Brain & Mental Health Research

The HMRI Brain and Mental Health Program blends the expertise of a unique and diverse group of researchers spanning basic neuroscience, psychology, clinical mental health, neurology and allied health. Our researchers are working to understand the intricate mechanisms underpinning human cognition, brain and nervous system disorders, mental health and wellbeing.

Research within the HMRI Brain and Mental Health Program spans the bench (laboratory based research) to the bedside (clinical practice), and includes cellular studies, modelling, human studies and interventions, clinical studies, translation to policy and practice. 

Our researchers are at the forefront of scientific discovery and translation across a broad range of research areas, including stroke, brain injury and rehabilitation, neuroscience, mental and physical health, cognition (psychology), ageing, pain, mood disorders, schizophrenia and community intervention.

The HMRI Brain and Mental Health Program is led by Professor Alan Brichta (representing Brain and Mental Health) and Professor Neil Spratt (representing Stroke and Brain Injury).  The Brain and Mental Health Program works in conjunction with two Priority Research Centre’s of the University of Newcastle – the PRC for Stroke and Brain Injury (co-directed by Conjoint Professor Chris Levi) and the Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research (co-directed by Professor Brian Kelly) – to generate world class research promoting scientific discovery, addressing real world problems, and advising optimal prevention, care and intervention to our communities. 

Dr Kirsten Coupland | Stroke Researcher
Research Program :
  • Brain & Mental Health
Research Topics :
Stroke and Brain Injury
Dr Kylie Bailey | Clinical Psychologist
Research Program :
  • Brain & Mental Health
  • Public Health
Research Topics :
Clinical Mental Health, Psychology, Stress and Addictive Disorders
Dr Daniel Beard
Research Program :
  • Brain & Mental Health
Research Topics :
Clinical Cardiovascular, Neuroscience, Stroke and Brain Injury
Dr Andrew Bivard - Stroke Researcher | HMRI
Research Program :
  • Brain & Mental Health
Research Topics :
Stroke and Brain Injury
Dr Ben Britton
Research Program :
  • Brain & Mental Health
  • Cancer
  • Public Health
Research Topics :
Clinical Cardiovascular, Clinical Mental Health, Clinical Treatment & Palliative Care, Effective Medicines, Psychology
Research Program :
  • Brain & Mental Health
Research Topics :
Neuroscience

2020

HMRI Research Excellence Award for Early-Career Research
HMRI Award for Early Career Research
Researchers:

Dr Andrew Gardner

2019

Award for Research Excellence - Frances Kay-Lambkin
HMRI Award for Research Excellence

2018

Service change and Supporting Lifestyle and Activity Modification after TIA (S+SLAM-TIA)
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

S+SLAM-TIA is a research project evaluating the effect of translation of an evidence based stroke prevention education and exercise program into the Hunter New England Local Health District (HNE LHD) health service.

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Novel Mechanisms of ‘Stroke-in-Progression’: Intracranial pressure elevation and collateral blood vessel failure after minor stroke
Project Grant
Researchers:

Neil Spratt, Dr Damian McLeod

Description:

Ischaemic stroke, caused by blood clot blocking an artery to the brain, is a leading cause of death and disability. In around 10% of patients the stroke enlarges in the first 24-48 h (stroke-in-progression). Typically, these are people who arrive with mild or rapidly improving stroke symptoms, but most end up with long-term disability. There is no effective treatment, in part because for the last few decades we have been wrong about the cause for stroke progression, so have been trying to treat the wrong mechanism.

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Growth hormone to promote brain recovery after stroke
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

The 470,000 Australians living with stroke are at high risk of developing cognitive deficits and vascular dementia. There are currently no generally accepted therapeutic interventions for improving cognition post-stroke.

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Sports Concussion Clinic
Project Grant
Researchers:
Jennie Thomas Travel Grant
Travel Grant
Researchers:

Joshua Atkins

Description:

Special grant for Josh Atkins to travel to France to speak at a conference and then go on to make some important collaborations in both France and UK in bioinformatics and personalised medicine.

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11th COGNO Scientific Meeting
Travel Grant
Researchers:

Catherine Hidson

Description:

Co-sponsorship for Dr Terri Armstrong to speak at 11th COGNO Scientific Meeting in Brisbane 7-9 October 2018.

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2017

A single centre trial evaluating microwave technology in acute stroke to differentiate haemorrhage from infarction: Stroke Finder Pilot Study
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

Stroke Finder Helmet Part 1 - Acute Care of Stroke Patients

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HMRI Early Career Research Fellowship in Stroke, supported by Dalara Foundation
Fellowship
Researchers:
Description:

To support an Early Career Research Fellowship for 5 years, inclusive of a Research Support Grant, for an affiliated researcher of HMRI in the research area of stroke and intracranial pressure within the HMRI Research Program "Brain & Mental Health".

