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Understanding motor development in the very preterm child using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging.
| Murdoch Childrens Research Institute |
Co-supervisors: Dr Jeanie Cheong, Dr Peter J Anderson.
Up to 50% of preterm infants born <30 weeks gestational age or <1250g birth weight display either severe motor deficits such as cerebral palsy, or milder forms of motor impairment known as developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Tractography is a diffusion MRI processing technique that can provide a virtual 3D representation of the white matter fibre tracts, such as the sensorimotor pathways.
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Understanding neurodevelopmental outcomes of the late preterm neonates using magnetic resonance imaging.
| Murdoch Childrens Research Institute |
Co-supervisors: Dr Jeanie Cheong, Dr Peter J Anderson.
Neurodevelopment of late preterm infants born between 32 to 36 weeks' gestational age has not been extensively studied, even though there is evidence to suggest that such infants have neurobehavioural and educational difficulties in comparison to their term-born peers. The aim of this study (LaPrem) of late preterm infants is to compare quantitative MRI characteristics of late preterm and healthy term-born infants at term equivalent age. Volumetric analyses of brain tissues such as gray and white matter will be performed, as well as segmentation of the frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital lobes, cerebellum and hippocampus.
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Understanding the molecular pathology of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and unipolar depression.
| Mental Health Research Institute |
The Rebecca L. Cooper Research Laboratories are dedicated to understanding the underlying molecular neurobiology of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and unipolar depression. To achieve this aim we study changes in the molecular make of brain tissue obtained postmortem from subjects with the disorders. In addition we use animal models and cell culture techniques to further understand the mechanisms that cause the changes in the brains of subjects with the psychiatric disorders of interest. View project details
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Unravelling the mechanisms of migraine
Migraine is a severe, debilitating disease affecting around 10% of the general population, making it the most common neurological condition in the developed world. View project details
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Using a new mouse model of severe epilepsy to discover new antiepileptic drugs
| Florey Neuroscience Institutes |
Supervisors: Dr. Chris Reid, Dr. Steven Petrou
Dravet syndrome is a severe form of epilepsy that is very difficult to treat and often results in death (http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/dravet_syndrome/dravet_syndrome.htm). Our group has developed a new mouse model of the disease that is based on a human mutation. The mouse has all the major symptoms seen in patients with the disease. Some antiepileptic drugs reduce seizures in patient while others make the disease worse. We want to test these antiepileptic drugs on the mouse to see if they have the same ‘pharmaco-therapeutic’ profile as humans with the disease. This will validate the model potentially making it a powerful tool with which to test new and hopefully more effective antiepileptic treatments for Dravet syndrome.
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