Development Of A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Platform To Evaluate Neuroprotective And Regenerative Therapies In MS
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$116,667.00
Summary
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) involves inflammation and damage to nerve cells. New therapies are needed to minimize and reverse nerve cell damage. Currently, ways to judge the benefit of these therapies are primitive. We propose that assessing the benefits of these treatments in optic neuritis (inflammation of the eye nerve) is the way forward but first, we need to develop reliable tests to measure these treatments. This application proposes to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for this purpose.
Diagnostic And Prognostic Evaluation Of Diffusion Tensor Imaging And Cognitive Function After Traumatic Brain Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$874,404.00
Summary
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a common cause of brain damage, leading to a variety of disabling cognitive problems. This study will evaluate the ability of new brain imaging techniques and cognitive tests to detect previously undiagnosed brain damage and to predict patient outcome following TBI in order to improve the health care and treatment of these patients. It will also examine the contribution of other factors (eg. injury type, age, pre-injury cognitive ability) to outcome.
Neurocognitive Correlates Of Transition From Ultra-high Risk Mental State To Schizophrenia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,590,053.00
Summary
Understanding the changes in the brains of young people when they are developing a severe mental illness is the objective of this research. State-of-the-art brain imaging and brain function data will be prospectively collected from more than 500 young people considered at ultra high risk of developing schizophrenia, the most severe of mental illnesses for which no cure exists. We aim to identify early brain changes in schizophrenia, thus allowing for more effective early intervention.
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.