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PRINCE OF WALES MEDICALRESEARCH INSTITUTE

to pdf Annual Report 4pp C copy 24/2/05 5:01 PM

to pdf Annual Report 4pp C copy 24/2/05 5:01 PM

This Annual Report covers the scientific achievements of the Institute for the calendar year 2003Financial information refers to the Financial Year ending 30 June 2004

POW008 Annual Report 48 29.11 24/2/05 5:15 PM Page 1

4 IntroductionAn Overview of POWMRI

6 Governance and DirectorshipChairman’s MessagePatron’s MessageThe Board of DirectorsExecutive Director’s Report

15 Our ScienceScientific ReportsVisiting Scientists

34 Research FundingGrants Awarded

37 Our ProfilePublicationsServiceEditorships

42 Fundraising AcknowledgementsOur Supporters

46 Our PeopleInstitute Staff and Students

48 FinanceFinancial Summary

CCONTENTS


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IINTRODUCTIONAbout the InstituteThe Prince of Wales Medical ResearchInstitute was formally established on thesigning of a Letter of Agreement betweenthe then Eastern Sydney Area HealthService, the University of New SouthWales, and the Institute’s founding groupof scientists, in December 1990. TheInstitute was officially opened on 8November 1993 by the New South Walesand Commonwealth Health Ministers ofthe day (The Hon RL Phillips and SenatorG Richardson). Research anddevelopment commenced under theauspices of the Institute that same year.POWMRI Limited was registered as apublic company limited by guaranteeunder the Corporations Law of New SouthWales on 4 August 1993.

Since its establishment, the Institute hasgrown significantly. It has undergone twocapital works programs through fundingfrom the NSW Government, theCommonwealth Government and its ownfundraising activities. It currently has over120 staff, making it the largestindependent research institute in NSWworking on the functions and disorders ofthe brain and nervous system.

The Institute conducts Australia’sforemost research into human balanceand coordination, including the majornational program of research into thecauses of falls in older people. TheInstitute houses a large ‘brain bank’where the invaluable resource ofbequeathed brains of patients with arange of conditions under study are held,together with complete clinical records ofthe patients themselves. The Institute hasan established record of leadership in the

area of nerve injury, degeneration andregeneration, and the Spinal InjuriesResearch Centre is being developedfurther to cover all aspects of thisdevastating condition. Major and highlydistinguished research programs are alsoin place on pain mechanisms, on thebrain’s control of movement and balance;on child injury; on neurodegenerativedisorders; on macular degeneration andblindness; and on neural regulation ofautonomic function and breathing.


LocationThe Institute is situated on the

Randwick Hospital’s Campus in the

eastern suburbs of Sydney, adjacent

to the main Kensington campus of

the University of New South Wales

and its Faculty of Medicine.


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Institute Governance The Institute is an independent non-profitcompany: ABN 94 050 110 346.

The Institute has formal affiliations withSouth Eastern Sydney Area HealthService and University of New SouthWales. These two organisations arerepresented equally on the Institute’sBoard of Directors. There is also formalBoard representation by the NationalHealth and Medical Research Council,Australia’s largest scientific fundingagency. Other Board Directors areeminent leaders in diverse business fields and the community.

The Institute’s Chairman, Hon Dr DonGrimes, AO, retired from the Board inFebruary 2004 to accept an overseasposting. Board Members and staffexpressed appreciation for his tirelessleadership over the past two years, hisknowledge of the health and researcharena, and the unqualified support he has given the Institute.

Mr Paul Brassil, a long-standing BoardDirector, was appointed Interim Chairman.His contribution to the Institute continuesto be significant. He is a Partner ofPricewaterhouseCoopers, CharteredAccountants and Fellow of the TaxationInstitute of Australia, specialising inadvising local and international clients onincome tax and related matters. He hasbeen Interim Chair of the Board sinceFebruary 2004 and Chair of the AuditCommittee since 2003.

Professor Simon Gandevia MD PhD DScFAA FRACP served as Acting ScientificDirector during 2003 and the first half of2004. In June 2004, the Board formallyappointed Professor Peter Schofield PhDDSc (formerly of the Garvan Institute),Executive Director and Chief ExecutiveOfficer of the Institute. Professor SimonGandevia was appointed Deputy Director.These new appointments take effect from5 July 2004.


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Funding SourcesNSW Health Infrastructure GrantThe Institute has been successful insecuring funding of $1.47M per annumfor the next triennium (2004-2006) fromthe NSW Health Department R&DResearch Infrastructure Program. It qualifies as one of the six largeindependent institutes recognised under Stream 1 of the Program.

Research GrantsThe Institute attracts competitive externalgrant funding from a number of nationaland international organisations every year.Total peer-reviewed funds for 2003 were$5.65M. The most significant fundingbody is the National Health and MedicalResearch Council. NHMRC funding to theInstitute has increased steadily despitethe competitiveness in acquiring suchresearch grants. In 2003, NHMRC grantsincome was $4.28M. This incomeincludes an NHMRC Program Grant forExperimental Neurology ($0.94M in 2003)and an NHMRC Partnership in InjuryGrant (a total of $2.6M over the period2001-2005).

While the NHMRC continues to be amajor source of research funding,Institute researchers have also beenactive in seeking research funds fromother sources, such as the AustralianResearch Council, Australian BrainFoundation, Motor Accidents Authority of NSW, Spinal Cure Australia, Clive andVera Ramaciotti Foundation, Sylvia andCharles Viertel Foundation, Neurosurgical Research Foundation andthe Spine Society of Australia. Fundingfrom non-NHMRC sources has becomemore diverse over the last few years.Such funds play a very important role inthe Institute’s work and, in an increasingly competitive market, are vital to the support of our research.

PublicationsThe Institute continues to have a strongpublications record, with a total of 116publications in 2003. This figure does notinclude the Institute’s extensive record ofconference proceedings and abstracts,nor does it include works “in press”.

FundraisingAs a not-for-profit company, the Instituteholds an “Authority to Fundraise forCharitable Purposes”. The incorporatedbody POWMRI Limited supports thePrince of Wales Medical ResearchInstitute through its Board Finance Group, and various public relations andfundraising activities are conductedthroughout the year.

For the Institute’s work to proceedoptimally, funding must be supplementedby donations from sources other thanthose mentioned above. Privatedonations are a key component of theInstitute’s funding.

Recognition of BoardMembers and StaffThe Institute currently has seven staff atprofessorial level and five at associateprofessorial level.

During 2003 there were two Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science on the Institute staff. One of the Institute’sstaff is a former President and one iscurrent President of the AustralianNeuroscience Society; two have beenawarded the Ramaciotti medalrecognising excellence in medicalresearch; one of the Institute’s seniorscientists has been made an Officer inthe Order of Australia (AO) for his serviceto neurological science and two of theInstitute’s senior scientists have beenawarded Member of the Order ofAustralia (AM). Members of the scientificstaff also occupy senior positions innational and international organisationsconcerned with nervous system functionand dysfunction.

Training and EducationSenior scientific staff members of theInstitute supervise postgraduate studentsfrom various schools of the Faculty ofMedicine, University of New South Walesand the Faculty of Health Sciences,Faculty of Medicine, and the School ofAerospace, Mechanical and MechatronicEngineering at the University of Sydney.This Institute actively supports both staffand students representing theorganisation at relevant national andinternational conferences and symposia.


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pleased to accept appointment asChairman of the Board. I hope tocontinue Don’s tradition of open dialoguewith fellow Directors and Institute staff,and look forward to working as acohesive group to provide the bestenvironment for scientists at the Instituteto generate advances in neuroscience.

Four new Directors have joined theBoard. They are Ms Elizabeth Broderick,a Partner, Board Member and Head of theLegal Technology Group at Blake DawsonWaldron; Ms Judi Hausmann, Principal ofHausmann Communications; and MrPhilip Salter, Joint Managing Director ofSalmat Limited. These eminent businesspeople were invited to join the POWMRIBoard as independent representatives.

In his capacity as Vice-Chancellor of theUniversity of New South Wales, ProfessorMark Wainwright AM was recentlyappointed as UNSW nominee to thePOWMRI Board. We are pleased to haverepresentation on our Board from theexecutive levels of both SESAHS andUNSW, major stakeholders in determiningPOWMRI’s current and future interests.We expect to announce the appointment

of other independent Directors andnominated representatives in the nearfuture. The Board welcomes the newDirectors, and appreciates theirdedication and commitment, as well asthe expertise they bring in their variedcareer paths.

We were sorry to lose the services ofthree other Directors during 2003-04. Mrs Andrée Milman, a founding,independent Director of POWMRI,resigned in December 2003 after 10years’ dedicated service. Ms DeborahGreen, CEO of South Eastern SydneyArea Health Service until her resignationin July 2004, relinquished her position onthe POWMRI Board as a nominee ofSESAHS. Professor Rory Hume resignedas Vice-Chancellor of UNSW andaccordingly resigned as UNSWrepresentative on our Board in April 2004.We are grateful for the wise counsel ofthese Directors during their terms of service.

Friends of NeuroscienceThis Board sub-committee was formedlate 2003 to focus on fundraising andhelp determine future strategic marketing

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

The BoardDr Don Grimes AO retired as Chairman ofthe POWMRI Board in February 2004 after8 years’ dedicated service to the Institute.In his role as Chairman of the Board ofSouth Eastern Sydney Area HealthService, Don had represented SESAHS, a key stakeholder in the Institute’s affairs.We are all grateful for Don’s wealth ofexperience and commitment to thewellbeing of the Institute and medicalresearch. On Don’s departure, I was


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plans for POWMRI. Judi Hausmann chairs the FONS committee, whichcomprises some 15 members whoare either Board Members or eminentmembers of the business community. The committee meets regularly andliaises closely with the Board andInstitute staff.

Executive appointmentsProfessor Peter R Schofield wasappointed Executive Director and ChiefExecutive Officer of POWMRI on 5 July2004. The Selection Committee undertookan extensive search for the bestappointee and considered many highquality candidates. The reason for ourfinal decision was Peter’s eminence inneuroscience and his vision for theInstitute’s future.

Peter was previously Director of theNeurobiology Research Program at theGarvan Institute. His research interestscentre on identifying genes that lead todisorders such as bipolar disorder (manic depressive illness) andAlzheimer’s disease, and understandinghow signalling in the brain occurs throughstudies of neurotransmitter receptors.Peter has worked in both thebiotechnology industry and in academicmedical research institutes in the US,Germany and Australia.

We also congratulate Professor SimonGandevia on his appointment as DeputyDirector, with effect from 5 July 2004.Board Members and Institute staff aremost grateful to Simon for his outstandingrole as Acting Scientific Director duringthe recruitment period for the ExecutiveDirector. Simon has worked tirelessly onbehalf of the Institute, especially duringthis transitional period.

The futureThe Board has given a mandate to build new facilities at the Institute toaccommodate the changes associatedwith Professor Schofield’s executiveappointment and the relocation of hisresearch team from the Garvan toPOWMRI.

Dr McCullough has been the Patron of the Prince of Wales MedicalResearch Institute since 1994. She isan internationally renowned novelist.Dr McCullough is also the Patron ofThe Gerontology Foundation ofAustralia, an Emeritus Consultant inClinical Neurophysiology at Royal NorthShore Hospital, and a former Chairmanof the Norfolk Island Hospital Board.

Having been associated with the Princeof Wales Medical Research Institute sinceits inception, I have witnessed the manychanges in and enormous growth of thissplendid foundation for the neurosciencesso dear to my heart. The news on allfronts is very exciting, and I look forwardto its going from strength to strength withan eager pride born of a long and fruitfulassociation. May I also take thisopportunity to welcome Professor PeterSchofield to the helm, and wish him and his colleagues all the very best for the future.

PATRON’S MESSAGE

Dr Colleen McCullough, Hon DLitt

Peter Schofield’s appointment willenhance the existing research programsat the Institute which have led to ourprominent position and status inneuroscience and medical research inAustralia and overseas. With a mandateto develop molecular, cellular and geneticneuroscience, we are now looking tomake a significant expansion in the scaleand scope of the Institute’s work.

