Understanding The Role Of Sex Hormones In Mental Illness
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$419,180.00
Summary
Evidence suggests that the female hormone, estrogen, protects against schizophrenia, although the exact mechanism of action underlying this effect is unclear. We believe that by measuring estrogen-induced changes in the levels of genes in the brain, we will identify the way that estrogens protect against the symptoms of schizophrenia and improve antipsychotic treatment response.
Regenerative Neuroscience Strategies For Brain Ageing And Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$426,079.00
Summary
Dementia is the pre-eminent medical challenge of our times as it affects 34 million individuals and will quadruple by 2050. This research therefore aims to develop new preventative and therapeutic strategies for dementia. Seven different studies are proposed, ranging from new stem-cell treatments for testing in rodents, to human clinical trials looking at the preventative effects of physical and mental exercise. These are linked by a central idea of boosting the brain’s neuroplasticity.
The extraordinary virulence of malaria parasites is in part due to their ability to export hundreds of proteins into their host cell to obtain nutrients and avoid the immune system. Recently the investigator has discovered the machinery that provides the gateway for these proteins to enter the host cell. She now aims to characterise this machinery and dissect its functional significance in vivo, so that strategies that block this crucial process can be developed to kill the parasite.
Functional Genomics-new Technologies For Gene Discovery And Personalised Medicine
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$452,122.00
Summary
Disorders of the brain, which affect people of all ages, are one of the largest health, economic and social burdens in the developed world. These conditions are chronic, debilitating and have limited symptomatic treatments available. In general, very little is known about the causes of many brain disorders. This project aims to identify the genes and mechanisms that underlie these diseases to enable the development of diagnostic and treatment programs to help reduce the incidence and severity of ....Disorders of the brain, which affect people of all ages, are one of the largest health, economic and social burdens in the developed world. These conditions are chronic, debilitating and have limited symptomatic treatments available. In general, very little is known about the causes of many brain disorders. This project aims to identify the genes and mechanisms that underlie these diseases to enable the development of diagnostic and treatment programs to help reduce the incidence and severity of disease.Read moreRead less
A New Paradigm To Prevent Intracranial Hypertension
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,388.00
Summary
Increasing brain pressure after stroke or other forms of brain injury can cause further injury and death. Body cooling by 4-5 0C (hypothermia) for 12-24 hours saves lives after some forms of brain injury, but may have major side effects. We found that 2 hour hypothermia has a long-lasting effect preventing pressure elevation. We will determine the best temperature and duration of hypothermia in a stroke model and use imaging to confirm findings in patients, with a view to later human trials.
Reconsideration Of The Mechanisms Underlying Movement Changes With Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$401,361.00
Summary
Pain changes the way we move. Although undisputed, there is a surprising lack of agreement regarding the underlying mechanisms. This project involves an innovative mix of neurophysiological methods to investigate how the drive to muscle cells from the nervous system is altered during pain. We aim to resolve the perplexing problem of how pain changes our ability to activate muscle. Our findings are likely to provide a clear understanding of the underlying mechanisms and guide rehabilitation.
Improving Upper Limb Function In Hereditary Cerebellar Ataxia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$437,034.00
Summary
Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) causes in-coordination and muscle weakness which may result in the affected person being unable to walk or use their arms effectively. In-coordination is a result of destruction of nerves in the spine and the area of the brain that controls movement (cerebellum). This study will assess the use of brain stimulation to improve coordination and function in people with FRDA. The results of this study may also result in treatments for similar inherited cerebellar ataxias.
My research is focused on understanding the aetiology of brain disorders. I am interested in the interaction of genetic and environmental factors in the development of these disorders. In particular, I will evaluate the validity of rodent models for schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease and investigate the therapeutic potential of the endocannabinoid system for both disorders and whether environmental enrichment (e.g. physical exercise) can have beneficial effects in these models.
Cancer Epidemiology In High-risk Populations And Complex Cancers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$451,716.00
Summary
My research program aims to better understand the causes of cancer and factors that influence outcomes after cancer diagnosis. It employs classical and innovative cancer epidemiology and includes large-scale studies of cancer incidence, survival and risk factors in people with immune dysfunction. It also includes studies of lymphoid malignancies and ‘cancer of unknown primary’ origin. The research program aims to build an evidence base for interventions that will reduce the burden of cancer nati ....My research program aims to better understand the causes of cancer and factors that influence outcomes after cancer diagnosis. It employs classical and innovative cancer epidemiology and includes large-scale studies of cancer incidence, survival and risk factors in people with immune dysfunction. It also includes studies of lymphoid malignancies and ‘cancer of unknown primary’ origin. The research program aims to build an evidence base for interventions that will reduce the burden of cancer nationally and internationally.Read moreRead less
We stand without falling by using silent senses from muscles and the balance organs of the inner ear to unconsciously detect and control our movements. Since the leg muscles provide both the force and the sense, and critically rely on good circulation, they are vitally important. I propose to study how these sensory and muscle functions are used to control balance, posture and stepping reflexes, making it easier to identify older people who will fall and design new preventative strategies.