a mathematical decision-making model to assist best-practice in supply chain operations for businesses. This project is funded by the Australian Research Council through its Discovery Projects grant scheme.

Grassland pests the root of the problem (PDF File 2.6 MB) (opens in a new window)
Associate Professor Sally Power and Dr Scott Johnson of the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment have been awarded funding to investigate the effect of erratic rainfall on Australia's important but dwindling grasslands. The project, which is supported by the Hermon Slade Foundation, will particularly look at the role of below-ground insect pests under differing rainfall regimes.

Unravelling changes in soil function (PDF File 2.7 MB) (opens in a new window)
Associate Professor Brajesh Singh and Professor Peter Reich of the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment are undertaking an investigation to examine the microbial regulation of soil functions. This project is funded by the Australian Research Council through its Discovery Projects grant scheme.

Horsing around? Not with Hendra virus risk management (PDF File 2.7 MB) (opens in a new window)
Dr Melanie Taylor from the Centre for Health Research leads a team of researchers undertaking a three-year project to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and biosecurity practices of horse owners in relation to Hendra virus. This multidisciplinary project is part of the National Hendra Virus Research Program.

Infertility after cancer doubles the pain (PDF File 505.0 KB) (opens in a new window)
Professor Jane Ussher and Associate Professor Janette Perz from the Centre for Health Research and Dr Emilee Gilbert from the School of Social Sciences and Psychology are leading a team of researchers to study fertility after treatment for cancer from the perspective of patients, their partners and health professionals. This project is funded by the Australian Research Council through its Linkage grant scheme.

Sex after cancer: the hidden population (PDF File 2.6 MB) (opens in a new window)
Professor Jane Ussher and Associate Professor Janette Perz from the Centre for Health Research, with Professor Suzanne Chambers from Griffith University and Associate Professor Ian Latini from Baylor College of Medicine are investigating sexual wellbeing and quality of life among gay and bisexual men who have had prostate cancer. This project is funded by the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

One stop for cancer care (PDF File 1.8 MB) (opens in a new window)
Dr Joanne Curry, with Dr Ante Prodan and Professor Anneke Fitzgerald, is researching ways to ensure patients at a new integrated cancer centre move smoothly from one specialist service to the next. Funding for the project comes from Hunter New England Local Health District which is establishing the North West Cancer Centre in Tamworth.

Chinese herbs and vascular dementia (PDF File 2.8 MB) (opens in a new window)
Associate Professor Dennis Chang and Professor Alan Bensoussan from the National Institute of Complementary Medicine are investigating the use of a standardised Chinese herbal medicine formula to treat vascular dementia. The project, funded by Australia Shineway Technology Pty Ltd, comes after a series of preclinical and clinical investigations which showed encouraging results.

Early warning of preeclampsia (PDF File 485.8 KB) (opens in a new window)
Professor Annemarie Hennessy and Dr Angela Makris from the School of Medicine, and Professor William Price from the School of Science and Health, are investigating blood pressure control in preeclampsia. This National Health and Medical Research Council project explores links between an expectant mother's immune responses and the health of her placenta, and her high blood pressure.

The heat is on the red bloodwood (PDF File 156.5 KB) (opens in a new window)
Dr Paul Rymer of the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment has been awarded funding to explore how plants might respond to the heat of climate change. The project, which is supported by UWS in partnership with WA's Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW), will test the physiological and genetic mechanisms enabling plants to withstand global warming and heat waves.

Listen carefully, one syllable at a time (PDF File 206.1 KB) (opens in a new window)
Dr Jason Shaw of the MARCS Institute has been awarded funding to investigate the cognitive mechanisms that underpin the human ability to recognise both words and talkers in speech. The project, which is supported by an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award, will produce a blueprint for technologies that integrate speech recognition with talker recognition.

Stubbing out a mother’s health risk (PDF File 1.7 MB) (opens in a new window)
Dr Alys Havard, Professor Louisa Jorm and Ms Deborah Randall from the Centre for Health Research are investigating the safety of medications for quitting smoking during pregnancy. This National Health and Medical Research Council project also explores inequities in the use and effectiveness of such medicines, both before and during pregnancy, among disadvantaged communities, notably Aboriginal women, and any role played by changes in public policy.

Why walk when you can dance? (PDF File 196.8 KB) (opens in a new window)
Associate Professor Dafna Merom of the School of Science and Health will be investigating social dancing as a weapon against dementia and cognitive decline. The research, which is supported by the IRT Research Foundation, will explore the notion that the multi-dimensional nature of dancing makes it a better activity than walking for keeping the ageing brain healthy.

Translating policy to practice (PDF File 183.3 KB) (opens in a new window)
Dr Ann Dadich of the School of Business and Associate Professor Brian Stout of the School of Social Sciences and Psychology are developing an evaluation framework to determine the effectiveness of the Detainee Behaviour Intervention Framework (DBIF), developed by Juvenile Justice NSW. This project is funded by the NSW Department of Attorney General and Justice, Juvenile Justice.

A vicious cycle of push and pull (PDF File 233.2 KB) (opens in a new window)
Dr Elizabeth Conroy of the Centre for Health Research will be investigating if a program to arrest the drift of homeless people from Sydney's greater west to the inner city has been successful. This study has been awarded funding by Mission Australia.