We have previously made the most widely used animal brain atlas in the world. This atlas based on stained histological sections of the rat brain. In recent years, advances in MRI have made it possible to generate images of the rat brain at very high resolution. We have obtained a very high quality MRI image set from colleagues in Duke University in the USA, and we have begun to map these images in great detail, using our histological atlas as a guide.
Brain Iron Imaging For Alzheimer’s Disease (AIBL-ADIRON Study)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,227,885.00
Summary
Iron accumulation in the brain is linked to Alzheimer's disease. New Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans allow us to painlessly image the brain and measure its size and iron concentration. In this project more than 330 volunteers over 60 will be scanned every 18 months over 3 years. We will determine if those subjects with higher iron concentration in their brain have a smaller brain and worse performance in this period. This will confirm a role for iron in Alzheimer's as a new treatment target.
A 3D Cross-Modality Atlas Of The Human Brainstem For Scientists And Clinicians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$363,455.00
Summary
Recent technical advances dramatically improved imaging of the human brainstem. However, there are limited frameworks for interpreting the images. The project will address this by acquiring high quality MRI anatomical and MR microscopy data from postmortem brains and registering these with structures in Atlas of the Human Brainstem (Paxinos and Huang, 1995) where almost 500 brain areas are delineated. Our work will assist with the diagnosis of brain disorders and facilitate clinical research.
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of Low-dose Ketamine In Youth With Severe Depression And Elevated Suicide Risk
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,232,757.00
Summary
Recent research has shown that a single injection of low-dose ketamine has powerful, though short-lived, antidepressant effects. Effective treatments are urgently needed for young people with severe depression. This will be the first controlled study to test whether repeated doses of ketamine, given over 4 weeks, is effective for young patients.
The Burden Of Late Preterm Birth On Brain Development And 2 Year Outcomes – A Prospective, Longitudinal Cohort Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$838,690.00
Summary
80% of preterm babies are born from 32-36 weeks’ gestation, and are late preterm (LPT). LPT children have more learning problems, but why this occurs is unknown. This study aims to understand the effect of LPT birth on brain development. We will do brain scans at term and assess development at 2 years of age of 200 LPT and 200 full-term children. We expect LPT babies will have subtle alterations in brain development compared with term controls which will be associated with delayed development.
Caress The Detail: A Comprehensive MRI Atlas Of The In Vivo Human Brain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$461,978.00
Summary
This project will construct a detailed MRI atlas of the living human brain. The atlas will be online and compatible with tablet computers to provide a convenient, powerful reference tool for researchers and clinicians. It is a collaboration between George Paxinos, a leader in brain cartography, and Mark Schira, an emerging scientist in MRI technology. They will use high resolution in vivo MR images obtained at the University of Queensland Centre for Advanced Imaging.
Novel Nanomaterial Solutions Based On Metal And Metal Oxide For Advanced Diagnosis Of Cardiovascular Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$581,037.00
Summary
Cardiovascular disease accounts of over one third of all deaths in Australia and is forecasted to become the leading cause of death in Australia and worldwide. Currently, atherosclerosis and thrombosis in coronary arteries are diagnosed by X-ray angiography, an invasive and risk-associated procedure. Our project will explore new contrast agents for the fast, reliable and safe diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases and thrombotic events, which is beneficial to many patients.
Beyond The Connectome: Modelling Large-scale Brain Dynamics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$419,847.00
Summary
Several very large international efforts are currently under way that aim to map brain anatomy and activity in unprecedented detail across the lifespan. But our understanding of how complex brain activity emerges from the anatomy has lagged far behind. We will address this problem using a novel combination of state-of-the-art structural connectivity data, cutting-edge modelling, and ultrafast high-resolution recordings of brain activity.
Arterial Spin Labeling Perfusion MR Imaging Of Tissue Pathophysiology In Stroke
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$402,604.00
Summary
It was estimated that in 2012 there were 420,000 Australians living with disability caused by stroke. This project intends to develop a practical treatment selection approach using advanced imaging to target likely treatment responders which could result in more patients living disability free from improved diagnosis and individualised tailoring of acute interventions using MR imaging. The ultimate aim of this project is the translation and implementation of practical advanced imaging stroke.
Randomized Controlled Trial Of Hip Arthroscopy For Femoroacetabular Impingement
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,010,588.00
Summary
Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) occurs as a consequence of abnormal contact between the pelvis and femoral head–neck junction, resulting in damage to the hip joint. Because FAI is associated with symptoms and may play a role in predisposing to osteoarthritis, new surgical techniques have been developed to correct this anatomic abnormality. However, the disease modifying benefits of surgery are unknown. We therefore propose a randomized controlled trial to evaluate its efficacy and to determin ....Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) occurs as a consequence of abnormal contact between the pelvis and femoral head–neck junction, resulting in damage to the hip joint. Because FAI is associated with symptoms and may play a role in predisposing to osteoarthritis, new surgical techniques have been developed to correct this anatomic abnormality. However, the disease modifying benefits of surgery are unknown. We therefore propose a randomized controlled trial to evaluate its efficacy and to determine the mechanisms of effect.Read moreRead less