Harnessing non-invasive brain stimulation to improve language function in healthy and pathological ageing. This project will examine how the ability of the ageing brain to process language can be improved by non-invasive brain stimulation. The findings have the potential to reveal new ways to treat language impairments in ageing-associated brain injury and disease.
Regulation of neuronal cell death signalling for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The progression of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and motor neuron diseases, are often underpinned by neuronal cell death-signalling. This project aims to characterise molecules that regulate cell death signalling, thereby increasing our knowledge of how neuronal cell death can be inhibited.
New tools to activate and silence neural circuits. Many neurological disorders occur as a result of neuron cell death that is initiated by excessive levels of excitatory activity in central nervous system neurons. This project will develop and validate a new treatment for these disorders that involves silencing excessive neuronal activity using a safe, commonly prescribed drug.
ARC Centre of Excellence - Vision Science. This Centre will generate important new knowledge of the performance, logic and stability of vision and visual behaviour. This knowledge will help reduce the burden of vision impairment in Australia, increasing productivity, promoting healthy ageing and reducing the community costs of visual impairment (ca. $9.85 billion in 2004). The knowledge produced will also make possible world-class innovations in robotics, leading to novel automated vision system ....ARC Centre of Excellence - Vision Science. This Centre will generate important new knowledge of the performance, logic and stability of vision and visual behaviour. This knowledge will help reduce the burden of vision impairment in Australia, increasing productivity, promoting healthy ageing and reducing the community costs of visual impairment (ca. $9.85 billion in 2004). The knowledge produced will also make possible world-class innovations in robotics, leading to novel automated vision systems with applications in industry and national security. Other knowledge will develop novel diagnostic technologies, for application in health delivery.Read moreRead less
Role of the complement system in the healthy and diseased central nervous system. The investigation into the role of the immune system in the central nervous system will increase our understanding of the causes behind the neurodegenerative process in aging individuals. This research will also indicate the potential for new types of anti-inflammatory drugs, to be used to slow the neurodegenerative process occurring naturally in the aging brain. These drugs could also be useful in treating drastic ....Role of the complement system in the healthy and diseased central nervous system. The investigation into the role of the immune system in the central nervous system will increase our understanding of the causes behind the neurodegenerative process in aging individuals. This research will also indicate the potential for new types of anti-inflammatory drugs, to be used to slow the neurodegenerative process occurring naturally in the aging brain. These drugs could also be useful in treating drastic neurodegenerative diseases such as motor neuron disease, Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease. Of these, only Parkinson's disease currently has some effective treatments. Community and National benefits would be increased health, decreased stress and major economic savings.Read moreRead less
Molecules and mechanisms regulating axonal degeneration and regeneration in Caenorhabditis elegans neurons. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying nerve degeneration and regeneration is essential to tackle and provide treatment for neurodegenerative diseases and injury of the nervous system. This project aims to discover, using a genetic approach and a simple animal model system, the molecules regulating these crucial biological processes.
Effect of infant hand observation training on the early development of hand reaching and grasping in healthy infants and those with early brain damage. The best way to learn a new motor skill is to look at people who can already do it. But is this also true for infants? And, can we help infants with motor problems by teaching them how to do it? This project aims to answer these questions by studying training based on the observation of parent's actions by infants with and without brain damage.