Research

Professor Jennifer Martin

Improving systems and quality of cancer care in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care settings.

NHMRC funded project grant

Investigators: Prof Ross Bailie, Mr Daniel Williamson, Prof Jennifer Martin, A/P Patricia Valery, A/P Gail Garvey.

Our role in this project is in examining systems for medicines access, compliance and appropriateness, particularly when studies of cancer drugs were not undertaken in this population.

Targeting existing therapies with innovative technology platforms to improve survival in brain cancer.

Cancer Council Queensland funded grant

Investigators: Jennifer Martin, Stephen Rose, Michael Fay, Paul Thomas, Richard Head, Leah Cosgrove, Nicholas Dowson.

This platform is a rapid way of measuring clinical response to brain cancer therapies using novel pharmacology and imaging platforms.

High resolution fourier transform mass spectrometry platform for the discovery of novel cancer biomarkers and drug targets using label-free and isobaric-tagged approaches for quantitative proteomic.

Cancer Institute NSW grant

Investigators: Xu Dong Zhang, Matthew Dun, Jennifer Martin, Hubert Hondermarck, John Aitken, Nikki Verrills, Pradeep Tanwar, Rodney Scott, Maria Kavallaris, Darren Saunders.

The clinical pharmacological relevance of this equipment is in using proteomic responses to different drugs and doses to correlate with treatment response.

NSW Health funded grant 2015

Investigators: Jennifer Martin, Peter Galettis, Stephen Ackland, Katy Clarke (Newcastle group part of larger NSW/statewide PACSS group).

This funding is to develop a Phase II clinical pharmacological programme at the UoN to understand the relationship between type of cannabis extract, dose and method of ingestion on a suite of clinical outcomes including symptom control and quality of life in cancer patients.

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in cancer

Investigators: Jennifer Martin, Peter Galettis, Madhu Garg, Stephen Ackland, Sebastian Goulooze, Dept of Medical Oncology at Calvary Mater Hospital

This Newcastle group based at the Calvary mater Hospital and UoN is developing optimal sampling techniques and novel methodologies to study whether therapeutic drug monitoring in cancer improves cancer outcomes.

Associate Professor David Newby

Evidence-based practice regarding the choice of over-the-counter medicines in pharmacy practice

This project is examining the knowledge, attitudes and practices of pharmacists, pharmacy assistants and the public towards using evidence in selecting medicines to treat minor illnesses. It involves focus groups and a national survey of pharmacists and pharmacy assistants, and a national survey of consumers regarding their views of evidence and over the counter medicines. The project is funded by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (NSW branch).

Impact of a drug and alcohol course on attitudes towards patients with substance use disorders

This research is to assess the impact that completing "The basis of drug and alcohol problems" (MEDI6130) course has on students' attitudes towards substance use disorders. Students who are enrolled in MEDI6130 are invited to complete two anonymous, online questionnaires, one at the beginning of the course and one at the end. The questionnaires are deigned to assess the impact the course has on the attitudes of students who may come from backgrounds where they may have limited experience with patients with drug and alcohol problems.

Attitudes of first-year Pharmacy students towards studying pharmacy and the pharmacy profession: an exploratory study

This project will discover what influences students' decisions to undertake a Pharmacy course, and where they will later practice pharmacy. We will contrast and compare the responses from the MPharm students, who have already gained an undergraduate degree, with those that have largely come from high school to study the BPharm.

Consumer views on health care costs in Australia

The aim of the research is to assess the views of Australian consumers on factors contributing to the increasing costs of health care and the responsibilities of different groups of people for managing these costs. Participants will be a random sample of Australian residents aged >18 years who are asked to take part in a computer-assisted telephone survey, the National Social Survey, conducted by researchers at the Central Queensland University.

Dr Jane Robertson

A National Survey on Access to Medicines in Sri Lanka

Investigators: Dr Nimmi Athuraliya (University of Newcastle), Dr DMSH Dharmaratne (University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka), Dr Jane Robertson (University of Newcastle)

A national household survey using the World Health Organization (WHO) methodology has been carried out in six districts of Sri Lanka. The survey measures people's access to and use of medicines when faced with either acute or chronic illness. The questionnaire covers health-seeking behaviour, as well as source, availability, cost, affordability, and appropriate use of medicines.

Consumer views on health care costs in Australia

Investigators: Dr Jane Robertson (University of Newcastle), Dr Emily Walkom (University of Newcastle), Associate Professor David Newby (University of Newcastle)

This computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) study seeks the views of 1200 randomly selected Australians aged 18 years or over on the contributors to rising health care costs and their perceptions of the responsibilities of different people for managing health care costs. Results will be compared to a similar study we conducted in 2006 to assess possible changes in attitudes over time.

Mr Robin Bell

Men's Health

Investigating the health care seeking behaviour men in NSW with particular emphasis on their use of existing health care services, barriers to access and use of such services, and attitudes towards medicine use including prescription, over-the-counter and complementary therapies. Initial focus group discussions with men sourced in the Newcastle region have been completed and the themes identified will be used to develop project design.

Dietary supplements

Investigating the use of dietary supplements in the body building community, with particular focus on the active components, safety and  regulation of dietary supplements, and the health literacy of users.

Sedation of intubated patients in intensive care

Investigating the efficacy, cost effectiveness, pharmacodynamics and validation of sedation regimens used in intubated patients in intensive care management, with a focus on Australian clinical practice.