On behalf of the Board, I extend sincerethanks to POWMRI’s scientists,administrative and operations staff, theResearch Committee, Scientific AdvisoryCommittee, and Friends of Neuroscience.I also thank the Institute’s corporate and individual donors for their supportthroughout the year. Be assured that your dedication and generosity is alwaysappreciated. The strength and scope ofresearch into the brain and nervoussystem, not only at our Institute, but atassociated locations, will open newopportunities for the benefit of science and humanity. Working closelytogether, we anticipate an exciting future for the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute.

Paul BrassilChairmanPrince of Wales MedicalResearch Institute


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DTHE BOARD OF DIRECTORSMr Paul BrassilBEc LLB ACA FTIADirector, POWMRI Limited, 1997 – present. Chairman, POWMRILimited, February 2004 – present.Chair, Audit Committee, POWMRILimited, 2003 – present. Partner ofPricewaterhouseCoopers, CharteredAccountants and a Fellow of theTaxation Institute of Australia,specialising in advising local andinternational clients on income tax and related matters.

The Hon Dr Don Grimes AOMBBS Hon FAFPHM FRACMADirector, POWMRI Limited, 1996 – February 2004Chairman, POWMRI Limited,2002 – February 2004. Chair of AusHealth International and Director of theAustralian Institute of Political Science.Currently on secondment to the healthindustry in Manama, Bahrain.

Ms Elizabeth BroderickBA(Computing Science) LLBDirector, POWMRI Limited, December 2003 – presentMember, POWMRI Board, ‘Friends of

University of New South Wales, he is an honours graduate in Medicineand Surgery from the University ofSydney and has trained as apaediatric geneticist in the USA where he directed the Division ofMedical Genetics at WashingtonUniversity, and was Associate ViceChancellor and Associate Dean forMedical Education.

Ms Deborah GreenBSocStud Director, POWMRI Limited, 1997 – July 2004Formerly Chief Executive Officer ofSouth Eastern Sydney Area HealthService. Currently Chief ExecutiveOfficer Sisters of Charity HealthServices.

Ms Judi HausmannMPRIADirector, POWMRI Limited, September 2003 – presentChair of POWMRI Board ‘Friends ofNeuroscience’ Committee. Principal of Hausmann Communications inSydney, and a Member of the PublicRelations Institute of Australia.

Neuroscience’ Committee Partner, Board member and Head of the LegalTechnology Group at Blake DawsonWaldron. She is an acknowledged leaderin the field of law and technology. In2001, she won both the Telstra NSWBusiness Woman of the Year Award andthe Telstra Australian Business Women'sAward (Private and Corporate Category).In 2003 she was awarded the CentenaryMedal for Service to Australian Societythrough Business Leadership.

Professor Roger DampneyBSc PhD DScDirector, POWMRI Limited, 1995 – presentProfessor of Cardiovascular Neuroscienceat the University of Sydney and anHonorary Consultant Physiologist at RoyalNorth Shore Hospital. He is also amember of a number of Societies andAdvisory Committees and was previouslya Member of NHMRC Regional GrantsInterviewing Committees and Member ofNHMRC Assigners’ Panel.

Professor Bruce DowtonMBBS MD FACMG FRACPDirector, POWMRI Limited, 1998 – presentDean of the Faculty of Medicine at the

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Professor Wyatt (Rory) HumeBScDent PhD DScDentDirector, POWMRI Limited, 2002 – April 2004Previously Vice-Chancellor andPresident of the University of NewSouth Wales. He recently resignedfrom this position.

Mrs Andrée MilmanDirector, POWMRI Limited, 1993 – December 2003Previous appointments includedexecutive positions and directorshipsof several major corporations inAustralia and overseas.

Mr Philip SalterDirector, POWMRI Limited, June 2004 – presentJoint Managing Director of SalmatLimited, one of Australasia’s leadingdirect customer communicationscompanies. He is a member of theCompany Directors Association ofAustralia and a former Director of the Australian Direct MarketingAssociation.

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Mr David ThomasDirector, POWMRI Limited, 1997 – presentLicensee and Proprietor in the hotel and hospitality industry and a Member of Royal Sydney YachtSquadron.

Professor Mark Wainwright AMMAppSc PhD DScDirector, POWMRI Limited,August 2004 – presentVice-Chancellor and President, University of New South Wales since July 2004. Professor Wainwright hasserved on the boards of a number of Co-operative Research Centres forvarious periods, and is currently aDirector of UniSearch Limited. In 2004, he was awarded an AM for his service to chemical engineering as a researcher and academic, and to tertiary education.

Mr John Walton AMMBA BEc FCPA FAIMDirector, POWMRI Limited, 1991 – present. Chairman of WaltonEnterprises Pty Ltd, Deputy Chairman ofthe Australian Institute of Management,and a Director of Young & RubicamAustralia Pty Ltd, Capital Investments Pty Ltd, and Sydney Children’s HospitalFoundation. He has also served asChairman of a number of corporate andcommunity boards, including the EasternSydney Area Health Service, WaltonsLimited, and the Australian Retailers Association and the SydneyCommittee Ltd.

Professor Peter SchofieldBScAgr PhD DScExecutive Director and Chief ExecutiveOfficer, POWMRI, July 2004 – present

Mr Andrew DermottBEc CACompany Secretary and FinanceManager, POWMRI


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Executive Director & CEO’s Report

I am delighted to have taken up myappointment as Executive Director andChief Executive Officer of the Prince ofWales Medical Research Institute on5 July 2004.

I come to this challenging position withover 20 years’ experience from scientificand medical research institutes and thebiotechnology industry, havingundertaken training at the University ofSydney, the Australian National Universityand the University of New South Wales,and having worked in the USA, Germanyand Australia. Most recently, I have beenthe Director of the Neurobiology ResearchProgram at the Garvan Institute ofMedical Research.

The Prince of Wales Medical ResearchInstitute has an established internationalrecord of research leadership in spinalcord and nerve and impact injury, painmechanisms, vestibular function and falls,neural regulation of autonomic functionand breathing and neurodegenerativediseases. These are key strengths and Iwant to maintain and enhance theseimportant research programs while, at thesame time, leading the Institute into anexciting, new era of growth. This willinclude the expansion of POWMRI’sneuroscience research to encompassgenetics, cell biology and molecularneuroscience. These are areas that theBoard and senior scientists haveidentified as important for POWMRI tomaintain its prominent position and statusin health and medical research, here inAustralia and overseas. The broadeningof the scope of our research endeavourwill also serve to attract other leadingscientists to join the Institute and allow usto make further contributions tounderstanding and relieving the hugeburden that the many different forms ofbrain disorder place on our society.

SPROFESSOR PETER R SCHOFIELDI am grateful to the Board for giving methe opportunity to lead the Prince ofWales Medical Research Institute and toall of the staff, in particular ProfessorSimon Gandevia, for the support theyhave provided as the Institute seeks newchallenges and opportunities.

Professor Peter R SchofieldPhD DScExecutive Director andChief Executive Officer


ROUR RESEARCHAbout the InstituteMuch of the Institute’s work is based

on determining the basic principles

underlying brain and nervous system

function and where possible seeking

to apply these principles directly to

the relevant community.

The Prince of Wales Medical Research

Institute’s research falls under these

major themes:

• Brain Mapping and Abnormalities

• Human Balance and Falls

• Injury

• Neural Control of Muscles

• Neural Control of Organs

• Parkinson’s Disease, Dementia

and Ageing

• The Sensory System

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BRAIN MAPPING & ABNORMALITIES


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Major areas under investigation

Maps of human brain functionUtilising the Institute’s new functional MRIfacility, we are creating functional maps ofthe human brain. Subjects are given tasksthat engage their sensory (e.g. visual),motor, cognitive or emotional systemwhile their brain is imaged. This allows usto localise these functions within thebrain.

Comparison between human andanimal brainsMost neuroscientists work on the brain ofrats and mice, often testing hypothesesinspired by human considerations, as forexample when they model humanillnesses. These scientists need to knowwhat corresponds in the brain of animalsand humans (homologies) so that theycan relate their observations from animalsto humans.

Improving radiation treatment ofbrain blood vessel abnormalitiesCongenital arteriovenous malformations(AVMs) of the brain are abnormalcollections of arteries and veins that areprone to causing stroke by rupturing intothe brain or by affecting the flow of bloodinto normal brain. The high rates of deathand disability associated with rupture areparticularly devastating because AVMsaffect predominantly young adults.

Vaughan Macefield Examiningsites of the brain responsive todifferent types of painThe majority of brain imaging studies inhuman subjects have examined the sitesof activation associated with superficialpain, usually evoked by laser-inducedlocal heating, but no studies havecompared these sites with those evokedby deep somatic pain. In collaborative

Brain researchers, no less than geographers, need maps and coordinate systems to

navigate the brain and communicate their observations to each other. On a map of the

brain we can superimpose types of neurons, neurotransmitters, enzymes, and

connectivity and functional data. We are continuing to develop and refine brain atlases

of humans and experimental animals which are used internationally as the standard.

completed in 2004 are maps of the ratand avian brains and 3D reconstruction ofthese works. The 3D atlases can becomeknowledge management environments forthe storage of information now comingfrom molecular approaches of studyingthe brain.

Marcus Stoodley Molecular biologyof arteriovenous malformationsArteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are amajor cause of stroke in young people.Current treatments aimed at preventinghaemorrhage from AVMs include surgeryand highly focused radiation(“radiosurgery”). The risks of surgery arerelated to the location of the AVM withinthe brain and the size of the lesion. SomeAVMs are large and in locations thatmake surgery too risky. Radiosurgery isan option, but is generally limited toAVMs less than 3 cm in diameter. Afurther down side of radiosurgery is that ittakes 2 – 3 years for the blood vessels inAVMs to occlude after the treatment. The mechanism of vascular occlusionafter radiosurgery is not known. Ourproject is aimed at understanding thisprocess so that strategies can bedeveloped to increase the size limit of

treatable lesionsand to reduce thelatency period tocure. We havedeveloped amodel of AVMthat mimics thecellular andmolecular

changes seen in the human condition. Weare now using this model to study themolecular effects of radiosurgery and aretrialing molecular thrombogenic strategiesto enhance the radiosurgery effects.

studies with Prof Richard Bandler and DrLuke Henderson at the University ofSydney, Dr Vaughan Macefield and ProfSimon Gandevia have shown, for the firsttime, that different cortical sites areinvolved in the processing of deep andsuperficial pain, evoked respectively byintramuscular and subcutaneousinjections of small amounts of hypertonicsaline. These studies were conducted atthe 3T MRI machine at the Mayne ClinicalResearch Imaging Centre. Despite similarpain intensity ratings, the superficial painoriginating in skin caused significantincreases in signal intensity in the anteriorcingulate gyrus and decreases in theposterior cingulate, whereas deep painoriginating in muscle caused a significantincrease in activity in the posteriorcingulate gyrus and a decrease in theanterior cingulate. We are now going onto examine sites of activity related toautonomic control of blood pressure andblood flow.

George Paxinos Correspondencesbetween the brain of humans andexperimental animalsProfessor George Paxinos’ laboratory isestablishing the homologies (similarities)between the brain of humans andexperimental animals. Scientists useexperimental animals to test hypothesesinspired by human diseases and thenneed to relate their observations tohumans. Knowing what are the brainhomologies across species assists intransferring knowledge gained fromexperimental animals to humans. TheAtlas of the Human Brain (Mai, Assheuerand Paxinos) was published in 2004, thispublication is used by other scientists asa guide for their work. Three other booksdescribing the human, rat and mousebrains were also published in 2004. Workthat commenced in 2003 and will be


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fallHUMAN BALANCE & FALLS

Assoc Professor Stephen Lord,NHMRC Principal Research Fellow


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lsMajor areas under investigation

Understanding human balanceInvestigation of the role of differentsensory and motor systems will enhanceour understanding of how humansmaintain balance. Studies are beingconducted to explore the effects of vision,sensation and vestibular function onbalance while standing and walking indifferent groups of people.

Predicting falls riskIdentification of factors which increase anindividual’s risk of falling is vital forprevention of falls and injuries.Epidemiological and physiologicalresearch is being conducted to enhanceour understanding of these risk factors.

Preventing falls and injuryFortunately, many falls can be preventedwith appropriate intervention strategies.Research is underway to develop,implement and evaluate falls and injuryprevention strategies for hospital patientsand other groups of people known to beat an increased risk of falls.

