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Modelling Post-traumatic Stress Disorder In Rats: Hypervigilance And Spread Of Fear
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$353,248.00
Summary
Post-traumatic stress disorder is characterized by hypervigilance and spread of fear across a network of trauma related memories. The consequences of hypervigilance for information processing, and the mechanisms involved in the spread of fear, are unknown. This project uses animal models to identify these consequences and mechanisms, and their substrates in the brain. It examines how a network of trauma related memories can be erased, and thus, how core symptoms of the disorder may be treated.
A Window Of Vulnerability: Impaired Fear Inhibition In Adolescent Rats
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$335,849.00
Summary
Adolescence is a period of increased vulnerability to anxiety disorders. The brain undergoes substantial maturation during adolescence, particularly the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a region critical for inhibiting fear. This project examines why fear inhibition is impaired in adolescents and compares the neural mechanisms mediating treatments that enhance fear reduction in adolescence. This research adds new knowledge about novel approaches for early interventions for adolescent anxiety.
Clinical And Neurobiological Predictors Of Onset Of Major Mental Disorders (mania, Psychosis, Severe Depression), And Associated Functional Impairment, In Adolescent And Young Adult Twins: A Prospective Longitudinal Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,356,103.00
Summary
The Brisbane Twin Study is a prospective twin study tracking the real-time developmental trajectories of the onset of anxiety, mood, psychotic or substance misuse disorders through adolescence and young adulthood. This unique study has now reached the point where reassessment (after 20 years) can be performed. We will now determine the extent to which outcomes are predicted by neurobiological and genetic markers. This information is critical to prevention or early intervention strategies.
The Effects Of Maternal Infection On Glutamate-related Behavioural, Electrophysiological And Neuropathological Measures Relevant To Schizophrenia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$533,136.00
Summary
There are two well known facts about schizophrenia: maternal infection increases the risk of a schizophrenia diagnosis in adulthood and certain drugs, such as PCP, that affect particular brain chemicals induce symptoms and brain changes in healthy individuals that are similar to schizophrenia. Here we bring these two facts together by attempting to develop a maternal infection model in rodents that mimics the brain changes seen in schizophrenia, thus opening up new options for treatment.
The Role Of The Orbitofrontal Cortex In Disorders Of Response Inhibition
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$515,488.00
Summary
We will investigate the role of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in decision-making, particularly the effect of hyperactivity in the medial vs. ventrolateral orbitofrontal cortex on decision-making. Hyperactivity in these structures has been linked to obsessive compulsive disorder and, in line with the distinct functions of the different regions of OFC, we develop and test a novel hypothesis as to the psychological and neural bases of the obsessions and compulsions distinctive to that disorder.
The ability of humans to detect and be aware of errors in behaviour is a fundamental aspect of human cognition. As the saying goes: "To Err Is Human". This project seeks to understand how individual differences in our genetic makeup contribute to our ability to detect and be aware of errors in our behaviour. Understanding the biological systems underpinning error monitoring may assist in the treatment of many psychiatric disorders which are marked by poor awareness of behaviour.
Trajectories In Brain Structure And Function For Children With And Without ADHD: Associations With Academic, Cognitive, Social, And Mental Health Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,235,951.00
Summary
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common disorders of childhood, affecting 7% of school-age children. This project will use neuroimaging to describe how brain structure and function change across late childhood to early adolescence for children with and without ADHD, and how those changes reflect ADHD symptom severity and functional outcomes (academic, cognitive, social, and mental health).
Do Ongoing Cognitive Demands Affect The Efficacy Of Transcranial Electrical Brain Stimulation In Young And Older Healthy Adults?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$627,857.00
Summary
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the brain is widely used to enhance cognitive and motor function in healthy individuals and people with neurological disorders. Unfortunately, the efficacy of tDCS is highly variable between individuals. This project tests the hypothesis that ongoing cognitive processes – particularly attention – play an important role in regulating the effect of tDCS on brain function. The knowledge gained will help refine tDCS as a clinical and research tool.
Dopamine, Frontal-subcortical Circuits And Risk For Schizophrenia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$671,684.00
Summary
Schizophrenia is a debilitating mental disorder characterized by psychotic experiences and emotional and cognitive difficulties. This project will map how disruptions of specific brain circuits relate to risk for schizophrenia and use genetic modeling techniques to understand how dysregulation of a specific chemical in the brain, dopamine, might cause these changes. This work will have important implications for developing new, more targeted treatments.
Nicotine abuse is the single greatest preventable risk factor for physical illness and death in Australians. Our understanding of the neural and cognitive mechanisms that underlie the transition from use to dependence is yet to be understood. The current proposal investigates the neural mechanisms underlying cognitive control, critical to self-control over the impulse for drug rewards, in non-dependent and dependent nicotine users.