Centre of research excellence on women and non-communicable disease (CRE WaND): Prevention and Detection
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Professor Martha Hickey
Project Details
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) – cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancers, respiratory conditions, and diabetes – are responsible for two out of three deaths among women. In Australia three quarters of the total burden of disease in women results from six disease groups: CVD and diabetes, cancers, musculoskeletal, respiratory, neurological and mental health conditions. The prevalence and progression of NCDs show marked sex differences, for example, from the rates of osteoporosis, depression, and asthma, to female cancers, and the risks posed by diabetes. Further, many NCDs and poor reproductive outcomes share common risk factors such as obesity, which increases the risk of both pregnancy complications and CVD events. Female reproductive characteristics pose additional risks for NCDs, for instance, early menarche and premature menopause are both associated with increased risk of CVD and diabetes.
The Centre of Research Excellence on Women and Non-communicable Diseases (CRE-WaND) aims to encompass and prioritise NCDs by taking an integrated approach to quantifying the risks of NCDs in women, including the role of health behaviours and reproductive characteristics; women’s use of health services across life; and develop targeted strategies for practice guidelines and protocols for the prevention and detection of NCDs in women.
Researchers
Prof Martha Hickey – Chief Investigator/ Professor
Dr Mridula Bandyopadhyay – Research Fellow - Translation
Collaborators
University of Queensland
Funding
This research has been funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council and The The Centre of Research Excellence on Women and Non-communicable Diseases
Research Outcomes
CRE-WaND aims to address the urgent public health challenges by providing evidence and translation research needed to develop relevant policy and preventive health strategies that can significantly reduce NCDs in women
Research Group
Gynaecology Research Centre - Hickey Group
School Research Themes
Women's Health, Infectious Diseases and Immunity
Key Contact
For further information about this research, please contact the research group leader.
Department / Centre
Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research
Node
Royal Women’s Hospital
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