UQ tech could offer 'faster, cheaper and mobile' COVID-19 diagnosis

Date of Posting: 07-10-2020

Technology that helps to quickly extract and analyse genetic material could be used for cheap, accurate and mobile COVID-19 testing, including at airports and remote testing centres. ‘Dipstick’ technology, developed by the University o Read More...

Thalidomide financial support 'won't buy dignity'

Last Updated: 07-10-2020

A financial support package for thalidomide survivors has drawn a mixed response from recipients. A financial support package for Australian thalidomide survivors valued at almost $45 million has been labelled inadequate.[subscribe] The federal Read More...

Survey shows longer wait time for radiotherapy in poor areas

Last Updated: 07-10-2020

Latest figures show people living in low-income areas face a longer wait for radiotherapy cancer treatment than those in wealthier regions. Cancer patients living in low-income areas face a longer wait for radiotherapy treatment than people in mor Read More...

Gene therapy research gives hope on World Sight Day

Date of Posting: 06-10-2020

The potential of gene therapy to prevent blindness and restore sight for eye diseases that have long been considered untreatable is the focus on World Sight Day (8 October 2020) at the Centre for Eye Research Australia. “Gene and cell therap Read More...

Virus therapy provided to Trump could pave way

Last Updated: 05-10-2020

Australia should keep a close eye on how Donald Trump battles his COVID-19 infection, according to one of the country's leading scientists. The treatment being provided to United States President Donald Trump could pave the way to fighting COV Read More...

Workout pre-menopause to boost health in later life

Last Updated: 02-10-2020

Women who want to enjoy peak health in their later years should establish an exercise routine before they hit menopause according to recent research published in the Journal of Physiology. The research demonstrates that the small blood vessels in Read More...

Health workers experiencing increased levels of stress due to COVID-19, research reveals

Last Updated: 02-10-2020

Independent aged care and disability support workers have experienced increased stress levels while working during the COVID-19 pandemic, new research reveals. The increase in stress is caused by financial strain, along with concern around contrac Read More...

Body fat deep below the surface is a toxic risk, especially for your heart

Last Updated: 01-10-2020

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s easy to forget one of the largest health challenges we face remains the global obesity epidemic. World Health Organisation data shows obesity has nearly tripled in less than 50 years, with about 40% of a Read More...

I regret stopping breastfeeding. How do I start again?

Last Updated: 01-10-2020

Many women find breastfeeding difficult and stop before they planned. Some women are relieved to stop. But others regret it. If you regret stopping, you may be able to give it another go, even if you no longer have any milk. This may be poss Read More...

A COVID-19 vaccine may come without a needle

Last Updated: 01-10-2020

Vaccines are traditionally administered with a needle, but this isn’t the only way. For example, certain vaccines can be delivered orally, as a drop on the tongue, or via a jet-like device. Vaccines that appear particularly suitable to Read More...

More than one way to grow in the womb

Date of Posting: 01-10-2020

Carrying a fetus that is small for gestational age (SGA) is associated with increased rates of stillbirth and neonatal death as well as metabolic disease in later life. However, new research from Flinders University placental biologist and pregnan Read More...

GPs crucial in effective COVID-19 vaccine roll out

Date of Posting: 01-10-2020

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is urging government to ensure general practice is front and centre in any potential COVID-19 vaccine rollout. The latest edition of the Australian Journal of General Practice, which is Read More...

E-cigarettes 'gateway' to smoking for non-smokers

Date of Posting: 01-10-2020

Using e-cigarettes triples the chance of a non-smoker taking up cigarettes and there is “insufficient” evidence that they help smokers quit, according to a new report submitted to the Government. Research led by The Australian National Read More...

Queensland biotechnology firm developing 15-minute virus test

Last Updated: 30-09-2020

Queensland researchers are engineering a 15-minute COVID-19 test that could ready by the end of 2020 and used for other viruses like dengue fever. A 15-minute COVID-19 which could be quicker than a pregnancy test is being developed by researchers Read More...

Melbourne adjusts to eased restrictions

Last Updated: 30-09-2020

A series of new COVID-19 restrictions have been clarified by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, who also confirmed the make-up his new ministry. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has clarified a bevy of COVID-19 rules as Melbourne adjusts to eased r Read More...

Research confirms link between sleep apnea and Alzheimer's disease

Date of Posting: 29-09-2020

New research has confirmed long-suspected links between sleep apnea and Alzheimer’s disease, finding identical signs of brain damage in both conditions. While the cause of Alzheimer’s disease remains a mystery, amyloid plaques that are Read More...

Treating our elderly people ethically and with transparency

Date of Posting: 29-09-2020

UNSW’s Richard Hugman says it is time to stop treating elderly people as objects, as the Royal Commission into Aged Care and Safety continues. The dramatic increase in COVID-19 deaths in Australia’s aged care homes begs the ethics arou Read More...

Australians say health workers should get COVID jab first

Date of Posting: 29-09-2020

Australians say frontline healthcare workers and aged and disability carers should be the first to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, according to new research from The Australian National University (ANU).  The survey of more than 3,000 Australians Read More...

An alarming rise in women with tongue cancer

Last Updated: 28-09-2020

There's been a dramatic increase in the incidence of rare tongue cancer in people under 45, particularly in young, non-smoking women, new research has found. There's been an alarming rise in the number of young people, particularly women, Read More...

Here are some tips for parents of fussy eaters

Date of Posting: 24-09-2020

Pediatric nutritionist Dr Jennifer Cohen says it's normal for children to go through a fussy eating stage, but she has tips for parents to stop meal wars. While fussy eating is part of normal childhood development, there are some suggestions p Read More...