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NSW Health Early-Mid Career Fellowship
Fellowship
Researchers:
Towards the development of new therapeutic interventions for Alzheimer’s disease
Project Grant
Novel Mechanisms of ‘Stroke-in-Progression’: Intracranial pressure elevation and collateral blood vessel failure after minor stroke
Project Grant
Researchers:

A/Prof Neil Spratt, Dr Damian McLeod

Description:

Ischaemic stroke, caused by blood clot blocking an artery to the brain, is a leading cause of death and disability. In around 10% of patients the stroke enlarges in the first 24-48 h (stroke-in-progression). Typically, these are people who arrive with mild or rapidly improving stroke symptoms, but most end up with long-term disability. There is no effective treatment, in part because for the last few decades we have been wrong about the cause for stroke progression, so have been trying to treat the wrong mechanism.

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How transient is a transient ischemic attack (TIA)? Frontal-network profiles as indices of sustained cognitive impairment post-TIA
Project Grant
Researchers:

A/Prof Frini Karayanidis, Dr Patrick Cooper, Dr Aaron Wong, Dr Andrew Bivard, Prof Chris Levi

Description:

Transient ischemic attack (TIA) is clinically defined as a self-limiting neurological event with full functional recovery within 24 hours. However, new evidence indicates that as many as 68% of TIA sufferers show subtle, sustained cognitive impairment that can have direct consequences for daily living. Patient-reported symptoms, such as mental fatigue, anxiety/depression, and difficulty returning to work, point to specific impairment of cognitive control. 

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Equal Futures Award
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

Personalised Professional Mentoring

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The effect of common Multiple Sclerosis treatments on Epigenetic markers in patients
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most common non-traumatic neurological disorder that affects young adults.  MS is a chronic, life-long, disease which has no cure. A recent study from Newcastle describes a doubling of the incidence and prevalence of MS in the last 15 years. In patients with MS, the protective layer that coats the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord (called myelin) is damaged by the body’s own immune system. This damage hinders the ability of the nerve cells to transmit signals. MS is progressive, unpredictable and varies extensively between individuals, resulting in a broad spectrum of symptoms including physical, mental, and psychiatric problems depending on which areas of the brain or spinal cord are affected.

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A new treatment to help recovery from stroke, including fatigue and quality of life
Project Grant
Description:

Funding for clinical trial coordinator for MIDAS2

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Improving Dementia Care
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Michelle Kelly

Description:

Family carers of people with dementia take on many complex, often physically and emotionally challenging tasks to support their family member with dementia. These can lead to significant levels of anxiety, depression and stress.

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Infant Equipment
Equipment Grant
Description:

These items will be used jointly by the named investigators to expand current collaborative work in the areas of early child development, impact of maternal chronic illness on early child outcomes and neurodevelopmental disability.

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Assessment for Stroke Recovery
Equipment Grant
Researchers:
Description:

Stroke patients often find it difficult to do basic thinking, recall memories and solve life’s daily problem. The Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) is a touchscreen based assessment to objectively measure cognitive function.

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The role of brain water channels in modulating cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) production
Equipment Grant
Description:

SomnoSuite Automatic Ventilator (Kent Scientific Corporation, USA): to artificially ventilate models during surgery under anaesthesia.

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Do sensory symptoms impact outcomes of the Alert Program for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

"Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects learning, social participation and daily function across the lifespan. Approximately 35,000 school-aged Australian children live with ASD; 95% of these experience educational restrictions. ASD has no known cure, and its causes are poorly understood due to the variability in how the disorder emerges and presents. Further, available treatments are only moderately successful and are not effective for all children with ASD. Knowledge about what (intervention) is likely to work for whom is missing from the field.

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Clinical Outcomes & Quality Indicators (COQI) Framework Study
Project Grant
Researchers:

Conjoint Professor Adrian Dunlop

Tour Des Femmes Project
Project Grant
Stroke Helmet
Equipment Grant

2016

Stroke Finder Helmet - saving time, saving brain!
Equipment Grant
Researchers:
Description:

Stroke can be devastating - often leaving a person disabled or deceased. This Stroke Finder Helmet is an innovative tool which could have enormous impact for survival and disability rates for stroke victims.

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PhD Top-Up Scholarship - Rutger de Zoete
Scholarship
Researchers:

A/Prof Suzanne Snodgrass, Mr Rutger de Zoete

Using New Light-Based Approaches to Study Chronic Pain
Project Grant
Researchers:

Associate Professor Brett Graham, Dr Phil Jobling, Ms Kelly Smith

Description:

Changes to the nervous system during chronic pain remain poorly understood. What we do know is that nerve cells in the spinal cord play an important role in pain signalling because the spinal cord is the first site where information from our bodies is processed to ultimately shape sensory experience.

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Stroke Helmet
Project Grant
Magnetic resonance scanning of brain of MS patients for biochemical changes
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

Magnetic resonance imaging is not only important in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis but also to monitor therapy. New treatment options are very effective in reducing inflammation in MS and significantly reducing relapse rate.

