Mechanisms Guiding Pathfinding And Positioning Of Cortical Interneurons
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$621,606.00
Summary
Brain disorders place an economic and social burden on Australia and the personal costs of these illnesses are immeasurable. Several brain abnormalities are caused from the failure of neurons to position themselves in the correct location when the brain develops. Our study aims to discover how neurons move and what factors influence this process. It provides an understanding of normal brain development, as well as providing insight into what may go wrong in the formation of brain diseases.
The Role Of Rnd Genes During Cortical Neurogenesis And Cell Migration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$410,384.00
Summary
In order for the brain to function properly, tens of billions of neurons within it first have to be born, then find their proper location before connecting with other neurons in a highly ordered fashion. Failure of these key processes heavily impacts on subsequent brain function, and have been shown to underlie several disorders including epilepsy. This study will investigate how members of the Rnd gene family control cell production and positioning within the developing brain.
Early Detection Of Infants And Young Children With Autism
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$268,250.00
Summary
Autism is a severely handicapping condition adversely affecting social interaction, communication, behaviour, interests, and activities. Autism requires treatment at an early age (before 4 years). Despite finding that parents notice problems with their child's development within the first 2 years, on average diagnoses are made around 6 years of age. Treatment for autism should begin as early as possible to improve outcome. Diagnosis requires specialist assessment and these services are limited. ....Autism is a severely handicapping condition adversely affecting social interaction, communication, behaviour, interests, and activities. Autism requires treatment at an early age (before 4 years). Despite finding that parents notice problems with their child's development within the first 2 years, on average diagnoses are made around 6 years of age. Treatment for autism should begin as early as possible to improve outcome. Diagnosis requires specialist assessment and these services are limited. Therefore it is not possible to undertake such assessments with all children who have developmental problems. This project therefore proposes to evaluate a method for screening large populations of children for autism, thus enabling timely and more appropriate referral to assessment services. Previous work by the investigators has developed a potential screening tool (DBC Early Screen) for autism in young children under 4 years with developmental delay that has high levels of accuracy in identifying those infants and children who are at risk of autism and require specialist assessment. This project proposes to undertake a community field trial to assess the accuracy and reliability of this early screen and to establish its suitability for wide use as a population screening tool. The preliminary testing of DBC Early Screen demonstrated that a community field trial was feasible. The results of this study will facilitate the referral of infants and young children to specialist autism assessment services, thus enabling the commencement of appropriate early intervention for children and their families from an early age.Read moreRead less
Why Does Early Life Stress Aggravate Limbic Epileptogenesis?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$540,116.00
Summary
High rates of anxiety and depression occur in individuals with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), the most common form of focal epilepsy in adults. Rats that have experienced early life stress show increased anxiety, decreased seizure thresholds and accelerated epilepsy as adults. We have important leads to mechanisms. The proposed study will better understand the mechanisms connecting early life stress and psychiatric disease to adult TLE, and to test interventions that may counteract these effects.
Targeting Tau Phosphorylation To Treat And Prevent Acquired Epilepsy, Neurodegeneration And Neuropsychiatric Disease Following A Brain Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$524,820.00
Summary
This project will explore a new approach to the prevention and treatment of epilepsy and the associated mental health disorders following a brain injury. This involves inhibiting pathological forms of the Tau protein, which has been implicated in the development of epilepsy and neurodegeneration. The drug that will be tested in this study has already been demonstrated to be safe and well tolerated in humans, meaning that a positive result from these studies could be expediently translated into c ....This project will explore a new approach to the prevention and treatment of epilepsy and the associated mental health disorders following a brain injury. This involves inhibiting pathological forms of the Tau protein, which has been implicated in the development of epilepsy and neurodegeneration. The drug that will be tested in this study has already been demonstrated to be safe and well tolerated in humans, meaning that a positive result from these studies could be expediently translated into clinical studies.Read moreRead less
Assessing Sustainability Of Positive Outcomes In A Successful Child Obesity Prevention Intervention: Follow-up Of The Melbourne InFANT Program
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$882,700.00
Summary
Early intervention may be the most sustainable and effective means of preventing obesity and promoting healthy lifestyle behaviours (obesity preventive behaviours) including diet, physical activity and reduced sedentary behaviours. This project aims to assess whether differences observed between intervention and control groups at the conclusion of a successful obesity prevention program, the Melbourne InFANT Program, (child aged 18-months) are maintained across the important early childhood year ....Early intervention may be the most sustainable and effective means of preventing obesity and promoting healthy lifestyle behaviours (obesity preventive behaviours) including diet, physical activity and reduced sedentary behaviours. This project aims to assess whether differences observed between intervention and control groups at the conclusion of a successful obesity prevention program, the Melbourne InFANT Program, (child aged 18-months) are maintained across the important early childhood years, to 3.5 and 5 years of age.Read moreRead less
