Effective management of challenging behaviours in cognitively impaired aged care residents through a research-based nursing care model. Challenging behaviours associated with cognitive impairment, such as screaming and perseveration, marks a decisive turning point in the life situation for an older person, heralding a deterioration in their quality of life and placement in an aged care facility. Staff can promote the residents health and well-being through person-centred care approaches. The stu ....Effective management of challenging behaviours in cognitively impaired aged care residents through a research-based nursing care model. Challenging behaviours associated with cognitive impairment, such as screaming and perseveration, marks a decisive turning point in the life situation for an older person, heralding a deterioration in their quality of life and placement in an aged care facility. Staff can promote the residents health and well-being through person-centred care approaches. The study employs Dementia Care Mapping to achieve these goals for the resident through participatory action research. The expected outcomes are a significant reduction in contextual factors that trigger these challenging behaviours, an improvement in the residents health, well-being and quality of life, and increased knowledge, skills and empowerment in staff.Read moreRead less
The burden of epilepsy study: Impact on well-being, service use and economic outcomes. This research into the humanitarian needs of people with epilepsy is a necessary extension to the current bulk of knowledge about epilepsy which is diagnostic, clinical and pharmacological. Its focus is on well-being, service use and economic burden this study is expected to give a good return on investment. To ensure an uptake of its findings, the study was developed with the national Epilepsy Action, Epilep ....The burden of epilepsy study: Impact on well-being, service use and economic outcomes. This research into the humanitarian needs of people with epilepsy is a necessary extension to the current bulk of knowledge about epilepsy which is diagnostic, clinical and pharmacological. Its focus is on well-being, service use and economic burden this study is expected to give a good return on investment. To ensure an uptake of its findings, the study was developed with the national Epilepsy Action, Epilepsy Society of Australia as well as addressing questions deemed important by the World Health Organization, the International League against Epilepsy, and the International Bureau of Epilepsy. Findings will inform epilepsy guidelines, policy recommendations and programs to reduce the burden of illness.Read moreRead less
Mixture models for high-dimensional clustering with applications to tumour classification, network intrusion, and text classification. This project will benefit the Australian Society as a whole by developing statistical methodology for the clustering of high-dimensional data. In particular, it will develop a novel and efficient model for extracting useful information from subpopulations. It thus has wide applicability to improving the quality and validity of applied research in most industries ....Mixture models for high-dimensional clustering with applications to tumour classification, network intrusion, and text classification. This project will benefit the Australian Society as a whole by developing statistical methodology for the clustering of high-dimensional data. In particular, it will develop a novel and efficient model for extracting useful information from subpopulations. It thus has wide applicability to improving the quality and validity of applied research in most industries in Australia. More specifically, it is to be applied here to classify brain tumours and detect network intruders. This cross-disciplinary project will contribute to Australia's economic of public health, protect Australia from crime, and strength Australian researchers' capacity and capability of participating in this emerging science.Read moreRead less
A hands-free assistive control system for the severely disabled capable of operating under stressful and fatiguing conditions. The impact of severe disability like tetraplegia in daily living is substantial. Strategies are needed to improve their quality of life. One approach is to enhance their independence by providing 'hands free' control over their environment. However, few scientific studies have examined the efficacy of such technology. The aim of this research is to study the brain activi ....A hands-free assistive control system for the severely disabled capable of operating under stressful and fatiguing conditions. The impact of severe disability like tetraplegia in daily living is substantial. Strategies are needed to improve their quality of life. One approach is to enhance their independence by providing 'hands free' control over their environment. However, few scientific studies have examined the efficacy of such technology. The aim of this research is to study the brain activity of users of our "hands free" technology when they are operating under stressful and fatiguing conditions. The study should provide valuable data that will allow us to improve the efficacy of our existing brain signal based system (Mind Switch Assistive System). Read moreRead less
Membrane excitability and cellular calcium regulation in the peripheral nervous system under different (patho)-physiological conditions and in inflammatory disease. Studies of cytokine action on neurons and muscle give new insights into functional responses of the nervous system to systemic inflammation and sepsis. In some countries, sepsis is the third most frequent cause of death following heart attack. Elucidating the pathomechanisms allows to develop therapeutic strategies. Electrophysiology ....Membrane excitability and cellular calcium regulation in the peripheral nervous system under different (patho)-physiological conditions and in inflammatory disease. Studies of cytokine action on neurons and muscle give new insights into functional responses of the nervous system to systemic inflammation and sepsis. In some countries, sepsis is the third most frequent cause of death following heart attack. Elucidating the pathomechanisms allows to develop therapeutic strategies. Electrophysiology, Ca2+ regulation and optical membrane potentiometry allow us to monitor early changes in disease on a (sub)cellular level. Experiments on Ca2+ regulation and ion channel function in muscle with different cholesterol membrane contents will help to understand pathomechanisms in high cholesterol diseases, e.g. obesity, on the membrane level long before cardiovascular effects become prominent.Read moreRead less