Stephen Lord Differing risk factorsfor falls in nursing home andintermediate-care residents whocan and cannot stand unaidedWe conducted a study in 1000 peopleaged 65 to 103 years living in aged carefacilities in Sydney to determine falls riskfactors in nursing home and intermediate-care residents who can and cannot standunaided. Fall rates were highest in thosewith fair standing balance, intermediate inthose with the best standing balance andlowest in those with the worst standingbalance. This non-linear pattern was evenmore striking when subjects werecategorised according to their standingbalance and ability to rise from a chair.

Control of balance is vital to everyday life. Maintaining balance involves highly complex

processing of peripheral sensory information and precise coordination of motor responses.

Our research aims to enhance understanding of human balance and involves investigations

of sensory and motor contributions, particularly those from the vestibular system. Current

studies are designed to investigate the physiology and biomechanics of standing, walking,

stepping reactions, trips and slips. Fall risk factors and strategies for prevention of falls in

different populations are being systematically examined in large-scale studies.

Using this dual classification, fall rateswere highest in those who could rise froma chair but could not stand unaided(81%), and lowest in those who couldneither rise from a chair nor standunaided (48%). In residents who couldstand unaided, risk factors includedincreased age, male gender, higher careclassifications, incontinence,psychoactive medication use, previousfalls and slow reaction times. In contrast,quite different risk factors were evident inthose residents who could not standunaided, with a number of known fall riskfactors (previous stroke, reduced ability torise from a chair, slow reaction times)being associated with fewer falls. Thefindings indicate that there are differentrisk factors for falls for people living inresidential aged care facilities who canand cannot stand unaided. Thesefindings provide important information fordeveloping falls prevention strategies andsuggest that those who can standunaided but have multiple falls riskfactors comprise the highest prioritygroup for such interventions. (J AmGeriatrics Society (2003) 51:1645-1650)

Catherine SherringtonNew approaches to exerciseafter hip fractureHip fracture is a major cause of mortalityand morbidity in older people. Manysurvivors do not regain their formermobility. In an attempt to maximisephysical ability after hip fracture we havedeveloped a novel program of exercisesdone in weight-bearing positions andconducted two randomised trialscomparing this program with traditionalbed exercises. Among 80 in-patients wefound the weight-bearing program had noadverse effects and that strength andbalance improved markedly for bothexercise groups. However, people who

had undertaken the weight-bearingexercise program were more likely tolearn to walk with a walking stick ratherthan a more supportive aid (such as awalking frame) after just 2 weeks ofexercise. We suggest that people soonafter hip fracture should undertake acombination of bed exercise and weight-bearing exercise. In the other trial ofhome exercise programs among 120people who had completed usual post-hip fracture care we found greaterimprovements in balance and functionalabilities in people who had done theweight-bearing exercises. We suggestthat people will benefit from additionalexercises in weight-bearing positions afterstandard care is complete. In 2005 we willcomplete the ongoing NHMRC fundedmulti-centre trial evaluating a “best-practice” intensive weight-bearingexercise program in both inpatient andhome settings.


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injuINJURY Major areas under investigation

Spinal InjuriesSpinal injury is a devastating condition,usually resulting in paralysis, loss ofsensation and disruption of bodyfunctions. Our research ranges fromdevelopment of preventative strategiesto studies of treatments that improve thehealth and capacities of spinal patients.

Injuries from road accidents Road accidents are the largest causeof serious injury to humans. Research isaimed at understanding how and whythese injuries occur, and developingeffective preventative strategies.

Pain after injuryMany trauma patients suffer from ongoingpain as a result of their injuries. Studiesare being undertaken to determine howthis pain arises from injury, and how itcan be treated.

Mechanisms of injury andnerve damageNerves can be damaged as a resultof medical disorders or trauma.Studies of the basic mechanismsof injury to nerves will shed light ontreatment and prevention.

Dr Michael Green, Research Officer


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uryLynne Bilston Impact injuryresearch focuses on child safetyWe have commenced major programsaimed at investigating injuries to childrenin car crashes. The first of these is astudy of injuries sustained by childrenaged 2-8 in crashes. This is being done incollaboration with the Children’s Hospitalat Westmead and the Sydney Children’sHospital. So far, this study has shown thatthe majority of children in this age groupare being restrained by adult seat belts,when they would be more appropriatelyrestrained in dedicated child restraints orbooster seats. This may be contributingto an increased risk of abdominal andspinal injuries. Another major study wasinvestigating the performance of childrestraints in side impact crashes, usingthe crash sled facility. This study hasshown that child restraints and boosterseats are not offering optimal protectionto larger children within therecommended size range for therestraints, resulting in increased risk ofhead injury. Also, investigation ofalternative restraint anchorage systemshas shown that rigidly anchoringrestraints to the car instead of using theconventional seat belt systems potentiallyoffers great reduction of risk of injury tothe head in side impact. Optimisingrestraint design is undergoing furtherstudy. In other work, our study of seatdesigns in whiplash injury has resulted inthe development of a new car seat designthat offers much improved protection forthe neck in rear impacts. This design iscurrently being patented. We have alsocompleted studies of the mechanicalproperties of rat spinal cord, bovine duramater, and commenced work developingmagnetic resonance elastographymethods to measure in vivo human tissueproperties. A study of the effect ofcontrolled compression on human

peripheral nerves, with Dr VaughanMacefield and Dr Penelope McNultyshowed that ectopic nerve dischargesdepend on both the magnitude and rateof mechanical stimulation.

James Brock and ElspethMcLachlan Abnormal controlof blood pressure followingspinal cord injuryThe improved survival of spinally injuredpatients means that they can live inreasonable health for many decades.During this time, they have to learn tocope with dysfunction, not only ofmovement and sensation, but also oftemperature regulation, and bladder,bowel and sexual function. In addition,quite commonly, patients experienceperiods of very high blood pressure thatmay result in stroke or death. Thissyndrome is known as autonomicdysreflexia and is triggered by normallypainful stimuli which the patient cannotperceive. We have shown for the first timethat, following spinal cord injury, arteriesare much more readily activated bysympathetic nerve stimulation and thatthis change is likely to be the main causeof the exaggerated increase in pressure.

Elspeth McLachlan Consequencesof spinal cord injury for nervepathways below the lesionWhat happens to the remaining nervoustissue below a spinal cord injury is largelyunknown and most current experimentsthat seek to facilitate regeneration ofdescending pathways assume that thetargets within the cord will remain. Ourlatest experiments have shown that this isnot the case. Not only do many of theremaining circuits become reorganizedwhen the descending nerve fibresdisappear, but many of the nerve cells(neurones) which previously projected to

the brain die. About half of the neuronesthat had their processes cut by a lesionmany spinal segments away haddisappeared after two months inexperimental animals. These changesmay also be responsible for theheightened reflexes after a spinal lesionthat cause spasticity and autonomicdysreflexia. We have been examining theinflammatory response in the cord and inthe associated dorsal root (sensory)ganglia to see if invading cells might bethe potential killers. The results will leadto new proposals for therapy to preservethe neurones and their connections asclose to normal as possible so that newtreatments that assist regeneration have agreater chance of success.

Marcus Stoodley Pathophysiologyof post-traumatic syringomyeliaPatients with spinal cord injury are at riskof developing cysts within the spinal cord(syrinxes) that further impair theirneurological function. Treatment of thesecysts with surgical drainage, shunting, ordecompression is effective in less thanhalf the cases. It is not known how thecysts form, and it is unlikely that bettertreatments will be developed until the fluiddynamics of cyst formation areunderstood. We have previouslydemonstrated that fluid flows into syrinxesfrom the subarachnoid space alongperivascular spaces. Our current work isaimed at determining the forces drivingthe fluid flow and the effects of alteringcompliance and subarachnoid spacepressure on CSF flow and syrinxformation. Our current project isspecifically examining the role oftraumatic scar tissue on the enlargementof syrinxes.

Injury is the leading cause of death for people under 45 years of age. Injuries to the

nervous system, such as brain and spinal cord injuries, are particularly devastating –

often leading to lifelong disability. Our research includes a range of studies from basic

research into the mechanisms of injury, to developing improved treatments for injured

people and to developing strategies to prevent injuries.


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musNEURAL CONTROL OF MUSCLES

Dr Peter Nickolls, Senior Research Officer


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scleMajor areas under investigation

Central nervous system controlof muscle functionAll muscles producing movements arecritically driven by nerve pathways fromthe brain which travel through the spinalcord. We are using a range of techniquesto explore how movements are controlledby the central nervous system.

Muscle propertiesMuscles drive the skeleton and produceall our interaction. We are studying theproperties of human muscles andtendons and the way single elements inthe muscles respond in health anddisease.

Muscles in respirationBreathing is essential for life andbreathing muscles have some uniquecontrollers within the brain and spinalcord. We are examining the drive andactions of the breathing muscles inhealth and disease.

Jane Butler Reflex control ofhuman respiratory musclesIn 2003, we published a paper inRespiratory Physiology & Neurobiology“Reflex Inhibition of Human InspiratoryMuscles in Response to ContralateralPhrenic Nerve Stimulation”. Wedescribed, for the first time inconscious human subjects, aninhibitory reflex connection between thephrenic nerve afferents from thediaphragm with the respiratory muscleson the contralateral side. In contrast toanimals we were able to demonstratethis at relatively low stimulus intensities.The major early effect of the phrenicnerve stimulus on contralateralinspiratory muscle activity is to reducetheir activity. The major inhibitory effectof the stimulus on inspiratory musclescontrasts with that in the limb muscles,in which equivalent stimuli normallyevoke excitatory responses. Onepossible function of the early inhibitoryresponse to loading in inspiratorymuscles may be that it reflexly preventsthe inhalation of foreign objects furtherinto the airway before an appropriatevoluntary response can be made.

Simon Gandevia How does thebrain drive fatigued muscles?During sustained exercise, forceproduced by muscles often declines,that is, fatigue sets in. However, theeffort required to keep performing theexercise increases. In recent yearsJanet Taylor, Jane Butler, SimonGandevia and their colleagues haveshown that some of this musclefatigue occurs because of a failure todrive the output from the motor areasof the brain maximally. In a majorpaper published in the Journal ofPhysiology (551: 661-671, 2003),Gabby Todd with Janet and Simondeveloped a method based onstimulation of the brain to measureaccurately the brain's drive to muscles.This uses transcranial magneticstimulation of the brain while subjectsmake muscle contractions of differentstrength. Using this method, they thenshowed that it is applicable tomeasurement of the brain's failure todrive muscles fully when musclefatigue develops. With furtherrefinement, this method may offernovel insights into exerciseperformance and into neurologicaldeficits in which fatigue is prominent.

The motor cortex controls every voluntary movement made by the more than 600

muscles in the body. The precision of human movement is a hallmark of the evolution

of primates. Damage to the neural pathways, as occurs in stroke, has devastating

consequences including paralysis, loss of speech, impaired walking and other

impairments of motor function. We are studying human movement – its initiation,

its effects and its impairments in humans.


orgaNEURAL CONTROL OF ORGANS


Nerve Growth and RegenerationWe are interested in the way that nerves grow in early life as theirconnections are being established and in the similarities with how injured nerves re-grow in adult life.

Control of urogenital systemOur experiments are aimed atunderstanding how the nervous systemcontrols bladder function and malereproductive reflexes, such as penileerection. This will help us to understandwhy these reflexes can fail (e.g. urinaryincontinence, erectile dysfunction), andhow they may be restored.

Neural control of the heartWe are interested in the nerves thatcontrol heart rate, the chemicals releasedfrom the nerves and how they interact tomodify heart rate. We are also interestedin which nerve predominates in exerciseand high blood pressure so that in futurewe can modify overactivity in one or bothnerves.

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Control of blood pressureand blood flowWe are studying the nerves that modifyblood flow in small arteries in differentparts of the body. We are examining thechemicals they release to increase ordecrease blood flow and how blood flowis modified by these chemicals duringexercise, high blood pressure and nasalcongestion.