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How does a potential new treatment for schizophrenia affect brain activity to improve cognition?
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

Schizophrenia is a severe, chronic mental illness that is debilitating to the individual and ranks among the top 10 causes of disability in developed countries worldwide.

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Development and implementation of improved monitoring of psychological stress loads in patients recovering from stroke
Project Grant
Researchers:

Conjoint Associate Profosser Michael Pollack, Professor Michael Nilsson, Associate Professor Rohan Walker, Dr Lin Kooi Ong

Description:

Patients recovering from stroke often report high and unremitting levels of psychological stress. Clinically, the presence of stress throughout the recovery process is highly significant, as stress hormones, most notably cortisol, are known to impair multiple aspects of brain repair including cortical remodelling, angiogenesis, and neurogenesis.

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Research Assistant on Clarity Microscope project
Project Grant
Researchers:

Ameha Seyoum

The Greater Charitable Foundation Fellowship who works on the TASTE Stroke Trial
Fellowship
Researchers:
The Resilient Brain Initiative – Preclinical Neurobiology Group
Project Grant
Researchers:

Associate Professor Chris Dayas, Associate Professor Brett Graham

Description:

The Resilient Brain Initiative through HMRI and the University of Newcastle aims to identify new treatments to slow, stop or reverse declines in brain function caused by stress.

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An innovative strategy to limit cognitive decline and dementia
Project Grant
Researchers:

Associate Professor Frederick Rohan Walker

Novel Mechanisms of ‘Stroke-in-Progression’: Intracranial pressure elevation and collateral blood vessel failure after minor stroke
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor Neil Spratt, Dr Damian McLeod

Description:

Ischaemic stroke, caused by blood clot blocking an artery to the brain, is a leading cause of death and disability. In around 10% of patients the stroke enlarges in the first 24-48 h (stroke-in-progression).

more
Towards the development of new therapeutic interventions for Alzheimer’s disease
Project Grant
Bringing CLARITY to brain cancer
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Jamie Flynn, William Palmer, Dr Antony Martin, Dr Craig Gedye

Description:

Cancer is an invasive, adaptive process that interacts and adapts to the microenvironment, subjugating the normal tissue around it to optimise growth and survival. Understanding this growth and interaction in three dimensions will add additional insight into the way cancers expand and spread.

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BUST-Stroke “Breaking Up Sitting Time after Stroke. A new paradigm for reducing recurrent stroke risk”
Project Grant
Description:

Sitting for long periods of time each day increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Stroke survivors living at home spend 75% of their waking hours sitting down, which is much higher than healthy people of a similar age, making them at particularly high risk.

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Supporting postnatal first-time mothers – An RCT of a new mobile application
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor Sally Chan, Dr Lyn Ebert, Donovan Jones, Eileen Dowse, Shanna Fealy

Description:

Transition to motherhood is a major development in a woman’s life which is marked by dramatic changes in identity, roles and relationships. Although many mothers are able to meet the challenges of parenting, others, especially first time mothers, feel overburdened and some become depressed.

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Seeing pain pathways in 3D
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Jamie Flynn, Dr Antony Martin, William Palmer

Description:

Neuropathic pain is a complex, chronic and debilitating pain that often accompanies diseases such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes, peripheral nerve injury and stroke. Our understanding of neuropathic pain is poor and as such is difficult to treat.

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Targeting LCMT1-mediated neuroprotective mechanisms in Alzheimer disease
Project Grant
Description:

Dementia is the second leading cause of death in Australia with Alzheimer’s disease accounting for 70% of age-associated dementia.

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Cholesterol metabolism in the ageing brain – implications for dementia
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

Dementia and cogitive decline are major concerns for our ageing population. Cholesterol is a promminent risk factor for Alzheimer's Disease. If a person has a particular form of the cholesterol carrying protein Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) their chances of developing Alzheimer's Disease rise 15 fold.

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Award for Early Career Research - Andrew Bivard
HMRI Award for Early Career Research
Researchers:
Tenecteplase versus Alteplase for Stroke Thrombolysis Evaluation (TASTE) trial
Project Grant
Researchers:

2015

Addiction Imaging
Project Grant
Researchers:

Adrian Dunlop, Dr Amanda Brown, Dr Chris Dayas, A/Prof Peter Stanwell.

Bringing CLARITY to brain cancer
Project Grant
Researchers:

Mr Jamie Flynn, William Palmer, Antony Martin, Craig Gedye

Description:

Cancer is an invasive, adaptive process that interacts and adapts to the microenvironment, subjugating the normal tissue around it to optimise growth and survival.

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Neuroimaging extension study for Cannabis Dependent Patients in an RCT of Cannabinoid Replacement Therapy (Sativex®)
Project Grant
Researchers:

Conjoint Associate Professor Adrian Dunlop, Dr Amanda Brown, Dr Chris Dayas, Associate Professor Peter Stanwell.
 

