RECALL-Pilot: REducing Cognitive decline and dementiA by Lowering bLood pressure Pilot
BackgroundDementia is a decline in thinking skills that affects our ability to conduct day-to-day activities. It is not a normal part of ageing however there is a greater risk of dementia as we age. There are currently around 472,000 people affected by dementia in Australia, which is predicted to double in the next 35 years.Studies have shown that high blood pressure increases the risk of dementia. Some studies suggest that medication to lower blood pressure might help reduce the risk of dementia but there is insufficient evidence for clear recommendations. The RECALL-Pilot trial aims to address this gap in the current body of research.AimTo encourage nationwide participation, RECALL-Pilot is trialling a new online approach to clinical trials, which will inform the future design of a larger clinical trial on dementia risk reduction.Research MethodologyThere are no face-to-face appointments in this study except for two blood tests – participants will carry out the rest of the pilot trial online from home.&nb
Housing, home and health: Social housing and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in urban New South Wales
BackgroundHousing is a social and cultural determinant of health and wellbeing. Housing conditions, housing security and surrounding home environments all impact on people’s health and wellbeing. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s wellbeing is supported by housing that meets their physical, social, emotional, cultural and locational needs. Living on Country and close to family and community support, as well as services, are critical factors in supporting wellbeing.Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social housing tenants in urban Sydney are often faced with the experience of living in housing that does not meet their physical, social, emotional, cultural and locational needs. The meanings of home and desired outcomes of tenants are not necessarily known, understood or considered by social housing providers. Additionally, the social housing system is difficult to navigate in instances when tenants wish to address their housing needs, for example, requesting a repair or requesting a transfer
Call to Action: Public health experts call on the Australian government to show leadership at all levels to tackle chronic disease
Policy & Practice Report
Participation in the Third WHO Infodemic Manager Training
Background
An infodemic according to the WHO is “an overabundance of information, both online and offline”, and typically accompanies outbreaks and pandemics e.g. COVID-19. Mis- and dis-information have wide ranging serious and adverse impacts on individuals, communities and health systems, and undermines public health responses to COVID-19.
The 3rd WHO IM training is aimed to address the critical and urgent global need to develop capacity in infodemic management interventions and practice to understand and mitigate the impact of infodemics in a timely manner.
Aim
The 3rd IM training is aimed to build capacity so that trainees will be able to apply their knowledge and skills gained in national preparedness and response to infodemics and support the development of networks for knowledge and resource exchange
The training will encompass global and region-specific topics in the infodemic and health misinformation
Research Methodology
The virtual tr
Comparison of removable off-loading device and routine care to heal plantar ulcers due to leprosy and diabetes in the community
Background
Plantar ulcers are a serious complication in leprosy and diabetes globally resulting in hospitalization, disability, and amputation. Continued pressure over the vulnerable site leads to ulcers and then impedes ulcer healing. Therefore, in addition to removal of infection off-loading the ulcer area is essential to heal the ulcer. The current proposed feasibility plus study is based on removable off-loading walker boot fitted with soft insole which can be easily applied with limited training and may allow the patient to continue their essential daily routine activities. We will test the feasibility and acceptability of using this device and set the scene for a potential trial to test the effectiveness of this device type in reducing ulcer development and ulcer complications in community setting.
Aim
To compare a removable pressure-relieving off-loading device with standard routine care for healing plantar ulcers due to leprosy and diabetes in the community.
Design
Global Surgery and Trauma Research
An estimated 11–32% of the global disease burden is due to surgically correctable illnesses. Lancet Commission on Global Surgery estimated that 5 billion people do not have adequate access to safe affordable surgical care when needed. Contrary to belief, investing in surgical services in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is affordable, saves lives, and promotes economic growth. Global Surgery is defined as an area of study, research, practice, and advocacy that seeks to improve health outcomes and achieve health equity for all people who need surgical and anaesthesia care, with a special emphasis on underserved populations and populations in crisis. Among these surgically treatable diseases, trauma causes over four million deaths annually, predominantly in LMICs and is an important aspect of Global surgery. Cancer, similarly, is the second most lethal noncommunicable disease after cardiovascular disease and accounted for about 9.9 million deaths, globally in 2020. Around 9% of all cancer death
The UHC Accelerator
Universal health coverage (UHC) means that all people have access to the full range of quality health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship. It covers the full continuum of essential health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care.
The UHC Accelerator was established with the mission of supporting and convening national political champions to accelerate UHC reforms.
We aim to:
Provide mentorship for implementers and change-makers at the national level;
Contribute to the generation and use of rigorous, high-quality research on UHC;
Create safe and trusted spaces for open, provocative dialogue that can directly drive policy form and programme design.
The UHC Accelerator complements other global initiatives by connecting experienced UHC reformers with people who have the power and authority in their countries to accelerate UHC - bringing together those driving health system
The George Institute 2026-2027 Pre Budget Submission
Policy & Practice Report
Five year review of the Health Star rating system
Policy & Practice Report
Strengthening cancer care in the Asia-Pacific region
Background
Cancer incidence is rising rapidly worldwide, with projections estimating 24 million new cases annually by 2035. Low- and middle-income countries are expected to bear over 70% of this burden, with the Asia-Pacific region (APAC) particularly affected. In 2020, APAC accounted for nearly 60% of global cancer deaths, and cancer remains the second leading cause of mortality in the region, responsible for approximately 4.5 million deaths in 2016. A significant challenge in APAC is the shortfall in radiotherapy services, with projections indicating that over 5 million cancer patients annually will require radiotherapy by 2035. Despite technological advancements, audits of radiotherapy services across the region have highlighted gaps in quality and accessibility, underscoring the urgent need for investment in infrastructure and data-driven improvements.
A key factor in enhancing radiotherapy services is the effective use of information systems, which can store and analyse crucial data on pa
Improving cancer care in South East Asia
Policy & Practice Report
MAT Study: Determining the effects of metformin among people with small abdominal aortic aneurysms
Background
An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an enlarged area in the lower part of the major vessel that supplies blood to the body. Most AAAs are detected when they are small, and affected patients are monitored by regular repeat imaging until their aneurysm expands to a size where surgical repair is required.
The only current treatment is high-risk surgery. Numerous trials have been conducted in the last 20 years to try to identify an effective medical therapy for AAA, but all published trials to date have been unsuccessful.
There is substantial epidemiological and pre-clinical evidence to suggest that a widely used, safe and low-cost drug called metformin may prevent serious AAA-related events such as ruptures, death or need for surgery, however a large-scale randomised control trial (RCT) is needed to test any such benefit reliably.
Aims
The primary aim of the Metformin Aneurysm Trial (MAT) is to assess whether metformin prevents the need for AAA repair by surgery, or death from A
