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Flinders University has been awarded AU$ 6.4 million from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) to pioneer groundbreaking research at the intersection of technology and innovation, specifically targeting advancements in sleep apnoea and gestational diabetes management. Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Timothy Cavagnaro highlighted Flinders University’s expanding influence in health and medical research, emphasising the institution’s significant share of the State’s medical research funding.
Flinders University ranks eighth nationwide for National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grants. Professor Cavagnaro underscored the competitive nature of research funding and expressed enthusiasm for the new projects’ potential to enhance the university’s global research reputation. He emphasised that through innovation, collaboration, and inclusion, Flinders’ researchers aim to significantly impact human health in Australia and globally.
The funded Flinders-led initiatives focusing on obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and gestational diabetes include:
2023 Preventive and Public Health Research Initiative: OSA affects nearly 1 billion people worldwide, disrupting breathing during sleep and leading to severe health issues if left undiagnosed and untreated. The sleep research team will work across three streams to optimise the screening, diagnosis, and management of OSA.
Stream 1: The current OSA diagnosis relies on a single-night sleep study either at home or in a sleep laboratory, where patients are connected to up to 12 sensors placed on their head, body, fingers, and legs. This setup often results in poor sleep and potential misdiagnosis due to the unrepresentative nature of a single night’s sleep. The first stream aims to test existing methods against newer, less intrusive technologies that can monitor sleep over multiple nights, facilitating simpler and more cost-effective diagnostic approaches. This project, led by Associate Professor Sutapa Mukherjee and Professor Peter Catcheside, received AU$1,996,310 in funding.
Stream 2: The second study will evaluate the efficacy of simplified sleep study tests (utilising fewer monitoring channels) compared to full sleep studies for diagnosing OSA. This investigation will assess the accuracy of three different simplified sleep study devices and their impact on clinical decision-making and patient outcomes. The goal is to determine if these simplified testing devices can lead to significant cost savings in OSA management. This project, headed by Associate Professor Ching Li Chai-Coetzer and Associate Professor Andrew Vakulin, was awarded AU$1,995,310.
Stream 3: The third stream will explore the effectiveness of home monitoring for OSA using a safe, unobtrusive under-mattress device. This approach, combined with various support options to assist patients with their treatment, aims to reduce the impact of untreated OSA on patients’ lives and prove more effective and cost-efficient than current care models. This project, led by Professor Robert Adams and Professor Danny Eckert, received AU$1,496,447.
2023 Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Mechanisms: Gestational diabetes, the fastest-growing type of diabetes in Australia, affects 19% of pregnant women, posing risks to both mother and baby and increasing the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Women with a history of gestational diabetes are advised to undergo regular monitoring for early detection of type 2 diabetes.
Impact of Excess Folic Acid on the Pathogenesis of Gestational Diabetes: This project investigates the links between excessive folic acid intake and the development of gestational diabetes. The research aims to establish how excess folic acid contributes to gestational diabetes and to provide guidance for screening and advising women during pregnancy. This study involves collaboration with clinicians and midwives from the South Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN). Led by Professor Claire Roberts, the project was awarded AU$1,000,000.
The MRFF funding will continue to support lifesaving research, create jobs, bolster the local industry base for commercialising research and innovation, and enhance Australia’s standing as a global leader in medical research.
