The Transition From Hospital To Home: A Longitudinal Study Of Indigenous Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$888,851.00
Summary
The six-month transition period following discharge from hospital after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is critical. During the transition period, key sentinel events may influence health and wellbeing. The research will investigate key sentinel events during the transition period following TBI in the first longitudinal study with Indigenous Australians. This study will provide the first systematic evidence regarding the support Indigenous Australians need to successfully transition back into the
New And Improved Treatment Strategies For Neonatal Seizures
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$883,209.00
Summary
Around 10% of neonates in Australia are diagnosed with seizures each year. Seizures worsen neurodevelopmental outcome following hypoxic brain injury. Despite evidence of the limited effectiveness and potential neurotoxicity of current anti-seizure medication, treatment has not changed for many decades. The objective of this study is to optimise treatment of neonatal seizures with a compound that is effective and does not cause harm, or indeed provides neuroprotection for the compromised brain.
A Multi-site Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing The Severity Of Constipation Symptoms Experienced By Palliative Care Patients Receiving Usual Care Compared To Those Diagnosed And Managed According To The Underlying Pathophysiology.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$498,795.00
Summary
This research aims to consider whether the problems of constipation in palliative care are less severe when the physical changes that underlie the problem are explored.
Therapeutic Thermal Regulation In Critical Illness
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$189,384.00
Summary
Patients who are admitted to intensive care units often develop abnormalities of their body temperature as part of their illness. Common illnesses include infections and injuries to the brain from trauma or strokes. Clinicians are unsure of how to react to these changes in temperature. My research is designed to provide high quality evidence on body temperature and the use of treatments, so that clinicians can improve patient outcomes.
A Study Of The Impact Of Treating Electrographic Seizures In Term Or Near-term Infants With Neonatal Encephalopathy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,365,184.00
Summary
Seizures in the newborn infant are common and may be harmful to the developing brain. They are not always recognised. This study investigates whether or not treating all seizures detected using a bedside brain activity monitor improves developmental outcome, compared to just treating seizures that doctors recognise.
Does Caffeine Affect The Development Of The Very Immature Brain: Dose Response Relationship?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$668,386.00
Summary
Premature birth is a major health problem worldwide. Preterm babies often develop apnoea of prematurity (AOP), which is commonly treated with caffeine. Trials indicate that preterm babies treated with low dose caffeine have less neurodevelopmental disabilities at 18 months. Higher doses of caffeine are often needed to reduce AOP but the risk of this is unknown. We will study the short and long-term effects of increasing doses of caffeine on the developing brain in a long-gestation species.
Contribution Of Disturbed Blood Flow And Cerebral Metabolism To White Matter Damage In The Perinatal Brain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$369,375.00
Summary
It has been known for some time that the white matter regions of the developing brain are particularly vulnerable to damage. These regions are deep in the brain near the ventricles, and are rich in myelin sheaths wrapped around the nerve fibres running from cell-rich areas in the outer layers of the brain to other regions, and down into the spinal cord. Damage to white matter usually leads to behavioural, learning and motor problems in the newborn infant - in its severest form, seen as cerebral ....It has been known for some time that the white matter regions of the developing brain are particularly vulnerable to damage. These regions are deep in the brain near the ventricles, and are rich in myelin sheaths wrapped around the nerve fibres running from cell-rich areas in the outer layers of the brain to other regions, and down into the spinal cord. Damage to white matter usually leads to behavioural, learning and motor problems in the newborn infant - in its severest form, seen as cerebral palsy. Such outcomes are often associated with the presence of asphyxia and infection during pregnancy, leading to the belief that the damage first arises while the baby is still in utero. In this application we suggest that asphyxia and-or infection during pregnancy cause prolonged disturbances in the regulation of blood flow and integrity of the blood-brain barrier in the developing brain, together with changes in metabolism that result in accumulation of prostaglandins and the toxic hydroxyl radical, leading irreversibly to cell death. If this series of events proves to be true, we have suggested and will test several protocols for protecting the fetal brain, which should be readily translatable to clinical practice.Read moreRead less
Using Epidemiology To Inform Psychiatric Classification (DSM-V And ICD-11)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,502.00
Summary
Classification systems are vital for scientific progress. The classifications of mental disorders of the World Health Organization and the American Psychiatric Association are both being revised and this Australian team is a principal contributor to both processes. We have access to three national epidemiological surveys (n-30,000) that will inform fundamental issues by developing models of mental disorder typology and identifying practical improvements in the classification systems.