Janet Keast Plasticity of pelvicsensory and autonomic neuronsWe are investigating the factors andmechanisms that help to maintain thenormal structure and function of thenerves that control lower urinary tract andreproductive organs. This is also relevantto understanding some of the effects ofinjury and disease on these nerves. Wehave found that in male rats, testosteronehas an important role at puberty tochange the electrical properties of pelvicautonomic neurons (J Neurophysiol 89:315-323). This group of experiments alsoshowed that even after adulthood isreached, testosterone is still required tomaintain some (but not all) of theseproperties. This has importantimplications for problems with bladdercontrol and erectile dysfunction aftervarious hormone (or hormone blocker)treatments, and for some effects ofageing. We have also recently discoveredthat in female rats many of the sensoryneurons and pain-sensing neurons thatinnervate the urinary bladder expressestrogen receptors (Auton Neurosci95:90-100). This, along with our newexperiments on signalling pathways inthese neurons, suggests that estrogenscan affect sensation, and may be relevantto improved treatments for bladder andother pelvic pain. We are also veryinterested in neurotrophic factors forpelvic parasympathetic neurons and havebegun to study the development of theseneurons in various type of knockout mice.To start these studies we first needed tocharacterise structurally and

immunohistochemically the pelvic gangliain normal mice, and this study hasrecently been completed (Cell Tissue Res311: 175-185). We are now starting tostudy the neural growth and regenerationresponses in different types of knockoutmice and in tissue cultures of adult pelvicsensory and autonomic neurons.

Matthew Kiernan Nerve excitabilityand the pathophysiology ofneurological diseaseA particular focus in 2003 was theinvestigation of nerve dysfunction in renalfailure (uraemia). Neuropathy is present in60% of patients commencinghaemodialysis and is a key factor indetermining the required frequency ofdialysis, and the need for renaltransplantation. Despite the highincidence of neurological problems dueto uraemia, the cause remains unknown.The studies commenced in 2003,attempting to identify aspects of nervedysfunction that correlate withbiochemical abnormalities in uraemicpatients. Once identified, it is anticipatedthat management strategies will bedeveloped to better target the preventionand treatment of neuropathy in uraemia.These studies are ongoing and form thefocus of Dr Arun Krishnan’s PhD thesis,for which he was awarded both the YoungInvestigator Award at the AustralianAssociation of Neurologists AnnualScientific Meeting and the TOW Prize ofthe Prince of Wales Hospital Group.Collaborative studies with Prof HughBostock FRS also continue at the SobellDepartment, Institute of NeurologyLondon UK investigating the painfulsymptoms of neuropathy. These studieshave focused on dysfunction in smalldiameter unmyelinated sensory axons(e.g. tetrodotoxin-resistant Na+channels). These currents were identifiedin small rat dorsal root ganglia neurones(Neuroscience 2003;119:653-660) andare likely to be functionally important inpain transmission. Dr Cindy Lin (CJ

Our research covers a broad range of body functions, from control of

the heart and blood vessels, to bladder, bowel, reproductive and renal function.

Many of the projects are aimed at understanding how these organs are controlled and

coordinated in normal, healthy systems, so that we then devise ways of preventing or

reversing problems that later occur due to injury or disease resulting in organ failure

(eg uraemia – kidney failure).

Martin Fellow POWMRI) is continuing thiscollaboration in London, developing afunctional test for such channels inhuman nerves.

Erica Potter Neural control of the circulationWe have been looking at the role of thesympathetic co-transmitter neuropeptideY in modulation of blood flow in differentvascular beds in different species. Thecocktail of neurotransmitters supplyingblood vessels in vascular bedsthroughout the body varies betweenvascular beds and the presence ofneuropeptide can also vary betweenspecies. Neuropeptide Y has been shownto have direct vasoconstrictor effects insome vascular beds and to modulate therelease of neurotransmitter in othervascular beds. We are using small arterialrings from different vascular beds todetermine whether neuropeptide Ymodulates release of noradrenaline andsubsequent vasoconstriction from thesympathetic nerves supplying the bloodvessels. In the mesenteric vascular bedwe have shown that while thecontractions in these vessels are duemainly to the release of noradrenalineand neuropeptide Y from the sympatheticnerves, neuropeptide Y does not inhibitrelease of either noradrenaline or

neuropeptide Y.In the renalvascular bedhowever,contractions aredue mainly to the release ofnoradrenalinefrom thesympathetic

nerve and neuropeptide Y can inhibit therelease of noradrenaline by acting onpresynaptic or Y2 neuropeptide Yreceptors. We are continuing to look atsuch variations in other vascular bedsand in different species.


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PARKINSON’S DISEASE, DEMENTIA & AGEING

Professor Glenda Halliday, NHMRC Principal Research Fellow


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DementiaOne of the most feared diseases insociety. In general, dementias are causedby changes involving most of the cortex,while movement disorders are caused bychanges deep inside the brain. AtPOWMRI, we are performing differenttypes of research involving large numbersof people, families and individuals,tissues donated for research, as well asanimal and cellular models ofneurodegeneration and test-tubeexperiments on different molecules. It isnecessary to use a variety of techniquesand to study people carefully as themechanisms of neurodegeneration arestill unclear, and it is not yet known whenirreversible damage occurs. Because theunderlying mechanisms causingdementia are poorly understood, thereare no disease-modifying treatmentsavailable to halt these neurodegenerativedisorders. We are studying the cellularcauses of these dementias, anddeveloping methods to identify patientswith different types of dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most commonform of dementia, caused by specificbrain changes for which there is noknown cure. The clinical symptoms ofAlzheimer’s disease include forgetfulness(recent events, activities or names) anddifficulties with simple maths and otheractivities. The brain abnormallyaccumulates a protein called beta-amyloid destroying the delicateconnections between cells, and anotherprotein called tau which disrupts normalcellular activity. These changes cause acurious inflammatory reaction in the brain.We are studying the interactions betweenthese processes to determine the besttargets for treatment, and working ondetermining better ways to diagnosepeople for targeted treatments.

Dementia with Lewy bodies is the secondmost frequent cause of dementia, which,like Alzheimer’s disease, is caused byspecific brain changes for which there isno known treatment. Some of the nervecells of the brain abnormally accumulatea protein called alpha-synuclein instructures called Lewy bodies. We areworking on determining the toxicity of thisproblem and its role in the disease. Weare also working on developing a way ofscanning the brain to better diagnose thistype of dementia in life.

Frontotemporal dementia is adegenerative condition whichpredominantly affects the front part of thebrain (previously known as Pick’s diseaseor frontal lobe dementia). Unlike otherneurodegenerative conditions, peoplewith frontotemporal dementia can have avariety of underlying cellular changes inthis part of the brain. We are working onunderstanding why some people get onetype of dementia rather than another, andwhether the type of cellular changematters for treatment.

Movement DisordersParkinson’s disease is the most commonmovement disorder with an estimated80,000 Australians living with this disease.While symptomatic treatments areavailable for Parkinson’s disease, there isno cure. We are developing tools toidentify people early so that therapiestargeting the neurodegeneration can beused. Patients with Parkinson’s diseaseare slow to move (bradykinetic), haverigid limbs with a tremor at rest, anddifficulties with gait and balance thatpredispose them to falls. It has beenknown for some years that dopamineneurons degenerate in the brains ofpatients with Parkinson’s disease, and weare working towards a new blood test thatcan detect the loss of these neurons withcertainty, possibly even before people getsymptoms.

Our research at POWMRI is to understand how the brain ages, both successfully and

unsuccessfully. We are particularly interested in age-related neurodegenerative diseases

because these are now major health problems due to increased life expectancy being

a flow-on from the decreasing impact of infectious and systemic diseases.

AgeingTo determine the impact of brain diseasesparticularly in the elderly, normal ageingmust be studied. We have been carefullystudying a group of elderly people inSydney for over 10 years. Initially, over600 people agreed to participate in thesestudies and the majority who are still aliveremain independent in the community,many now being over 90 years old.International research suggests thatpotentially damaging cellular changesoccur in the brain with age, although thisis one of the areas we know the leastabout – what are the cellular brainchanges that occur with normal ageing?It is difficult to know how much the braincan be affected before some decline isnoticed. For this reason, it is extremelyimportant to study the brains of peoplewithout brain diseases. In Sydney there isa specific program designed for thispurpose called Using our Brains(http://www.braindonors.org/default.asp).

Glenda HallidayUnderstanding more aboutfrontotemporal dementia

Until recently it was thought that frontotemporal dementia was a really rare dementia syndrome. This was because

different cellular causes can give thesame type of dysfunction and dementiasyndromes were previously classifiedaccording to their cellular causes.Classification of this syndrome is nowbroader reflecting the functional deficitsand the pattern of overall braindegeneration. We have performed severalstudies on frontotemporal dementia. Instudies concentrating on the cellularchanges, we have shown that changes inglia are important early events that occur


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in the brain and that these changes arepotentially treatable (published in thejournal Brain 126:827-840). To performthis work we had to devise a method forstaging frontotemporal dementia(published in the journal Neurology60:1005-1011), a method we are nowvalidating for use in clinical practice. Inaddition, by analysing a large group ofpeople with pathologically confirmedfrontotemporal dementia we were able todescribe what people could expect duringthe course of the disease, as well asdescribe how long patients survived withthis disorder (published in Neurology61:349-354). We believe that thisinformation will greatly assist bothclinicians, patients and their families withtheir treatment and life planning.

Glenda Halliday Degeneration ofthe brain in Alzheimer’s diseaseMost people know that Alzheimer’sdisease causes a severe dementiasyndrome because of brain degeneration.However, the disease is very selective asto which part of the brain it affects withmost people having little physicaldisability. We performed a careful analysisof the degree of atrophy over the entirebrain throughout the entire course ofAlzheimer’s disease (published inNeurobiology of Aging 24:797-806). Thisanalysis showed that only certain brainregions were affected at all, and withinthe affected regions two types of damagecould be seen. Some brain regions had asimilar degree of mild atrophy that relatedto the deposition of an insoluble proteincalled amyloid. Atrophy in these regionswas not progressive. Regions withsignificant brain atrophy had a similarunstoppable progression of degenerationthat resulted in up to 50% tissue loss andrelated to the cellular deposition of theprotein called tau. One region (thefusiform gyrus) had more rapid butslightly delayed degeneration than theother degenerating brain region. Thisdata provides a clear picture of theprogression of this disease identifying theneed for early intervention.

Antony Harding The left humanspeech-processing cortex is thinnerbut longer than the rightIt is well known that the dominant, usuallythe left, auditory cortex processes speechsignals, which the non-dominant cortexcannot do to the same extent. We set out

to find why, by examining the brainregions responsible for speechprocessing in detail in 21 individuals. Thelength, depth, volume and surface area ofthe planum temporale was determinedrevealing that although the left and rightvolumes were similar (a well known fact),there were distinct differences in surfacearea, and also the thickness and thelength of the cortex between the left andthe right sides. The left cortex was thinnerbut longer than the right. A model of thiswas developed in collaboration with H.L.Seldon of Monash University to helpexplain these findings and how they mayresult in the dominant function of the leftcortex. With increased surface area, thecolumns of neurons which form functionalgroups can accommodate a greaternumber of connections. These differenceswere thought to result in moreindependent activity of cells and cellgroups on the left side and could be ananatomical factor in the usual dominanceof the left hemisphere for speechperception. This study was recentlypublished in the journal: Laterality:Asymmetries of body, brain andcognition.

Wayne Reid Longitudinal study ofdementia in Parkinson’s diseaseNeuropsychological, clinical andneuropathological data from the 15 yearfollow-up study of patients from theSydney Multicentre study of Parkinson’sdisease was analysed. A draft of thepaper on the outcome was started. Theresults show that these patients have asignificant decline in their cognitiveabilities compared with controls. Thedecline is small and relatively stable forthe first ten years at which time there is amore dramatic decline, often leading todementia. A new finding of greatimportance, is that patients who developParkinson’s before the age of 50 yearsappear protected from dementiacompared with patients whose diseaseonset is after 60 years. Our work has alsoshown that we are now able to identify inthe early stages of disease, what clinicalsymptoms predict dementia and poorprognosis. Clinicopathological correlationssuggest coexistent pathologies includingcortical Lewy bodies, Alzheimer’s andcerebrovascular diseases are likely to beresponsible for the dementia inParkinson’s disease and the greatestimpact of these diseases occurs late.

