Researchers searching for genetic clues to the growing problem of malaria drug resistance identified new mutations associated with the parasite’s decreased susceptibility to current treatment. By sequencing the whole genomes of malaria parasites from the blood of hundreds of infected people in Uganda, a team of researchers lead by scientists at Brown University found that a cluster of genetic variants in some parasites showed significantly decreased susceptibilities to the drugs most commonly used to treat malaria in Africa and the United States. The findings of the federally funded study were published in Nature Medicine.

The follow-up of a randomized controlled trial shows that the internet-based Master Your Worries intervention programme for treating children’s anxiety has a long-term effect on the participants. Anxiety symptoms continued to reduce after two years and the impact of the therapy was clearly greater at that point than at six months. The results are internationally significant as this is the first randomised controlled trial to prove the long-term efficacy of internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy for children, even two years after the intervention.

People impacted by alcohol and other drugs (AOD) are supported across a range of health and social service settings – and Vocational Education and Training (VET) plays a key role in equipping AOD support workers with the knowledge and skills required for practice.