A Parent Education And Skills Training Early Intervention For Children With Autism
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$305,674.00
Summary
Autism is a severely handicapping disorder adversely affecting social interaction, communication, and behaviour, interests and activities. Over the past 9 years our team has conducted a follow-up study of a large group of 111 Australian children and adolescents with autism. The young people have continued to have very high levels of emotional and behavioural disturbance and generally do not improve. Parents of children with autism are under significant amounts of stress; reporting high levels of ....Autism is a severely handicapping disorder adversely affecting social interaction, communication, and behaviour, interests and activities. Over the past 9 years our team has conducted a follow-up study of a large group of 111 Australian children and adolescents with autism. The young people have continued to have very high levels of emotional and behavioural disturbance and generally do not improve. Parents of children with autism are under significant amounts of stress; reporting high levels of disturbed family functioning and mental health problems. Although there is no cure, children benefit most when early help is provided (under 5 years). There are several promising interventions based on intensive behaviour and educational management, for example requiring 40 hours per week of therapist contact over 2 years. Such programs are costly and impractical as widely available treatment options. Training parents to understand and manage their child also shows promise. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a parent skills training and education treatment program compared to supportive therapy, and to generally available community services. The therapists will follow a treatment manual that will ensure a consistent and replicable approach. The progress of the children with autism and their families will be reassessed immediately after treatment, and at 1 and 2 years post-treatment in order to ascertain immediate and long-term effects of the treatment. If treatment proves to be of use, we will have established a defined, cost efficient, practical and effective model of early treatment that can be easily taught to professionals and widely disseminated throughout early childhood services.Read moreRead less
Evaluation Of An Instrument For Management Of Behavioural And Psychological Symptoms Of Dementia.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$598,468.00
Summary
Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) distress the patient and others. The behaviours, and not the underlying causes, are often treated with antipsychotics, despite side effects and low efficacy. An assessment instrument for care staff to determine and address causes of BPSD will be implemented. We predict training will reduce inappropriate prescribing and other reasons for distress. Where medication is required, detailed information will assist more targeted prescribing.
Early Intervention For Anxiety And Phobic Disorders In Young Children With Intellectual Disability
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$305,674.00
Summary
Children with intellectual disability (ID) are 2-3 times more likely to have behavioural and emotional disturbance, including anxiety and fears, than children of normal intellectual ability. Anxiety problems are a source of distress for the child, impair their ability to learn and are a cause of family burden and community cost. Therefore, effective interventions are urgently required. Research with non-disabled children has demonstrated the effectiveness of teaching parents to manage their chil ....Children with intellectual disability (ID) are 2-3 times more likely to have behavioural and emotional disturbance, including anxiety and fears, than children of normal intellectual ability. Anxiety problems are a source of distress for the child, impair their ability to learn and are a cause of family burden and community cost. Therefore, effective interventions are urgently required. Research with non-disabled children has demonstrated the effectiveness of teaching parents to manage their child's anxiety, however the effectiveness of this approach in children with ID has not yet been established. This project aims to compare the relative effectiveness of two intervention conditions compared to a waiting list group, for highly anxious children aged 4-7 years with ID. One intervention will teach parents to help their child deal with anxiety problems, and develop skills to overcome their own associated emotional upset and family and social problems. The other intervention will provide non-directive counselling and support to help the parents understand the nature and causes of ID, associated anxiety problems in the child, and parent and family stress. The long term outcome of these two interventions will be assessed by following the children and their families for two years. A manual of each treatment is produced. This project aims to provide evidence for a relatively inexpensive, feasible and effective early intervention program for young children with ID at risk for developing anxiety problems that can be easily taught to professionals and is acceptable to parents. Widespread use of this intervention has the potential to reduce the added burden and cost to families and the community of persistent severe anxiety in young people with ID.Read moreRead less
Ventilation Heterogeneity And Airway Remodelling In Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$522,586.00
Summary
Asthma is a common and important as a cause of significant symptoms and even death. Associated with asthma is narrowing and stiffening of the arways which causes uneven ventilation of the lungs and reduced lung function. We have developed a new technique of imaging the lungs, as well as new lung function tests which measure uneven ventilation and stiffening of airways. This will help us design better medications, and help predict those who are at risk or severe asthma and death.