Mapping And Restoring Brain Networks Underpinning Psychiatric Symptoms
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
My research investigates how networks of brain regions dynamically communicate to support human behavior. I am interested in how brain network activity deviates from the norm to give rise to psychiatric symptoms. Results from my work will facilitate targeted research and interventions aimed at treating symptoms of psychiatric disorders.
Suboptimal Sleep And Unhealthy Brain Ageing: Improving Outcomes Through Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$632,705.00
Summary
My research will address limitations in our understanding of the impact of sleep characteristics on memory and thinking abilities and biological markers of brain health in older adults, by; 1) exploring these relationships over time, and 2) enabling direct assessment of the effect of improved sleep on memory and thinking, and markers of brain health, following sleep-improvement therapy. My results will contribute to the development of strategies aimed at promoting healthy brain ageing.
Blocking Paths To Suicide: A Data Linkage Program To Identify Modifiable Risk Factors For Self-poisoning And Suicide In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$501,205.00
Summary
This research examines the relationship between medicines use and suicide. Some medicines may be more toxic than others and identification of these could allow for targeted restrictions. In addition, medication use practices may influence self-harm and suicide. This research will identify patterns (e.g. non-adherence prior to death, incorrect doses) to pinpoint beneficial or harmful practices. This will improve outcomes and help guide suicide prevention through targeted legislation and policy.
Biology Of Speech Disorders: Advancing Diagnosis, Prognosis & Management
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,515,005.00
Summary
For 100 years, my field has focused on assessing and managing patients based on speech disorder symptomatology. We have ignored aetiology, preventing targeted care. My work will pioneer gene discovery to advance knowledge of the aetiology of human communication disorders, enabling targeted care to reduce disability. Proposed work will be directly translated to improve care and optimise outcomes in speech disorder via advancing detection, diagnosis and prognostic counselling of patients.
Computational Modelling To Understand Early-stage Neurodegeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
Rather than attempting to reverse neurodegeneration, therapeutic strategies must target the earliest possible stages of disease, when treatments have the potential to prevent or slow down pathological progression. The proposed project will employ computational modelling using functional MRI to deliver highly efficient and sensitive markers of Familial Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington’s disease progression to inform when in the progression of disease clinical trials should take place.