Yue Huang Assessing familialParkinson’s diseaseAbout 15-20% of Parkinson’s diseasepatients have blood relatives alsoaffected with Parkinson’s disease,although the genetic cause of the diseasein most families is unknown. Changes inseven genes have been identified insome families with many patients withParkinson’s disease. In these families withclearly identified genetic causes, theclinical and neuropathologicalmanifestations of Parkinson’s diseasevary according to the mutated genes andtransmission mode. We are beginning tocollect and analyse data from familieswith Parkinson’s disease to find additionalcausative genes and predict the trends ofdisease progression.

Linda Cheung Genotyping in Parkinson’s disease

While the exact causes for Parkinson’s disease in most cases are not well understood, it is recognised that genetics plays a

potentially important part in thedevelopment of this disabling movementdisorder. This project was initiated in anattempt to find genetic markers to aid thepre-symptomatic detection of Parkinson’sdisease in at risk individuals. DNA is thegenetic material that serves as the blueprint for all bodily functions. It has beendemonstrated that DNA sequences varyin the population. Some of thesevariations have been shown to havephysiological significance, in particularthe tau, a-synuclein and ApoE geneshave been individually shown to affect thedevelopment of the disease. We havebeen collecting blood specimens andextracting DNA to examine the sequencevariations in these genes and expect tocomplete analyses in 2005.

Kay Double Neuromelanin pigmentcan bind iron and induce iron-mediated neurodegenerationOne aim of our research is theidentification of the mechanisms by whichbrain cells die in Parkinson’s disease. Amajor part of this research focuses uponthe role of neuromelanin, a pigment foundin the neurons most vulnerable toneurodegeneration in Parkinson’s


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disease. Recently we showed thatneuromelanin is an effective iron binder(Double et al, Biochemical Pharmacology,66, 489-494). This is significant as it isknown that the brain iron levels areincreased in Parkinson’s disease. Wesuggested that binding of iron to thispigment may lead to an enhancedoxidative capacity in the parkinsonianbrain. Further, we were able to show thatneuromelanin ladened with iron inducedsubstantial neurodegeneration wheninjected into an animal model (Double etal, Experimental Neurology, 184, 530-535). This work supports the hypothesisthat a neuromelanin/iron interaction maybe important in explaining the especialvulnerability of the pigmented dopamineneurons in Parkinson’s disease. Inaddition, the focus of the clinical workfrom our laboratory is the development ofnew methods to enable Parkinson’sdisease to be diagnosed earlier and moreaccurately than is currently possible. Itwas known that patients with Parkinson’sdisease suffer olfactory dysfunction earlyin the disease. We were able to show thatwhile most patients with Parkinson’sdisease have hyposmia (a reduced abilityto identify smells), this deficit does notaffect all smells equally but is evident inspecific pattern of fragrances, while theability to identify other fragrances remainsunaffected (Double et al, Archives ofNeurology, 60, 545-549). It is hoped thatthis specific deficit may be useful todiagnose Parkinson’s disease earlier andmore accurately and to assist indifferentiating Parkinson’s disease fromother disorders with similar motorsymptoms.

Olivier Piguet The impact ofemotions on memoryAs part of his NHMRC Neil HamiltonFairley postdoctoral fellowship, OlivierPiguet has been working in theDepartment of Brain and CognitiveSciences at the Massachusetts Instituteof Technology for the past 15 months. Incollaboration with Prof Suzanne Corkinand her colleagues, he is investigatinghow memory performance is influencedby the emotional content of theinformation being learnt and how theimpact of the emotional content onmemory changes as we get older.Numerous previous studies havedemonstrated that individuals tend toremember emotionally loaded information

better than neutral information. Thisphenomenon has been labelled“emotional enhancement”. We also knowthat declarative memory, which is theability to recall specific events or piecesof information, tends to decline with age.However, how the emotionalenhancement evolves and changes as weget older remains to be fully understood.This research project attempts to addressthis issue by combining behavioural(memory and cognitive) testing withstructural and functional imaginginvestigations. This comprehensiveapproach allows us to study the levels ofbrain activation in specific brain areasknown to contribute to memory andemotion (for example the hippocampus,the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex)during memory tasks, as well as tomeasure the volumes of these structures.In order to investigate the effects ofageing, changes in the strengths of theassociations between memoryperformance, volume measurements andbrain activation levels between young andolder adults are also compared. So far,35 young adults (aged in their 20s) and35 older adults (aged in their 70s) havebeen enrolled in this research project andhave undergone a structural brain MRIand a first series of memory tasks outsidethe scanner. The data collection for thefunctional imaging component of thestudy is currently under way. Preliminaryfindings indicate that young adults showa memory enhancement for emotionalinformation that becomes stronger astime between encoding and retrievalincreases. In contrast, this enhancementappears to be transient in older adults,perhaps because of inadequate cognitivecontrol processes during encoding,mediated by prefrontal circuits.

Tony Broe Sydney Older PersonsStudy (SOPS)The Sydney Older Persons Studycontinues as an active, ongoing researchand analysis project. During 2003 afurther eight articles based on SOPS datawere either published or accepted forpublication and further articles are indevelopment. Currently, preliminaryresearch is being developed usingfunctional MRIs to further investigate linksbetween gait disorders and brain ageing.This is a developmental project and thefindings so far are very encouraging in terms of supporting the research

methodology. The SOPS data is alsobeing utilised in partnership with theNSW Department of Disability, Ageingand Home Care to develop an agedcare services planning instrument fordepartmental planners and managers.This involves the other key objective ofthe SOPS study, which is to use theclinical and social data collected toinform our responses to populationageing in Australia. Links have beenmade with Professor Ken Rockwood atDalhousie University in Canada toincorporate the SOPS data into a meta-analysis project looking at ageing andfrailty data from a number of combinedstudies. Professor Rockwood has alreadybegun producing useful results fromthis analysis and plans to publish thefindings soon.

Bill Brooks Familial dementia studies Families with inherited forms ofAlzheimer’s disease and relatedconditions are rare, but have the potentialto throw light on the biological basis ofthese diseases, since they have a knowncause, namely a genetic mutation. We arenow following a number of families withknown genetic causes for their condition;most have Alzheimer’s disease as theirmain clinical and pathological diagnosis,but some have mutations in the tau geneand have more in common with thefrontotemporal types of dementia. In 2003we visited Tasmania and the NorthernTerritory to carry out progress clinical andneuropsychological assessments onmembers of several large families with thehelp of Dr Olivier Piguet and Dr HayleyBennett. Papers reporting the clinical,pathological and genetic features ofseveral families have been published(Brooks et al, Brain 126:783-791, 2003;Stanford et al, Brain 126:814-826, 2003;Kwok et al, Journal of BiologicalChemistry 278(9):6748-6754, 2003;Miklossy et al, Neurobiology of Aging24:665-62, 2003).


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THE SENSORY SYSTEM

Dr James Brock, NHMRC Senior Research Fellow


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Sensory receptors reside in virtually every part of the body. They are responsive to

different stimuli and provide the brain and spinal cord with information about our internal

environment and about the world around us. We are using a range of techniques to

understand how the sensory system works, how it affects the motor output from the

brain, and how it gives us an accurate ‘sensory’ map of the external world. Our research

aims to understand the changes in the sensory pathways after injury and other

pathologies, including the involvement of the immune system in inflammation, leading to

sensory disturbances such as hypersensitivity and spontaneous pain. Strategies to help

patients with these conditions are being studied.


PainEveryone will experience pain at sometime. Usually this is short lasting(acute pain), but sometimes it persistslong after healing of the injury (chronicpain) and its cause is difficult todetermine. Work at the Institute isaimed both at improving treatment ofacute pain and in understanding thecauses of chronic pain.

SensationNerve endings throughout the bodyrespond to particular stimuli and sendcritical messages to the spinal cordand brain. Using these signals, thebrain develops ‘a map’ of the externalworld which is used for everymovement that we make.

Elspeth McLachlan Neuropathic pain – inflammationin dorsal root gangliaWe have continued our studies of the roleof inflammation in dorsal root (sensory)ganglia in neuropathic pain (chronic painafter nerve injury). We have published twoimportant results. The first is that painsensing nerve cells (neurones) thatsupply the skin are selectively vulnerablewhen the nerve is injured. Many of theseneurones died even if their axons(processes that extend to their targets)were not damaged by the injury. Thisseems to be due to some factor (possiblya cytokine) that is released near their cellbodies within the sensory ganglia.Invading T-lymphocytes or immune cellsmay be responsible. The second resultarose from a new technique whichallowed us to stain for two markers ofmacrophages (cells that migrate to sitesof inflammation) at the same time. Byusing different combinations of antibodiesand identifying the macrophages by theirshape, we were able to identify six typesof macrophage in dorsal root gangliaafter nerve injury. Two of these types werephagocytic - i.e. they engulfed theremnants of dying nerve cells. We arecurrently analysing the lesserinflammation that follows an injury thatreadily allows the damaged axons toregrow. We hope to identify the factorsresponsible for inflammation so thattargeted drug therapies can bedeveloped for unrelenting chronic painconditions that develop in a proportion ofpeople after injury.

James Brock Activity in sensory nerve endingsThe mechanisms that control theexcitability of the fine nerve endings of'pain' sensing neurons remain poorlyunderstood. In Dr Brock's laboratorythey are using a novel technique todirectly record electrical activity fromthese sensory nerve endings in thesurface of the eye. Using thisapproach recent work has focused onthe mechanisms by which chemicalagents and manipulations (e.g.changes in temperature) activatethese sensory neurones. In addition,the sensitising effects of chemicalsreleased in inflamed tissues are beinginvestigated. This sensitisation makesthese neurons respond to stimuli thatare normally innoxious and contributesto the pain associated with diseasessuch as arthritis.


Dr Stephanie Behnke UniversityHospital, Homburg, Germany spent 2months at the Institute in 2003 with DrKay Double collaborating on a clinical triallooking at the ultrasound features on MRIwith patients with parkinsonian disease.

Professor Charles WatsonCurtin University of Technology, continuedhis long collaboration with ProfessorGeorge Paxinos, working of the 5thedition of the Atlas of the Rat Brain. Dr Marina Penner, University ofCologne, Germany, also visited theInstitute at this time collaborating withProfessor Paxinos on the Atlas of theMouse Brain.

Professor Mikael ElamUniversity of Goteborg, Sweden, visitedthe laboratories of Dr Vaughan Macefieldin 2003 to analyse nerve recordings donein spinal patients. Dr Mikael Sander,Copenhagen Muscle Research Center,Copenhagen, Denmark, visited DrMacefield’s laboratories in early 2004 toset up experiments looking at the role ofnitric oxide in renovascular hypertension.Dr Sanders visit coincided with the visitby Professor Gunnar Wallin,University of Goteborg, Sweden whocollaborated with Dr Macefield analysingurodynamics material collected fromspinal patients.

Professor James Vickers and DrTracey Dickson from the University ofTasmania visited the Institute to discusspossible collaborative projects with DrClaire Shepherd and Professor GlendaHalliday.

Dr Mika Palvanen UKK Institute,Tampere, Finland, visited with AssocProfessor Stephen Lord re assessment of visual function in older people.

In February 2004 the Institute hostedseveral overseas visitors. ProfessorBorge Bjelke, Karolinska Institutet,Sweden, visited various laboratories andpresented a seminar entitled “Magneticresonance imaging: focus on braindamage and repair”; Professor FelixViana, Universidad Miguel Hernandez,Spain, visited various laboratories andpresented a seminar entitled “Feelingcool: cellular mechanisms of coldtemperature transduction in mammaliansensory neurons”; and ProfessorJuergen Reichenbach, Kinikum derFriedrich-Schiller-Universitat, Germany,visited various laboratories and presenteda seminar entitled “Principle and recentadvances of susceptibility-weightedimaging (SWI)”.

Dr Hylton Menz La Trobe University,continued his close association with theInstitute, working with Assoc ProfessorStephen Lord and Dr Cathie Sherringtonon a revised edition of the book, ‘Falls inOlder People’. Dr Jacqueline Close,Kings College Hospital, London, alsovisited the Institute in early 2004 to workon the new edition of this book.

Dr Nicky Hayes Kings College Hospital,London, visited with Assoc ProfessorStephen Lord to collaborate on fallsprevention strategies in older peoplewhen in hospital.

Dr Kim Delbaer University Hospital,Ghent, The Netherlands, visited withAssoc Professor Stephen Lord to discussfalls risk assessment in older people.

