Thrombolysis is a method of dissolving the blood clot that is the cause of the majority of strokes in Australia. The first major trial to demonstrate benefit for this treatment was published some 11 years ago but treatment has not been widely implemented across Australia because of the difficulties in giving treatment within the very tight time window for which treatment is currently approved (patients must get to hospital, be scanned and start treatment within 3 hours of the onset of the stroke ....Thrombolysis is a method of dissolving the blood clot that is the cause of the majority of strokes in Australia. The first major trial to demonstrate benefit for this treatment was published some 11 years ago but treatment has not been widely implemented across Australia because of the difficulties in giving treatment within the very tight time window for which treatment is currently approved (patients must get to hospital, be scanned and start treatment within 3 hours of the onset of the stroke). Other factors which have limited implementation of treatment in Australia are continued debate over the trial data for this treatment as only one of the 5 major trials was positive. In addition, virtually no patients aged over 80 years old were included in the previous trials, and as this age group represents about a third of all stroke in Australia, new data in this age group is required. As a result of the difficulty in giving a treatment within such a tight time window and the ongoing debate about the trial data, few Australians are currently treated and thus the public health impact is negligible. In to change clinical practice, we need reliable data from a large convincing further trial of thrombolysis with the more realistic time window of 6 hours. The Third International Stroke Trial (IST-3) is a large international collaborative effort to determine whether thrombolysis treatment offered to a wider range of patients up to 6 hours from stroke onset results in an increase in long-term independent survival. Data from such a trial is most likely to change clinical practice and lead to an important public health benefit.Read moreRead less
REVERSIBLE AND IRREVERSIBLE TNF-MEDIATED COGNITIVE DECLINE
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$444,460.00
Summary
This proposal seeks to clarify the neuronal mechanisms underlying the inflammatory processing leading to cognitive decline. Furthermore, the research project identifies anti-inflammatory treatment options aiming at improved cognitive performance in people at risk for or suffering from cognitive impairment of neuropsychiatric disorders such as dementia and depression.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102883
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Understanding the function of a visual pathway to the limbic cortex. This project will study an area located deep in the brain, about which very little is known. Based on recent studies, it is suspected that this area is important for visual perception. By understanding the patterns of electrical activity of cells in this region, the project aims to decipher its contribution to cognition and emotion.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882275
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$110,000.00
Summary
Facility for analysing behaviour, learning and motor skills in animal models. Mental disorders are one of the largest costs to the community today and account for more than 50% of the time lost from work. Moreover, these disorders are disabling conditions that relate to fundamental, basic questions of identity and individuality. This collaborative behavioural facility at The University of Queensland will underpin excellent research into how neurological changes affect behaviour and thinking, pro ....Facility for analysing behaviour, learning and motor skills in animal models. Mental disorders are one of the largest costs to the community today and account for more than 50% of the time lost from work. Moreover, these disorders are disabling conditions that relate to fundamental, basic questions of identity and individuality. This collaborative behavioural facility at The University of Queensland will underpin excellent research into how neurological changes affect behaviour and thinking, provide infrastructure to test current models on brain functions, and support the development of new compounds to treat these disorders, thus resulting in significant national and community benefits in improved health outcomes and increased work productivity.Read moreRead less
Translating Epilepsy Research Into Clinical Practice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$188,226.00
Summary
We aim to turn laboratory science into real improvements in the health of people with epilepsy. Firstly, a rise in the acidity of the blood from breathing less and a rise in carbon dioxide, may contribute to seizures finishing. We aim to develop a safe, rapid, non-sedating way to treat seizures using a small amount of carbon dioxide in oxygen. Secondly, inherited problems with transporting sugar from the blood to the brain are increasingly recognised as a cause of epilepsy. We will develop a nat ....We aim to turn laboratory science into real improvements in the health of people with epilepsy. Firstly, a rise in the acidity of the blood from breathing less and a rise in carbon dioxide, may contribute to seizures finishing. We aim to develop a safe, rapid, non-sedating way to treat seizures using a small amount of carbon dioxide in oxygen. Secondly, inherited problems with transporting sugar from the blood to the brain are increasingly recognised as a cause of epilepsy. We will develop a nation-wide program to identify and treat theseRead moreRead less
Human Epilepsy: Understanding Biology To Improve Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$16,657,948.00
Summary
Our team of neurologists, molecular geneticists, physiologists and brain imaging specialists and leads the world in the discovery of the genetic causes of epilepsy. Through this work we will identify genes underlying epilepsy and study how genetic variations result in the development of seizures. Advanced brain imaging will be used to understand the effects of genetic variation on brain structure and function. This study may lead to new diagnostic methods and treatments for epilepsy.
The processing of sensory information within cortical circuits. This project aims to improve our knowledge of neuronal activity during sensory perception and therefore shed light on overall brain function during behaviour. Understanding how dendrites receive and process this information is crucial to understanding brain function during sensory processing and perception. This proposal aims to characterise dendritic activity during sensory input and discover how this activity contributes to behavi ....The processing of sensory information within cortical circuits. This project aims to improve our knowledge of neuronal activity during sensory perception and therefore shed light on overall brain function during behaviour. Understanding how dendrites receive and process this information is crucial to understanding brain function during sensory processing and perception. This proposal aims to characterise dendritic activity during sensory input and discover how this activity contributes to behavioural tasks. In particular, the project plans to investigate activity of different dendritic domains during sensory perception and sensory-based behaviour. The project seeks to improve our knowledge of the importance of dendrites in transforming information from the sensory environment and highlight the cellular and network mechanisms contributing to behaviour.Read moreRead less
This is an application for reappointment as a Principal Research Fellow. My primary area of research is preclinical studies of addiction, with a particular emphasis on relapse. I am increasingly engaged in translational studies.
A Potential Analgesic Target In A Novel Clinically-relevant Neuropathic Pain Pathway.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$685,811.00
Summary
Persistent pain arising from tissue damage, to nerves, muscles or joints for example, is devastating for patients and a huge social and economic burden. This work will investigate one of the pathways that goes awry after sensory nerves are damaged. These experiments will also test whether a drug being developed to treat Alzheimer's disease is effective at blocking the persistent nerve hypersensitivity that sometimes develops after injury.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease often diagnosed in early adulthood. Outcomes very enormously, from mild to disabling. This fellowship supports research to improve outcome prediction using genetics and to examine different strategies to optimise treatment outcomes and safety. The main data source is MSBase, which tracks over 31000 people with MS globally and is based in the University of Melbourne's brain Centre at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.