Greaves Family Early Career Support Grants
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

The Greaves Family Early Career Support grant will ensure Dr Andrew Gardner from the Brain and Mental Health can continue to grow his research program in Sports Concusion continue to propel him forward as a nationally and internationally recognised concussion researcher.

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Equal Futures Award
Project Grant
Researchers:

Suzanne Snodgrass

Description:

Completing these projects successfully and on time will enable me to more effectively leverage for project funding in 2016.

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Newcastle Innovation Commercialisation in Medical Research Grant - Drug Treatment for Myopia
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

Myopia (short-sightedness) is at epidemic levels across the world: in parts of Asia over 90% of young people are afflicted and in Australia and the USA the prevalence has doubled in recent years1.

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Development of a laboratory model to study adult motoneurons
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Melissa Tadros, Professor Robert Callister
 

Description:

Motoneuron disease (MND) is an incurable illness that affects one’s ability to move and interact with the environment. 

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Are problems with social skills related to poor quality of life for people with a diagnosis of dementia?
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Michelle Kelly, Professor Skye McDonald, Dr Tracy Brown, Ms Katryna Harman

Description:

​There are currently more than 342,000 people living with dementia in Australia, and an estimated 1.2 million people caring for them.

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Dizzy and Deaf – restoring signals from the inner ear
Project Grant
Description:

Hearing and balance problems arise due to ageing, environmental assaults, medications, disease, and genetic disorders. 

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Blocking the negative effects of stress on the brain to promote better healing of the brain after stroke
Project Grant
Researchers:

Associate Professor Frederick Rohan Walker, Dr Lin Ong, Dr Ming Yang, Associate Professor Sarah Johnson

Description:

It has recently been recognised that many stroke patients can experience what is known as ‘chronic phase decline” associated with gradual, but very significant, declines in both motor and cognitive function.

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Magnetic resonance spectroscopic GABA scanning of brain of MS patients for biochemical changes
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

Magnetic resonance imaging is not only important in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis but also to monitor therapy.

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The effect of treatment on patients with Multiple Sclerosis
Project Grant
Description:

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most common non-traumatic neurological disorder that affects young adults.

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Can methylfolate improve the treatment of Alzheimer's disease patients, alone or in combination with the drug, Memantine
Project Grant
Description:

Scanned version on file - Dev team have editable description

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E&J Thomas Medical Research Scholarship (extension)
Scholarship
Researchers:

Ms Ashlee Dunn

CLARITY Microscope
Equipment Grant
Researchers:

Dr Jamie Flynn, Anthony Martin, William Palmer

Description:

The CLARITY Microscope is a new technology that enables 3D imaging of tissues. It has caught the imagination and attention of one of our major donors who granted $150,000 to build a microscope here at HMRI as a shared service.

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Joshua - Atkins Emlyn and Jennie Thomas Medical Research Postgraduate Scholarship
Scholarship
Researchers:

Mr Joshua Atkins, Associate Professor Murray Cairns, Dr Chantel Fitzsimmons
 

Description:

Schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders are among the world’s most debilitating brain diseases.

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A better understanding of intracranial pressure changes after brain injury
Project Grant
Description:

Funding will be used to conduct preliminary studies of the effects of increased brain pressure (intracranial pressure) on blood flow after stroke.

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Analyses of epigenetic signatures of post-mortem lesions in MS brains and correlation to circulating body fluids
Scholarship
Researchers:

C A/Prof Jeannette Lechner-Scott, Katherine Sanders, Rebecca Seeto

Description:

MS is a chronic, life-long, disease which has no cure.

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Novel Mechanisms of ‘Stroke-in-Progression’: Intracranial pressure elevation and collateral blood vessel failure after minor stroke
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Neil Spratt, Dr Damien McLeod

Description:

Ischaemic stroke, caused by blood clot blocking an artery to the brain, is a leading cause of death and disability.

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Travel Grant - AACR Conference, USA, April 2016 - Moira Graves
Travel Grant
Tenecteplase versus Alteplase for Stroke Thrombolysis Evaluation (TASTE) trial
Project Grant
Researchers:

2014

Award for Research Excellence - Brian Kelly
HMRI Award for Research Excellence
Researchers:
Determining factors within cerebrospinal fluid that influence intracranial pressure post-stroke.
Scholarship
Researchers:

Ms Rebecca Hood, Dr Neil Spratt 

Description:

Stroke is a leading cause of death disability in Australia. 

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Atropine as a treatment for myopia in children
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Sally McFadden, Dr Catherine Dunlop 

Description:

Short sightedness in children is rapidly rising as children spend more time doing “near work” activities such as mobile devices and less time outside.

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Characterization of non-genetic factors causing Multiple Sclerosis.
Project Grant
Description:

MS is progressive, unpredictable and varies extensively between individuals. 

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Can dietary folate supplementation slow down Alzheimer’s Disease?
Project Grant
Description:

With more than 1,700 new cases in Australia each week, Alzheimer’s Disease continues to be a huge burden on society, families and carers.

