Evaluation Of Renal Masses Using Magnetic Resonance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$657,897.00
Summary
This project will investigate use of an imaging instrument to identify renal cancers that are potentially harmless from aggressive renal cancers. Currently, such differentiation requires biopsies, and the outcome is often unnecessary surgical removal of whole or part of the diseased kidney. Long term, this project will provide knowledge to determine aggressiveness of a renal cancer non-invasively, without having to perform an operation. The approach was previously successful for breast cancer.
We have previously made the most widely used animal brain atlas in the world. This atlas based on stained histological sections of the rat brain. In recent years, advances in MRI have made it possible to generate images of the rat brain at very high resolution. We have obtained a very high quality MRI image set from colleagues in Duke University in the USA, and we have begun to map these images in great detail, using our histological atlas as a guide.
Novel Nanomaterial Solutions Based On Metal And Metal Oxide For Advanced Diagnosis Of Cardiovascular Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$581,037.00
Summary
Cardiovascular disease accounts of over one third of all deaths in Australia and is forecasted to become the leading cause of death in Australia and worldwide. Currently, atherosclerosis and thrombosis in coronary arteries are diagnosed by X-ray angiography, an invasive and risk-associated procedure. Our project will explore new contrast agents for the fast, reliable and safe diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases and thrombotic events, which is beneficial to many patients.
Brainstem And Hypothalamic Function And Anatomy In Migraine
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$652,828.00
Summary
Migraine is a disabling condition characterized by mostly unilateral throbbing head pain and a range of associated neurological symptoms. The underlying mechanisms responsible for the initiation of migraine remains unknown. We aim to determine brain anatomy and activity patterns in migraineurs throughout the migraine cycle. An understanding of the mechanisms responsible for migraine will aid in better treatment development.
Selective Modulation Of Corticostriatal Functional Circuitry Using TMS-fMRI
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$757,546.00
Summary
This project will validate a novel brain imaging-based method for targeted and non-invasive stimulation of specific brain circuits that play an important role in diverse cognitive, emotional and motor functions. The ability to selectively up-regulate or down-regulate activity in these circuits will have far-reaching treatment implications for a wide range of brain disorders.
High-resolution Brain Imaging Of Cerebellar Non-motor Functions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$336,012.00
Summary
This project will develop and apply cutting-edge methods for high resolution, high-field (7 Tesla) functional brain imaging to assess non-motor functions within the cerebellum in the living human brain. This is crucial for understanding and later assessing changes in cerebellar networks and effects of treatment and rehabilitation strategies in a range of cerebellar disorders.
The Development Of Innovative Multiplexed Molecular Imaging Technology Targeting Improved Diagnostic Imaging Of Glioblastoma Multiforme
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$403,599.00
Summary
Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is extremely invasive and the most lethal of all primary brain tumours. To optimise treatment planning, we propose to develop novel Multiplexed Molecular Imaging (MMI) technology employing the latest PET-MRI hybrid imaging technology. Our strategy targets the development of new F19 MRI MI agents for measuring tumour infiltration that can be multiplexed with F18 PET hypoxia tracers. Our MI agents can also act as conjugative vehicles for drug delivery.
Brain Iron Imaging For Alzheimer’s Disease (AIBL-ADIRON Study)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,227,885.00
Summary
Iron accumulation in the brain is linked to Alzheimer's disease. New Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans allow us to painlessly image the brain and measure its size and iron concentration. In this project more than 330 volunteers over 60 will be scanned every 18 months over 3 years. We will determine if those subjects with higher iron concentration in their brain have a smaller brain and worse performance in this period. This will confirm a role for iron in Alzheimer's as a new treatment target.
A 3D Cross-Modality Atlas Of The Human Brainstem For Scientists And Clinicians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$363,455.00
Summary
Recent technical advances dramatically improved imaging of the human brainstem. However, there are limited frameworks for interpreting the images. The project will address this by acquiring high quality MRI anatomical and MR microscopy data from postmortem brains and registering these with structures in Atlas of the Human Brainstem (Paxinos and Huang, 1995) where almost 500 brain areas are delineated. Our work will assist with the diagnosis of brain disorders and facilitate clinical research.
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of Low-dose Ketamine In Youth With Severe Depression And Elevated Suicide Risk
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,232,757.00
Summary
Recent research has shown that a single injection of low-dose ketamine has powerful, though short-lived, antidepressant effects. Effective treatments are urgently needed for young people with severe depression. This will be the first controlled study to test whether repeated doses of ketamine, given over 4 weeks, is effective for young patients.