Patterns Of Care And Outcomes For Subarachnoid Haemorrhage: A Data Linkage Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$125,625.00
Summary
As many as 30% of people with subarachnoid haemorrahge (SAH) die within 90 days. Survivors are often left disabled. Death rates appear to be decreasing. Identifying health service variables that impact positively on survival has the potential to inform health policy and practice. We will describe variations in mortality, hospital re-admission and patterns of care. The study will observe the uptake of new SAH management including new neurosurgical techniques.
Post-stroke Hyperglycaemia – Treatment With Exenatide In Acute Ischaemic Stroke (TEXAIS) Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,266,149.00
Summary
Raised blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia) after a stroke is common. It reduces the efficacy of stroke treatments and results in worse outcomes. Insulin is not useful as a treatment for this as it causes frequent hypoglycaemia and does not improve clinical outcomes. Exenatide is a common diabetes drug that is simple to use and lowers blood glucose without hypoglycaemia. It will be tested in the Treatment with Exenatide in Acute Ischaemic Stroke (TEXAIS) trial.
An Australasian, Multi-centre, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial Of The Efficacy Of Fluoxetine In Improving Functional Recovery After Acute Stroke
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,306,367.00
Summary
Stroke is one of the top three causes of disability. Treatments that improve recovery after stroke are lacking. We reviewed the world literature and found a number of very small studies which, together, suggest that the antidepressant drug, fluoxetine, may improve the recovery in stroke patients. AFFINITY is a large trial in 1600 Australians and New Zealanders with stroke which aims to find out whether taking fluoxetine for 6 months after a stroke improves recovery compared to a placebo.
Predicting Treatment Response To Onabotulinumtoxin-a In MS-related Tremor: A Combined Clinical, Electrophysiological And Neuroimaging Approach.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$546,359.00
Summary
Shaking (tremor) of the upper limbs occur in many people with multiple sclerosis (MS). We have previously shown that botulinum toxin (Botox) injections could help reduce tremor. This study aims to study the effect of Botox in a larger group of people with MS and will include detailed MRI scans and electrical tremor monitoring tests to define the underlying changes in the brain that causes tremor. The results will help make Botox available as a tremor treatment for people with MS.
Stroke outcomes directly relate to brain tissue rescue. We have contributed to changes in clinical practice through many clinical trials of new protocols and therapeutic strategies. Our program will focus on brain salvage in the pre-hospital setting and the acute hospital environment. We will use novel approaches to enhance brain recovery and design new implementation strategies to maximise the benefits of these therapeutic advances.
Precision Treatment For Multiple Sclerosis: Maximising The Effect Of Immunomodulatory Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$537,272.00
Summary
Response to therapy varies greatly among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The current lack of individualised MS therapy may lead to suboptimal MS management and accumulation of preventable disability. We will use MSBase, a large international MS cohort, to evaluate the effect of different treatment strategies and of highly effective and novel therapies. Identifying the patients who will benefit from these therapies, we will provide the key evidence for individualised MS management.
Stroke is a major cause of death and disability in adult across the world. Understanding how exactly brain cells are affected in stroke and how they are injured, and how they response to treatment is important in order to develop new treatment to maximize recovery and minimize brain injury after stroke. This project uses advanced MRI being performed at several time points after a stroke to study how the brain tissues recovers or dies after a stroke.
I am a practising hospital neurologist and world leader in the prevention and treatment of stroke. Our research aims to realise exciting new break-throughs for stroke sufferers by testing the effectiveness and safety of new treatments that promise to improve recovery of function of damaged brain and reduce disability after stroke, and to prevent recurrent strokes.
The Australian Parkinson's Project - Uncovering Genetic Risk Factors For Sporadic PD
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$768,546.00
Summary
Parkinson s disease (PD) is a progressively disabling movement disorder afflicting many elderly Australians. It is caused by the degeneration of specific nerve cells in the brain that produce certain chemicals and patients suffer from an inability to move fluently (or ultimately at all). At present we do not know what triggers this neurodegeneration, but it is believed that complex interactions between inherited (genetic) and environmental factors contribute significantly to the phenomenon. This ....Parkinson s disease (PD) is a progressively disabling movement disorder afflicting many elderly Australians. It is caused by the degeneration of specific nerve cells in the brain that produce certain chemicals and patients suffer from an inability to move fluently (or ultimately at all). At present we do not know what triggers this neurodegeneration, but it is believed that complex interactions between inherited (genetic) and environmental factors contribute significantly to the phenomenon. This project aims to learn more about these complex interactions and their association with PD. People with PD and unaffected individuals will be recruited from throughout Australia and we will look for specific combinations of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors that either increase or decrease an individual's risk for PD. This research will identify the most common dominant genetic and environmental influences for PD in Australia, enabling scientists to focus on the most relevant biological pathways to target therapeutically.Read moreRead less
Centre For Research Excellence In Stroke Rehabilitation And Brain Recovery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,595,746.00
Summary
The Centre of Research Excellence in Stroke Rehabilitation and Brain Recovery will transform the stroke research and practice landscape in Australia, and accelerate the development of new interventions strongly supported by neuroscience. This unique collaboration will improve patient selection and rehabilitation research methods, create a training culture for the next generation of rehabilitation researchers and effectively implement proven cost effective interventions for Australians.