What Contributes To Regional Vulnerability In Neurodegenerative Diseases? A Study Of Familial Cases.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$456,655.00
Summary
Unfortunately, as many people live longer, more and more are afflicted by degenerative changes that affect their brain. These neurodegenerative diseases are usually relentlessly progressive and with time render patients incapable of many normal functions. For some families with certain genetic defects, these diseases occur aggressively and early. We would like to study the brains of patients from these families because in most cases the proteins affected by the gene defect have been identified. ....Unfortunately, as many people live longer, more and more are afflicted by degenerative changes that affect their brain. These neurodegenerative diseases are usually relentlessly progressive and with time render patients incapable of many normal functions. For some families with certain genetic defects, these diseases occur aggressively and early. We would like to study the brains of patients from these families because in most cases the proteins affected by the gene defect have been identified. However, despite knowing this important information, the reasons for the death of brain cells are still not understood. This project will provide important new information on which brain cells died in these patients and on the relationship between such cell death and any cellular protein changes. By comparing patients with different genetic defects we will be able to identify the main cellular mechanisms underlying these degenerative changes. This information is essential for the rational design of further experiments aimed at reducing the suffering of all patients with neurodegenerative diseases or at eliminating these diseases altogether.Read moreRead less
Identification Of Genes For X-linked Mental Retardation.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$675,228.00
Summary
We propose to identify novel heritable causes of intellectual disability using 22 large and well-characterised families from Australia. In these families we have refined the location of the genetic defect to the chromosome X and excluded the contribution of all so far known genes. We will achieve this using the technology of massive parallel sequencing. At the completion of the project we will have identified novel causes of intellectual disability and devised tests to identify them.
Panic Disorder: Neurobiology And Mechanisms Of Cardiac Risk
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$456,657.00
Summary
Some people are subject to episodes of recurring, often inexplicable anxiety which are very unpleasant and accompanied by physical symptoms such as sweating, palpitations, tremor and a sensation of suffocation. Recurring attacks over a period of months, or years, forms the basis for the diagnostic of panic disorder. It has until recently been felt that although panic disorder was distressing and disabling, it did not constitute a risk of life. Sufferers often fear that they have heart disease, b ....Some people are subject to episodes of recurring, often inexplicable anxiety which are very unpleasant and accompanied by physical symptoms such as sweating, palpitations, tremor and a sensation of suffocation. Recurring attacks over a period of months, or years, forms the basis for the diagnostic of panic disorder. It has until recently been felt that although panic disorder was distressing and disabling, it did not constitute a risk of life. Sufferers often fear that they have heart disease, because of the nature of their symptoms, but have been reassured that this is not the case. Recent epidemiological studies, however, indicate that there is an increased risk in patients with panic disorder. Our hypotheses in this research project are as follow: That some specific genes predispose to the development of panic disorder - through actions on the nervous system and blood vessels That drug treatment (selective serotonin uptake blockers) and psychological treatment (cognitive behaviour therapy, CBT) reduce cardiac risk in panic disorder We will test these hypothesis using state of the art clinical scientific methods. Panic disorder has an important cardiological dimension which needs to be better understood for cardiac protection to be achieved in panic disorder patients.Read moreRead less
Panic Disorder: Neurobiology And Mechanisms Of Cardiac Risks
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$414,375.00
Summary
Some people are subject to episodes of recurring, often inexplicable anxiety which are very unpleasant and accompanied by physical symptoms such as sweating, palpitations, tremor and a sensation of suffocation. Recurring attacks over a period of months, or years, forms the basis for the diagnosis of panic disorder. It has until recently been felt that although panic disorder was distressing and disabling, it did not constitute a risk to life. Sufferers often fear that they have heart disease, be ....Some people are subject to episodes of recurring, often inexplicable anxiety which are very unpleasant and accompanied by physical symptoms such as sweating, palpitations, tremor and a sensation of suffocation. Recurring attacks over a period of months, or years, forms the basis for the diagnosis of panic disorder. It has until recently been felt that although panic disorder was distressing and disabling, it did not constitute a risk to life. Sufferers often fear that they have heart disease, because of the nature of their symptoms, but have been reassured that this is not the case. Recent epidemiological studies, however, indicate that there is an increased risk of heart risk in patients with panic disorder. Our hypotheses in this research are as follows: That panic disorder is characterised by increased release of the brain chemical messenger, serotonin, which is reversed by drug treatment with the most widely used class of drugs for this disorder, selective serotonin reuptake blockers That changes in an automatic stimulatory part of the nervous system, has primary importance in the disorder, in both genetically predisposing to panic disorder, and in mediating heart risk. That weight gain during therapy, a very common problem, is due to inhibition of brain serotonin release. We will test all these propositions using state of the art clinical scientific methods. Panic disorder has an important cardiological dimension which needs to be better understood for cardiac protection to be achieved in panic disorder patients. Our study of the mechanisms of cardiac risk should provide this. We will also provide very direct, valid measurements of chemical messenger release in the brain of panic disorder sufferers, using our unique methods. These should give a new understanding of the brain chemistry abnormalities of panic disorder, and the mechanism of action of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.Read moreRead less
Systematic Revision Of The Australian Fishes Of The Family Pomadasyidae
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Study the fishes of the family Pomadasyidae in the scientific collection of the Australian Museum Sydney & the National Museum Melbourne
The development of the Fishnames project has been an ongoing concern for industry and the Fisheries Research Development Corporation.
The terms of reference (ToR) have been developed and wll be provided to workshop participants for consideration and feedback. The ToR include:
1) Report that details recommended changes to the objectives of the Fishnames process.
2) Changes to the Fishnames process.
3) The composition of the Fishnames committee.
4) Brie ....The development of the Fishnames project has been an ongoing concern for industry and the Fisheries Research Development Corporation.
The terms of reference (ToR) have been developed and wll be provided to workshop participants for consideration and feedback. The ToR include:
1) Report that details recommended changes to the objectives of the Fishnames process.
2) Changes to the Fishnames process.
3) The composition of the Fishnames committee.
4) Brief ‘user friendly’ summary of the project and outcomes suitable for publication on the FRDC website. Objectives: 1. Recommend changes to the objectives of the Fishnames process. 2. Chang to the Fishnames process. 3. The composition of the Fishnames committee. 4. A brief ‘user friendly’ summary of the project and outcomes suitable for publication on the FRDC website Read moreRead less