Maternal Immune Activation And Adolescent Exposure To Cannabis In Rodents: Do Two Developmental “hits” Lead To Schizophrenia-like Changes In Brain And Behaviour?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$636,711.00
Summary
The cause of schizophrenia most likely lies in early brain development due to either genetics or adverse environments. We will examine two successive environmental ‘hits’ in a rat model: infection during pregnancy followed by early adolescent cannabis use. We will track changes in the brain that occur in late adolescence and in young adults. We will also assess behaviour and brain function in adulthood to see if the animals exhibit patterns that mimic those that we see in schizophrenia.
The Effects Of Maternal Infection On Glutamate-related Behavioural, Electrophysiological And Neuropathological Measures Relevant To Schizophrenia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$533,136.00
Summary
There are two well known facts about schizophrenia: maternal infection increases the risk of a schizophrenia diagnosis in adulthood and certain drugs, such as PCP, that affect particular brain chemicals induce symptoms and brain changes in healthy individuals that are similar to schizophrenia. Here we bring these two facts together by attempting to develop a maternal infection model in rodents that mimics the brain changes seen in schizophrenia, thus opening up new options for treatment.
Centre Of Research Excellence In Post-market Surveillance Of Medicines And Medical Devices’
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,500,001.00
Summary
Medicines & medical devices constitute a significant cost to Australia’s health care system. Adverse events resulting from their use are similarly a significant expense that could be reduced by the development of Australia's capacity to use linked health data-sets to detect & monitor adverse events. This Centre aims to develop capacity, methods, knowledge & tools to enhance post-marketing surveillance systems to improve information on medicine & device safety, effectiveness & utilisation.
Impaired Anticipation Of Sensory Events In Schizophrenia.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$307,942.00
Summary
Schizophrenia is a mental illness that costs Australia millions of dollars and hundreds of lives every year. To address this we need to understand more about how schizophrenia develops. A brain measure (mismatch negativity) tracks biological brain changes and functional impairments in daily living that emerge in schizophrenia. It is not yet known if this measure can teach us about vulnerability to developing schizophrenia or only the effect of the disease. This study will address this question.
There are 140 million contact lens wearers worldwide. Use of contact lenses is associated with ocular inflammation (approximately 2-7% per year). We have developed novel antimicrobial coatings for contact lenses which we have shown in laboratory and animal models can reduce the ability of microbes to adhere to lenses and reduce associated inflammation. This Development project will enable us to generate proof-of-principle in a clinical cohort using existing contact lenses that have been coated u ....There are 140 million contact lens wearers worldwide. Use of contact lenses is associated with ocular inflammation (approximately 2-7% per year). We have developed novel antimicrobial coatings for contact lenses which we have shown in laboratory and animal models can reduce the ability of microbes to adhere to lenses and reduce associated inflammation. This Development project will enable us to generate proof-of-principle in a clinical cohort using existing contact lenses that have been coated using our patented processes.Read moreRead less