Tuesday, 1 April 2014

Research news and commentary #5 for 2014

Minister Dutton Cancels Funding For Mental Health Research
NSW Council on Intellectual Disability E-News, March 2014
Federal Health Minister Peter Dutton has cancelled a funding commitment made by the previous government to important research on the mental health of people with intellectual disability.

 The Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry at UNSW put together a partnership in 2012 with various agencies including NSW CID, the Australian Department of Health, NSW Ministry of Health and Ageing, Disability & Home Care (ADHC). Those three government departments each committed $200,000. This led to the National Health and Medical Research Council agreeing to contribute over $1.1M.

 It is unclear what impact Minister Dutton’s decision will have on the NHMRC contribution. At least, the NHMRC contribution will be reduced by $200,000.

The research project is aimed at increasing understanding of how service systems are responding to the mental health needs of people with intellectual disability and identifying how responses can be improved.

 Minister Dutton’s decision is in line with a number of decisions made by the Abbott Government to cancel commitments of the previous government.

 NSW CID advocated strongly to the Minster to proceed with this project and is very disappointed with his decision.

Endeavour Foundation Endowment Challenge Fund 
NSW Council on Intellectual Disability E-News, March 2014
Grants are available for researchers and postgraduate students to undertake research into issues of key importance for Australians with a disability, especially people with an intellectual disability.

Grants are also available for non-profit organisations who wish to expand their current activities to include people with a disability, or deliver innovative projects that enhance social inclusion.

The 2014 grants round opens on 31st March 2014. 


University of Sydney  - Asthma Study
NSW Council on Intellectual Disability E-News, March 2014
Research to develop tools to support people with intellectual disability use medical inhalers effectively
  • 15% of Australians with intellectual disability say they have asthma.
  • Inhalers are a great way to get your asthma medication. Lots of people don’t use inhalers well
  • Researchers want to see how people with intellectual disability use their inhalers and see if there are some ways to use them better.
An Easy English brochure is available. For more information ring Sharon Davis: 02 91141159 or 0411 817 299 or email here.

People With Intellectual Disabilities Get a Say in Drug Trials
Amy Dockser Marcus, The Wall Street Journal, 10th March 2014
Doctors, researchers and drug companies are coming up with simple designs to address a complex ethical dilemma: how to make sure people with intellectual disabilities consent to join a drug trial.

With growing numbers of clinical trials getting under way involving conditions such as Down syndrome and Fragile X syndrome, researchers are trying new strategies to ensure people with the conditions, which typically involve intellectual disabilities, understand the risks and benefits of participating in trials ...
Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome Awards $1.26 Million in Grand Challenge Grants Supporting 13 Researchers
Global Down Syndrome Foundation, 21st March 2013
To commemorate World Down Syndrome Day, the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome announced $1.26 million in Crnic Institute Grand Challenge Grants to 13 researchers, raising the number of labs at the University of Colorado working on Down syndrome research to 24, and the total labs supported by Crnic to 29 ...

The Compose Study is recruiting participants
Compose (Cognition and Memory in People with Down Syndrome) is a clinical study that will assess the safety and potential efficacy of a compound that could enhance memory, language and learning in people with Down Syndrome.
From the Centre for Applied Disability Research ...

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