Research opportunities in the School of Public Health MPHMIPHHonours dissertation MPhilPHMPhilIPH th

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Research opportunitiesin the School of Public
HealthMPH/MIPH(Honours) dissertationMPhilPH/MPh
ilIPH thesisPhD thesisDrPH thesis

• July 2006

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• This information is available from the Schools
  website at
• http//www.health.usyd.edu.au/future/research/opp
  ortunities.php
• (so no need to write it all down now!)

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Scholarships

• There are various scholarships available for
  students undertaking research degrees. These
  include NHMRC (closing date mid-July) and APA/UPA
  (closing date late August).
• Further information is available from the
  Research Office at
• http//www.usyd.edu.au/su/reschols/scholarships/in
  dex.htm

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Australian Health Policy Institute

• Dr Jim Gillespie
• Phone [phone] Email jimg_at_health.usyd.edu.au
• http//www.ahpi.health.usyd.edu.au
• Research opportunities
• Serious and continuing illnesses Policy and
  Practice Study (SCIPPS)
• Health futures
• Workforce
• Governance
• Public and private
• International health systems

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Australian Health Policy Institute

• Serious and Continuing Illnesses Policy and
  Practice Study (SCIPPS) NHMRC Health Services
  Grant, 2006-2011.
• Chronic diseases CVD, COPD and Diabetes in ACT
  in Western Sydney.
• New models of care
• Developing new policy frameworks
• Strategies to transfer research into practice
• Critical assessment of existing policy and
  practice frameworks
• State/Commonwealth/Area Health Service/Private
• Reviews of evidence, including how it is used by
  policy-makers.
• Study group patient journey studies,
• Prof Steve Leeder COPD Blacktown
• Focus groups carers, patients and practitioners
• Economic evaluation

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The Diabetes Unit - AHPI

• Director A/Professor Ruth Colagiuri
• Phone [phone] Email rcolagiuri_at_med.usyd.edu
  
• Focuses on policy and planning for population
  health, prevention, health services research
  development for diabetes related chronic
  diseases in Australia and internationally.
  Incorporates the Australian Cochrane Diabetes
  Satellite, and with AHPI, co-leads the Oxford
  Health Alliance Asia-Pacific Regional Centre.
  Research opportunities include
• Evidence based health care
• - Cochrane reviews of clinical or public health
  interventions
• - NHMRC Guidelines and other systematic and
  non-systematic reviews
• International health projects mainly Pacific
  islands
• - program design, implementation and evaluation
  
• - literature reviews, small qualitative and
  quantitative surveys
• - case studies (eg food policy)
• Cost of illness studies
• - local and Pacific Islands
• Other
• - industry engagement in chronic disease
  prevention (food, pharma, sports)
• - patient (chronic disease self care) education
• - stakeholder mapping and engagement

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National Centre for Immunisation Research and
Surveillance of Vaccine Preventable Diseases
(NCIRS)

• Childrens Hospital at Westmead and University of
  Sydney
• Established in 1997, staff of 30
• Track record in post-graduate teaching and
  supervision
• Rationale
• Infectious diseases are a continuing, evolving
  threat to human health
• Immunisation is one of the largest public
  health programs nationally, requiring additional
  resources in research and evaluation to underpin
  it

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Expertise

• Public health
• Preventive medicine
• Paediatrics
• Infectious diseases
• Epidemiology

• Health economics
• Behavioural research
• Laboratory science
• EBM
• Special risk populations

Research Areas

• Epidemiology and surveillance of
  vaccine-preventable diseases adverse events
  after immunisation
• Sero-epidemiology and laboratory research
• Mathematical modelling of infectious diseases
• The Australian Childhood Immunisation Register
  (ACIR)
• Behavioural and attitudinal research
• Health policy support and modelling
• Indigenous health
• Adverse events
• Communication
• Clinical trials
• Immunity and infection in special risk populations

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Potential project areas

• Pandemic and seasonal influenza
• Hepatitis A
• Childhood pneumonia
• Pneumococcal vaccination
• Meningococcal disease
• Refugee child health
• Seroepidemiology studies
• Day care centre research projects
• Pertussis Time Trends
• Indigenous Health
• Vaccines in immunosuppressed haematology patients
• All other areas of interest considered
• Contacts
• Professor Robert Booy RobertB2_at_chw.edu.au
  (clinical trials, epidemiology)
• A/Professor Raina MacIntyre RainaM_at_chw.edu.au
  (clinical trials, epidemiology, modelling,
  immunosuppressed)
• Rob Menzies RobertM3_at_chw.edu.au (Indigenous
  research, large datasets analysis)
• Dr Julie Leask JulieL3_at_chw.edu.au (social and
  behavioural research)
• Telephone [phone]

