A newsletter for those with a professional interest in Australia's largest cohort study.
Welcome to Data Crunch, our new-look newsletter for members of the 45 and Up Study Research Network, 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 highlights from this year's successful Collaborators’ meeting, information about the datasets you can now access, and a look at how Study findings are having a real-world impact. You might have noticed we have a new logo (above) and it would greatly help us to get the word out on the Study if you could use this in your presentations and materials. Our
Communications team can send you any files you may require. Thanks again for your continued support of this rich research asset. We're looking forward to working with you all in 2017. Margo Barr, Study Director
2016 Collaborators' Meeting a research showcaseA wide range of exciting new research findings drawn from the 45 and Up Study and linked datasets was showcased at the 2016 Collaborators' meeting in Sydney. The meeting, which attracted 160 attendees, was opened by NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner who described the Study as a
source of "cohort envy". Another highlight was the keynote address by Dr Diane Watson, former Chief Executive of the National Health Performance Authority, who offered insights into making research evidence useful. Visit our website for a full wrap of the meeting including news, photos, media coverage and presentations.
Watch our video of highlights from the Collaborator's meeting
Door opens for genomics research using 45 and Up Study biospecimens
Researchers can now apply for $2.46 million in grants from the NSW Genomics Collaborative Grants Program
to undertake ground-breaking human genomic medicine research using biospecimens from the 45 and Up Study. Head of the Garvan Institute’s Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, Associate Professor Marcel Dinger, told the 2016 Collaborators' meeting that more than 1000 genomes of 45 and Up Study participants
had already been sequenced as part of the Medical Genome Reference Bank, a database of healthy genomes that will act as a filter to enable researchers to identify genetic variants linked to many diseases The 2017 funding round announced by the Office for Health and Medical Research will give researchers the first opportunity to undertake research using either existing Study specimens, including those where the genome has already been sequenced, and new biospecimens.
How Study findings are making an impact Growing evidence is emerging of the real-world impact of research using the 45 and Up Study. Read how the Study findings have influenced tobacco legislation, are helping to fill evidence gaps on chronic disease management and were cited as central to driving greater use of linked data research in NSW.
Meet our new System and Data Manager Biostatistician Tina Navin Cristina has recently joined the Study in the important role of System and Data Manager, to manage the Study’s ever-growing datasets and to assist researchers using these resources. Tina has a wealth of experience in the fields of both medical research and statistics, including working at the Garvan Institute as a research assistant and studying a Masters in Biostatistics through NSW Health’s Biostatistical Officer training program. “I’m looking forward to supporting so many different research
projects and in seeing how the Study is being used to answer crucial questions,” she says. Researchers can contact Tina for advice on using the Study questionnaire and geocoded datasets, MBS and PBS datasets, as well as general data management and analysis advice via: 45andUp.research@saxinstitute.org.au
The Study at a glance The data - Data on 266,954
participants
- Follow-up data on 244,314 participants
- Access to 68.9 million
MBS records
- Access to 53.9 million PBS records
- MBS and PBS data for 2015
available soon
The researchers - 650 researchers from 84 different
organisations have used the Study
- The data has been used in 132 research projects
- 200 peer-reviewed papers have been published
- An average of one peer-reviewed paper is published
every week
Datasets now available for researchers
Researchers can now access a growing number of datasets through the Study: - Baseline questionnaire
dataset on 267,001 participants and the updated geocodes from the baseline addresses and associated geographic information for 86% of the participants. The mapping is from geocode to mesh block to SA1 etc. It also includes ARIA, SEIFA, LHD and PHN. Anything below SA2 will only be available in the geospatial area on SURE.
- SEEF (Social, Economic and Environmental substudy) questionnaire dataset on 60,389 participants and geocodes and associated geographic information for 83% of the participants.
- Five year follow-up questionnaire
dataset for 2012, 2013 and 2014 on 105,905 participants and the updated geocodes from the 2012 and 2013 addresses and associated geographic information for 95.7% of the participants. The mapping is from geocode to mesh block to SA1 etc. It also includes ARIA, SEIFA, LHD and PHN. Anything below SA2 will only be available in the geospatial area on SURE.
- MBS and PBS data to December 2014, with 2015 data to become available soon.The PBS dataset now includes items where there was no co-payment, making it more comprehensive.
Progress ReportsAre you currently using the Study? If so, don't forget to complete your annual progress report via the form on our Researcher Portal, to keep us up-to-date on your research.
Technical reviewsIf you are submitting a paper for Technical Review, remember to check the Guidelines for Authors which outline all requirements.
Researcher reminders
Just a reminder that our researcher portal is now used to interact with researchers who are using the 45 and Up Study and SURE, and this is where you’ll find all the forms you'll need, including application forms and project amendment forms. Study fees will be increasing in line with CPI from January 2017, to keep pace with increased costs of running and managing the Study. Details of the revised Licence fees will be available on our
website when finalised. We are able to 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. For SURE access fees, please refer to the most recent
fee schedule. And don't hesitate to contact us via the details below if you have any questions or concerns.
Project status and publication updatesAll research projects that have used or are using the 45 and Up Study data are listed on the website here. If your project status is different to that listed, could you please let us know. A
full list of publications is also available on our website. If you have recently published a paper that isn't yet listed, please send it to us so we can add it to the list.
Share your good news
Do you have a good story to tell about findings from your research using the 45 and Up Study? We may be able to help promote your work, but it's best we know ahead of publication. Contact our Communications team about your upcoming publications.
Our partners
The 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. Thank you to all of our partners for their valued support.
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