CRE In Traumatic Brain Injury Psychosocial Rehabilitation: Breaking Down Barriers For Social Reintegration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,678,530.00
Summary
Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) from motor vehicle accidents, assaults and accidents will surpass many diseases as the major cause of disability in the Western world by 2020. It causes cognitive and emotional disorders that result in unemployment, loss of relationships, social isolation and depression in adults and children. This CRE is a world first, tackling deficits in fatigue, mood, self-awareness and self-regulation and social competency, i.e. speech, social skills and communication.
Cerebral Palsy is most common childhood physical disability. While the brain injury is static, disability can be progressive and lifelong. This fellowship aims to develop and test novel interventions to optimise neuroplasticity by improving early detection and physical, cognitive, psychological and health outcomes in children with CP. Earlier accurate detection of CP will ensure effective treatments utilise critical periods of brain development and are translated into evidence based guidelines.
Early Pharmacological Intervention In An Animal Model Of Schizophrenia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$438,857.00
Summary
The symptoms of schizophrenia do not appear until late adolescence/early adulthood. Some adolescents may be at “high risk” of progressing to clinical psychosis. There is now intense interest in using antipsychotic drugs (APDs) to delay symptoms in these patients. APD use in adolescents however is controversial. This project seeks to clarify the structural, neurochemical and functional implications of APD use in a well described animal model of schizophrenia, developmental vitamin D deficiency.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453073
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$129,485.00
Summary
Establishment of a South Australian rTMS Facility. It is proposed to establish a South Australian Facility for rapid rate transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) which will be the only one in Australia. This Facility will provide enormous opportunities for collaborative cutting edge investigations into the role of the human cortical areas in a diverse range of tasks. For example, projects have been identified projects employing rTMS to study sensorimotor cortical plasticity, facilitate functiona ....Establishment of a South Australian rTMS Facility. It is proposed to establish a South Australian Facility for rapid rate transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) which will be the only one in Australia. This Facility will provide enormous opportunities for collaborative cutting edge investigations into the role of the human cortical areas in a diverse range of tasks. For example, projects have been identified projects employing rTMS to study sensorimotor cortical plasticity, facilitate functional recovery following stroke and investigate the mechanisms of savant behaviour. Provision of this Facility will provide further support for this productive and internationally renowned group of scientists to develop their research programs.Read moreRead less
Pathophysiological Decision-making In Children With Obsessive-compulsive Disorder And Tic Disorders: Action-selection And Imaging Correlates
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$124,676.00
Summary
Why is it that a person with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has trouble deciding whether or not to wash their hands? We scanned the brains of teenagers with OCD while they made decisions and found that they had difficulty using cues in their environment to direct choices. This may be an early vulnerability for the development of the disorder that could guide prevention. We plan to check if that difficulty is present in younger children with OCD and their family members.
The Role Of Innate Immune Memory In The Transition From Acute To Chronic Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$331,440.00
Summary
Chronic pain costs Australians more than $34 billion annually and is the 3rd highest Australian disease burden. It has long been thought to be a disease of the wiring of the brain. This project aims to challenge this long held belief by examining the impact of the immune system in creating chronic pain. Such work promises to provide new and better ways to prevent chronic pain, which will improve & maintain good health for all Australians.
Long-term Outcomes After Paediatric Traumatic Brain Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,000.00
Summary
Traumatic brain injuries during early childhood often result in long-lasting issues including social behaviour problems and post-traumatic epilepsy. Using a unique model of brain injury in young mice, my research aims to identify the biology underlying the changes that cause these issues, and evaluate novel approaches to improve long-term outcomes after brain injury.
Social Dysfunction After Paediatric Brain Injury In Mice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$648,742.00
Summary
Brain injuries during early childhood may evolve over time, with long-lasting consequences on one's ability to socially interact with others. In this study, we hypothesise that social behaviour problems result from damage to white matter tracts in the immature brain. By using a unique model of brain injury in young mice, plus advanced imaging and behavioural methods, we will provide new understanding about the cause of social problems, and evaluate a rehabilitation approach to improve outcomes.
Position perception, attention, object motion, and action. The research will achieve a deeper understanding of the neural processing of the visual perception of position, and of the associated behavioural limits. This will provide a foundation for the development of a range of technologies to assist disabled and elderly people. The results will help reveal the link between the perception of moving objects and the capacity for visually guided movement. This link will benefit areas such as enginee ....Position perception, attention, object motion, and action. The research will achieve a deeper understanding of the neural processing of the visual perception of position, and of the associated behavioural limits. This will provide a foundation for the development of a range of technologies to assist disabled and elderly people. The results will help reveal the link between the perception of moving objects and the capacity for visually guided movement. This link will benefit areas such as engineering of vehicles and road systems, and the design of telepresence systems. The first applications are likely to be in the rehabilitation of brain injury and the decline of mental function with age.Read moreRead less