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Individually tailoring stroke rehabilitation using advanced imaging
Project Grant
Description:

Stroke causes a major global disease burden due to the long lasting disability of survivors. 

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Stimulating Kids with ADHD
Project Grant
Description:

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is the most frequently diagnosed childhood disorder in Australia affecting up to 11% of children and adolescents according to the National Survey of Mental Health and Well-being.

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Maintaining our cognitive abilities as we grow old: preventing the effects of ageing on the brain
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Douglas Smith, Associate Professor Rohan Walker 

Assisting post-menopausal women towards healthy ageing - can resveratrol enhance mood and counteract cognitive decline?
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor Peter Howe, Dr Rachel Wong, Professor Andrew Scholey

Description:

Menopause is a natural transition in every woman’s life, marking the end of fertility. Some women transit with little or no symptoms, while others suffer the onslaught of mood swings, hot flushes, insomnia and ‘brain fog’, which can last for many years.

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CATCH IT: Developing a safe and ultra-reliable measure of chronic stress to prevent stress-related complications in recovery from stroke
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Frederick Rohan Walker, Professor Michael Nilsson

Description:

To our understanding this will be the first dedicated project assessing the levels of chronic stress using a reliable biometric procedure ever undertaken.

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Neuroimaging Biomarkers of Recovery: Longitudinal Imaging Study in the Rehabilitation Phase post-Acute Ischemic Stroke (NEUROLISS)
Project Grant
Description:

The proposed project is highly significant because it will, for the first time, to accurately map the changes that occur in the brain following stoke and identify patters for good clinical outcomes.

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Jennie Thomas Medical Research Travel Award - The involvement of the lateral hypothalamic orexin system in motivational behaviours
Travel Grant
Researchers:

Ms Erin Campbell, Chris Dayas, Deborah Hodgson 

Development of a new treatment to prevent blindness from degenerative myopia
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Sally McFadden, Professor Dan Schwartz, Associate Professor Paul Baird, Professor Julia Kornfield 

Description:

Myopic (short-sighted) eyes are too long for their optical power because of excessive growth.

more
Novel Mechanisms of ‘Stroke-in-Progression’: Intracranial pressure elevation and collateral blood vessel failure after minor stroke
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Neil Spratt, Dr Damien McLeod 

Description:

Ischaemic stroke, caused by blood clot blocking an artery to the brain, is a leading cause of death and disability. In around 10% of patients the stroke enlarges in the first 24-48 h (stroke-in-progression).

more
Tenecteplase versus Alteplase for Stroke Thrombolysis Evaluation (TASTE) trial
Project Grant
Researchers:
Optogenetics Neuronal Stimulation and Imaging Platform
Equipment Grant
Researchers:

Dr Christopher Dayas, Brett Graham 

Towards an early detection of clinical symptoms of Alzheimer's disease
Project Grant
Description:

Pablo specialises in a cutting edge research field known as "Personalised Information Based Medicine".

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Enriched Environment in Rehabilitation - A Phase II Trial
Project Grant
Description:

The first 6 months have been spent setting up project and applying for further funding.

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Here's looking at you kid: Face processing, emotional availability and reflective functioning in mothers with post natal depression
Project Grant
Description:

The proposed study is significant and timely, and examines the important public health issue of postnatal depression, a debilitating disorder that impacts on the individual, the infant and the broader family.

more

2013

Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health Program Bridge Funding
Fellowship
Researchers:
Description:

Heidi has a strong translational focus in her work and was the first to translate the use of environmental enrichment from the laboratory into the clinical setting for use with patients undergoing inpatient stroke rehabilitation.

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Combining startle reflex modulation with serious gaming technologies to determine engagement and impact on depression and binge drinking in young people: The SHADoW Study
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Frances Kay-Lambkin, Peter Walla, Keith Nesbitt 

Description:

Making use of gaming technologies to help young people suffering from depression and binge drinking

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Establishing a primary care-integrated service model for young people with an emerging mental illness - A proof-of-concept study
Project Grant
Mapping whole-brain metabolic networks
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Renate Thienel, Frini Karayanidis, Juanita Todd, Peter Stanwell, Mark Parsons, Chris Levi

Description:

Mapping networks in the brain

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An Evaluation of Transitional Care for Stroke Patients
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Ashley Kable, Amanda Baker, Dimity Pond, Alyna Turner, Chris Levi, Carolyn Hullick 

Description:

Evaluating transitional care - When a stoke patient goes home

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Improving Fitness, Function, Fatigue and Feelings through physical Fun: a pilot trial for stroke survivors IFFFFF
Project Grant
Description:

Stroke is common in Australia and the number of people experiencing stroke will increase with the ageing population.

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Towards an early detection of clinical symptoms of Alzheimer's disease
Project Grant
Description:

In Australia, Alzheimer’s disease is huge health burden, with one person diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease every 6 minutes. Symptoms of dementia are often noticed by family members three years before an official diagnosis.