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The George Institute for International Health

• Aylin Dulagil, Recruitment Consultant,
• 9657 0306, adulagil_at_george.org.au
• Indigenous Health ProgramDeveloping and
  evaluating strategies to address the excessive
  burden of chronic disease among Indigenous
  Australians.
• Chronic kidney disease
• defining a new cardiovascular risk factor'.
• Assessing new treatments in chronic kidney
  disease.
• Lifestyle risk factors Various studies
  examining the impact of modification of these
  factors (e.g. smoking, obesity, physical
  activity) on cardiovascular outcomes using
  large-scale observational studies and
  meta-analyses.

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The George Institute for International Health

• Neurological
• can early blood pressure lowering improve outcome
  in acute intracerebral haemorrhage?
• how do socioeconomic disparities influence stroke
  management and outcome in China?
• what is the impact of sleep disordered breathing
  on vascular risk?
• Opportunities to work on large scale Australian
  and international RCTs, meta analyses and cohort
  studies addressing
• Kidney disease as a predictor of cardiovascular
  risk measures and mechanism
• Blood pressure lowering and the progression of
  CKD
• Reducing CV risk in CKD with blood pressure
  lowering
• Dialysis outcomes
• Indigenous health outcomes with CKD care,
  best-practice models for intervention

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The George Institute for International Health

• Opportunities for masters level dissertations
• We have a range of data sets that could be used
  for masters students completing a dissertation.
  In general the students would need to have
  completed advanced epidemiology and biostatistics
  units. Examples of data sets include
  cross-sectional data from two cohort studies
• The DRIVE study looking at road safety in young
  people and
• The NZ Blood Donors Study, which is focused on
  risk factors for injury.

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Cancer Epidemiology

• Cancer Council NSW, Division of Research and
  Registers
• Professor Freddy Sitas Phone [phone] Email
  freddys_at_nswcc.org.au
• Master of Science or PhD topics in cancer
  epidemiology
• Descriptive/analytical epidemiology eg analysis
  of cancer incidence, geographic distribution
  survival
• Cancer causes eg studies on lifestyle and cancer,
  studies around cervical health
• Health services research eg patterns of care
  studies
• Behavioural science unit in Newcastle
• See http//www.cancercouncil.com.au/editorial.asp?
  pageid857
• for a list of current Cancer Council projects

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The Cancer Journey
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Cancer Epidemiology

• Cancer Council NSW
• Dr. Karen Canfell, Phone [phone] Email
  karenc_at_nswcc.org.au
• The NSW Cancer, Lifestyle and Evaluation of Risk
  (CLEAR) study
• Cancer biobank initiative
• Opportunities for research into various risk
  factors for cancer - environmental, hormonal,
  physical activity and diet, impact of migration
  and ethnicity.
• Modelling projects
• HPV vaccination and cervical screening in
  Australia
• Screening and vaccination in the developing
• world

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Centre for Physical Activity and Health (CPAH)

• Dr Hidde van der Ploeg, Professor Adrian
  Bauman Phone [phone]website
  www.cpah.usyd.edu.au
• Email cpah_at_health.usyd.edu.au
• Physical activity and public health research
• Measurement reliability and validity research
  comparing different measurement methods of
  assessing physical activity and sedentary
  behaviour
• Analyses of population level physical activity
  data sets around physical activity, sports
  participation and active transportation
• Participation in the design of and piloting of
  interventions to increase physical activity
  levels in populations and specific groups
• Policy research around physical activity and
  public health

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NSW Centre for Overweight and Obesity

• Lesley King Phone [phone] Email
  lking_at_health.usyd.edu.au
• contribute to analyses of the determinants of
  children's weight status, based on SPANS (schools
  physical activity and nutrition survey) data
  (2004).
• media analysis studies on depictions of
  overweight and obesity and the impact of food
  marketing on food habits among young people
• policy analysis of international and Australian
  approaches to addressing overweight and obesity
• analysis of workforce issues related to
  overweight and obesity
• monitoring studies on health service utilisation
  and morbidity related to overweight and obesity
• environmental audits of food promotion in
  supermarkets and other food retail outlets

