Mechanisms Of Abnormal Expression Of The IGF2 Gene In Disorders Affectin Foetal Growth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$420,872.00
Summary
The IGF2 gene is crucial for foetal growth. Only the copy inherited from the father is active, a phenomenon named parental imprinting. In some children with foetal overgrowth or growth retardation, the deregulation of imprinting of the IGF2 gene during the first days of foetal development will influence subsequent growth and will also have major implications in post-natal and adult life. We will investigate the mechanisms resulting in abnormal imprinting of IGF2 early in development.
Improving The Mental Health Outcomes Of Australian Young People
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$437,034.00
Summary
A majority of mental health problems begin in adolescence and young adulthood, but we lack effective prevention and early intervention strategies for poor mental health in young people. My aim is to improve the prevention of mental disorders in young people, and improve treatments and service provision for young people, with a focus on Aboriginal and transgender individuals. The findings will have important implications for prevention strategies and clinical care.
Building Population Mental Health Literacy In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$428,065.00
Summary
The work outlined in the proposal will contribute to building research capacity in the key areas of population mental health literacy and stigma reduction. Trials in the areas of workplace mental health and mental health in young people will inform implementation of evidence-based interventions and support policy development. Previous research in workplace mental health will be extended into the under-researched area of prevention.
An Integrated Genomic And Epigenomic Approach To Dissect The Aetiology Of Motor Neuron Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$428,065.00
Summary
Motor neuron disease (MND) is a neurological disease that destroys motor neurons, which control muscle activity, such as walking. It affects people >40 years old and most patients die within 3 years. There is no specific test for its diagnosis and there are no cures. I aim to build an independent research group to discover novel genes and epigenetic marks, and to dissect their biological function in MND. This knowledge is crucial for finding effective diagnosis, treatment and cure for MND.
Neuroimaging In Mental Health: The Quest For Clinically Useful Biomarkers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$437,034.00
Summary
To ultimately improve treatment of mental illness, this research program aims to detect robust and reliable neuroimaging markers that are associated with affective disorders by pooling data from many samples across the world. Moreover, this research aims to develop alternative biological-based classifications of mental illness in young people, and evaluate their clinical value by examining their predictive value for treatment response and disease course.
Predictors Of Outcome And Intervention In The ‘Ultra-High Risk’ For Psychosis Population
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$401,561.00
Summary
This area of research is concerned with improving our ability to identify young help-seeking patients who are most at risk of developing psychotic disorders and provide intervention to delay or prevent the onset of psychosis. A number of studies are planned, including researching disturbances in sense of self, neurocognitive factors, history of trauma and reaction to stress as predictive of future onset of psychosis, as well as a study of omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) as an intervention for the ....This area of research is concerned with improving our ability to identify young help-seeking patients who are most at risk of developing psychotic disorders and provide intervention to delay or prevent the onset of psychosis. A number of studies are planned, including researching disturbances in sense of self, neurocognitive factors, history of trauma and reaction to stress as predictive of future onset of psychosis, as well as a study of omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) as an intervention for these high risk young people.Read moreRead less
Psychiatric Disorders, Psychotropic Agents And Bone Health: From Benchtop To Bedside.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$447,744.00
Summary
Just under half of all people with a psychiatric disorder have a chronic physical illness. One common and neglected comorbidity is osteoporosis. Dr Williams has brought together a multi-disciplinary team of researchers and clinicians that are gathering laboratory through to clinical evidence regarding the interplay between psychiatric disorders, the medication used to treat these disorders and bone health with the aim of informing clinical practice and guiding clinical choice.