Projects
Resilient Nerves and Brains Initiative
Over the course of our lives the brain and other parts of the nervous system are repeatedly challenged by physical and emotional traumas. On the whole, the nervous system has a remarkable capacity to adapt to such challenges, however, when these capabilities are overwhelmed, the consequences can be catastrophic – e.g, spinal cord injury, stroke, depression, addiction, dementia, and chronic pain. Furthermore, as we age the brains ability to ‘bounce back’ diminishes and the disease burden of these neurological disorders increases dramatically.
The Resilient Nerves and Brains Initiative brings together the expertise of groups in Preclinical Neurobiology to study brain function from the regulation of genes, through activity of nerves, and finally to complex brain function and behaviour. Under this initiative we seek to discover new treatments for brain diseases and to support healthy and resilient nerves and brains. Projects seeking funding under this initiative are listed below by topic.
Alzheimer’s Disease
- Pre-clinical studies to test whether dietary folate supplementation can slow down Alzheimer’s disease.
- Investigating the mechanisms by which diabetes can deteriorate brain function and is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease
Contact: A/Prof Estelle Sontag, Dr Jean Marie Sontag
Cardiovascular and Autonomic Neuroscience
- Motion sickness: an integrated animal and human study
Contact: A/Prof Eugene Nalivaiko
- Preventing Amputations by Improved Healing of Diabetic foot ulcers
Contact: A/Prof Derek Laver
Chronic Pain
- Chronic neck pain: a pain in the neck or the brain?
- Persistent (chronic) Headaches; understanding the role of head and neck posture
Contact: A/Prof Philip Bolton
Dementia
- Novel strategies to improve treatment of patients with Parkinson’s disease
- Validating novel mechanisms that can be targeted to treat children brain tumours (glioblastomas):
Contact: A/Prof Estelle Sontag
Dizziness, Balance, and Hearing
- Dizzy and deaf signals for hair cell regeneration
- Healthy hearing: How to prevent hearing loss, in the young and the old.
Contact: Dr Rebecca Lim
Healthy Aging
- Maintaining our cognitive abilities as we grow old: preventing the effects of ageing on the brain
- Sleep disturbances as we grow old: effects of ageing on the orexin system
- Maintaining our balance as we get older: effects of ageing on the sensorimotor system
Contact: Dr Doug Smith
Schizophrenia
- Are neurons in the brain’s white matter electrically capable of affecting brain function? Implications for brain disorders
Contact: A/Prof Paul Tooney
Spinal Cord
- Understanding the importance of making and breaking connections in spinal cord injury, chronic pain, and movement disorders
Contact: Dr Brett Graham