Professor Doug Stuart University ofArizona, Tucson, Arizona, visited withProfessor Simon Gandevia in March 2004and presented a seminar “Paths ofdiscovery in movement neuroscience:Mario Weisendanger on the motorhomunculus”.

Dr Nicolas Petersen University ofCopenhagen, Denmark, visited withProfessor Simon Gandevia andcolleagues to collaborate oninvestigations into the excitability ofhuman motoneurones during voluntarycontractions.

Dr Richard Hall University of Leeds,visited the laboratories of AssocProfessor Lynne Bilston developing newexperimental methodologies toinvestigate the properties of the threemembranes that protect the spinal cordtissue and hence develop accuratemodels of the injury mechanism.

Dr Peter Cripton University of BritishColumbia, Canada, and his PhD studentShannon Reed visited with AssocProfessor Lynne Bilston, learning how tomake silicone spinal cord surrogates forspine testing for a collaborative researchproject.

VISITORS 2003-04

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Gillian Gregory Merck Sharp and Dohme poster prize for the poster

entitled “Familial Alzheimer’s disease differs from

sporadic in the severity of degeneration”.

Arun Krishnan Australian Association of Neurologists Young

Investigator Prize (best platform presentation) –

“Differential susceptibility of lower limb motor

axons to an ischaemic insult”.

Tow Prize (Open Junior Division) – “Understanding

the length-dependent nature of peripheral neuropathy”.

The American Association of Electrodiagnostic Medicine

2004 Golseth Young Investigator Award for the

manuscript, “Excitability differences of lower limb motor

axons exposed to an ischemic insult”.

Elizabeth Kyriakou Tow Prize for the best visual poster

Julian Saboisky Best Honours thesis in Human Movement Studies Unit

at Charles Sturt University

Carolyn Orr Australian Association of Neurologists Young Investigator

Award for the poster entitled “Evidence for early neuronal

immune changes in the substantia nigra of patients with

idiopathic Parkinson’s disease”.

STUDENT PRIZES & AWARDS


National Health and MedicalResearch Council

Bilston LE, NHMRC Senior ResearchFellowship A (2004-2008), 2004 amount$99,250

Brock JA, NHMRC Senior ResearchFellowship A (2000-2004), 2004 amount$99,250

Brock JA, Peripheral mechanismsinvolved in autonomic hyper-reflexia,NHMRC Project Grant (2002-2004), 2004amount $70,000

Brock JA, Mechanisms controlling theexcitability of corneal nociceptor nerveterminals, NHMRC Project Grant (2000.-2004), 2004 amount $135,919

Burke D, Gandevia S, Potter E, McKenzieD, Macefield VG, Fitzpatrick R, Taylor J,Experimental neurology, NHMRC ProgramGrant (2000-2004), 2004 amount$945,862

Butler J, Studies of motor control in healthand disease, NHMRC RD WrightFellowship (2004-2008), 2004 amount$83,500

Colebatch JG, Assessment of vestibularfunction and balance in humans, NHMRCProject Grant (2004-2006), 2004 amount$72,250

Double K, Cellular functions of humanneuromelanin, NHMRC Project Grant(2002-2004), 2004 amount $65,000

Double K, NHMRC RD Wright Fellowship(2001-2004), 2004 amount $75,000

Double K, Rowe D, Development of anovel diagnostic test for the death ofneuromelanin-containing dopamineneurons in the human brain, NHMRCDevelopment Grant (2002-2004), 2004amount $100,000 (indexation for 2004 tobe advised)

Fitzpatrick RC, Lord SR, Butler J,Sturnieks D, Gandevia SC, DualCodamotion system, NHMRC EquipmentGrant, 2004 amount $30,000

Gandevia SC, NHMRC Senior PrincipalResearch Fellowship (2000-2004), 2004amount $130,000

Halliday GM, NHMRC Principal ResearchFellowship (2000-2004), 2004 amount$115,000

Halliday GM, Glia and Parkinson’sdisease, NHMRC Project Grant (2003-2005), 2004 amount $162,500

Halliday GM, What contributes to regionalvulnerability in neurodegenerativediseases? A study of familial cases,NHMRC Project Grant (2000-2004), 2004amount $74,079

Halliday GM, Harding A, Brooks W, KwokJ, White L, Alzheimer’s disease anddementia with Lewy bodies: How differentare they?, NHMRC Project Grant (2004-2006), 2004 amount $190,750

Keast JR, NHMRC Senior ResearchFellowship B (1999-2004), 2004 amount$109,750

Keast JR, Mechanisms of testosteroneaction on the male pelvic autonomicnervous system: the role of estrogens,NHMRC Project Grant (2004-2006), 2004amount $136,750

Lin C, Membrane properties offunctionally identified C fibres in humanand rat skin, NHMRC CJ MartinFellowship (2003-2006), 2004 amount$95,747

Lord SR, Principal Research Fellowship(2002-2006), 2004 amount $115,000

Lord S, Kerr G, Anstey K, Broe A,Cameron I, Cumming R, Fitzpatrick R,Steele J, Wood J, Prevention of injuries inolder people, NHMRC Health ResearchPartnerships in Injury (2002-2006), 2004amount $521,046.20

Macefield VG, NHMRC Senior ResearchFellowship A (2000-2004), 2004 amount$95,000

McLachlan EM, Immune-mediatedinflammation in dorsal root ganglia afterperipheral nerve injury and in sensoryneuropathies, NHMRC Project Grant(2003-2005), 2004 amount $120,000

McLachlan EM, Gandevia SC, MacefieldVG, Brock JC, Neurosensory analyser,NHMRC Equipment Grant, 2004 amount$30,000

Paxinos G, NHMRC Principal ResearchFellowship (2001-2005), 2004 amount$115,000

Paxinos G, Human hypothalamichomologues to autonomic control nucleiidentified in the rat and monkey (2001-2005), 2004 amount $70,000

Piguet O, Structural, functional andneuropathological correlates of normaland pathological cognitive ageing,NHMRC Neil Hamilton Fairley Fellowship(2003-2006), 2004 amount $95,747

Potter EK, NHMRC Senior PrincipalResearch Fellowship (2000-2004), 2004amount $130,000

34

RESEARCH FUNDING 2004Research Grants and Fellowships for January – December 2004


Purves-Tyson T, Effect of estrogen onsignalling mechanisms of the pelvicautonomic nervous system, NHMRCBiomedical (Peter Doherty) Fellowship(2004-2007), 2004 amount $63,500

Shepherd C, Geczy C, Raftery M, HallidayG, Targeting inflammatory mechanisms inAlzheimer's disease, NHMRC ProjectGrant (2004-2006), 2004 amount$132,000

Taylor JL, NHMRC Senior ResearchFellowship A (2003-2004), 2004 amount$99,250

Australian Research Council

Bilston LE, Gandevia SC, Ehman RL,Development of new methods to measurein vivo properties of human body tissues,ARC Discovery Project (2004-2007), 2004amount $150,000

Burke D, Kiernan MC, Connor MA,Resurgent sodium currents in peripheralnerve axons and sensory neurons, ARCDiscovery Project (2004-2006), 2004amount $90,000 (administered throughUniversity of Sydney) POWMRIsubcontract amount $12,207

Foley PB, Encephalitis lethargica in the1920s (and afterwards): the forgottenepidemic, ARC Discovery Project andAustralian Postdoctoral Fellowship (2004-2006), 2004 amount $80,000;

Forgas J, Paxinos G, Affective influences,social thinking and behaviour: A socialneuroscience approach, ARC DiscoveryProject (2004-2006), 2004 amount$65,000

Keast JR, Neurotrophic factors for pelvicautonomic neurons: the role of neurturin,ARC Discovery Project (2004-2006), 2004amount $75,000

NSW Department of Health

Lord SR, Kerr G, Anstey K, Broe A,Cameron I, Cumming R, Fitzpatrick R,Steele J, Wood J, Prevention of injuries inolder people, NSW Health Department(2002-2006), 2004 amount $50,000

Other funding bodies

Bilston LE, Reconstruction of real worldcrashes involving child occupants, MotorAccidents Authority of NSW, 2004 amount$57,544

Bilston LE, Review of paediatric spinalinjuries, Motor Accident Authority of NSW,2004 amount $41,384

Colebatch JG, A study of corticalactivation by sensory stimulation usingfunctional Magnetic Resonance Imaging(fMRI), Brain Foundation, 2004 amount$10,000

Foley P, The forgotten catastrophe: themystery of the “sleeping sickness” and itsaftermath, UNSW Vice ChancellorsPostdoctoral Fellowship, 2004 amount$56,745

Foley P, Encephalitis lethargica c.1915-1925: the forgotten epidemic, Clive andVera Ramaciotti Foundation, 2004 amount$29,998

Gandevia SC, Nickolls P, Treadmill forneurological studies, Clive and VeraRamaciotti Foundation, 2004 amount$30,000

Halliday GM, Developing strategies forclinically differentiating Alzheimer’sdisease and dementia with Lewy bodies,Anonymous, 2004 amount $185,000

35

Summary information on competitive peer reviewed research

grants, fellowships and scholarships, and other sources of external

research grant income, awarded for expenditure through the

calendar year 2004.

Keast J, Remodelling of lumbosacralautonomic pathways after spinal injury:the role of semaphorins and neutrins,Spinal Cure Australia (FormerlyAustralasian Spinal Research Trust), 2004amount $50,000

Kiernan MC, Pathophysiology ofneuropathy in renal failure patients, Cliveand Vera Ramaciotti Foundation, 2004amount $30,000

Koutcherov Y, UNSW NewSouth GlobalPostdoctoral Research Fellowship (2003-2005), 2004 amount $64,368

Lord SR, Prevention of injuries in olderpeople, NRMA Insurance Limitedcontribution to Program grant, 2004amount $50,000

Lord SR, Prevention of injuries in olderpeople, UNSW Faculty of Medicinecontribution to Program grant, 2004amount $25,000

McNulty PA, Macefield VG,Neurophysiological investigation of singlemotor unit properties and sensorimotorintegration and control in subjects withspinal cord injury, Spinal Cure AustraliaKelly McCann Postdoctoral Fellowship(2004-2006), 2004 amount $41,245

Purves-Tyson T, Signaling mechanisms inpelvic autonomic neurons underlyingbladder and erectile dysfunction indiabetes, Clive and Vera RamaciottiFoundation, 2004 amount $27,700

Reid W, Neuropsychological changes inParkinson’s disease (PD): A longitudinalstudy, Brain Foundation, 2004 amount$15,000

Stoodley M, Investigations ofcerebrospinal fluid flow in post-traumaticsyringomyelia, UNSW Faculty ResearchGrant Program, 2004 amount $20,000


36

Stoodley M, Jones N, Role ofinflammation and apoptosis in theinitiation of post-traumatic syringomyelia,Neurosurgical Research Foundation, 2004amount $20,000

Stoodley M, Watling A, Jones N, The roleof inflammation and apoptosis in theinitiation of post-traumatic syringomyelia,Depuy Spinal Fellowship for Ms AmyWatling, Spine Society of Australia, 2004amount $50,000

Wanigasekara-Mohotti YY, Investigation ofthe mechanisms of aberrant sensoryafferent neuron sprouting causingautonomic nervous system dysfunctionafter spinal cord injury, Spinal CureAustralia Fellowship (2004-2005), 2004amount $40,000

Scholarships

Amanat N, Department of EducationScience and Training AustralianPostgraduate Award, 2004 amount$18,484

Cheng S, UNSW Postgraduate Award,2004 amount $18,484

Chew JZZ, Department of EducationScience and Training AustralianPostgraduate Award (2004-2006), 2004amount $18,484 + UNSW top upscholarship $2,000

Clarke E, Department of EducationScience and Training AustralianPostgraduate Award (2004-2006), 2004amount $18,484 + University of Sydneytop-up scholarship $13,016

Gregory G, Department of EducationScience and Training AustralianPostgraduate Award, 2004 Amount$18,484

Krishnan A, NHMRC Medical/DentalPostgraduate Scholarship (2004-2005),2004 amount $29,489

Orr C, UNSW International PostgraduateResearch Scholarship, 2004 amount$18,000

Potts H, Department of EducationScience and Training AustralianPostgraduate Award, 2004 Amount$18,484 + UNSW Medical Faculty ‘top-up” $4,391