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Scleral and Retinal Mechanisms Underlying Regional Changes in Myopia
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

Myopic (short-sighted) eyes are too long for their optical power because of excessive growth.

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Functional characterisation of schizophrenia-associated neurodevelopment dysfunction of miR-137.
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Murray Cairns, Rohan Walker, Alan Brichta, Natalie Beveridge 

Understanding the role of microglia in stress-induced changes in the neuronal connectivity
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Frederick Rohan Walker 

Description:

Persistent exposure to stressful events can produce serious and lasting disturbances in cognitive function and mood state. 

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Addictive drugs rewire the hypothalamus to drive relapse through brain ‘reward’ circuits.
Project Grant
Researchers:
Identifying novel pharmacological targets for drug relapse
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Christopher Dayas, Brett Graham 

Enriched Environment in Rehabilitation - A Phase II Trial
Project Grant
Description:

The environmental enrichment project, ‘Altering the Rehabilitation Environment to Improve Stroke Survivor Activity (AREISSA): A Phase II Trial’

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Greater Charitable Foundation Fellows in Stroke Research
Fellowship
Description:

This funding was provided to fund the vanguard phase of two clinical trials in stroke:

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Here's looking at you kid: Face processing, emotional availability and reflective functioning in mothers with post natal depression
Project Grant
Description:

The proposed study is significant and timely, and examines the important public health issue of postnatal depression, a debilitating disorder that impacts on the individual, the infant and the broader family.

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Quota International funding
Project Grant
Role of infection in the development of Parkinson's Disease
Project Grant
Researchers:

Associate Professor Phillip Dickson, Emeritus Professor Peter Dunkley, Lin Kooi Ong

Description:

Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, with 6.3 million people diagnosed worldwide; 80,000 of these are Australian. This means that around one out of every 350 Australians suffers from this life changing debilitating disease. Parkinson’s disease appears more frequently in males than females. The majority of Parkinson’s disease cases are idiopathic- of unknown cause.   Parkinson’s disease is characterised by degeneration in the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (a structure in the midbrain).  The dopaminergic neurons are nerve cells that make and contain a neurotransmitter known as dopamine. Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation are thought to be involved in degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons.   

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2012

HMRI PhD Student Travel Award
Travel Grant
Researchers:
HCRF Travel Award 2012
Travel Grant
Researchers:
PhD Student Pulse Travel Award 'Dopamine 2013'
Project Grant
Researchers:

 Morgan James, Chris Dayas
 

Greater Charitable Foundation Fellows in Stroke Research
Project Grant
Telemetry measurement of Intracranial Pressure in Stroke and Hypothermia
Project Grant
Researchers:
Men, Depression and social networks in rural communities: linking epidemiologic evidence to effective interventions
Scholarship

2011

Here's looking at you kid: Face processing, emotional availability and reflective functioning in mothers with post natal depression
Project Grant
Intrinsic and synaptic properties of propriospinal neurons
Project Grant
Researchers:

Jamie Flynn,  Antony Martin, William Palmer
 

The role of brain vasular flow and white matter lesions in the development of Vascular Dementia (VaD) - Tomago Aluminium Research Grant in Dementia
Project Grant
Researchers:

Associate Professor Frini KarayanidisPat Michie, Tod Jolly, Pat Cooper, Clevi, Mark Parsons, Peter Scholfield
 

Beyond Perfusion: MRS to Characterise Metabolic Changes in the Ischaemic Brain - Project Grant
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Mark Parsons, Dr PT Stanwell
 

HMRI Exchange Visit Prize
Project Grant
Researchers:
The cytokine gene expression profile in multiple sclerosis patients with chronic fatigue - Mark Smith Multiple Sclerosis Research Project Grant
Project Grant
Testing for N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antibodies in a large Australian cohort of schizophrenia patients
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Paul Tooney, Ute Vollmer-Conna, Paul Rasser, Pat Michie, Ulrich Schall, Carmel Loughland

Award for Research Excellence - Amanda Baker
HMRI Award for Research Excellence
Researchers:
Experimental brain imaging to investigate novel protective mechanisms of short duration body cooling after stroke - Dalara Foundation Stroke Research Project Grant
Project Grant
PULSE Education Prize
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Natalie Beveridge
 

PULSE Education Prize
Project Grant
Researchers:

Daniel Johnstone

Relationships between white matter lesions and cognitive and motor functioning in patients with minor ischaemic stroke: A structural and functional brain imaging study - RhD 2yr
Scholarship
Researchers:
Testing Stroke Sonothrombolysis Using An Improved Experimental Model Of Thromboembolic Stroke - Travel Grant
Project Grant
Researchers:

 Amelia Tomkins
 

Men, Depression and social networks in rural communities: linking epidemiologic evidence to effective interventions
Scholarship

