Multiple projects in paediatric research and n-of-1 trials
Project 1: Melatonin for insomnia in Parkinson's Disease
Field: Mental health and Neuroscience
Location: UQ Centre for Clinical Research (Herston)
Type of student: Both PhD/MPhil and Volunteer
Objectives:
The primary aim of this study is to use n-of-1 trials to improve the precision of clinical decision making in prescribing melatonin for individual adults with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and insomnia, by identifying individual responders and non-responders to melatonin.
Secondary aims are to:
1. To aggregate group data from a series of n-of-1 trials to arrive at group estimates of the effectiveness (measured by improvements in Parkinson’s Disease Sleep Scale-2) and safety (measured by adverse events) of melatonin in improving sleep quality in Parkinson’s Disease.
2. To assess feasibility of offering IMET trials for the use of melatonin for insomnia in all suitable people with Parkinson’s Disease.
Methodology:
Each participant will undergo 3 pairs of treatment/placebo. Participants will receive either immediate release melatonin or placebo 30 mins before bedtime. Immediate release melatonin will be sourced from overseas. Two doses will be available (3 mg or 6 mg) in personalised n-of-1 tests. Subjects will undergo a run-in period starting on 3 mg. If this appears effective, they will do the trial on that dose; if not, they will trial 6 mg. For both doses, the comparator will be placebo.
Using manufacture of matched placebo, the melatonin and placebo will be identical in every way. Patients will keep daily sleep diaries and will wear an actigraph throughout the trial period. After the trial, patients will be unblinded during the process of discussing their results with their doctor based on an individual report provided by trial staff. Thus the trial will provide direct and immediate feedback to patients about the effectiveness and safety of melatonin for them.
Project 2: Multiple projects available in the field of paediatric research
Field: Paediatrics
Location: UQ Centre for Clinical Research (Herston)
Type of student: Both PhD/MPhil and Volunteer
Type of work:
- Clinical work
- Literature review
- Qualitative methods
- Secondary data analysis
- Systematic review
Students are needed to complete some research projects in the area of pediatric research. Medical, pharmacy or other health professional students are needed to assist with:
1. The conduct of a clinical trial assessing the effect of melatonin in reducing the time taken to fall asleep by children with ADHD on stimulants.
2. A study to validate actigraphy against the gold standard polysomnography in measuring sleep activity.
3. A survey to assess parent’s and clinician’s viewpoints regarding what improvement in sleep onset latency is clinically significant.
For each project, the students will assist with a variety of tasks such as ethics amendments, promotion of the studies, recruiting and following up patients, collecting, entering and analyzing data, setting up databases, and other tasks as required.
The student/s will learn about the research process and be part of an experienced team - from whom they can learn as well. There will be publication opportunities also. Students will engage in work experience and volunteering placements with workplace readiness training provided.
The volunteer role can be for up to a period of 1, 2 or 3 years.
We are flexible and understand your study commitments. Expected time commitment per week is from one hour to one or more days, which is negotiable for the right applicants.
We are close to both train and bus (walking distance).
PhD and masters student projects are also available. We can discuss these with interested students.
Attributes required:
1. keen on experiencing what clinical research is like
2. like talking to patients
3. pay attention to detail
4. keen to improve their CV.