Saboisky J, Department of EducationScience and Training AustralianPostgraduate Award (2004-2006), 2004amount $18,484

Schofield E, NHMRC Dora Lush(Biomedical) Postgraduate Scholarship(2004-2006), 2004 amount $20,484

Storer K, NHMRC Medical/DentalPostgraduate Scholarship, 2004 amount$6,929

Yuen M, Department of EducationScience and Training AustralianPostgraduate Award, 2004 amount$18,484

Grants Administered at otherInstitutions

Cameron ID, Sherrington C, Moseley AM,Lord SR, Enhancing mobility after hipfracture, NHMRC Project Grant (2002-2004), 2004 amount $69,525(Administered by the University ofSydney)

Hodges P, Lord SR, Physiology andpathophysiology of trunk controlmechanisms, NHMRC Project Grant(2001-2005), 2004 amount $33,000(Administer by the University ofQueensland)

Dunn W, Brock JA, Wilson VG, McLachlanEM, Sympathetic neurotransmission in theresistance vasculature, The WellcomeTrust (2003-2005), 2004 amount £5,840 (Administered by the University ofNottingham)

Kril J, Creasey H, Halliday G,Understanding the variation infrontotemporal dementia, NHMRC ProjectGrant (2004-2006), 2004 amount$136,750(Administered by University of Sydney)

Sherrington C, Physical ability and falls:addressing gaps in the evidence base.NHMRC Australian Research TrainingFellowship (Part-time), (2004-2007), 2004amount $63,500 (pro rata)(Administered by University of Sydney)

McNulty PA, Neurophysiologicalinvestigation of motor pathways insubjects with stroke. NHMRC Biomedical(Peter Doherty) Fellowship (2004-2007),2004 amount $63,500 (Administered by University of Sydney)

Van Helden D, Keast J, Brock J, et al,High speed confocal microscope live cellrecording system, ARC Linkage -Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities,2004 amount $274,692 (Administered by University of Newcastle)

Kendig H, Bartlett H, Boldy D, BrowningC, Gibson D, Healy J, Luszcz M,Richardson S, Saunders P, Anstey K, BroeGA, et al, Ageing well research network,ARC Network Seeding Fund, 2004amount $30,000(Administered by University of Sydney)

Research Funding 2004 continued


37

Books

1. Foley PB, Beans, roots and leaves: The history of thepharmacological therapy of parkinsonism, Marburg(Germany): Tectum-Verlag (ISBN 3-8288-8496-2), 2003

Journal Articles

2. Arnold JJ, Sarks JP, Killingsworth MC, Kettle EK,Sarks SH, Adult vitelliform macular degeneration: aclinicopathological study, EYE, Volume 17:717-726, 2003

3. Barnett A, Smith B, Lord SR, Williams M, Baumann A,Community-based group exercise improves balance andreduces falls in at-risk older people: a randomisedcontrolled trial, Age and Ageing, 32:407-414, 2003

4. Bennett HL, Gustafsson J-Å, Keast JR, Estrogenreceptor expression in lumbosacral dorsal root ganglioncells innervating the female rat urinary bladder. AutonomicNeuroscience: Basic and Clinical, 105:90-100, 2003

5. Bennett HP, Piguet O, Grayson DA, Creasey H, WaiteLM, Broe GA, Halliday GM, A 6-year study of cognitionand spatial function in the demented and non-dementedelderly: the Sydney Older Persons Study, Dementia andGeriatric Cognitive Disorders, 16:181-186, 2003

6. Bilston LE, Fletcher DF, Brodbelt AR, Stoodley MA,Arterial pulsation-driven cerebrospinal fluid flow in theperivascular space: A computational model, ComputerMethods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering,6:235-241, 2003

7. Borgland SL, Connor M, Osborne PB, Furness JB,Christie MJ, Opioid agonists have different efficacyprofiles for G protein activation, rapid desensitisation, andendocytosis of Mu-opioid receptors, Journal of BiologicalChemistry, 278:18776-18784, 2003

8. Brodbelt AR, Stoodley MA, Syringomyelia and thearachnoid web, Acta Neurochirurgica, 145:707-711, 2003

9. Brodbelt AR, Stoodley MA, Post-traumaticsyringomyelia: a review, Journal of Clinical Neuroscience,10:401-408, 2003

10. Brodbelt AR, Stoodley MA, Watling A, Rogan C, TuJ, Brown CJ, Burke S, Jones NR, The role of excitotoxicinjury in post-traumatic syringomyelia, Journal ofNeurotrauma, 20:883-893, 2003

11. Brodbelt AR, Stoodley MA, Watling A, Tu, J, BurkeS, Jones NR, Altered subarachnoid space complianceand fluid flow in a model of post-traumatic syringomyelia,Spine, 28:E413-E419, 2003

12. Brodbelt AR, Stoodley MA, Watling A, Tu, J, JonesNR, Fluid flow in an animal model of post-traumaticsyringomyelia, European Spine Journal, 12:300-306, 2003

13. Broe M, Hodges JR, Schofield E, Shepherd CE, KrilJ, Halliday GM, Staging disease severity in pathologicallyconfirmed cases of frontotemporal dementia, Neurology,60:1005-1011, 2003

14. Brooks WS, Kwok JBJ, Kril JJ, Broe GA, BlumbergsPC, Tannenberg AE, Lamont PJ, Hedges P, Schofield PR,Alzheimer’s disease with spastic paraparesis and “cottonwool” plaques: two pedigrees with PS-1 exon 9 deletions,Brain, 126:783-791, 2003

15. Butler JE, McKenzie DK, Gandevia SC, Reflexinhibition of human inspiratory muscles in response tocontralateral phrenic nerve stimulation, RespiratoryPhysiology & Neurobiology, 138:87-96, 2003

16. Butler J, Taylor JL, Gandevia SC, Responses ofhuman motoneurons to corticospinal stimulation duringmaximal voluntary contractions and ischemia, Journal ofNeuroscience, 23:10224-10230, 2003

17. Cappelen-Smith C, Lin CSY, Burke D, Activity-dependent hyperpolarization and impulse conduction inmotor axons in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome,Brain, 126:1001-1008, 2003

18. Caramins M, Halliday G, McCucker E, Trent RJ,Genetically-confirmed clinical Huntington's disease withno observable cell loss, Journal of Neurology,Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 74:968-970, 2003

19. Carr RW, Pianova S, Fernandez J, Fallon JB,Belmonte C, Brock JA, Effects of heating and cooling onnerve terminal impulses recorded from cold-sensitivereceptors in the guinea-pig cornea, Journal of GeneralPhysiology, 121:427-439, 2003

20. Butler JE, Thomas CK, Effects of sustained electricalstimulation on the excitability of motoneurons innervatingparalyzed and control muscles, Journal of AppliedPhysiology, 94:567-575, 2003

21. De Troyer A, Gorman RB, Gandevia SC, Distributionof inspiratory drive to the external intercostal muscles inhumans, Journal of Physiology, 546:943-954, 2003

22. Donaldson MG, Khan KM, Lord SR, Delivery ofoptimal falls prevention in community-dwelling people(Invited article), Geriatrics and Aging, 6:26-30, 2003

23. Double KL, Gerlach M, Schünemann V, Trautwein AX,Zecca L, Gallorini M, Youdim MBH, Riederer P, Ben-Shachar D. Iron binding characteristics of neuromelanin ofthe human substantia nigra. Biochemical Pharmacology,66:489-494, (2003)

24. Double KL, Halliday GM, Henderson J, GriffithsFM, Heinemann T, Riederer P, Gerlach M, The dopaminereceptor agonist lisuride attenuates iron-mediateddopaminergic neurodegeneration. ExperimentalNeurology, 184:530-535, 2003

25. Double KL, Rowe DB, Hayes M, Chan DKY, Blackie J,Corbett A, Joffe R, Fung VS, Morris J, Halliday GM,Identifying the pattern of olfactory deficits in Parkinson's

disease using the Brief Smell Identification Test, Archivesof Neurology, 60:545-549, 2003

26. Dunn WR, Hardy TA, Brock JA, Electrophysiologicaleffects of activating the peptidergic primary afferentinnervation of rat mesenteric arteries, British Journal ofpharmacology, 140:231-238, 2003

27. Edelbrock D, Waite LM, Broe GA, Grayson DA,Creasey H, The relation between unpaid support and theuse of formal health services : the Sydney older personsstudy, Australasian Journal of Ageing, 22:2-8, 2003

28. Elam M, Sverrisdottir YB, Rundqvist B, McKenzie D,Wallin BG, Macefield VG, Pathological sypathoexcitation:how is it achieved? Acta Physiologica Scandinavica, 177:405-411, 2003

29. Fitzpatrick RC, More pulsating movement (InvitedPerspective), Journal of Physiology, 551:4, 2003

30. Foley P, Beans, roots and leaves: A short history ofthe chemical therapy of parkinsonism, Würzburgermedizinhistorische Mitteilungen, 22:215-234, 2003

31. Gandevia SC, Ethics and research participation, TheMedical Journal of Australia, 178:298-299, 2003

32. Gerlach M, Double K, Arzberger T, Leblhuber F,Tatschner T, Riederer P, Dopamine receptor agonists incurrent clinical use: comparative dopamine receptorbinding profiles defined in the human striatum, Journal ofNeural Transmission, 110:1119-1127, 2003

33. Gerlach M, Double KL, Ben-Shachar D, Zecca L,Youdim MBH, Riederer P, Neuromelanin and its interactionwith iron as a potential risk factor for dopaminergicneurodegeneration underlying Parkinson’s disease,Neurotoxicity Research 5:35-44, 2003

34. Gerlach M, Double K, Reichmann H, Riederer P,Arguments for the use of dopamine receptor agonists inclinical and preclinical Parkinson’s disease, Journal ofNeural Transmission Supplement, 65:37-53, 2003

35. Gerlach M, Foley P, Riederer P, The relevance ofpreclinical studies for the treatment of Parkinson’sdisease, Journal of Neurology, 250:I31-I34, 2003

2003 PUBLICATIONS

Emma Kettle, Research Assistant


38

36. Halliday GM, Double KL, Macdonald V,Kril JJ, Identifying severely atrophic cortical subregions inAlzheimer’s disease, Neurobiology of Aging, 24:797-806,2003

37. Harasty J, Seldon HL, Chan P, Halliday G, HardingA, The left human speech-processing cortex is thinner butlonger than the right, Laterality: Asymmetries of Body,Brain and Cognition, 8:247-260, 2003

38. Hassiotis M, Paxinos G, Ashwell KWS, The anatomyof the cerebral cortex of the echidna (Tachyglossusaculeatus), Comparative Biochemistry and PhysiologyPart A, 136:827-850, 2003

39. Henderson JM, Lu Y, Wang S, Cartwright H,Halliday GM, Olfactory deficits and sleep disturbances inParkinson’s disease: a case-control survey. Journal ofNeurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 74:956-958,2003

40. Henderson JM and Watson S, Convulsive andpostural effects of lesioning the mid-substantia nigra parsreticulata in naïve and 6-OHDA lesioned rats, Brain Res.Bulletin, 60:179-185, 2003

41. Henderson JM, Watson S, Halliday GM, HeinemannT, Gerlach M (2003) Relationships between variousbehavioural abnormalities and nigrostriatal dopaminedepletion in the unilateral 6-OHDA-lesioned rat,Behavioural Brain Research, 139:105-113, 2003

42. Herbert RD, Sherrington C, Moseley AM, Maher C,Elkins M, Evidence-based physical therapy, Journal of theJapanese Physical Therapy Association, 30:431-439,2003

43. Hodges JR, Davies R, Xuereb J, Kril J, Halliday G,Survival in frontotemporal dementia, Neurology, 61:349-354, 2003

44. Hodges PW, Moseley GL, Gabrielsson A, GandeviaSC, Experimental muscle pain changes feedforwardpostural responses of the trunk muscles, ExperimentalBrain Research, 151:262-271, 2003

45. Hodges PW, Pengel HM, Herbert RD, Gandevia SC,Measurement of muscle contraction with ultrasoundimaging, Muscle and Nerve, 27:682-692, 2003