2010

Relationships between white matter lesions and cognitive and motor functioning in patients with minor ischaemic stroke: A structural and functional brain imaging study - RhD 2yr
Scholarship
Researchers:
Establishing the effectiveness of antineuroinflammatory agents in the fight against depression
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Frederick Rohan Walker, Professor Trevor Day
 

How do immune and nervous systems interact in arthritis
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Phillip Jobling, Brett Graham
 

Here's looking at you kid: Face processing, emotional availability and reflective functioning in mothers with post natal depression
Project Grant
Adult lifestyle incentives for vitality and energy (ALIVE): Supporting health professionals to assist clients with weight management through lifestyle changes
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Suzanne Snodgrass, Professor Clare Collins, Carole James, Ashley Kable, Maya Guest, Samantha Ashby, Ron Plotnikof, Pat McElduff

Role of CaMKII Targeting in Stroke susceptibility and outcome
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor John Rostas, Neil Spratt, Kathryn Skelding, Sarah McCann

Pulse Education Prize
Project Grant
Researchers:

Jane Maguire 

Pulse Education Prize
Project Grant
Researchers:
The central neural pathway that controls the release of catecholamines from the adrenal medulla: it is impaired in hypertension?
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor Peter Dunkley, Ann Goodchild 

Identification of novel biomarkers for pre-clinical Alzheimer's disease
Project Grant
Researchers:

Associate Professor Pablo Moscato, Liz Milward, Martin Gomez Reavetti, Daniel Johnstone, Gillies Guillemin, Regina Barretta 

A structural and functional brain imaging study of how white matter lesions in patients with minor ischaemic stroke affect cognitive and motor control processes
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Frini Karayanidis, Mark Parsons, Patricia Michie, Christopher Levi, Sharna Jamadar, Matthew Hughes, Peter Schofield, Dr Grant Bateman

PULSE Early Career Researcher Grant - Characterising the synaptic physiology of orexin neurons in response to cocaine: implications for drug relapse
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Christopher Dayas, Dr Brett Graham 

Improving Patient Selection for Highly Effective Stroke Therapy - GBS Fellow in Stroke Research
Fellowship
Researchers:
Men, Depression and social networks in rural communities: linking epidemiologic evidence to effective interventions
Scholarship

2009

Award for Research Excellence - Chris Levi
HMRI Award for Research Excellence
Barker Scholarship PhD Award - Jennifer White
Scholarship
Researchers:

Jennifer White

Xstrata Coal Research Fellowship in Depression
Fellowship
Towards better early imaging in stroke: use of an experimental model to investigate CT brain perfusion
Project Grant

2008

PhD Top-Up
Scholarship
Researchers:

Ms Isobel Hubbard
 

A novel approach to developing new treatments for anxiety: Identification of neural pathways underlying resistance and susceptibility to anxiety disorders.
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Frederick Rohan Walker
 

Recovery of the balance system following injury
Project Grant
A road map of schizophrenia associated with gene & miRNA expression in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Murray Cairns, Dr Paul Tooney
 

A randomised controlled trail of mild hypothermia in acute ischaemic stroke
Project Grant
Researchers:
Implementation of computerised screening for depressive symptoms in CVD patients.
Equipment Grant
Researchers:

Dr Alyna Turner
 

Post Doctoral Fellowship in Youth Mental Health Research
Fellowship

2007

Translation of novel neuroprotection and stoke recovery strategies from laboratory to the clinic.
Project Grant
Researchers:
Visio-Cognitive deficits in schizophrenia patients and their first degree relatives
Project Grant
Researchers:
Characterisation of the brain mechanisms linking vulnerability to stress and vulnerability to drug addiction
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Christopher Dayas, Professor Trevor Day, Dr Douglas Smith
 

A functional MRI and tractography study of the effect of early upper limb therapy on brain plasticity after stroke
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Timothy Budd, Dr Mark Parsons, Dr Chris Levi
 

Molecular mechanisms underlying myopia and its reversal
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Sally McFadden, Prof David V Pow
 

Identifying new spinal cord targets for pain management
Project Grant
Researchers:

Mr Brett Graham, Professor RJ Callister
 

A functional MRI study of Upper limb therapy in acute stroke
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Mark Parsons, Dr Bill Budd, Dr Chris Levi
 

Keeping Brain Cells alive in Stroke Treatment
Fellowship
Researchers:

Dr Christopher Levi, Professor Mike Calford, Dr Mark Parsons
 

Research Fellowship - Ms Linda Campbell
Fellowship
Award for Early Career Research - Mark Parsons
HMRI Award for Early Career Research
Researchers:

2006

Award for Early Career Research - Carmel Loughland
HMRI Award for Early Career Research
Researchers:
The effectiveness of inpatient and outpatient cardiac rehabilitation in the Hunter
Project Grant
Researchers:
Perinatal programming of human anxiety disorders
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Deborah Hodgson, Dr Vicki Clifton
 

How does the nervous system process painful information from the uterus
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Phillip Jobling
 

