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Motivation For Starvation: Understanding The Neurobiology Of Anorexia Nervosa
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$773,142.00
Summary
Anorexia nervosa is a debilitating psychiatric disorder which is currently untreatable. It is characterised by disrupted reward and cognitive processing. This project, which will ultimately inform treatment strategies, utilises the activity-based anorexia rat model combined with innovative behavioural paradigms and sophisticated techniques to manipulate and record from neural circuits. This will furnish a comprehensive understanding of the neurobiology involved in pathological weight loss.
Intergenerational Impacts Of Paternal Immune Activation On Brain Function And Dysfunction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$997,690.00
Summary
We recently discovered that infection of male mice with a parasite (Toxoplasma gondii) before conception can change the epigenetic information in the sperm and alter behaviour of the offspring. This is the first evidence that pathogenic infection in males can affect the next generation. We will investigate how infection with other major pathogens, including bacteria and the virus causing COVID-19, may affect sperm epigenetics and offspring health, including their brain function and dysfunction.
Narcolepsy With Cataplexy: A Brain Orexin Replacement Strategy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$810,784.00
Summary
Narcolepsy with cataplexy is a debilitating, life-long sleep-wake disorder, caused by the irreversible loss of the brain peptide 'orexin'. There is no satisfactory and safe treatment. We aim to develop an orexin analogue, delivered directly to the brain of sheep (relevant in size and translatable to patients) by a programmable pump to timely activate the orexin 'wake-up' switch. This innovative precision medicine project will significantly improve the quality of life of narcolepsy patients.
Creating A Phenotypic Catalogue Of Synaptic Vesicle Cycling Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$876,975.00
Summary
Developmental disorders affect 2-5% of children. In order to understand how these mutations will likely affect neurological function in these individuals, and to develop a tailored care and treatment program, we must first understand how these mutations affect neuronal communication. This research program will identify the underlying cause of neurological dysfunction in a subset of these disorders (synaptic vesicle cycle disorders), affecting 1200-3000 children in Australia alone.
The Future In Our Hands: Screening For Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease By Analysing Hand Movements
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$899,782.00
Summary
Alzheimer's disease (AD) starts damaging the brain 10-20 years before memory problems begin. By the time of diagnosis, it is hard to treat because the damage is so severe. We need a way to detect AD much earlier. We will develop a simple new computer test to detect early signs of AD by recording and analysing hand movements. Then people can start prevention earlier and scientists can research better treatments to improve people's quality of life and reduce the number of people with dementia.
Ataxia-Telangiectasia: An Emerging Role For Inflammation In Driving Neurodegeneration And Premature Ageing
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$437,436.00
Summary
Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T) is a devastating genetic disease that arises in early childhood and causes patients to die in their twenties. To date there is no cure, and therapeutics are desperately needed. This project will use state-of-the-art brain organoids derived from stem cells of A-T patients in order to better understand this disease and evaluate novel drugs that target the molecular mechanisms that drive chronic inflammation and brain neurodegeneration in children with A-T.
Finely Tuned Glutamate Receptor Inhibitors As Novel Therapeutics For Neurodegenerative Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,168,829.00
Summary
Neurodegenerative disorders are among the leading causes of death and disease burden. New drugs are needed to treat both symptoms and disease progression. This project aims to understand the properties of different drug-like compounds to inhibit proteins on the surface of brain cells (glutamate receptors) to impact disease progression and symptoms in a preclinical disease models. The project will yield a better understanding of how best to target glutamate receptors for therapeutic effect.
Hybrid Optical-electrical Stimulation For Precise Neural Stimulation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$935,579.00
Summary
In world-first research, we have evidence that combining electrical stimulation with optical stimulation significantly and safely improves precision of neural activation for devices such as cochlear and retinal implants. In this proposal we will use gene therapy to make nerves responsive to light in pre-clinical animal models to establish proof of concept that hybrid stimulation will significantly improve outcomes for recipients of cochlear and retinal implants.
Imaging, Fluid And Genetic Markers Of Alzheimer's Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,519,004.00
Summary
Markers of pathology and inflammation are useful tools for the diagnosis and staging of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. This approach will deepen our basic understanding of this disease, improving early detection and prediction of cognitive impairment. This work will make possible more accurate diagnosis, and improved monitoring of therapeutic interventions.
New Therapeutic Approaches For Genetic Skeletal Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$961,150.00
Summary
Genetic skeletal disorders are a significant disease burden with limited therapeutic options. We will use mouse models of cartilage and bone disorders and human induced pluripotent stem cell derived bone and cartilage 'disease in a dish' models to test repurposed FDA-approved drugs and new drug candidates as novel therapeutic strategies.