Structural-functional connectivity in the brain. This project aims to develop magnetic resonance imaging analysis methods to non-invasively study brain connectivity. Recent advances in imaging can comprehensively describe the brain’s complex network of functional and structural connections (the brain ‘connectome’). This project will simultaneously investigate structural and functional connectivity, and characterise the dynamic properties of the connectome using graph-theoretic approaches. This p ....Structural-functional connectivity in the brain. This project aims to develop magnetic resonance imaging analysis methods to non-invasively study brain connectivity. Recent advances in imaging can comprehensively describe the brain’s complex network of functional and structural connections (the brain ‘connectome’). This project will simultaneously investigate structural and functional connectivity, and characterise the dynamic properties of the connectome using graph-theoretic approaches. This project should give neuroscientists computational tools to comprehensively map the network architecture of the human brain.Read moreRead less
New Imaging Instrumentation and Algorithms for the Simultaneous Measurement of Multiple Radio-labelled Probes in vivo. Medical imaging plays an increasingly important role in basic biological research and health care. This project will lead to new imaging technologies that allow the simultaneous measurement of more than one biological process at a time in living subjects, providing new insights into disabling diseases, such as cancer and mental illness. An immediate benefit will be to strengthen ....New Imaging Instrumentation and Algorithms for the Simultaneous Measurement of Multiple Radio-labelled Probes in vivo. Medical imaging plays an increasingly important role in basic biological research and health care. This project will lead to new imaging technologies that allow the simultaneous measurement of more than one biological process at a time in living subjects, providing new insights into disabling diseases, such as cancer and mental illness. An immediate benefit will be to strengthen the expertise in biomedical engineering and instrumentation development in Australia, where we have international leadership. The technologies developed will provide advanced tools for making fundamental biological discoveries and translating them into biotechnological or clinical applications.Read moreRead less
Simultaneous measurement of brain function and behaviour in fully conscious laboratory animals. MicroPET is an advanced imaging technology that measures important biochemical processes, such as enzyme activity rates and receptor binding, in the living rodent brain. However, the requirement for the animal to be anaesthetised precludes the study of behavioural changes in response to sensory or drug stimulus during the imaging study. In this research, we will develop novel motion tracking and compu ....Simultaneous measurement of brain function and behaviour in fully conscious laboratory animals. MicroPET is an advanced imaging technology that measures important biochemical processes, such as enzyme activity rates and receptor binding, in the living rodent brain. However, the requirement for the animal to be anaesthetised precludes the study of behavioural changes in response to sensory or drug stimulus during the imaging study. In this research, we will develop novel motion tracking and computational algorithms that enable microPET to non-invasively image the brains of conscious, freely moving animals while simultaneously observing their behaviour. These new technologies will, for the first time, allow neuroscientists to study the genetic, behavioural and neurochemical correlates of brain disease.Read moreRead less
Automatic Brain Tissue Segmentation in Magnetic Resonance Images based on Knowledge-guided Constrained Clustering. Accurate volumetric measurement of brain tissues is of critical importance in the study of many brain disorders, disease diagnosis, disease progression tracking and treatment monitoring. The study in this research will result in the development of a powerful computational technique that allows automatic volumetric measurement and analysis of brain tissues. The software developed in ....Automatic Brain Tissue Segmentation in Magnetic Resonance Images based on Knowledge-guided Constrained Clustering. Accurate volumetric measurement of brain tissues is of critical importance in the study of many brain disorders, disease diagnosis, disease progression tracking and treatment monitoring. The study in this research will result in the development of a powerful computational technique that allows automatic volumetric measurement and analysis of brain tissues. The software developed in this project will expedite early clinical diagnosis and treatment of neural diseases for patients, hence saving life and reducing health cost both at the personal and the national level. Read moreRead less
Investigating evidence of control system dynamics in visuomotor skill acquisition using multimodal functional magnetic resonance imaging. This project brings together mathematical and engineering methods with cognitive neuroscience in a novel way to better understand the fundamental processes associated with brain imaging, and the acquisition of motor skills. An improved understanding of the function of regions within the motor network will have a direct benefit for the rehabilitation of patient ....Investigating evidence of control system dynamics in visuomotor skill acquisition using multimodal functional magnetic resonance imaging. This project brings together mathematical and engineering methods with cognitive neuroscience in a novel way to better understand the fundamental processes associated with brain imaging, and the acquisition of motor skills. An improved understanding of the function of regions within the motor network will have a direct benefit for the rehabilitation of patients suffering motor deficits from developmental causes, following traumatic brain injuries, and after stroke and other neurodegenerative diseases. The outcomes of the research will also contribute to our understanding of the complexity of brain networks involved in motor skill acquisition.Read moreRead less