High Spatial Resolution Dosimetry For Radioactive Plaques Used For Radiotherapy Of Eye Lesions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$357,294.00
Summary
Melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the commonest ocular malignancies in adults. While plaque brachytherapy has delivered advances in ocular cancer management, significant challenges remain. These include post-treatment vision loss (due to over irradiation of vital structures, e.g. optic nerve), treatment failure (~10%) and an inability to treat large tumours (>8mm thick). This project aims to address these challenges through rigorous quality assurance and enhanced dosimetry planning.
The Impact Of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Biofilm On Eye Infection And The Development Of Antimicrobial Contact Lenses
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$328,932.00
Summary
Worldwide, 125 million people correct their vision through the use of contact lenses. Contact lens use predisposes the wearer to sight threatening eye infections. Despite advanced material technology and improved hygiene regimens, the rate of contact lens-related infectious disease has remained constant. This research aims to elucidate how bacteria compromise the ocular immune system in order to develop preventative/therapeutic strategies to combat ocular infections.
Pathways To Vision Following Lesions Of The Primary Visual Cortex
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,500,000.00
Summary
Lesions due to stroke or trauma in the occipital lobe cause blindness, which can be complete or restricted to part of the visual field. My work has identified areas of the visual brain that remain active after such lesions. I want to find out if these areas can be used to partially restore vision. This project will study the potential roles of different surviving areas, how brain cells rewire their connections in response to damage, and how rehabilitation programs work at the cellular level.
The Claustrum Enigma: Unlocking The Role Of The Last Unknown Area Of The Primate Brain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$558,364.00
Summary
Despite nearly 200 years of study, the function of the claustrum remains unclear. Interest in this brain structure has recently been revived by findings showing damage to the claustrum in several major diseases, and by the suggestion that the claustrum may have a role in consciousness. Here we propose a series of experiments to test the novel hypothesis that the claustrum is part of the default mode network, a group of brain areas that act together when we aren't thinking about anything in parti ....Despite nearly 200 years of study, the function of the claustrum remains unclear. Interest in this brain structure has recently been revived by findings showing damage to the claustrum in several major diseases, and by the suggestion that the claustrum may have a role in consciousness. Here we propose a series of experiments to test the novel hypothesis that the claustrum is part of the default mode network, a group of brain areas that act together when we aren't thinking about anything in particular, that is- most of the time.Read moreRead less
Do Activated Retinal Microglia Mediate Neurotoxicity In Background Diabetic Retinopathy?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$435,589.00
Summary
Diabetic retinopathy, a frequent complication of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, is the commonest cause of blindness in working age individuals. Prior to the growth of blindness-causing new vessels in the eye we now know that there is a gradual loss of neurons in the retina. This project will investigate whether the resident immune cells in the retina, which are normally neuroprotective, become neurotoxic during episodes of systemic inflammation (e.g. bacterial or viral infections).