Development And Evaluation Of A New Cochlear Implant Sound Processing Strategy Utilising A Spike-based Temporal Auditory
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$98,000.00
Summary
This project aims to improve cochlear implant users’ perception of speech, particularly in noisy environments, by developing a new sound processing strategy that is based on the human physiological response to sound. To date, cochlear implant sound processing strategies have been designed using simple engineering principles. Our new strategy simulates the behaviour of the cochlea and the auditory nerve to give a stimulation sequence closer to normal hearing. This project will demonstrate the fea ....This project aims to improve cochlear implant users’ perception of speech, particularly in noisy environments, by developing a new sound processing strategy that is based on the human physiological response to sound. To date, cochlear implant sound processing strategies have been designed using simple engineering principles. Our new strategy simulates the behaviour of the cochlea and the auditory nerve to give a stimulation sequence closer to normal hearing. This project will demonstrate the feasibility of this approach and show the level of benefit that is provided over existing cochlear implant processing strategies. This project aims to implement the STAR strategy and evaluate its effectiveness for cochlear implant users in comparison to existing commercially available strategiesRead moreRead less
Development Of An Assay To Distinguish Between Recent And Established HIV-1 Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$192,500.00
Summary
We have discovered a marker of recent HIV infection. Further refinement of this assay and fully evaluating it on samples from individuals infected with different subtypes of the virus will result in an HIV incidence assay ready for commercialisation. An assay capable of distinguishing between recently acquired and established HIV infection would be most valuable in establishing the incidence of infection for epidemiological surveys, to clearly identify new infections following vaccine trials and ....We have discovered a marker of recent HIV infection. Further refinement of this assay and fully evaluating it on samples from individuals infected with different subtypes of the virus will result in an HIV incidence assay ready for commercialisation. An assay capable of distinguishing between recently acquired and established HIV infection would be most valuable in establishing the incidence of infection for epidemiological surveys, to clearly identify new infections following vaccine trials and identify HIV infection as opposed to transfer of maternal antibodies in new born infants.Read moreRead less
Modulating Immune Responses By Targeting Dendritic Cells Using Dendritic Cell Specific Markers.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$197,750.00
Summary
The ability to modulate immune responses would have major health benefits. Dendritic cells (DC) are key regulators of the immune system. Different types of DC possess different cell surface molecules and have differing regulatory functions. We have identified four novel DC surface molecules that can be used to target different types of DC. We aim to use antibodies against these molecules to either enhance the effectiveness of vaccines or to suppress autoimmune diseases.
Despite recent advances in therapeutic options, chronic viral infections, including infection with hepatitis C virus and hepatitis B virus, continue to be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in Australia and affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide. This R&D program aims to develop a cheaper drug formulation that is easier to deliver and more stable for transport to remote areas.
Rapid, Cost-effective, Diagnosis And Monitoring Of Multiple Sclerosis By Novel Multifocal Evoked Potential Methods
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$152,463.00
Summary
A new technology for concurrently stimulating both eyes, and recording thousands of responses from the brain, will be tested for its effectiveness in diagnosing and tracking progression in Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and the degree to which it complements Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Our understanding of MS has changed in recent years. It is now recognised to have two phases: an initial inflammatory phase, and a secondary progressive phase. The progressive phase produces the inexorable increas ....A new technology for concurrently stimulating both eyes, and recording thousands of responses from the brain, will be tested for its effectiveness in diagnosing and tracking progression in Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and the degree to which it complements Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Our understanding of MS has changed in recent years. It is now recognised to have two phases: an initial inflammatory phase, and a secondary progressive phase. The progressive phase produces the inexorable increasing disability of MS. MS only affects about 0.04% of Australians but the early onset of MS, the high cost of medication, and the prolonged period of disability, mean that the cost to Australia is about $2 billion pa. MRI quantifies the inflammatory phase well but is poorly correlated with the debilitating secondary progression. The common treatments for MS target the inflammatory phase but not the causes of secondary progression, which are unknown. Current diagnostic methods mean diagnosis can take years, meaning that patients can be denied treatment for some time. The applicants have published experiments on 50 MS patients and 27 normal subjects using a variant of the new method. Not only has it shown high diagnostic accuracy, but the new method seems to provide data on the progressive phase, suggesting strongly that it is complementary to MRI. The new method is also much cheaper to set up and run than MRI and so could provide cost-effective means for monitoring patient condition and testing new drugs that are effective against the progressive phase. The applicants have considerable experience commercialising diagnostic technologies, and are currently working with an Australian company developing new diagnostic hardware. That hardware has been adapted to perform the presently proposed experiments. Overall it is reasonable to assume that positive outcomes will be translated into economic and health benefits for Australians.Read moreRead less