The key to how the brain works lies in its capacity to modify the strength of its connections. During development, input to the brain from our sensory organs shapes the properties of synaptic contacts and target neurons. This project is aimed at understanding the pathways in the brain related to our sense of hearing, and discovering what is different about these pathways in congenital deafness, where the brain does not receive the appropriate signals during development.
Genetic Influence On Cognitive Function And Medication Response In Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$401,361.00
Summary
ADHD is one of the most common child mental health conditions, with cognitive deficits that impact everyday functioning, educational and social outcomes. Not all children with ADHD achieve equal benefit from medication. The disorder appears to be genetic with many genes contributing a small risk for the disorder. This project asks how DNA variation influences ADHD brain function and how they respond to medication. This project is important to improve the clinical diagnosis and outcome for ADHD.
Early Life Arsenic Exposure Alters Lung Development And Inflammatory Responses To Virus And Cigarette Smoke
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$455,380.00
Summary
The contamination of drinking water sources with arsenic is a global health issue affecting millions. While arsenic is a well known cancer causing agent, recent evidence suggests that early life arsenic exposure via drinking water increases the risk of obstructive lung disease in later life. This project aims to examine how the timing and dose of arsenic exposure influences lung development and the response to respiratory insults including viral infection and cigarette smoke.
Genetic And Environmental Determinants Of Brain Networks In Ageing
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Summary
Is brain ageing genetically or environmentally determined, or an interaction of both? We will explore the influence of genes and the environment on brain connectivity during ageing by studying how the brain network relates to cognitive functions.
Biological Sensitivity To Context: Risk And Resilience For Adolescent Depression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,388.00
Summary
Depression is among the leading causes of disability and disease burden throughout the world. Little is known about how biological and environmental factors interact to cause adolescent depression; even less is known about what factors might help to prevent it. This project aims to investigate how the brain and the environment interact to predict risk and resilience for depression in adolescence. This research will ultimately help in the detection and treatment of adolescent depression.
Re-imagining Environments For Connection And Engagement: Testing Actions For Social Prescribing In Natural Spaces
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$499,750.00
Summary
This project will evaluate whether and how nature-based social prescribing (NBSP) can address mental well-being. We will experimentally test the effectiveness of NBSP in promoting connection among populations experiencing social isolation and loneliness with socially oriented opportunities in safe, inclusive and accessible, green and blue outdoor urban spaces. The project will build the evidence base for the value of NBSP investments in improving mental health.
Urban Green Space And The Health Of Aboriginal People
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$92,541.00
Summary
This study will look at the effect of park land, gardens and other areas of publicly accessible natural environment on the health of Aboriginal children, specifically obesity and physical exercise, living in communities located in major cities and inner regional areas.
Environmen And Population Health: Research Development From Local To Global
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,472,500.00
Summary
Professor McMichael's application for capacity building in environmental health will build expertise to address not just local environmental factors but those of a more global nature such as the effect of global warming on health. Professor McMichael is one of only two NHMRC Burnet Fellows (the other being Professor Peter Doherty). This prestigious award is made in recognition of the international reputation of Australian researchers who were at the time working overseas to be taken up on return ....Professor McMichael's application for capacity building in environmental health will build expertise to address not just local environmental factors but those of a more global nature such as the effect of global warming on health. Professor McMichael is one of only two NHMRC Burnet Fellows (the other being Professor Peter Doherty). This prestigious award is made in recognition of the international reputation of Australian researchers who were at the time working overseas to be taken up on return to Australia to undertake research. This grant will help position Australia in a newly emerging priority area of research, both nationally and internationally, by offering innovative and structured research skills mentoring for seven early career researchers within a well-funded cutting edge research environment. The group operates with established links to biomedical, clinical, social research and health policy researchers and health policy and clinical service delivery programs and will provide an emphasis on policy relevant research.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Psychosocial Factors On Recovery Following Early Brain Insult.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$255,475.00
Summary
Early brain insult (EBI) is a major cause of developmental delay and long-term disability. However, outcome following EBI is variable and dependent on multiple injury-related and non-injury-related factors. To date, most research has focussed on injury-related variables such as age at insult, nature of brain pathology, and size and site of brain lesion. These injury-related factors predict short-term recovery following EBI, however they have been found to account for a surprisingly modest portio ....Early brain insult (EBI) is a major cause of developmental delay and long-term disability. However, outcome following EBI is variable and dependent on multiple injury-related and non-injury-related factors. To date, most research has focussed on injury-related variables such as age at insult, nature of brain pathology, and size and site of brain lesion. These injury-related factors predict short-term recovery following EBI, however they have been found to account for a surprisingly modest portion of variance in long-term outcome. Thus, non-injury-related factors must also contribute to outcome following EBI. Research now suggests that psychosocial characteristics (social status, environmental conditions, parenting characteristics, family dynamics) influence long-term outcome following EBI, however these studies have focussed on bivariate relationships, relied on specific patient groups limiting the generalisability of findings, and utilised small to moderate samples that are inadequate when investigating complex interactive relationships. As a consequence, the role of psychosocial factors on recovery following EBI is still unclear. The objective of this project is to undertake a large-scale investigation of the independent and interactive contribution of social status, environmental conditions, parenting characteristics and family dynamics on outcome following EBI. The aim is to identify the psychosocial characteristics that predict outcome, mediate recovery, and buffer the impact of injury-related factors in children with EBI. Understanding these complex inter-relationships is crucial for rehabilitation purposes, as many psychosocial characteristics are fluid and at least partially modifiable. Based on this project's findings we intend to devise and trial appropriately focussed intervention programs that aid recovery and minimise long-term disabilities.Read moreRead less
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.