Epigenetic mechanisms regulating sex differences in fear-related learning and memory. Anxiety disorders represent an enormous burden on society and are associated with premature aging and infertility in men and women. Evidence also indicates that parental anxiety affects child development. Given that fear-related learning has an important influence on emotional health which, in turn, affects lifestyle and the aging process, an understanding of the neural mechanisms mediating sex differences in ....Epigenetic mechanisms regulating sex differences in fear-related learning and memory. Anxiety disorders represent an enormous burden on society and are associated with premature aging and infertility in men and women. Evidence also indicates that parental anxiety affects child development. Given that fear-related learning has an important influence on emotional health which, in turn, affects lifestyle and the aging process, an understanding of the neural mechanisms mediating sex differences in fear learning will enhance our ability to develop better therapeutic approaches for treating anxiety and preventing relapse, potentially through a gender-specific approach. The studies outlined in this proposal will have implications for promoting and maintaining good health.Read moreRead less
Assessing gene function in the developing brain using zebrafish as a model system. As the average life expectancy in western countries increases there is an increasing incidence of mental health problems in the general population. Therapeutic approaches to Alzhemier's and Parkinson's disease as well as to brain injury arising from stroke rely on a thorough understanding of the molecular and physiological mechanisms of normal growth of this tissue. These are the very processes that need to be rea ....Assessing gene function in the developing brain using zebrafish as a model system. As the average life expectancy in western countries increases there is an increasing incidence of mental health problems in the general population. Therapeutic approaches to Alzhemier's and Parkinson's disease as well as to brain injury arising from stroke rely on a thorough understanding of the molecular and physiological mechanisms of normal growth of this tissue. These are the very processes that need to be reactivated in these diseases for recovery of function. This project seeks to understand normal development of the brain and in doing so it will expose novel targets for therapy in the aged. Read moreRead less
Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development - Grant ID: DI0560757
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$160,896.00
Summary
Identification and Characterisation of Genes involved in the Copper Regulation of the Human Alzheimer's Disease Amyloid-Beta Precursor Protein (APP) Gene. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in the ageing population. This research project aims to identify and characterise new genes involved in the copper regulation of the Alzheimer's disease gene. This may lead to the development of novel therapeutic targets and clinical intervention strategies as well as early diagnost ....Identification and Characterisation of Genes involved in the Copper Regulation of the Human Alzheimer's Disease Amyloid-Beta Precursor Protein (APP) Gene. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in the ageing population. This research project aims to identify and characterise new genes involved in the copper regulation of the Alzheimer's disease gene. This may lead to the development of novel therapeutic targets and clinical intervention strategies as well as early diagnostic procedures in preventative healthcare for the treatment of AD. The benefits would affect the international community as a whole, potentially minimising the socio-economic costs arising from the predicted world-wide increase in AD in the ageing population.Read moreRead less
Effectiveness of social skills training for children with autism. Our industry partner, Aspect Australia, is one of the world's largest providers of educational and other services for people with autism. The demonstration of effectiveness of the program in Aspect classes will likely lead to widespread use and benefit of the program in the education sector nationally and internationally. This in turn would lead to potential lessening of disability in children with autism with improvements in thei ....Effectiveness of social skills training for children with autism. Our industry partner, Aspect Australia, is one of the world's largest providers of educational and other services for people with autism. The demonstration of effectiveness of the program in Aspect classes will likely lead to widespread use and benefit of the program in the education sector nationally and internationally. This in turn would lead to potential lessening of disability in children with autism with improvements in their mental health and significant cost savings to the community.Read moreRead less
Development of Central Nervous System Functioning in AD/HD: a Longitudinal Study. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) is a debilitating problem affecting 5% of children. AD/HD causes substantial school problems and predisposes the child to drug and alcohol abuse, marital breakdown, criminal prosecution and psychiatric problems in later life. At present we know very little about the underlying causes of the behavioural changes seen in this disorder. This project will clarify the matu ....Development of Central Nervous System Functioning in AD/HD: a Longitudinal Study. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) is a debilitating problem affecting 5% of children. AD/HD causes substantial school problems and predisposes the child to drug and alcohol abuse, marital breakdown, criminal prosecution and psychiatric problems in later life. At present we know very little about the underlying causes of the behavioural changes seen in this disorder. This project will clarify the maturational abnormalities in brain function that occur from childhood through to adulthood in this disorder. Better understanding of the normal developmental paths of this disorder will have major clinical benefits as it will allow the development of more optimal treatment plans for these children.Read moreRead less