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STEP http//www.health.usyd.edu.au/step/
Methodological research and development
Les Irwig, Jonathan Craig Alex Barratt Petra
Macaskill Glenn Salkeld
Lyndal Trevena Kirsten McCaffery Kirsten Howard
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STEP

• Monitoring
• what test, how often, what action
• Statistical modelling
• Applications glaucoma, your content area
• Perceptions of Asthma Rx in Pregnancy
  Psych/social science Dr K McCaffery
• Study choices and designs, e.g. when and how to
  do trials conceptual advanced epi

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Family Medicine Research Centre

• Level 7, 16-18 Wentworth St, ParramattaEmail
  helenab_at_med.usyd.edu.au
• Research degrees supervised
• Honours dissertation
• M Med thesis
• M Med Sci thesis
• PhD thesis
• Supervisors
• Associate Professor Helena Britt
• Associate Professor Graeme Miller

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Family Medicine Research Centre

• FMRC resources
• Worlds largest database of continuous
  comprehensive primary medical data
• Support from highly skilled analysts and health
  information managers
• FMRC topic areas
• Data collection methods in primary care
• Service delivery in primary care
• Quality in primary care
• Pharmacoepidemiology
• Diagnostic services utilisation
• Rural/regional primary care services
• Terminology and classification development
• Health informatics (in association with the
  Sydney Language Technology Group)

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Northern Rivers University Department of Rural
Health, Lismore

• Dr Geoff Morgan, 6620 7526, gmorg_at_nrahs.nsw.gov.au
  
• Associate Professor Deborah Schofield, 6620 2601,
  deborahsch_at_nrahs.nsw.gov.au
• Dr Megan Passey, 6620 7516, mpassey_at_nrahs.nsw.gov.
  au
• Using routinely collected health, health
  utilization, environmental and socio-demographic
  data and spatial epidemiological methods to
  examine distribution of disease, identification
  of environmental risk factors, health workforce
  and related issues.
• Potential to significantly increase our
  understanding of the relationship between the
  social and physical environment and health in an
  ongoing and cost effective manner.
• There are several potential projects suitable for
  a MPH (Honours) dissertation or PhD thesis. We
  currently have two PhD students working in this
  field.

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Northern Rivers University Department of Rural
Health, Lismore

• Dr Geoff Morgan, 6620 7526, gmorg_at_nrahs.nsw.gov.au
  
• Associate Professor Deborah Schofield, 6620 2601,
  deborahsch_at_nrahs.nsw.gov.au
• Dr Megan Passey, 6620 7516, mpassey_at_nrahs.nsw.gov.
  au Other research being conducted by the UDRH
  includes a prospective study of mental disorders
  in a community based cohort of approximately 1400
  adults. This study is looking at common mental
  disorders such as depression and anxiety, and the
  factors that influence their incidence and
  prognosis. Three phases have been completed (an
  initial screening of 9191 subjects which led to
  the establishment of the cohort, and two rounds
  of computer assisted face to face interviews) and
  the feasibility of a ten year follow-up is
  currently being assessed. A number of research
  opportunities exist within this project.

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International Health

• Dr John Hall, 9351 7601, johnh_at_health.usyd.edu.au
• For MIPH Praxis and/or MPH and MIPH
  disserations
• Health status of ethnic minority groups in SE
  Asia in relation to Millenium Development Goals
  (MDGs)
• Trends in womens health in SE Asia
• Trends in infant mortality rate and under 5
  mortality rates in SE Asia
• MDGs and the health of women and children in SE
  Asia
• Role of traditional birth attendance in SE Asia

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Professor Simon Chapman

• Room 320b, Edward Ford BuildingPhone 9351
  5203Email simonchapman_at_health.usyd.edu.au
• 1. Studying the process of advocacy
• How do those opposing public health initiatives
  operate? (eg anti-fluoridationists, those
  opposing HIV/AIDs harm reduction, Big Food, gun
  lobby, tobacco industry)
• How do key decision-makers see particular health
  issues? What makes this change?

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Professor Simon Chapman

• Room 320b, Edward Ford BuildingPhone 9351
  5203Email simonchapman_at_health.usyd.edu.au
• 2. News media depictions of health medicine
• How are health issues presented in the news
  media?
• How do key audiences decode these depictions?

