45 & Up Study

The 45 and Up Study Award will provide early and mid-career researchers the opportunity to gain valuable experience working with a comprehensive data set to generate insightful research outputs and evidence in the area of cardiovascular disease which may lead to larger more rigorous studies in the future.

The Heart Foundation and the Sax Institute’s 45 and Up Study have partnered to offer access to 45 and Up study data for five short-term projects (up to 12 months) with up to two single user annual licenses per project.

The Licenses confer access to the 45 and Up Study Data and specified linkages (MBS and PBS) via the Secure Unified Research Environment (SURE). The 45 and Up team can assist in project feasibility and provide advice regarding obtainment of ethics and data custodian approvals for approved projects. The team can also support planning to enhance the impact of research and knowledge mobilisation.

The unique longitudinal data from the 45 and Up Study with its established data linkages can enable time series analyses, identification of risk factors and health outcomes.

What is the 45 and Up study?   

The 45 and Up Study is one of the largest ongoing cohort studies of healthy ageing in the world and the largest in Australia. Starting in 2005 with over a quarter of a million people from across New South Wales, the study data offers a unique opportunity for researchers.

Between 2005-2009, over 267,000 participants aged 45 and over living in NSW joined the study. All consented to take part in this longitudinal study and have their survey data linked to routine-health records. All consented to participating to being recontacted for follow up surveys and other research projects to improve health and wellbeing.

To date, 45 and Up Study participants have completed a baseline questionnaire (2005- 2009) and two follow-up questionnaires (2012-2015 and 2018-2020).  In 2020 a supplemental survey (the 2020 COVID-19 data supplement) enabled the collection of important data addressing the impact of COVID-19 from a cohort of 86,000 participants.

Between 2020 and 2022 a 45 and Up sub-study called COVID Insights was conducted. This series of five surveys collected valuable information about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health, wellbeing, healthcare and much more from a sub-cohort of 32,000 participants.

The 45 and Up Study includes many participants from diverse groups, including people with chronic medical conditions and mental health conditions; people from non-English speaking backgrounds; socioeconomically disadvantaged groups; people living in regional and remote areas; people with compromised immune systems; and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

What data are available? 

Data from regular 45 and Up surveys along with linked data sets will be available including:

• 45 and Up Surveys including 2020 COVID-19 data supplement
• MBS and PBS
• Data from two large sub-studies:
  • COVID Insights (Nov 2020- April 2022, n > 32,000)
  • Social Economic and Environmental Factors (SEEF, 2010 n > 60,000)

This is an excellent opportunity for early to mid-career researchers to gain experience working with a comprehensive data set to generate insightful research outputs and evidence. This opportunity is expected to enable researchers to generate the research evidence required to secure further research funding for larger more comprehensive studies.

For further details on the 45 and Up Study click here and for information on the available data sets click here.

Eligibility

For applicants to be considered for funding, they must meet the following eligibility criteria: 

• For the purpose of this funding program, the applicant is considered as Chief Investigator A (CIA)
• CIA must be an early to mid-career researcher (less than 15 years research experience relative to opportunity)
• CIA, or any other CI on the grant, must not currently have a contract or license to access the 45 and Up Study data.
• CIA must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, an Australian permanent resident or have applied for Australian permanent residency at the time of the application
• CIA must be involved in Cardiovascular Research
• CIA must be from an NHMRC administering institution
• CIA must also be based in Australia for at least 80% of the funding period.
• The project must consider health equity and disadvantaged communities
• The project must not yet have started but be ready to commence
• The 12-month license period must commence within 1 month following ethics approval and completion of 45 and Up coordinating centre processes required to enable access to the data. These include signing of a contract and a Deedpoll which outlines responsible use of the data and a brief training module, usually one to two hours.
• The project must produce at least one research outputs within the first 12 months of the Project

What’s the value of the Grant?

$35,000 per single user license per year with a maximum of 2 licenses available per project

When can you apply?

Round One:
Applications open: Monday 25 April 2022
Applications close: Friday 20 May 2022

Round Two:
Applications open: Monday 29 August 2022
Applications close: Friday 7 October 2022

How should you apply?
Applications must be submitted via the Heart Foundation’s Researcher Portal.

Apply Now  

*Please note: The application will only be available on the portal from the open date.