Advancing The Evidence-base For Childhood Brain Insult: Diagnosis, Assessment And Intervention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$575,662.00
Summary
My research has 4 primary objectives, representing major gaps in current knowledge: 1. improve knowledge of recovery and determinants of post-concussive symptoms 2. establish the impact of child brain insult on socio-emotional function and identify contributing factors 3. develop an iPad based tool for socio-emotional function 4. evaluate and disseminate e-heath treatments for child brain insult
CRE In Traumatic Brain Injury Psychosocial Rehabilitation: Breaking Down Barriers For Social Reintegration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,678,530.00
Summary
Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) from motor vehicle accidents, assaults and accidents will surpass many diseases as the major cause of disability in the Western world by 2020. It causes cognitive and emotional disorders that result in unemployment, loss of relationships, social isolation and depression in adults and children. This CRE is a world first, tackling deficits in fatigue, mood, self-awareness and self-regulation and social competency, i.e. speech, social skills and communication.
Molecular Mechanisms Of Testosterone Action On Midbrain Dopamine Neuron Differentiation.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$339,739.00
Summary
Schizophrenia is characterized by psychosis, social and occupational dysfunction and cognitive deficits. Males are more often diagnosed and more severely impaired than females. Onset in males is most frequent during adolescence, a time of increasing sex hormones. We ask, how do sex hormones act on the adolescent male brain to impact the onset and symptoms of schizophrenia? The answer will allow development of gender and age-specific interventions to prevent onset or ameliorate symptoms.
The Genetic And Environmental Determinants Of Amyloid Deposition In Older Individuals: An Amyloid Imaging Study Using The Twin Design
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$643,267.00
Summary
Alzheimer’s disease is characterised by the deposition of amyloid plaques in the brain. We don’t fully understand how amyloid deposition occurs and what contribution is made by genetic and environmental factors. Amyloid deposition in the brain can now be quantified during life using positron emission tomography. In this study, we will examine brain amyloid in twins, which will determine what proportion of the pathology is attributable to environmental factors that may be modifiable.
The Role Of Neuronal Hyperactivity And Neurotrophic Factor Signalling In Synaptogenesis, Dendrogenesis And Neuron Death In Motor Neuron Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$700,331.00
Summary
Using mice with mutant genes causing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, we will test whether motor neuron hyper-excitability during early development causes excessive synapse and dendrite formation, ultimately leading to neuronal death. We will also test whether activity-dependent secretion of neurotrophic factors and activation of their receptors plays a role in this disease. This will show whether neuronal hyper-activity and neurotrophic factor signaling plays a causal role in this disease.
Roles Of Peripherally Derived BDNF In Regeneration Of Spinal Cord And The Mechanisms
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$472,770.00
Summary
Injury to the brain and spinal cord often leads to permanent disability due to lack of regeneration. The mechanism why central nerve does not regenerate is not known. Neurotrophic factors are powerful molecules which can overcome effects of inhibitory factors on regeneration. This project aims to investigate how neurotrophic factors override the effects of inhibitory factors and how to improve the regeneration by increasing the production of neurotrophic factors within nerves. Successful complet ....Injury to the brain and spinal cord often leads to permanent disability due to lack of regeneration. The mechanism why central nerve does not regenerate is not known. Neurotrophic factors are powerful molecules which can overcome effects of inhibitory factors on regeneration. This project aims to investigate how neurotrophic factors override the effects of inhibitory factors and how to improve the regeneration by increasing the production of neurotrophic factors within nerves. Successful completion of this project will help understanding the mechanism of how neurotrophic factors work on regeneration and developing the effective way to improve regeneration of the injured spinal cord.Read moreRead less
Integrated Analysis Of Genome, Epigenome, And Transcriptome Data In Schizophrenia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$417,511.00
Summary
Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder with a diverse range of symptoms. While the cause is unknown, it is thought to develop from a combination of genetic, epigenetic and environmental risk factors. This study will use genome wide approaches to investigate the relationship between genetic/epigenetic modification of DNA and gene expression in schizophrenia. This study could provide an integrated understanding of the neuropathology of schizophrenia and ultimately lead to better treatment.
Neurodevelopmental Mechanisms And Early Intervention In Psychiatric Illness
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$652,765.00
Summary
Schizophrenia and depression are devastating mental illnesses and a huge burden to society. Drug treatments can be beneficial, but many patients are either treatment-resistant or show severe side-effects. There is an urgent need for truly novel treatment strategies which should ideally prevent symptoms. The main aim of this project is to elucidate brain mechanisms involved in schizophrenia and depression development to inform clinical research about improved preventative treatment strategies.
Cell Death In The Retina: Analysing The Switch That Triggers Dependency On Target-derived Trophic Factors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$428,414.00
Summary
Construction of the developing nervous system in the embryo involves the creation of nerve cells and their connections, but also involves loss of a proportion of these cells prior to maturation. We will study this process of cell death and how developing nerve cells switch on their dependency to survival factors. In so doing we will better understand what happens when brain development goes wrong and also devise new ways to protect nerve cells in the injured or degenerate adult nervous system.
The Combined Use Of Transplantation And Gene Therapy Techniques To Promote Regeneration After Neurotrauma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$521,026.00
Summary
Trauma in the adult mammalian central nervous system causes long-lasting functional deficits. The resulting physical and financial burdens to the individual, to his or her family, and to the community at large, are immense. When fibre tracts are damaged there is disruption of circuits and there may be death of associated nerve cells. Interventions are therefore necessary to promote repair and to try to restore function. Highly modified, non-harmful viruses can be used as vectors to introduce gen ....Trauma in the adult mammalian central nervous system causes long-lasting functional deficits. The resulting physical and financial burdens to the individual, to his or her family, and to the community at large, are immense. When fibre tracts are damaged there is disruption of circuits and there may be death of associated nerve cells. Interventions are therefore necessary to promote repair and to try to restore function. Highly modified, non-harmful viruses can be used as vectors to introduce genes into cells, a method that allows targeted supply of molecules to the injured brain. Gene and cell therapy may eventually be of clinical benefit to injured patients. In a range of different experiments we will combine two different gene therapy approaches, various pharmacological agents and novel transplantation strategies in attempts to enhance the survival of affected nerve cells and promote the regrowth of damaged nerve fibres across injury sites in the injured adult rat visual system. Long-term vector-mediated expression of growth factors in neurons and in grafts may 'trap' regenerating axons, potentially reducing their outgrowth into distal, denervated target areas. It is therefore important to determine if temporal regulation of growth-promoting genes has additional beneficial effects on the ability of regenerating neurons to recognise and selectively regrow axons into appropriate CNS targets. An additional series of studies will thus be undertaken. We will test a new generation of regulatory vectors in which it is possible to switch the virally encoded genes on or off and thus control the level and timing of gene expression over a therapeutic range. We will then determine if the use of these regulatory viral vectors results in more consistent and robust growth of nerve fibres with better reconnections, in the longer term leading to better recovery of function.Read moreRead less