The Use Of MicroRNA As Novel Therapeutic Targets For Reducing Retinal Inflammation And Degeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$349,076.00
Summary
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness in Australia. We aim to investigate a new class of potential therapeutics, microRNA which are involved in the regulation of many biological processes, including inflammation. A greater understanding of these miRNA will enable discovery of novel therapeutic targets for inflammatory diseases like AMD, and will have further reaching applications in other inflammatory disease such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Determining The Electrical Stimulation Parameters Required To Program The Bionic Eye To Effect Vision.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$458,449.00
Summary
Our eyes are invaluable organs that we use for nearly all daily tasks. Loss of vision is devastating but, unfortunately, little can be done at this time. One strategy to restore vision is through a prosthetic to stimulate the retina. For a prosthetic to work, however, we must first understand how the retina encodes the visual image. Our research seeks to decode the retinal signals and determine how a Bionic Eye could be programmed to mimic them.
Glaucoma is a progressive, poorly understood blinding disease with limited treatment options. It is characterised by the death of the nerve cells in the eye whose fibres form the optic nerve. Results obtained in the current proposal will lead to a better understanding of key features of the early stages of the disease and, additionally, will explore the potential of a novel therapeutic approach based on regeneration of damaged nerve fibres within the optic nerve.
Age-related macular degeneration, involves the progressive loss of light sensitive cells from the retina, and is a major cause of loss of vision, and quality of life, in people over 60. Activation of immune mechanisms have been implicated in the disease, but it is not understood, why the immune system attacks vision cells. This study looks at the mechanisms of the activation of immune cells and will test treatment strategies to minimize immune activation, and thereby prevent blindness.
Cortical Excitation In Migraine: Using Vision To Understand And Track Brain Excitability
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$521,628.00
Summary
Migraine is a common neurological condition affecting approximately 15% of adults. Therapies are most effective if used early, yet many people are unable to predict their migraines or to recognize early signs. In addition to headache, key symptoms include abnormal visual and auditory experience. We propose that aspects of vision and hearing will vary systematically according to the current brain status. Our translational goal is to develop tests that allow individuals to better manage migraine.
Much of the human brain is devoted to vision, which requires the integrated activity of many interconnected areas of the cerebral cortex. Damage to these areas is a relatively common complication of preterm delivery and- or perinatal conditions including trauma and infection. The severity of both the short- and long-term effects of these lesions appears to be related to the time of the damage. The aim of this project is to investigate the way in which the multiple visual areas of the brain devel ....Much of the human brain is devoted to vision, which requires the integrated activity of many interconnected areas of the cerebral cortex. Damage to these areas is a relatively common complication of preterm delivery and- or perinatal conditions including trauma and infection. The severity of both the short- and long-term effects of these lesions appears to be related to the time of the damage. The aim of this project is to investigate the way in which the multiple visual areas of the brain develop and become 'wired' together in the period following birth. We will also determine if there are mechanisms which allow alternate routes to be found for processing visual information while the brain is still establishing connections between its multiple areas. This will allow us to understand the anatomical and physiological bases of the deficits caused by early damage to the visual areas of the brain, and perhaps point to strategies that will lead to improved recovery of visual function.Read moreRead less
The Plastic Effects Of Long-term Partial Deafness And Chronic Cochlear Implant Use On The Response Of Primary Auditory Cortex To Combined Electro-acoustic Stimulation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$560,267.00
Summary
Cochlear implants were originally used only in cases of profound deafness, but are now being used in patients who have some residual hearing at low frequencies. Our goal is to better understand how the electrical information from the cochlear implant and the acoustic information provided by the residual hearing are combined in the brain to produce unified perception of the auditory environment.
Abnormalities in cells at the back of the eye called photoreceptors are associated with at least 50% of all cases of blindness in this country.This project will examine a novel mechanism of photoreceptor death. In particular, whether abnormalties in support cells at the back of the eye cause photoreceptors to lose contact with their nutrient source and die.
We will investigate changes in the retina secondary to disease process and try and modify them to allow a longer time frame for intervention. These changes (remodelling) are detrimental to visual function and the effectiveness of measures aimed at restoring vision, eg, bionic eye.
Novel Approaches To Understanding Peripheral Vision In Patients With Central Vision Loss
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$367,101.00
Summary
The aim of my research is to develop novel interventions that enhance the peripheral vision of patients with central vision loss, and to investigate the neural correlates of visual perception in peripheral vision in typical adults. My research will inform rehabilitation strategies that optimise the visual function of patients with partial blindness, and provide a more thorough understanding of the underlying neural mechanisms that reduce the quality of peripheral vision.