Indigenous Australians have a higher prevalence of many autoimmune diseases and often have worse health outcomes. The CPM have successfully identified unique genetic variants which contribute to the burden of chronic immune disease in Indigenous Australians and are in the process of discovering the mechanisms at play. This exemplifies the potential for personalised medicine to be applied at a population level, enabling targeted treatment options, early intervention and reduced burden of disease.
The CPM is dedicated to identifying the unique causes of chronic health issues in Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander communities to help identify targeted medications which in turn reduce the burden of these diseases.
Aim and objectives:
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Identify genetic variants which increase susceptibility in Indigenous Australians to developing immune-mediated disease.
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Understand the dysregulated immune pathways which contribute to treatment failure in Indigenous communities.
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Improve chronic health outcomes by identifying treatments specific to unique causes of disease in Indigenous Australians.
Read more about the NHMRC grant awarded to Dr Vicki Athanasopolous.
Future Direction: Our researchers are working to identify dysregulation patterns across a wider population. This will allow for the development of more tailored therapies and potentially even new medications. Early detection and intervention are crucial for improving health outcomes, and personalised medicine has the potential to make a significant difference in Indigenous health efforts.
Partnering with Purple House
We have partnered with Purple House, the Indigenous led mobile dialysis unit based in Alice Springs. The Indigenous Board Directors are excited with the impact our research and have agreed for us to recruit patients from communities across the Western Desert.
Our program is guided by deep respect, cultural sensitivity, and community engagement and as such we will be developing a local outreach program to support the community and ensure their voices are heard and concerns addressed.
