The Associations Between Cognitive Decline And Genetic Polymorphisms, Hormones And Cardiovascular Risk Factors In Women.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$358,079.00
Summary
Dementia, a major cause of morbidity and mortality in ageing women, has been linked to hormonal changes and genes. If factors associated with impaired cognition and early Alzheimer's disease could be identified then early interventions could be offered to those at risk. In this study we determine the genetic, medical and lifestyle factors which may be associated with cognitive decline and early Alzheimer's disease in women from pre-menopause into their post-menopausal years.
Investigating The Clinical And Research Applications Of Whole-genome Sequencing In Parkinson Disease And Other Movement Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$266,623.00
Summary
There are many ‘movement disorders’ including Parkinson disease, dystonia, and hereditary spastic paraplegia. These disorders can be caused by mutations (errors in the genetic code) in different genes. The discovery of these genes has improved our understanding of the underlying disease mechanisms. We will use ‘whole genome sequencing’ to read a person’s entire genetic material in a single experiment, allowing us to identify a genetic diagnosis and to discover entirely new disease-causing genes.
Causes And Consequences Of Acute Encephalitis In Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$251,695.00
Summary
This study involves a national surveillance of children hospitalised with inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) to identify new and emerging causes of acute encephalitis in children, opportunities for treatment and prevention and also to study the long term outcome of this brain damaging condition. This information will be helpful to better understand the disease and would be used to develop clinical guidelines, policy and public health interventions.
A novel sensory neural circuit has been identified innervating the airways and lungs. The anatomical organisation of this circuit has been described to some extent in previous studies, however there is a significant gap in knowledge with respect to its functional importance. This project will develop methods to address this knowledge gap and in doing so the project will firstly describe how this circuit controls breathing under normal conditions and secondly how this becomes dysregulated during
Investigating Cortical Plasticity And Connectivity In People With Chronic Low Back Pain And Controls Using Combined TMS_EEG
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
Little is known about the factors that predispose the development of chronic low back pain or what changes underpin effective treatment. Brain changes, thought to reflect adaptive processes are associated with chronic pain, but the extent of their contribution to CLBP is unknown. By measuring the adaptability of brain changes in people with CLBP I will determine if they differ from healthy controls in a way that predisposes them to develop chronic pain and is related to treatment response.
Emerging Infectious Neurological Diseases In Australia; From Enhanced Recognition To Improved Response
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$189,384.00
Summary
Infectious neurological diseases(IND) such as encephalitis are severe and frequently cause long term disability. New IND like Zika pose a real threat. During his PhD, Dr Britton identified outbreaks of encephalitis in children and described serious consequences. Here, Dr Britton proposes to extend his work across all ages, include other types of IND and explore novel methods to detect outbreaks. He will work with experts at leading national research centres in surveillance and infectious disease
Mechanisms Responsible For Neurogenic Hypertension: A Novel Interaction Between GABAergic Modulation Of Amygdalo-hypothalamic Pathways And MicroRNA Regulation Of Renin
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$340,220.00
Summary
A genetic model of hypertension will be used to understand the interrelated role of the brain, nervous system and kidney. The proposed studies will test the hypothesis that disruption of inhibitory neurochemicals in specific regions of the brain, leads to greater nervous system activation of the kidney, which in turn decreases an inhibitory molecule, ultimately resulting in greater activation of a hormonal system responsible for raising blood pressure.