Diabetes and kidney disease
One in five adults in the Illawarra Shoalhaven region has Chronic Kidney Disease. This is twice the national average and in 2016 the Illawarra Shoalhaven region was considered to be the number 1 kidney disease hotspot in Australia. Part of the reason for the high rates of kidney disease in the region may be the above average prevalence of conditions that cause kidney disease such as high blood pressure, overweight and obesity and diabetes. HIRC committed substantial funds in 2016 to conduct further research into kidney disease in the local region, and to explore the development of new models of care to people with diabetes and kidney disease. A number of ongoing projects are being undertaken by HIRC members in this theme with experience in nutrition, exercise, medicine and nursing.
Theme leader: Dr Kelly Lambert (School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences)
Researchers
- Ms Josie Atkinson (School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences)
- Professor Karen Charlton (School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences)
- Dr Ezinne Igwe (School of Nursing)
- Dr Karen Fildes (School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences)
- Dr Monique Francois (School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences)
- Dr Kelly Lambert (School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences)
- Ms Eyra Munzner (Graduate School of Medicine)
- Dr Elizabeth Neale (School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences)
- Dr Jessica Nealon (School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences)
- Dr Anita Stefoska-Needham (School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences)
- Professor Judy Mullan (School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences)
- Ms Jordan Stanford, UOW Higher Degree Research student
External collaborators/partners
- Dr Hicham Hassan (Wollongong Hospital)
- Ms Mikki Smyth, Margarite Gutker and Anna Lee (Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District)
- Mr Darren Mayne (Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District)
- Prof Judy Mullan (Centre for Health Research Illawarra Shoalhaven Population)
- Dr Natalie Smith (Wollongong Hospital)