The visual form and motion test as a measure of post-cardiac surgery cognitive impartment
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Neva Bull, Associate Professor M Hunter, Chris Levi
 

The spatial and temporal dynamics of motor and cognitive inhibition in schizophrenia; an fMRI and ERP study
Project Grant
Health and wellbeing of partners of victims of trauma; a vulnerable group in the community
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Tracy Dudding, Professor Gillian Turner

Control of Dopamine synthesis and Parkinsons' Disease
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Phillip Dickson, Professor Peter Dunkley
 

2005

Acute Stroke - Imaging the Ischaemic Penumbra with Perfusion CT
Project Grant
Researchers:
Award for Outstanding Achievement in Brain and Mental Health
Project Grant
Researchers:
D-serine localization suggests microglia may contribute to over of under excitation in the pathological brain and retina
Project Grant
Researchers:

Prof David Pow, Dr Claudia Diaz
 

Novel spinal cord targets for pain management
Project Grant
Investigating the link between auditory systems plasticity and tinnitus
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor Carl Parsons, Dr Mike Calford
 

The Creation of a Human Bio-hazardous material research Facility
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr David Pow

Objective measures of empathy: clinical application to aggressive children and adolescents
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Mark Chorlton, Dr Frini Karayanidis, Prof K Nunn
 

Vitamin B12 and Gene interactions in autism
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Michelle Adams, Dr MD Lucock,  Associate Professor J Stuart
 

Equipment Grant - Wide Gel Format Western Blot Apparatus
Equipment Grant
Researchers:

Dr Phillip Dickson
 

Equipment Grant - Wide Gel Format Western Blot Apparatus
Equipment Grant
Researchers:

Dr Phillip Dickson
 

2004

Facial identify and facial expression processing in autism
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Frini KarayanidisProfessor P Michie, Professor K Nunn, Mr T Passfield, Mr P Johnston
 

Preoperative screening to identify patients at increased risk of adverse in-hospital post-surgical outcomes
Project Grant
Researchers:
Investigation of the contribution of the use of cannabis in the development of schizophrenia in genetically predisposed individuals
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Fraser Ross, Dr P Tooney

Examine Genetic Factors that could influence blood clot formation and Breakdown
Project Grant
Researchers:
Continuing the search for the elusive causes of autism
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor Gillian Turner, Dr Lynn Banna
 

2003

Byles Nutrition Screen
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor John Rostas
 

Mental Health Research
Equipment Grant
Identifying patients at increased risk of adverse post-surgical outcomes
Project Grant
Researchers:
Study of receptor interaction which may trigger schizophrenia
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Fraser Ross, Dr Paul Tooney

Identification of brain pathways that control our physical responses to psychosocial stress.
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor Trevor Day
 

Novel genetic and environmental risk factors in thrombosis
Project Grant
Researchers:
Intra Mycardialial injection of autogous Bone Marrow cells in patients with end stage ischaemic heart disease.
Project Grant
Researchers:
Investigation of Executive Function in Cannabis Using Non Psychotic and First episode psychosis patients 0 a comparative structural and functional brain imaging (fMRI) study - Cost Centre 6731552
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Patrick Johnston, Martin Cohen, Ulrich Schall

Award for Early Career Research - Amanda Baker
HMRI Award for Early Career Research
Researchers:

2002

Using brain imaging techniques to determines how people with schizophrenia process sound
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Timothy Budd, Professor Pat Michie, Dr Juanita & Dr Ulrich Schall

Investigating brain function and cannabis use in patients with first episode schizophrenia
Project Grant
Researchers:

Mr Patrick Johnston, Dr Martin Cohen and Dr Ulrich Schall

Award for Research Excellence - Peter Dunkley
HMRI Award for Research Excellence

2001

Sampling of brain synthesised steroids involved in increasing inhibition in axiolytic response.
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor Michael Calford, Associate Professor Ei von Eagy Felsobuki
 

Efferent modulation of hearing and the sense of balance
Project Grant
Award for Research Excellence - Nikolai Bogduk
HMRI Award for Research Excellence
Researchers:

Nikolai Bogduk

Award for Early Career Research - Patrick Johnston
HMRI Award for Early Career Research
Researchers:

Patrick Johnston

2000

The effects of lead on cells.
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor Peter Dunkley, Dr Perry Hartfeilf
 

Switching between tasks in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and control children: A behavioural and electrophysiological study
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Frini Karayanidis, Professor Phillip Hazel
 

"Influence of glycaemic control on outcome after acute ischaemic stoke in diabetic patients. Later known as 03-22"
Fellowship
Researchers:

Dr Christopher Levi, Dr Julia Lowe
 

1999

The sites of action for a new class of antidepressant drug
Project Grant
Researchers:

Associate Professor Loris Chahl, Dr Paul Tooney

1998

Stroke Research - Dextran in Carotid Endarterectomy
Project Grant
Researchers: