Physiology And Pathophysiology Of Disorders Of The Musculoskelatal System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$898,008.00
Summary
I am a neuroscientist and physiotherapist focussed on the conservative management of disorders of the musculoskeletal system. My research aims to uncover the mechanisms underlying musculoskeletal pain and other disorders such as incontinence, to develop and refine treatments for these conditions, and to understand the mechanism for efficacy of these treatments.
Physiology And Pathophysiology Of Disorders Of The Musculoskelatal System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$926,980.00
Summary
This application for a Senior Principal Research Fellowship is to enable me to address the enormous burden of musculoskeletal conditions - an important, but understudied and underfunded area of health/medical research. My focus is the most costly and prevalent musculoskeletal conditions of low back pain and osteoarthritis, and other neuromuscular conditions such as incontinence. My aim is to improve outcomes by discovering how to apply the right treatment to the right person at the right time.
I am an aged care rehabilitation researcher seeking to minimise disability and prevent falls in large numbers of older people. I am particularly interested in the role of exercise in falls and disability prevention.
Advancing Life Participation Outcomes Following Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) By Improving Communication Skills: From The Bedside To The Barbeque
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$782,370.00
Summary
Brain injury is the leading cause of disability in young Australians with sudden and devastating life consequences. One of the most common problems arising from the injury itself is communication difficulties, which leads to relationship breakdowns, unemployability, and crippling social isolation. This Fellowship will deliver pioneering communication treatments using socially innovative eHealth solutions to achieve real improvements for people with brain injury, their families and the community
I am a neurophysiologist who examines the neural control of movement and the interaction of sensation and movement in human subjects. I study cortical and motoneuronal events during exercise and muscle fatigue, how cortical connections to the motoneurones change with practice of motor tasks, and whether they can be changed artificially. I also study proprioception i.e. the sensations related to relative position and movement of parts of the body and the production of muscle force.
I am a speech pathologist working with patients who have suffered a traumatic brain injury or stroke. Brain injury is the leading cause of disability in young Australians with devastating life consequences. A common problem is communication difficulties, which leads to relationship breakdowns, unemployability, and social isolation. This Fellowship will deliver innovative communication treatments to improve the social outcomes of people with brain injury, their families and the community.
Molecular Mediators, Epigenetic Modulators And Therapeutic Targets For Cognitive Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$763,845.00
Summary
Brain disorders constitute an enormous, and growing, burden. My research investigates how genes and environment combine to cause disorders of cognition, including dementia, schizophrenia and autism. The research will provide new insights into these disorders, at the level of molecules, cells and behaviour. I will explore how genetic and environmental factors interact, with a focus on mental activity, physical exercise and stress, which affect a range of neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Development Of Ultrahigh Resolution Brain Imaging For Investigating Neurological And Neurodegenerative Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$880,454.00
Summary
Understanding the structural and functional organisation of the human brain is the focus of enormous research effort. Neuroimaging is an extraordinarily important basic and clinical neuroscience discipline, and is unique in being able to provide direct in vivo measurements of the human brain, and crucially in individuals with brain and mind diseases. This research project will develop and utilise ultra-high resolution brain scanning to understand the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases.
Using Genomics To Understand Psychiatric Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$772,490.00
Summary
The last five years have seen unprecedented discovery of DNA risk factors for psychiatric disorders. In my Fellowship I will combine analyses of genomic data with development of new statistical methodologies to contribute to my vision that application of genomics methods in psychiatry will continue to catalyze more discoveries of the causes of these complex genetic disorders.