Research Groupings within the Centre for Inland Health
Cardiovascular research (incorporating respiratory research)
As the leading cause of the 'excess deaths' recorded in rural communities of Australia, cardiovascular disease is a critical issue for the CIH and the communities it serves. This research group seeks to answer the overarching question of how we can effectively assess risks and prevent and manage heart failure, particularly in inland contexts, and so reduce the rate of deaths associated with heart failure. The research of this grouping is currently focused primarily on research into heart failure after heart attack, its early detection, its effective prevention and management, its demographic and pathophysiological correlates, the impact of mental health status (e.g. depression) on prognosis, and the effective implementation of associated evidence-based therapeutic guidelines in hospital and community settings. Intimately associated and additional areas of research include early detection, prevention and management of respiratory disease (particularly Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and asthma), haematological diseases and diabetes. Each of these health concerns is inextricably related to heart health and failure because of the direct links between the respective disease processes and physiological systems. The contexts for the research of this group include inland communities of Australia, other Australian communities, and communities in other nations - particularly China, where the research grouping has strong links with around 30 physician researchers through the Head of the Research Grouping, Professor Lexin Wang.
Cell biology, genetics & immunology in health & disease
A sound understanding of these topics necessarily underpins the design and improvement of much of the clinical and other health care needed to prevent, detect and manage disease, and to maintain good health. This research grouping seeks to answer the overarching question of what we need to know about cell biology, genetics and immunology in order to design effective approaches to preventing, detecting (early) and managing disease and to maintaining good health, particularly in inland contexts. The research of this grouping is currently focused on a range of research topics in the areas of cell biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics and immunology, reflecting the specific interests of individual researchers and community drivers for this research. Current topics of research within this group include molecular bases of human genetic diseases (with a particular focus on muscular dystrophy and development of related therapeutics), cancer biology, fatty acid metabolism, inflammation, neuroendocrinology of reproduction and appetite regulation, neural control of the cardiovascular system during stress, glucose transporter signalling, and food properties and health. These topics will continue to evolve as the members of this research group interact with researchers from other research groups of the CIH.
Collaboration
The Cell Biology Research Unit has demonstrated strength in a number of research areas, including breast cancer, immunology, muscle biology, and protein and molecular biology. In addition to existing research collaborations, the Unit welcomes the establishment of new partnerships, both nationally and internationally.
Those from universities, research institutes and centres, community groups, and industry who are interested in developing new research partnerships are invited to contact the relevant key researcher/s, or one of the Unit heads, for more information.
Physical activity & fatigue in health, disease & occupations
Physical activity is a mainstay of a healthy and productive lifestyle, and fatigue is a major factor in limiting participation. This research grouping seeks to answer the overarching question of how we can optimise access and participation in physical activity and manage fatigue, particularly in inland contexts. The research of this grouping is currently focused on the physiological mechanisms that influence perceptions of fatigue that occur during physical activity (in a wide range of occupations), in the presence of disease, or in anticipation of irreversible cellular damage from physical activity. From this base, it has a further focus on developing and trialling approaches to manage fatigue, enhance exercise tolerance and participation, develop and maintain muscle tissue, and improve performance - in physical activity generally and in athletic activities.
Community well-being, human services & clinical care
There is a wide range of social and community factors that contribute strongly to determining the health status and well-being of communities. These include social networks and inclusiveness, educational and employment opportunities, housing quality, economic factors, availability and quality of health and other human services and clinical care, political and policy influences, environmental risk factors and hazards, and more. The work of this research grouping is about where 'the rubber hits the road' - seeking to answer the overarching, practical question of how we can make public, clinical and community health services and other human services and community development strategies work, sustainably and effectively, to enhance the health, or well-being, of communities - particularly inland communities. This research is critical to closing the gap in health status between inland communities and their city- and coast-based counterparts.
The research of this grouping is currently focused on social and community development strategies and human services that will enhance health and well-being, and on design and delivery of effective (and cost-effective) population (or 'public') health and community health services and clinical care, within a comprehensive primary health care framework. The researchers associated with this research grouping are largely health and human services practitioners themselves, and work closely with inland service providers across various sectors to conceptualise, design, trial and evaluate new and potentially better interventions and approaches. Of note, finding answers to these critical questions requires strong engagement with communities, with government agencies, with non-government organisations and with people who have been disempowered, by means that are acceptable and sensitive to them. It necessarily involves action research, qualitative research approaches and evaluation research as core tools for engagement and for development of viable and acceptable tailored solutions, involving community development.