Researcher Spotlight - Jeff Cannon, PhD
Dr Jeff Cannon is a Health Economist and Senior Research Officer at the Kids Research Institute Australia. He has a PhD in Health Economics, Honours Degree in Mathematics, and dual Bachelor degrees in Science and Business.
He is part of the Centre of Excellence Health Economics Working Group and leads local projects looking at the long-term health outcomes among people with childhood onset of diabetes and the role of routinely collected information at clinics to help support economic evaluations.
We had a quick chat with Jeff to find out more about his current research projects and what he thinks will be the biggest T1D research breakthroughs in the next 10 years.
How long have you been working in research for and can you give us a summary of the highlights from your career so far?
I have over a decade's experience in health and medical research, primarily involved in maternal and newborn health, infectious diseases, and more recently, childhood onset diabetes. During this time, and beyond, I’m very proud to contribute to the advancement of vaccine research and development and implementation in Australia and globally. I’m privileged to work with experts in biology, immunology, clinical medicine, epidemiology, health economics, implementation science, and policy, as well as aspiring students and early career researchers and passionate consumers and community members. All of these stakeholders speak a different and sometime confusing language, but play a crucial role in improving healthcare and health technologies. I am particularly humbled to be part of several World Health Organisation (WHO) consultation groups on investment and development strategies for vaccines against group A streptococcus. In fact, I was funded to live in Boston for several years and work with health economists at Harvard University on this topic.
Why did you get into T1D research and what are your current T1D projects?
I got into T1D research because I saw an unmet need for health economics to play a role in evaluating the upcoming technological and clinical management advances in the area. Such evaluations aim to maximise the health benefits for people affected by T1D.
My role is to support health economic aspects of T1D projects. But I also lead local projects looking at the long-term health outcomes among people with childhood onset of diabetes and the role of routinely collected information at clinics to help support economic evaluations. Additionally, I am part of a broader team that includes colleagues from Harvard and Monash Universities to understand and communicate the full health, economic, and social burdens of diabetes, including the impact on schooling and on families.
What do you think will be the biggest T1D research breakthroughs in the next 10 years?
Accurate early detection, enhanced with medicines to delay the onset of T1D diabetes. This would buy time for patients and their family to learn and prepare for T1D in the absence of prevention or cure.