Assessment Of The Effectiveness Of Australian Models Of Palliative Care Delivery In Four Neurodegenerative Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$150,000.00
Summary
This study will be conducted in three Australian states (Queensland, Victoria and West Australia), to assess the effectiveness of existing palliative care service delivery to people with motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s disease or Parkinson’s disease, and to their families. In phase I, interviews will be conducted with people who have these diseases, their families, and health professionals to discover the needs for palliative care services. In phase II, a survey will dete ....This study will be conducted in three Australian states (Queensland, Victoria and West Australia), to assess the effectiveness of existing palliative care service delivery to people with motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s disease or Parkinson’s disease, and to their families. In phase I, interviews will be conducted with people who have these diseases, their families, and health professionals to discover the needs for palliative care services. In phase II, a survey will determine the extent to which these needs are met. The findings will be used to recommend improved palliative care delivery models.Read moreRead less
The Future In Our Hands: Screening For Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease By Analysing Hand Movements
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$899,782.00
Summary
Alzheimer's disease (AD) starts damaging the brain 10-20 years before memory problems begin. By the time of diagnosis, it is hard to treat because the damage is so severe. We need a way to detect AD much earlier. We will develop a simple new computer test to detect early signs of AD by recording and analysing hand movements. Then people can start prevention earlier and scientists can research better treatments to improve people's quality of life and reduce the number of people with dementia.
Ataxia-Telangiectasia: An Emerging Role For Inflammation In Driving Neurodegeneration And Premature Ageing
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$437,436.00
Summary
Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T) is a devastating genetic disease that arises in early childhood and causes patients to die in their twenties. To date there is no cure, and therapeutics are desperately needed. This project will use state-of-the-art brain organoids derived from stem cells of A-T patients in order to better understand this disease and evaluate novel drugs that target the molecular mechanisms that drive chronic inflammation and brain neurodegeneration in children with A-T.
The Role Of The Neuronal Epigenome In Natural Brain Ageing And The Progression Of Alzheimer’s Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$584,644.00
Summary
Most cases of Alzheimer's disease are sporadic or late onset, with only ~5% of cases being familial, suggesting a potential role for epigenetics. This project aims to profile the human brain epigenome throughout normal ageing and in Alzheimer's disease so we can determine how disturbed epigenetic states may affect brain function. This research will provide new insights into the role of the epigenome in Alzheimer's disease, enabling crucial advances in understanding its origins.
Lewy body dementia is a common yet under-recognised form of dementia in older people. There is a great need for biomarkers to reduce misdiagnosis and improve outcomes for patients and families. Recently there have been exciting advances in research regarding blood tests that might improve diagnosis and understanding of dementia. We will study these blood markers of neurodegeneration and inflammation in people with Lewy body dementia, which may improve diagnosis and help discover new treatments.
Improving The Health Outcomes For Children With Rare Neurological Diseases With Genomic Technologies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,000,000.00
Summary
This investigator grant will facilitate expansion of high quality evidence of the application of genomic technologies to improve targeted treatment options and early diagnosis for rare devastating neurological diseases, improving the clinical and translational applications of genomics to transform lives for children and families.
Finely Tuned Glutamate Receptor Inhibitors As Novel Therapeutics For Neurodegenerative Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,168,829.00
Summary
Neurodegenerative disorders are among the leading causes of death and disease burden. New drugs are needed to treat both symptoms and disease progression. This project aims to understand the properties of different drug-like compounds to inhibit proteins on the surface of brain cells (glutamate receptors) to impact disease progression and symptoms in a preclinical disease models. The project will yield a better understanding of how best to target glutamate receptors for therapeutic effect.