Early Intervention For Anxiety And Phobic Disorders In Young Children With Intellectual Disability
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$305,674.00
Summary
Children with intellectual disability (ID) are 2-3 times more likely to have behavioural and emotional disturbance, including anxiety and fears, than children of normal intellectual ability. Anxiety problems are a source of distress for the child, impair their ability to learn and are a cause of family burden and community cost. Therefore, effective interventions are urgently required. Research with non-disabled children has demonstrated the effectiveness of teaching parents to manage their chil ....Children with intellectual disability (ID) are 2-3 times more likely to have behavioural and emotional disturbance, including anxiety and fears, than children of normal intellectual ability. Anxiety problems are a source of distress for the child, impair their ability to learn and are a cause of family burden and community cost. Therefore, effective interventions are urgently required. Research with non-disabled children has demonstrated the effectiveness of teaching parents to manage their child's anxiety, however the effectiveness of this approach in children with ID has not yet been established. This project aims to compare the relative effectiveness of two intervention conditions compared to a waiting list group, for highly anxious children aged 4-7 years with ID. One intervention will teach parents to help their child deal with anxiety problems, and develop skills to overcome their own associated emotional upset and family and social problems. The other intervention will provide non-directive counselling and support to help the parents understand the nature and causes of ID, associated anxiety problems in the child, and parent and family stress. The long term outcome of these two interventions will be assessed by following the children and their families for two years. A manual of each treatment is produced. This project aims to provide evidence for a relatively inexpensive, feasible and effective early intervention program for young children with ID at risk for developing anxiety problems that can be easily taught to professionals and is acceptable to parents. Widespread use of this intervention has the potential to reduce the added burden and cost to families and the community of persistent severe anxiety in young people with ID.Read moreRead less
Inhibition Of Fear Memories By Extinction: Neural Substrates.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$234,250.00
Summary
Anxiety disorders [e.g., Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)] are the most prevalent type of psychopathology in the industrialised world. They are associated with characteristic behavioural (e.g., heightened startle) and autonomic (e.g., cardiovascular) reactions. These disorders are often characterised as an inability to regulate the emotion of fear. Significant progress has been made in understanding the neural and cellular processes involved in the establishment of fear memories, but relati ....Anxiety disorders [e.g., Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)] are the most prevalent type of psychopathology in the industrialised world. They are associated with characteristic behavioural (e.g., heightened startle) and autonomic (e.g., cardiovascular) reactions. These disorders are often characterised as an inability to regulate the emotion of fear. Significant progress has been made in understanding the neural and cellular processes involved in the establishment of fear memories, but relatively little is known about the mechanisms by which fear memories can be inhibited or suppressed. Understanding this latter process is a key to the development of effective treatments for anxiety disorders such as PTSD where the patient suffers from persistent, intrusive, unwanted trauma memories. A common experimental procedure for reducing learned fear is to repeatedly expose the subject to a fear-eliciting stimulus but without any aversive outcome. This procedure leads to a progressive loss, or extinction, of the fear reactions elicited by the stimulus. Historically, the extinction of fear was thought to be due to an erasure of the fear memory. However, recent evidence shows that extinction inhibits, rather than erases, the fear memory. Because the fear memories remain intact, some structure(s) in the brain must inhibit activity in the fear pathway. This project uses extinction of conditioned fear reactions in rat subjects to determine the structure(s) in the brain that inhibit fear memories and their behavioural and cardiovascular expression. It brings together the expertise of four well-established researchers and uses a combination of behavioural, physiological, immunohistochemical, tract tracing, and lesion approaches to achieve this aim. The proposed experiments will reveal the structure(s) in the brain that control the inhibition of fear, as well as the site(s) of this inhibition in the fear pathwayRead moreRead less
NeuroSleep: The Centre For Translational Sleep And Circadian Neurobiology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,659,061.00
Summary
