Monitoring Cortical Excitability Using A Probing Stimulus For Epileptic Seizure Anticipation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$392,997.00
Summary
Millions of people with epilepsy suffer from seizures that cannot be controlled by medication. Life-threatening seizure may strike at any time, restricting patients from leaving their homes due the constant fear of a seizure. This research offers hope for people with epilepsy by developing a method of anticipating seizures. Successful outcomes will not only provide a warning of impending seizures, but also an opportunity for intervention, thereby preventing seizures.
Epilepsy is a debilitating neurological disorder characterised by spontaneous seizures. For a third of epilepsy patients, drugs cannot prevent epileptic seizures from occurring without causing severe side effects. Therefore alternative treatments are needed. This work will develop epileptic seizure warning methods. This will alleviate the stress of randomly occurring seizures by giving patients the chance to move to safety before a seizure occurs, therefore enhancing their quality of life.
A Multi-cohort Investigation Of The Effects Of BDNF Val66Met On Tau, Neurodegeneration And Cognition In Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$325,758.00
Summary
There are currently no disease modifying therapies for Alzheimer’s disease. We will elucidate the role of a genetic polymorphism that has previously been shown to exert neuroprotective effects on memory decline and brain volume loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease. By studying the role of this gene in multiple cohorts of individuals with varying degrees of Alzheimer’s disease risk, this study has high potential to uncover novel disease-modifying strategies for the treatment of the disease.
Structural Connectomes In Traumatic Brain Injury: Can Secondary Disease Progression Be Stopped And Cognitive Deficits Be Reversed?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,000.00
Summary
Many people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) experience cognitive problems, including poor memory and concentration. TBI is often referred to as a ‘hidden disability’ because the overwhelming majority of patients with TBI show no abnormalities on standard MRI or CT scans. In my project, I will delineate the mechanisms of secondary injury in finer detail through enhanced neuroimaging techniques, resulting in new assessment and treatment modalities for individuals with TBI.
Determining The Genetic Control Of Corpus Callosum Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$625,800.00
Summary
Disorders of early brain development are significant causes of illness and disability in children, who present with a number of clinical problems including delayed development, seizures, weakness and learning difficulties. The cause of these conditions remains poorly understood, however it is emerging that genes play a key role. This project will identify and characterise novel genes associated with abnormal brain development and identify new potential targets for treatment.
Growth factors are essential molecules for normal brain development. Variations in the amount of the different growth factors have been implicated in such diseases as AlzheimerÍs and ParkinsonÍs disease. This project will study the precursor of a growth factor known as brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and what specific roles the precursor might play in brain development.
TDP-43 In The Population In Relation To Dementia: Relationships With Clinical Symptomatology And Other Key Neuropathologies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$235,002.00
Summary
There are over a quarter of a million people with dementia in Australia, and this figure will rise. We still do not understand what goes wrong within the brain to give rise to dementia. This project will assess a new pathology within the brain in relation to late life dementia and the aging process. Results will improve diagnostic tools for dementia and treatments.
Investigating Treatments And Biomarkers Of Brain Concussion
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$428,065.00
Summary
Concussions are a serious and common international health concern, and repeated concussions can have severe long-term consequences on the brain. This project will aim to provide insight into this poorly understood disease projects and ultimately improve the management of concussions in human patients.