The Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) invites you to participate in a short survey about your
interaction with the ARDC and use of our national research infrastructure and services. The survey will take
approximately 5 minutes and is anonymous. It’s open to anyone who uses our digital research infrastructure
services including Reasearch Link Australia.
We will use the information you provide to improve the national research infrastructure and services we
deliver and to report on user satisfaction to the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research
Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) program.
Please take a few minutes to provide your input. The survey closes COB Friday 29 May 2026.
Complete the 5 min survey now by clicking on the link below.
The Role Of Dendritic MRNA Decay In Synaptic Plasticity & Cognition
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$417,193.00
Summary
Schizophrenia is characterized by abnormal contacts between brain cells, known as synapses. Maintenance of synapses requires the translation of gene products, termed mRNA, into protein. Schizophrenia has been associated with genes involved in the degradation of mRNA, which buffers translation and thus protein levels. My research therefore seeks to study the role of mRNA decay in synaptic structure, synaptic function and cognition.
Sleep, Plasticity And Neurodegeneration: Targeting Sleep To Improve Cognition In Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$525,116.00
Summary
Older individuals with mild cognitive impairment commonly experience disturbed sleep and about 50% will convert to dementia. It is unclear whether sleep disturbance mediates cognitive decline and progression to dementia. Optimising sleep presents a novel strategy to slow disease progression. This new research program explores links between sleep and dementia to identify new biomarkers of disease progression and new targeted therapeutic approaches to improve quality of life for older Australians.
Predicting Perioperative Cognitive Disorders In The Elderly Based On Cardiovascular Risk, AD Risk And New Biomarkers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$471,826.00
Summary
Anaesthesia and surgery are common in the elderly and are known to lead to memory and thinking problems. Why this happens is unclear. I plan to study confusion, memory and thinking problems before and after surgery and to determine if blood or cerebrospinal fluid tests or modifying cardiovascular disease can predict this happening. This work will lead to early identification of people who are at risk of cognitive problems following anaesthesia and surgery, and ways to prevent this happening.
We need to think laterally to find effective treatments for people with dementia. Using relevant animal models and cutting-edge technology, my research investigates gene-environment interactions. In particular, my group is studying the pathophysiology of Huntington’s disease, a devastating progressive disorder with no current cure. By integrating my unique wide-ranging expertise and my extensive network of collaborators, I aim to explore mechanisms and to discover novel therapeutic strategies.