NeuroSleep, the Centre for Translational Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology, will foster innovative clinical research and translation to develop national capacity in understanding how sleep disorders and dysfunction of the body clock impact on health. The Centre will focus its activities on the two-way relationship between disrupted sleep and body clock systems and brain disorders. Our goal is to improve brain performance, workplace safety and health outcomes in patients with sleep and circadian d ....NeuroSleep, the Centre for Translational Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology, will foster innovative clinical research and translation to develop national capacity in understanding how sleep disorders and dysfunction of the body clock impact on health. The Centre will focus its activities on the two-way relationship between disrupted sleep and body clock systems and brain disorders. Our goal is to improve brain performance, workplace safety and health outcomes in patients with sleep and circadian dysfunction and in the general community.Read moreRead less
Using Epidemiology To Inform Psychiatric Classification (DSM-V And ICD-11)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,502.00
Summary
Classification systems are vital for scientific progress. The classifications of mental disorders of the World Health Organization and the American Psychiatric Association are both being revised and this Australian team is a principal contributor to both processes. We have access to three national epidemiological surveys (n-30,000) that will inform fundamental issues by developing models of mental disorder typology and identifying practical improvements in the classification systems.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0454170
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$187,341.00
Summary
Biacore3000-Expansion of Proteomics Facility. The sequencing of the human genome has led to redirection of effort towards the rapid characterisation of the products of genes, proteins. This project will establish state of the art facilities for protein identification and characterisation in the Hunter Region. The investigators are representative of several major research programs and are unified by their specific expertise in the fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying the control of cellula ....Biacore3000-Expansion of Proteomics Facility. The sequencing of the human genome has led to redirection of effort towards the rapid characterisation of the products of genes, proteins. This project will establish state of the art facilities for protein identification and characterisation in the Hunter Region. The investigators are representative of several major research programs and are unified by their specific expertise in the fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying the control of cellular processes in plants, animals and humans. Understanding these mechanisms will provide the basis for improved management of the environment and pathological conditions through identifying molecular targets for diagnosis, genetic manipulation or drug design.Read moreRead less
An FMRI Analysis Of The Functional Organization Within The Brain Of Experimental Superficial And Deep Orofacial Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$307,526.00
Summary
This project will investigate how the human brain processes a number of important aspects of human jaw muscle pain that are clinically relevant but poorly understood. For example, we do not understand why jaw muscle pain has such different behavioural effects to skin pain. Jaw muscle pain is associated with a significant emotional component not seen in with skin pains. Also, skin pain usually has a sharp or burning quality, is well-localized and is readily treated, while jaw muscle pain is a dee ....This project will investigate how the human brain processes a number of important aspects of human jaw muscle pain that are clinically relevant but poorly understood. For example, we do not understand why jaw muscle pain has such different behavioural effects to skin pain. Jaw muscle pain is associated with a significant emotional component not seen in with skin pains. Also, skin pain usually has a sharp or burning quality, is well-localized and is readily treated, while jaw muscle pain is a deep pain that has a dull, aching quality that may be referred to related sites of the face, head and neck. It is also not known why jaw muscle pain is more common in females in comparison to males. Chronic jaw muscle pain is a major symptom of patients with Temporomandibular Disorders, the most common form of non-dental orofacial pain and that involves pain in or about the jaw joint and-or jaw muscles, and often limitation of jaw movement. Chronic jaw muscle pain can have a severe effect on quality of life but its diagnosis and management is difficult. Despite the widespread prevalence of chronic orofacial pains, we have little information on the central processing of chronic human orofacial pain. This proposal will improve our fundamental understanding of how jaw muscle pain is processed in the brain. The way that the central nervous system processes and represents jaw muscle pain will help explain why these pains present differently in the clinic and should provide important information on the differences between females and males in the representation of jaw muscle pain. This information on the central processing of chronic orofacial pain is crucial to inform the direction of novel or specific management strategies. Our long-term goal is to improve the diagnosis and management of patients with Temporomandibular Disorders, and the present application represents a major new direction of research.Read moreRead less
