Research Grant Title:
Reducing deaths from pesticide poisoning - Establishing a regional toxicology research centre
Application ID: NHMRC 268053 Wellcome Trust GR071669MA (International Collaborative Research grant scheme)
Chief Investigators: Profs Nicholas Buckley/Nimal Senanayake
Administering Institution: Australian National University/SACR
Year Funding Commenced: June 2004
Funding period: June 2004 to June 2011
Summary of the project: This project proposed to establish an Australian/Sri Lankan based research collaboration to evaluate methods to reduce deaths from deliberate self-poisoning with pesticides. Specific questions which grant intent to study include
- Can the burden of disease in Sri Lanka attributable to pesticide poisoning be reduced through a coordinated clinical research programme?
- Is pesticide restriction an effective primary prevention strategy to reduce the severity or frequency of pesticide poisoning?
- Can detailed investigation of the clinical pathophysiology and epidemiology of the “intermediate syndrome” and organophosphorus induced delayed neuropathy (OPIDN) provide information that will enable a reduction in morbidity and mortality from these conditions?
- Can changes in serum creatinine predict outcome from paraquat poisoning?
- Can we provide evidence (Phase II studies) that the following antidotes are effective in humans sufficient to warrant definitive large (Phase III) trials?
- Bicarbonate, clonidine and diazepam (organophosphorus pesticides (OP)
- Bicarbonate (chlorophenoxy herbicides)
- Antioxidant therapy (paraquat)
- What are the barriers to implementation of evidence based treatment of pesticide poisoning (including antidotes) and how can these be overcome?
- What is the marginal cost effectiveness of the common antidotes used as treatments for pesticide poisoning?
Progress of the grant: Near completion |
