Pregabalin And Speech Pathology Treatment For Refractory Chronic Cough With Laryngeal Hypersensitivity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$155,747.00
Summary
Persistent cough that does not respond to medical treatment is debilitating and frustrating for the sufferer and very expensive for the Australian government. This research will provide a new and effective treatment option and extend our current reputation as the world leader in the identification and treatment of refractory chronic cough. This treatment strategy has not been trialled before and the findings will change current medical practice and significantly reduce community health costs.
The Incidence And Predictors Of Foot Disease Hospitalisation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
Foot disease seems to be a much larger cause of hospitalisation than first thought. This research program aims to study for the first ever time the annual incidence of foot disease hospitalisation and develop models to predict which patients with foot disease are likely to be hospitalised or die. We believe this research will help clinicians, researchers and governments from around the world to measure, predict and prevent foot disease hospitalisation in their nations for the first time.
Identification And Characterization Of Novel Bioactive Peptides From Australian Conesnails Targeting Pain Pathways
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$320,803.00
Summary
In recent years, significant advances have been made in the identification of new targets in the central or peripheral nervous systems which may be used to develop new pain killers. However, molecules specifically targeting these receptors and channels are lacking to date. This project will use novel cell-based approaches to find new molecules from conesnails which specifically target receptors involved in pain. These will be useful to increase our understanding of the mechanisms of pain.
Disease Gene Discovery And Improved Genetic Diagnosis In Neuromuscular Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,321.00
Summary
Paediatric nerve and muscle disorders result in weakness, chronic disability and often early death. Over half of all affected children do not yet have a genetic diagnosis. This project will use advanced sequencing technology to increase genetic diagnosis rates and identify new disease-causing genes. This will result in improved patient care and a better understanding of the biological pathways altered by these disorders. It will also facilitate the identification of targets for future therapies.
Mechanisms Of Ion Channel Dysfunction In Hereditary And Acquired Neuropathies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$404,869.00
Summary
Nerve function is dependent on ion channels, which provide the basis for neurotransmission. Inherited or acquired abnormalities in ion channel function are important in diseases including epilepsy, pain disorders, neuromuscular diseases and toxic neuropathy. This project will use a combination of techniques to study mechanisms underlying nerve dysfunction to compare genetic nerve problems and acquired nerve damage to understand how damage occurs and develop new therapies and diagnostic tests.
The Association Of Distorted Central Processing, Small Axon Dysfunction And Inflammation In Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$406,431.00
Summary
The mechanisms underlying pain in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), which results from compression of a nerve at the wrist, are not well understood. In a combination of human and animal studies, we will examine whether the pain involves abnormalities of skin and brain function and whether inflammation in the nervous system may be responsible for such abnormalities. We will test whether surgical outcome can be predicted by these variables. Accurate predictive tests would avoid unnecessary surgery.
Mechanisms Of Body Representation And The Sensory Consequences Of Stroke
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,842.00
Summary
How does the brain control movement without vision? We cannot see our mouth but can easily put food in it. The brain uses a combination of sensory signals and stored models of the body, to control movement. The body models, and their interaction with sensory information, is not well understood. but they are disrupted by common clinical disorders. This research project investigates unsolved questions about the body model including how it is affected by stroke.
The Role Of Corticothalamic Feedback On The Response Dynamics Of Thalamic Neurons
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$351,852.00
Summary
A fundamental question in neuroscience is how the brain selectively processes sensory information to generate a reliable representation of the world. Positioned in the centre of the brain, the thalamus plays a key role in sensory processing. This project investigates how the interaction between thalamus and cortex shapes the selection and gating of sensory information. This is a fundamental question in basic neuroscience with the potential to increase our knowledge about attentional deficits.
Brain Training In Osteoarthritis - Does It Decrease Pain?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$299,564.00
Summary
In people with osteoarthritis (OA), the amount of pain is often not related to the amount of joint damage seen on x-ray. This suggests that there are other processes contributing to their pain. Recently, the role of the brain in contributing to chronic pain has been investigated. This project aims to determine what parts of the brain are affected in people with OA. It also aims to develop new treatments that target these brain areas and determine if these brain-training treatments decrease pain.
Neuronal Activity And Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$367,561.00
Summary
How does brain activity relate to perception and behaviour? How does functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the brain, which measures changes in blood oxygen, relate to the activity of single cells? I will address these questions, comparing electrical measurements of single cells and functional images, and advance our understanding of the brain in health and disease.