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Professor Robert Cumming

• Room 324, Edward Ford BuildingEmail
  bobc_at_health.usyd.edu.au
• Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project (CHAMP)
• Large-scale longitudinal study of health of older
  men (n2000)
• One of the world's most comprehensive studies of
  ageing in men
• Data analysis possibilities for honours
  dissertations
• Numerous PhD opportunities in biomedical,
  psychological and social aspects of ageing in men
  

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Christine Cowie

• Room 315a, Edward Ford BuildingPhone 9036 9127
  Email christinec_at_health.usyd.edu.au
• Environmental Health
• All projects are offered through the NSW Health
  Departments Environmental and Health Branch
• Several potential dissertation topics
  including
• Analysing environmental health data from the NSW
  Health survey.
• Cross-sectional analysis of transport measures
  and obesity (or similar measures).
• Cross-sectional analysis looking at reported
  asthma and method of heating and cooking in
  households (gas/electric/wood, etc).
• Analysis of data from the Albury bush fires which
  occurred in Jan 2003, when extreme PM10 levels
  (particulate matter) were recorded.
• Investigation of the acute effects of ambient air
  pollution on emergency department visits for
  respiratory and cardiovascular disease.

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Christine Cowie

• Environmental Health
• Potential dissertation topics continued
• Investigating whether a Quality of Life (QOL)
  survey of Aboriginal communities could be used as
  a proxy/indicator of the health impact of the
  Housing for Health program.
• Design a Sydney beach users health study'. There
  would be opportunity to design the study
  including questionnaires and interview tools.
  This would be a follow-up to the original Sydney
  study which found that swimmers were almost twice
  as likely as non-swimmers to report respiratory,
  ear and eye symptoms. The incidence of symptoms
  increased slightly with increasing water
  pollution. Since this work was completed there
  have been significant changes in sewage disposal
  and big improvements in water quality.

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Dr Judith Godden

• Email jgodden_at_health.usyd.edu.au
• The History of Public Health Nursing
• Public health nursing is a neglected yet
  important aspect of the history of Australian
  public health. There are a number of research
  opportunities within this broad topic, e.g.
  investigating the role of occupational health
  nurses. The archives of this group are available
  but have not yet been consulted by historians.
  Key questions include
• How have nurses contributed to public health?
• How did they respond to changing public health
  needs?

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Dr Brian OToole

• Anzac Research Institute
• Phone [phone] Email drbrianotoole_at_bigpond.com
  Vietnam Veterans Health Study
• Potential dissertation/thesis topic
• Longitudinal cohort study of Vietnam veterans
  (3rd wave), using counsellors from the Vietnam
  Veterans Counselling Service to conduct
  interviews across Australia. The use of
  standardised physical and psychiatric assessment
  instruments will enable comparisons with national
  ABS data. The study assesses war zone combat
  exposure and subsequent post-traumatic stress
  disorder. It tracks the health of men 35-40 years
  after trauma exposure.

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Analysis of Linked Perinatal Data

• Dr Christine RobertsCentre for Perinatal Health
  Services Research, School of Public
  Healthchristine.roberts_at_perinatal.usyd.edu.au
• Associate Professor Judy SimpsonSchool of Public
  Healthjudys_at_health.usyd.edu.au
• Requirements strong epidemiology and
  biostatistics skillsResearch projects, at both
  Masters and Doctorate level, are available for a
  range of issues in pregnancy and newborn health.
  All projects will use population health data that
  can be linked and analysed cross-sectionally
  and/or longitudinally to examine health outcomes
  and health service utilisation for mothers and
  babies. Current and recent projects include
• Trends in pregnancy conditions, interventions and
  outcomes
• Impact of level of care on maternal and infant
  outcomes
• Recurrence of pregnancy conditions in subsequent
  pregnancies
• Impact of obstetric management in the first
  pregnancy on outcomes in a second pregnancy

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NHMRC Clinical Trials CentreSYSTEMATIC REVIEWS
AND HEALTH CARE ASSESSMENTLevel 5, Building F,
88 Mallett St Camperdown

• Contact Sally Lord or Davina Ghersi9562 5000
  slord_at_ctc.usyd.edu.au, davina_at_ctc.usyd.edu.au
• Masters dissertation opportunities
• Systematic reviews
• Assess breast cancer treatments
• Assess prognostic factors for breast cancer or
  cardiovascular disease
• Systematic reviews in other disease areas
• Critical appraisal methods
• Develop criteria for the appraisal of studies
  investigating whether a new diagnostic test
  changes patient management
• Evidence-based health-care policy
• Evaluate the level, quality and strength of
  evidence available for Australian policy
  decisions about funding new technologies and
  assess the influence of other factors
• Methodological issues in the design and conduct
  of systematic reviews
• Projects investigating the selective reporting of
  clinical trials