An Examination Of Motor Functioning In Autism And Asperger's Disorder: An Analysis Of Gait & Cortical Brain Activity.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$120,220.00
Summary
Autism is a developmental disorder characterised by a triad of deficits: delayed and atypical language development, impaired development of social skills, and ritualistic and stereotypic behaviour. Although not part of the standard diagnosis, movement disorders and gait abnormalities have been clinically observed in autism similar to those seen in Parkinson's disease. In addition, individuals with Asperger's disorder may appear more clumsy, have a stiff or awkward way of walking, and exhibit poo ....Autism is a developmental disorder characterised by a triad of deficits: delayed and atypical language development, impaired development of social skills, and ritualistic and stereotypic behaviour. Although not part of the standard diagnosis, movement disorders and gait abnormalities have been clinically observed in autism similar to those seen in Parkinson's disease. In addition, individuals with Asperger's disorder may appear more clumsy, have a stiff or awkward way of walking, and exhibit poor coordination in posture and gesture. It has been suggested that there is disruption within the basal-ganglia-thalamocortical circuitry (the region connecting the frontal and sub-cortical structures), which may cause the motor dysfunction seen in autism and Asperger's disorder. Few studies have attempted to isolate particular stages of motor functioning which may account for the coordination and motor delay observed clinically in autism and Asperger's disorder. A recent study of ours found evidence to suggest that motor planning deficiencies may account for the 'clumsy' movement patterns frequently reported in the autism - Asperger's disorder literature. Therefore, the aim of this research is to provide a comprehensive neurobehavioural and neurophysiological analysis of motor functioning in young people with autism and Asperger's disorder to further examine the exact stages of motor processing which are deficient in these disorder groups. Recent retrospective studies have shown that even as infants children with autism exhibit clear features of motor disturbance, which, if detected and clearly defined, could advance early diagnosis. In addition to advancing the clinical definition of autism and Asperger's disorder, a careful examination of motor disturbance may also illuminate the neurobiological underpinnings of these disorders.Read moreRead less
THE EFFECTS OF TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC STIMULATION (TMS) ON RAT MODELS OF DEPRESSION
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$204,274.00
Summary
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is the direct stimulation of the brain by using high field magnetic pulses. It is a new technique that has been demonstrated to have some potential as a treatment of depressive illness and possibly other neuropsychiatric disorders. At this early stage of its investigation, the parameters of stimulation that are most likely to be therapeutic, and its mechanisms of action, are not known. Published studies vary in the frequency, duration and exten ....Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is the direct stimulation of the brain by using high field magnetic pulses. It is a new technique that has been demonstrated to have some potential as a treatment of depressive illness and possibly other neuropsychiatric disorders. At this early stage of its investigation, the parameters of stimulation that are most likely to be therapeutic, and its mechanisms of action, are not known. Published studies vary in the frequency, duration and extent of stimulation, with no firm guidelines about optimal parameters. Empirical study of the relative effects of stimulation at different frequencies, at different numbers of stimuli and for different durations is therefore important for the future development of this treatment. Such an investigation is best carried out in an animal model of depression for both ethical and practical reasons, as such studies in patients would possibly take many years and be extremely difficult to conduct. We propose such a study in rat models of depression which have demonstrated validity and utility in drug research. Rat models have a long track record in developing psychiatric treatments and are cost-effective and of proven value. We also plan to investigate the neuroanatomy of the immediate-early genes induced by TMS and compare it with electroconvulsive shock (ECS) and a tricyclic antidepressant, two established treatments of depression. The results will have implications for future human studies in guiding us toward the optimal parameters for therapeutic effects. They will also enhance our understanding of the mechanism of action of TMS in depression.Read moreRead less
Therapeutic Implications Of A Molecular Link Between Survivin And Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$547,970.00
Summary
A unifying feature of all types of cancer cells is that they are immortal. Our investigations will build upon our recent results that showed the gene survivin is involved in cancer cell immortalisation. We will characterise a molecular link between survivin and the enzyme telomerase, which is central to cancer cell immortality. Furthermore, we will demonstrate the therapeutic potential of turning off both survivin and telomerase as a novel approach to halting the growth of cancer cells.
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