Neuroactive Steroids In The Developing Brain: Potential For Preventing Perinatal Brain Damage
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$481,500.00
Summary
Complications during pregnancy, birth asphyxia or premature birth can lead to serious neurological impairment in the newborn. Despite excellent neonatal care many of these babies go on to have serious handicaps. Neuroactive steroids are a group of neuromodulators that are derived from the hormone progesterone. These steroids fall into two groups, those that appear to protect brain cells from damage caused by an inadequate supply of oxygen and those that may increase cell death. We have shown tha ....Complications during pregnancy, birth asphyxia or premature birth can lead to serious neurological impairment in the newborn. Despite excellent neonatal care many of these babies go on to have serious handicaps. Neuroactive steroids are a group of neuromodulators that are derived from the hormone progesterone. These steroids fall into two groups, those that appear to protect brain cells from damage caused by an inadequate supply of oxygen and those that may increase cell death. We have shown that protective neuroactive steroids are present in very large amounts in the fetal brain. Steroids produced by the placenta are converted to these neuroactive products by enzymes in the brain leading to the high levels that are seen during fetal life. Certain adverse conditions during pregnancy as well as preterm birth may cause marked changes in the balance of steroids that could increase susceptibility to brain injury. We have found that areas of the brain, where damage most often occurs, normally contain the highest amount of protective steroids, but only in late pregnancy. This suggests that disturbances that lower steroid production in these areas could contribute to the death of cells, particularly in mid-pregnancy and after premature birth. In the proposed studies, we will examine whether a toxic balance of steroids develops following adverse events in pregnancy as well as the areas of the brain where this is most pronounced. We will examine the changes in the expression of enzymes that can potentially cause the accumulation of protective steroids in the brain. We will then examine treatments that can raise the concentration of steroids and determine which combination of steroids best reduces cell death and brain injury following complications during pregnancy. The findings of this work will indicate the best therapeutic approach that may be adopted to modify the concentration of certain steroids so as to reduce the risk of brain damage in the fetus and neonate.Read moreRead less
Neurosteroid Mediated Protection After Birth: Approaches For Maximising Protective Steroid Levels In The Neonatal Brain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,703.00
Summary
Complications during pregnancy, birth asphyxia or premature birth can lead to neurological impairment in the newborn. Despite excellent neonatal care many of these babies go on to have serious handicaps. Neurosteroids are a group of steroids that regulate brain activity. These steroids protect brain cells from damage caused by an inadequate supply of oxygen by suppressing toxicity caused by excessive activity. We have shown that the levels of these protective steroids are remarkably high in the ....Complications during pregnancy, birth asphyxia or premature birth can lead to neurological impairment in the newborn. Despite excellent neonatal care many of these babies go on to have serious handicaps. Neurosteroids are a group of steroids that regulate brain activity. These steroids protect brain cells from damage caused by an inadequate supply of oxygen by suppressing toxicity caused by excessive activity. We have shown that the levels of these protective steroids are remarkably high in the fetal brain and levels rise further in response to fetal stress. The placenta contributes steroid precursors that help maintain these high neurosteroid levels. This placenta-fetal brain interaction comprises an internal mechanism that protects the fetal brain from adverse events during pregnancy. At birth, however, there is a dramatic decline in neurosteroid concentrations in the brain after the loss of the placental precursor supply. The fall in concentrations is even greater in animals that are born growth restricted. This suggests that newborns, particularly those from compromised pregnancies, are at increased risk of brain damage due to low neurosteroid levels. We believe that certain commonly used steroid therapies may also lower steroid levels in the brain and result in increased vulnerability to brain damage during birth or in the early neonatal period. Alternatively, we propose that replacement of neurosteroid precursors in the newborn may raise brain neurosteroid levels and protect against brain damage. In the proposed studies we will evaluate treatments that can raise the concentration of steroids and determine the best strategy for reducing brain injury following complications during pregnancy, at birth and during the early newborn period. This work will determine the best therapeutic approaches for maximising neurosteroid-induced brain protection and for reducing the risk of brain damage.Read moreRead less