August 2017 No Images? Click here Welcome to the latest edition of Data Crunch, our newsletter for researchers, policy makers and others with a professional interest in Australia's largest cohort study. This issue brings you all the latest Study news, including new opportunities to use geocoded data and undertake research using biospecimens from Study participants. Thanks again for your continued support of this valuable research platform. We hope to see you at our upcoming annual forum and you can contact us any time to discuss how we might work together. Margo Barr, Study Director Save the date: 2017 Annual ForumWorld-renowned immunologist, chair of the Federal Government's Medical Research Future Fund and former Australian of the Year, Professor Ian Frazer (pictured right), will be the keynote speaker at the 45 and Up Study Annual Forum, to be held on Tuesday, 24 October in Ultimo, Sydney. We anticipate some forward thinking discussion and debate about innovative future uses for the Study and look forward to showcasing some of the leading research it supports. Save the date and look out for our email about how to register, coming soon. Geocoding supports research into health and environment connectionsResearchers are uncovering the ways in which environmental factors such as air pollution, noise and green space can impact on people’s health with the help of increasingly detailed geocoded mapping of data in the 45 and Up Study. A new variable, a transport hierarchy code, is also set to enable researchers to drill down further into how environment affects participants' health. Door opens to new genomics research opportunitiesThe 45 and Up Study is set to become an even more valuable knowledge resource for researchers, decision makers and the community now that it can be used to examine the genomic profiles of Australia’s healthy older population.The Medical Genome Reference Bank, which includes specimens from the 45 and Up Study, will open the door to a wider range of research into the genetic variants that underpin disease. Strong forward focus on policy-relevant researchThe Sax Institute's new Head of Research Assets, Dr Martin McNamara, is equally at home in the worlds of research and policy, having had extensive experience across both throughout his career. Dr McNamara, who oversees the Institute’s research platforms, including the 45 and Up Study, says there will be a strong forward focus on developing the capacity of researchers to use the Study to answer pressing policy questions in a timely way. Study linkage to aged care datasets offers new insightsHealth service planners are set to delve deeper into the social circumstances that influence people’s use of health services, with a research project that links 45 and Up Study data to both state and Commonwealth datasets on aged care service usage for the first time. Dr Peter Lewis, Director of the Central Coast Public Health Unit, said the project was using home and aged care data to augment hospital and other data to help identify people on a downward health trajectory.
Datasets now available for researchersResearchers can now access a growing number of datasets through the Study:
Research snapshot
Publication listingsYou can browse all research projects that have used or are using the 45 and Up Study data here. If your project status is different to that listed, please let us know. The full list of publications is also available on our website, with 36 new papers listed in the past year. If you have recently published a paper that isn't yet listed, please let us know so we can add it to the list. Study updatesResearcher portalOur researcher portal is how we now work with researchers using the 45 and Up Study. This is where you'll find all the forms you'll need, including application forms and project amendment forms. We offer group discounts for centres with several researchers using the Study. If you have close to eight researchers in your centre using 45 and Up Study data, talk to us about a centre licence. You can find out more about using the Secure Unified Research Environment (SURE), including the most recent fee schedule, here. Technical reviewsPlease remember that all publications, including peer reviewed papers, conference abstracts and reports, need to be submitted to us for Technical Review. You can check out what's required in our Guidelines for authors. In the newsDo you have a great story to tell about findings from your research using the 45 and Up Study? We may be able to help you promote your work, but it's best we know ahead of publication. Contact our Communications team about your upcoming publications. Recent media items featuring the Study include: Contact usFor more information about the 45 and Up Study and how to use it, contact us on: Our partnersThe 45 and Up Study is managed by the Sax Institute in collaboration with major partner Cancer Council NSW and partners: The National Heart Foundation of Australia (NSW Division); NSW Ministry of Health; NSW Government Family & Community Services – Ageing, Carers and the Disability Council NSW; and the Australian Red Cross Blood Service.Division); NSW Government Thanks to our study partners for their support:
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