Molecular Imaging Of Brain Tumour Therapeutic Efficacy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$412,200.00
Summary
The prognosis for malignant brain tumour patients that do not respond to intial treatment strategies is very poor. The fact that many of these patients patients will not survive longer than 12 months post diagnosis underscores the need to make treatment management decisions in a timely manner. This project seeks to develop and validate non-invasive early molecular imaging biomarkers that can quantify treatment efficacy months before traditional measures of efficacy are valid.
What Contributes To Regional Vulnerability In Neurodegenerative Diseases? A Study Of Familial Cases.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$456,655.00
Summary
Unfortunately, as many people live longer, more and more are afflicted by degenerative changes that affect their brain. These neurodegenerative diseases are usually relentlessly progressive and with time render patients incapable of many normal functions. For some families with certain genetic defects, these diseases occur aggressively and early. We would like to study the brains of patients from these families because in most cases the proteins affected by the gene defect have been identified. ....Unfortunately, as many people live longer, more and more are afflicted by degenerative changes that affect their brain. These neurodegenerative diseases are usually relentlessly progressive and with time render patients incapable of many normal functions. For some families with certain genetic defects, these diseases occur aggressively and early. We would like to study the brains of patients from these families because in most cases the proteins affected by the gene defect have been identified. However, despite knowing this important information, the reasons for the death of brain cells are still not understood. This project will provide important new information on which brain cells died in these patients and on the relationship between such cell death and any cellular protein changes. By comparing patients with different genetic defects we will be able to identify the main cellular mechanisms underlying these degenerative changes. This information is essential for the rational design of further experiments aimed at reducing the suffering of all patients with neurodegenerative diseases or at eliminating these diseases altogether.Read moreRead less
Randomised Control Trial Of Three Treatments For Adolescent Stutterers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$376,320.00
Summary
Effective communication is an essential of everyday life, and stuttering impairs this function. Those who stutter may find effective communication impossible, and severe cases may be rendered almost mute. Clinically significant anxiety figures prominently in the disorder with almost half of those seeking treatment warranting a comorbid diagnosis of social phobia. The adolescent years are generally regarded as a difficult time of life, at which time the potential effects of disfigured speech can ....Effective communication is an essential of everyday life, and stuttering impairs this function. Those who stutter may find effective communication impossible, and severe cases may be rendered almost mute. Clinically significant anxiety figures prominently in the disorder with almost half of those seeking treatment warranting a comorbid diagnosis of social phobia. The adolescent years are generally regarded as a difficult time of life, at which time the potential effects of disfigured speech can be devastating. There has been much research and development of treatments for children and adults who stutter, proven effective treatments are available for those age groups. However, little is known about how to treat adolescents who stutter, and there has been little research and development to find the best treatment-s for this age group. The present proposal is for a randomised, controlled trial of three treatments that have been shown recently to have promise as treatment methods for this age group of patients. The trial will compare (1) a treatment that involves biofeedback muscle activity during speech, (2) a treatment that involves biofeedback of voice box activity during speech, and (3) a variant of a standard treatment that trains the speaker in a new speech pattern. The control group will receive no treatment. The trial extends for a period of 12 months after the subjects are randomly allocated to a treatment group or a control group. The subjects' speech will be assessed in a variety of situations in the clinic and during everyday life. The prime outcome measure will be percentage of syllables stuttered, and secondary measures will be the time required for treatment and how natural the patients sound after treatment. At the conclusion of the trial, the subjects in the control group will be given the treatment that was shown to be most effective.Read moreRead less
Randomised, Double-blind, Placebo Controlled Trial Of Lithium Carbonate For The Management Of Human Cannabis Withdrawal
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$523,509.00
Summary
This project aims to help dependent cannabis users stop using cannabis by exploring the safety and effectiveness of lithium in reducing the severity of withdrawal that occurs on cessation of use. Participants will be admitted to an inpatient drug treatment unit (Sydney or Lismore) for 7 days and will be randomly assigned to receive either lithium or placebo. Participants receiving lithium are expected to have less severe withdrawal and higher rates of abstinence from cannabis at follow-up.
Investigation Of Dysfunction Of SIGMAR1 In Transgenic Mouse Models, A Novel Gene Implicated In Neurodegeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$492,119.00
Summary
At present, there are no effective therapies for frontotemporal dementia or motor neuron disease. We have identified the SIGMAR1 gene as having a crucial role for these diseases. More importantly, there are therapeutically relevant small molecule drugs that are known to modulate the activity of this gene. We aim to determine the efficacy of pharmacological modulation of Sigma-1 receptor activity in mouse models of dementia.