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Does Rehabilitation Increase The Functional Independence Of People With Friedreich Ataxia?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$81,811.00
Summary
Friedreich Ataxia (FRDA) is a disease which reduces the ability to walk. People decline rapidly and are usually dependent on a wheel-chair by 20-30 years of age. This research will examine the impact of changes in leg function, including strength and balance, on the capacity to walk. This research will determine if rehabilitation can improve walking ability and reduce the decline in FRDA. The results of this research will ensure people with FRDA are provided with the most appropriate care.
Tackling The Complex Pathogenesis Of Non-Alzheimer Dementias And Motor Neurodegenerative Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$948,684.00
Summary
I research dementia and motor syndromes as there are no mechanistic treatments for these disorders, and for many there are no treatments at all. Without being able to identify the same diseases and differentiate them from other diseases, no treatments will be successful. To develop more reliably detection methods for these diseases, I perform longitudinally studies where the participants agree to donate serial biological samples and their brain tissue at death.
Novel Epidemiological Methods To Infer The Causal Effects Of Risk Factors On Neuropsychiatric And Cardiovascular Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$182,003.00
Summary
Epidemiological studies, which associate risk factors and disease, are central in informing public health policy. Because causality is difficult to ascertain from these associations, public health interventions based on these findings are at some risk of failure. We propose to develop, extend and apply an innovative epidemiological approach, Mendelian randomization (MR) to resolve the causal relationship between risk factors and neuropsychiatric and cardiovascular disorders.
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.
Development Of Ultrahigh Resolution Brain Imaging For Investigating Neurological And Neurodegenerative Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$880,454.00
Summary
Understanding the structural and functional organisation of the human brain is the focus of enormous research effort. Neuroimaging is an extraordinarily important basic and clinical neuroscience discipline, and is unique in being able to provide direct in vivo measurements of the human brain, and crucially in individuals with brain and mind diseases. This research project will develop and utilise ultra-high resolution brain scanning to understand the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases.
Can Nanoparticles Give An Old Iron Chelator A New Life? — Development Of Targeted Polymeric Nanoparticles With Long Half-lives To Treat Iron Overload Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,644.00
Summary
Iron loading disorders (such as thalassaemia) represent an important class of human disease. As part of the treatment for these diseases, the iron needs to be removed and this is often done using iron-binding drugs known as iron chelators. Current chelators are not ideal due to side effects or onerous delivery methods. The goal of this project is to use nanotechnology to develop more effective ways of delivering chelators to improve their effectiveness and reduce toxicity.
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.