Identifying A Modifiable Risk Factor For PTSD: Insomnia-related Disruption Of Trauma Recovery Mechanisms
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,072,993.00
Summary
About 4.6 million Australians will experience PTSD during their life. Having insomnia before or immediately after trauma exposure makes it 2.5-3 times more likely someone will develop PTSD, but no one knows why. This project will, for the first time, propose and test a reason why insomnia increases the risk of PTSD. If successful, we will identify one of the few risk factors that can actually be modified in order to reduce the likelihood of developing PTSD after a trauma.
Serum Neurofilament Light As A Biomarker To Improve Management Of Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,092,781.00
Summary
There is increasing awareness that mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs), such as concussions, can lead to persistent or permanent neurological symptoms. Nonetheless, the identification and management of mTBIs remains notoriously difficult. In this proposal, we will assess exactly how a novel blood test can be implemented to assist in mTBI diagnosis, and the identification and management of individuals at risk of suffering persistent or chronic neurological problems.
Using A National Level Multi-registry Analysis To Determine Whether Prescribed Anti-platelet Therapies Post-stroke Can Modify The Risk Of Cognitive Decline Or Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$446,302.00
Summary
Stroke survivors are at risk of dementia. Blood brain barrier damage after stroke may allow drugs in the bloodstream, which can be toxic to brain cells, to enter the brain. Clopidogrel, a drug commonly used after stroke, blocks a receptor essential for brain repair. After stroke, clopidogrel may access the brain and compromise repair processes, increasing the risk of dementia. We will link use of clopidogrel to the risk of dementia after stroke, using national Swedish health registry data.
Communication Connect: Improving Long Term Communication And Mental Health Outcomes Following Stroke And Brain Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,809,756.00
Summary
The 250,000 Australians living in the community with communication disability caused by stroke and traumatic brain injury experience unacceptably high rates of depression, anxiety, inactivity and social isolation. Their carers experience high levels of burden, and they struggle to access health and community services. We aim to develop and test a program of community and self-managed care, aimed at reversing these negative impacts and reducing reliance on high cost health care services.
Cells recycle old components using a system called the proteasome. Some people are born without parts of the proteasome, and they suffer from a disease associated with inflammation. We have identified the molecular trigger for this inflammation. Our findings are also relevant for patients being treated with proteasome inhibitors. In some of these diseases, such as lupus, inflammation can be a side-effect of proteasome inhibitor therapy, and we can now reduce this and make the treatments safer.
Novel 'Mechano-medicine' Combats Deadly Sticky Blood Clots In Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$760,684.00
Summary
This project aims to elucidate a novel biomechanical mechanism that associates with mechanical force generated by dynamic blood flow and leads to enhanced blood clotting in diabetes. The outcome may likely explain the reduced efficacy of current anti-clotting drugs (i.e. Aspirin, Plavix® or Brilinta®) in individuals with diabetes, which does not take the 'force effect' into account. Moreover, it will provide an innovative therapeutic strategy to reduce the sticky blood clots of diabetes.
A Practice Change For Patients With Severe Chronic, Clinically Unexplained Gastrointestinal Symptoms: A Randomised, Controlled Intervention To Assess Efficacy And Cost-effectiveness
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,276,080.00
Summary
Unexplained chronic gastrointestinal symptoms are extremely common and costly to the health system. Currently patients are managed in the hospital setting with the 'typical' face-to-face office-based model which sees the clinician spending valuable time gathering information and often treatments (e.g. allied health) delivered in a non-standard way. This project will evaluate the effectiveness of a new standard best-practice clinical model with a structured technology enabled management approach.
Biopsychosocial Risk And Protective Factors Of Trauma Exposure In First Responders: A Longitudinal Investigation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,137,427.00
Summary
Investigating individual differences in response to stress is crucial to improving both psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy for individuals at high risk for exposure to trauma. This world-first project will investigate pre and post-trauma psychological and biological trajectories associated with health outcomes in first-responders, contributing significantly towards our fundamental understanding of the biology of risk and resilience to trauma exposure, a key health issue.
The LAPSE Study: Impact Of Local Sleep In The ADHD Brain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$621,113.00
Summary
Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterised by inappropriate levels of inattention. ADHD patients also frequently experience sleep disturbances and abnormal daytime sleepiness. We will examine to what extent sleep disturbances can account for ADHD symptoms by examining if the attentional deficits associated with ADHD can be explained by a phenomenon called local sleep, whereby parts of the brain spontaneously fall asleep in the context of a globally awake brain.
Understanding Sex Differences In Alcohol Use Disorder: The Role Of Stress And Neuropeptides
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$692,106.00
Summary
Alcohol use disorders (AUD) are an emerging issue in women, yet there is little understanding of the how the male and female brains differ in response to excessive alcohol consumption. In pilot studies, we have found that deletion of a specific brain chemical causes differences in the way male and female mice consume alcohol in excess. We will further characterise this system and test new approaches to reduce the desire to consume alcohol.