Victorian government is negotiating on COVID bill

Last Updated: 24-09-2020

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says the state government is negotiating with crossbenchers over the controversial COVID-19 Omnibus bill. The Victorian government is negotiating with crossbenchers over its controversial COVID-19 Omnibus bill.[sub Read More...

We can't ignore mental illness prevention in a COVID-19 world

Last Updated: 23-09-2020

Despite the incremental easing of Victoria’s restrictions, it’s clear the journey towards COVID-normal is far slower than many people had hoped.   Australians – particularly Victorians – have shown remarkable res Read More...

5 things the pandemic has revealed about the Australian psyche

Last Updated: 23-09-2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has spawned some of the most dramatic changes to Australian life in recent memory. We’ve had to adapt to a vastly different way of life to curb the spread of the virus, featuring unfamiliar challenges such as social dis Read More...

Self-harm content on Instagram: "self-harm or self-help?"

Date of Posting: 23-09-2020

Instagram users who post self-harm content online are choosing ambiguous hashtags in an attempt to circumvent the social media platform’s ban on harmful content, a researcher at the University of Otago, Wellington, has found. PhD student Jac Read More...

Health messages to help stop patient harm in hospitals

Date of Posting: 23-09-2020

A new global research group led by The Australian National University (ANU) will help tackle communication breakdowns in hospitals that contribute to over 450,000 people per year suffering from an avoidable critical incident. The International Con Read More...

New study reveals why flu can be devastating for pregnant women

Date of Posting: 23-09-2020

New research helps explain why flu can lead to life-threatening complications during pregnancy, suggesting the virus does not stay in the lungs but spreads throughout the mother’s body. The pre-clinical study has overturned current scientifi Read More...

Australia agreed to a global virus vaccine deal

Last Updated: 23-09-2020

Australia is now eligible to buy coronavirus vaccines through a global pool when they become available. Australia has signed onto a global coronavirus agreement in the hope of gaining early access to dozens of potential vaccines.[subscribe] The Read More...

Researchers address the 'COVID Calorie Count' climbing under Victoria's lockdown

Last Updated: 22-09-2020

Research underway to explore how motivation and environment can trigger over-eating could be relevant to growing numbers of Victorians accumulating “COVID calories” under lockdown, says Professor Moyez Jiwa who is leading the study. Hi Read More...

Australians with eating disorders to volunteer for genetic investigation

Date of Posting: 22-09-2020

Researchers are calling for Australians with eating disorders to help in a study to identify the genes that influence risk of developing the illness. Australians with first-hand experience of eating disorders have been called upon to be part of a Read More...

Some parts of Queensland is enjoying a tourism boom

Date of Posting: 22-09-2020

Queensland is nearing 14 days without community COVID-19 transmission which could lead to restrictions being lifted as parts of the state enjoy a tourism boom. Queensland is nearing a COVID-19 milestone which could lead to restrictions being lifte Read More...

NSW Health strives for a COVID-safe summer

Date of Posting: 21-09-2020

NSW Health is striving to achieve zero community transmission of COVID-19, while the premier announced a plan to get people out and about safely during summer. Health authorities are NSW Health striving for zero community transmission of COVID-19 Read More...

How to clear Victoria's backlog of elective surgeries after a 6-month slowdown?

Last Updated: 18-09-2020

With the number of COVID-19 cases in Victoria continuing to trend downwards, Premier Daniel Andrews yesterday announced a phased restart of elective procedures in public and private hospitals. Regional Victoria moves to return to 75% of usua Read More...

Supporting improved healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples

Last Updated: 18-09-2020

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can trial a new tool to help them manage their healthcare with the launch of a pilot program in Perth of the GoShare digital platform which has supported over 1000 patients so far. Launched by Minister Read More...

Future of age care must be built on better housing design

Last Updated: 18-09-2020

Pragmatic housing design features are vital to enable older people to stay home longer, have greater independence and reduce the cost of age care services, according to new RMIT University research. COVID-19 has exposed serious flaws in the qualit Read More...

New blood test finds undetected COVID-19 cases

Date of Posting: 18-09-2020

Researchers at The Australian National University (ANU) have developed a new blood test capturing previous exposure to COVID-19. Initial results suggest many more people have been exposed to the virus in Australia than have been detected so far. & Read More...

Study shows bullying by friends hurts the most

Date of Posting: 17-09-2020

Researchers at Flinders University have found young victims often tolerated hurtful bullying from friends because they don't want to lose the relationship. The spreading of rumours or exclusion by best friends hurt victims more than if the sam Read More...

Women's Safety NSW are calling to have new laws to protect women

Date of Posting: 16-09-2020

Women's Safety NSW says the criminalisation of coercive control is vital if Australia is to reduce violence against women and domestic homicide. Domestic violence survivors and advocates are calling on the NSW government to criminalise coerciv Read More...

Children report increased anxiety, trauma from Hazelwood mine fire

Date of Posting: 15-09-2020

On 9 February 2014, the open-cut brown coal mine servicing the Hazelwood power station in the Latrobe Valley caught fire due to nearby bushfires. The coal mine fire burned for 45 days, covering Morwell and other communities across the Latrobe Valley Read More...

Should I stop running if my knee hurts?

Date of Posting: 15-09-2020

The most common site for pain in recreational runners is the knee. For some, especially older runners, the pain can be a symptom of osteoarthritis. But does running worsen knee pain and osteoarthritis?   A study from Canada shows that m Read More...

Here's what we know about CTE, the brain condition that affected Danny Frawley

Last Updated: 15-09-2020

News emerged this week former AFL footballer Danny Frawley was suffering from a brain disease called CTE when he died last year, according to reports received by the Victorian Coroner.   Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, refer Read More...