46. Hortabagyi T, Taylor JL, Petersen N, Russell G,Gandevia SC, Changes in segmental and motor corticaloutput with contralateral muscle contractions and alteredsensory inputs in humans, J Neurophysiology, 90:2451-2459, 2003

47. Hu P, McLachlan EM, Selective reactions ofcutaneous and muscle afferent neurons to peripheralnerve transaction in rats, Journal of Neuroscience,23:10559-10567, 2003

48. Hu P, McLachlan EM, Distinct functional types ofmacrophage in dorsal root ganglia and spinal nervesproximal to sciatic and spinal nerve transactions in therat, Experimental Neurology, 184:590-605, 2003

49. Jamieson J, Boyd HD, McLachlan EM, Simulations toderive membrane resistivity in three phenotypes ofguinea-pig sympathetic postganglionic neuron, Journal ofNeurophysiology, 89:2430-2440, 2003

50. Janu M, Creasey H, Grayson D, Cullen JS, Whyte S,Brooks WS, Waite LM, Broe GA, Laboratory results inthe elderly: the Sydney Older Persons Study, Annals ofClinical Biochemistry, 40:274-279, 2003

51. Kanjhan R, Osborne PB, Ouyang M, Keast JR,Postnatal maturational changes in rat pelvic autonomicganglion cells: a mixture of steroid-dependent and

independent effects, Journal of Neurophysiology, 89:315-323, 2003

52. Kiernan MC, Motor neurone disease - a Pandora’sbox (invited editorial), Medical Journal of Australia,178:311-312, 2003

53. Kiernan MC, Baker MD, Bostock H, Characteristics oflate Na+ currents in adult rat sensory neurones,Neuroscience, 119:653-660, 2003

54. Koutcherov Y, Mai JK, Paxinos G, The hypothalamusof the human fetus, Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy,26:253-270, 2003

55. Kwok JBJ, Halliday GM, Brooks WS, Dolios G,Laudon H, Murayama O, Hallupp M, Badenhop RF,Vickers J, Wang R, Naslund J, Takashima A, Gandy SE,Schofield PR, Presenilin-1 mutation L271V results inaltered exon 8 splicing and Alzheimer’s disease with non-cored plaques and no neuritic dystrophy, Journal ofBiological Chemistry, 278:6748-6754, 2003

56. Little DG, Smith NC, Williams P, Briody J, Smith EJ,Cowell CT, Bilston LE, Zoledronic acid preventsosteopenia and increases bone strength in a rabbit modelof distraction osteogenesis, Journal of Bone and MineralResearch, 18:1300-1307, 2003

57. Loo CK, Mitchell PB, Croker VM, Malhi GS, Wen W,Gandevia SC, Sachdev PS, Double-blind controlledinvestigation of bilateral prefrontal transcranial magneticstimulation for the treatment of resistant majordepression, Psychological Medicine 33:33-40, 2003

58. Lopez de Armentia M, Leeson AH, Stebbing MJ,Urban L and McLachlan EM, Responses tosympathomimetics in rat sensory neurones after nervetransection, NeuroReport, 14:9-13, 2003

59. Lord SR, Preventing falls to prevent fractures (Invitedarticle), Osteoblast, Autumn/Winter:5-6, 2003

60. Lord SR, Vision, balance and falls in the elderly,Geriatric Times 4:9-10, 2003

61. Lord SR, Castell S, Corcoran J, Dayhew J, Matters B,Shan A, Williams P, The effect of group exercise onphysical functioning and falls in frail older people living inretirement villages: a randomised controlled trial, Journalof the American Geriatrics Society, 51:1685-1692, 2003

62. Lord SR, March LM, Cameron ID, Cumming RG,Schwarz J, Zochling J, Chen C, Makaroff J, Sitoh YY, LauTC, Sambrook PN, Differing risk factors for falls in nursinghome and intermediate-care residents who can andcannot stand unaided, Journal of the American GeriatricsSociety, 51:1645-1650, 2003

63. Lord SR, Menz HB, Tiedemann A, A physiologicalprofile approach to falls risk -assessment and prevention,Physical Therapy, 83:237-252, 2003

64. Macefield VG, Cardiovascular and respiratorymodulation of tactile afferents in the human finger pad,Experimental Physiology, 88:617-625, 2003

65. Macefield VG, Elam M, Why do humanpostganglionic neurones primarily only fire once during asympathetic burst? Acta Physiologica Scandinavica,177:247-253, 2003

66. Macefield VG, Johansson RS, Loads appliedtangential to a fingertip during an object restraint task cantrigger short-latency as well as long-latency EMGresponses in hand muscles, Experimental BrainResearch, 152:143-149, 2003

67. Macefield VG, Sverrisdottir YB, Wallin BG, Restingdischarge of human muscle spindles is not modulated byincreases in sympathetic drive, Journal of Physipology,551:1005-1011, 2003

68. Maher CG, Sherrington C, Herbert RD, Moseley AM,Elkins M, Reliability of the PEDro scale for rating quality ofrandomised controlled trials, Physical Therapy, 83:713-721, 2003

69. McKenzie DK, Frith PA, Burdon GJW, Town GI, TheCOPDX plan: Australian and New Zealand Guidelines forthe management of chronic obstructive pulmonarydisease, Medical Journal of Australia, 178 (Supplement):S1-S40, 2003

70. McLachlan, EM Transmission of signals throughsympathetic ganglia - modulation, integration or simplydistribution? Acta Physiologica Scandinavica 117, 227-235, 2003

71. Menz HB, The influence of geriatrics education on theknowledge, attitudes and career aspirations of podiatricmedical students, Journal of the American PodiatricMedical Association, 93:124-130, 2003

72. Menz HB, Lord SR, Fitzpatrick RC, Age-relateddifferences in walking stability, Age and Ageing, 32:137-142, 2003

73. Menz HB, Lord SR, Fitzpatrick RC, Accelerationpatterns of the head and pelvis when walking areassociated with risk of falling in community-dwelling olderpeople, Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences,58:M446-M452, 2003

74. Menz HB, Lord SR, Fitzpatrick RC, Accelerationpatterns of the head and pelvis when walking on level andirregular surfaces, Gait and Posture, 18:35-46, 2003

75. Menz HB, Tiedemann A, Kwan MMS, Latt MD,Sherrington C, Lord SR, Reliability of clinical tests of footand ankle characteristics in older people, Journal of theAmerican Podiatric Medical Association, 93:308-387,2003

76. Miklossy J, Taddei K, Suva D, Verdile G, Fonte J,Fisher C, Gnjec A, Ghika J, Suard F, Mehta PD, McLeanCA, Masters CL, Brooks WS, Martins RN, Two novelpresenilin-1 mutations (Y256S and Q222H) areassociated with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease,Neurobiology of Aging, 24:655-662, 2003

77. Mille ML, Rogers MW, Martinez K, Hedman LD,Johnson ME, Lord SR, Fitzpatrick RC, Thresholds forinducing protective stepping responses to externalperturbations of human standing, Journal ofNeurophysiology, 90:666-674, 2003

2003 Publications continued


39

78. Moseley GL, Hodges PW, Gandevia SC, Externalperturbation of the trunk in standing humans differentiallyactivates components of the medial back muscles,Journal of Physiology, 547:581-587, 2003

79. Nasseri S, Bilston LE, Tanner R, Lubricatedsqueezing flow: a useful method for measuring theviscoelastic properties of soft tissues, Biorheology,40:545-551, 2003

80. Petersen NT, Taylor JL, Butler JE, Gandevia SC,Depression of activity in the corticospinal pathway duringhuman motor behaviour after strong voluntarycontractions, Journal of Neuroscience, 23:7974-7980,2003

81. Piguet O, Grayson DA, Creasey H, Bennett HP,Brooks WS, Waite LM, Broe GA, Vascular risk factors,cognition and dementia incidence over 6 years in theSydney Older Persons Study, Neuroepidemiology, 22(3):165-171, 2003

82. Piguet O, Ridley L, Grayson DA, Bennett HP,Creasey H, Lye TC, Broe GA, Are MRI white matterlesions clinically significant in the “old-old”? Evidencefrom the Sydney Older Persons Study Dementia andGeriatric Cognitive Disorders, 15:143-150, 2003

83. Ribot-Ciscar E, Butler JE, Thomas CK, Facilitation oftriceps brachii muscle contraction by tendon vibrationafter chronic cervical spinal cord injury, Journal of AppliedPhysiology, 2358-2367, 2003

84. Refshauge KM, Collins DF, Gandevia SC, Thedetection of human finger movement is not facilitated byinput from receptors in adjacent digits, Journal ofPhysiology, 551:371-377, 2003

85. Schofield E, Kersaitis C, Shepherd C, Kril J, HallidayGM, Severity of gliosis in Pick’s disease andfrontotemporal lobar degeneration: tau-positive gliadifferentiate these disorders, Brain, 126:827-840, 2003

86. Sharma MR, Stoodley MA, Corpus callosum lipoma -how universal the ‘universal tumour’ is. Report of a caseand review of literature, Journal of Society of Surgeons ofNepal, 6:47-49, 2003

87. Sherrington C, Lord SR, Herbert RD, A randomisedcontrolled trial of weight-bearing versus non-weight-bearing exercise for improving physical ability ininpatients after hip fracture, Australian Journal ofPhysiotherapy, 49:15-22, 2003

88. Sherrington C, Menz HB, An evaluation of footwearworn at the time of fall-related hip fracture, Age andAgeing, 32:310-314, 2003

89. Shirley D, Hodges PW, Eriksson AEM, Gandevia SC,Spinal stiffness changes throughout the respiratory cycle,Journal of Applied Physiology, 95:1467-1475, 2003

90. Sitoh YY, Lau TC, Cameron ID, Cumming RG, LordSR, Zochling J, Schwarz J, Trube A, March LM, SambrookPN, Proxy assessment of health related quality of life inthe frail elderly (Letter), Age and Ageing, 32:459, 2003

91. Smith-White MA, Iismaa TP, Potter EK, Galanin andneuropeptide Y reduce cholinergic transmission in theheart of the anaesthetised mouse, British Journal ofPharmacology, 140:170-178, 2003

92. Snyder AW, Mulcahy E, Taylor JL, Mitchell DJ,Sachdev P, Gandevia SC, Savant-like skills exposed innormal people by suppressing the left fronto-temporallobe, Journal of Integrative Neuroscience, 2:1-10, 2003

93. Stanford PM, Shepherd CE, Halliday GM, BrooksWS, Schofield PW, Brodaty H, Martins RN, Kwok JBJ,Schofield PR, Mutations in the tau gene that cause anincrease in three repeat tau and frontotemporal dementia,Brain, 126:814-826, 2003

94. Sullivan EV, Harding AJ, Pentney R, Dlugos C, MartinP, Parks MH, Desmond JE, Chen A, Pryor MR, De Rosa E,Pfefferbaum A, Disruption of frontocerebellar circuitry andfunction in alcoholism, Alcoholism: Clinical andExperimental Research, 27:301-309, 2003

95. Thomas CK, Griffin L, Godfrey S, Ribot-Ciscar E,Butler JE, Fatigue of paralyzed and control thenarmuscles induced by variable or constant frequencystimulation, Journal of Neurophysiology, 89:2055-2064,2003

96. Todd G, Petersen NT, Taylor JL, Gandevia SC, Theeffect of a contralateral contraction on voluntary activationand central fatigue in elbow flexor muscles, ExperimentalBrain Research, 150: 308-313, 2003

97. Todd G, Taylor JL, Gandevia SC, Measurement ofvoluntary activation of fresh and fatigued human musclesusing transcranial magnetic stimulation, Journal ofPhysiology, 551:667-671, 2003

98. Uglow MG, Hile MS, Briody JN, Bilston LE, Peat RA,Smith EJ, Little DG, Low intensity ultrasound stimulation indistraction osteogenesis in rabbits, Clinical Orthopaedicsand Related Research, 417:303-312, 2003

99. Wanigasekara Y, Kepper ME, Keast JR,Immunohistochemical characterization of pelvic ganglia inmale mice, Cell Tissue Research, 311:175-185, 2003

100. Wardman DL, Day BL, Fitzpatrick RF, Position andvelocity responses to galvanic vestibular stimulation inhuman subjects during standing, Journal of Physiology,547: 293-299, 2003

101. Wardman DL, Taylor JL, Fitzpatrick RC, Effects ofgalvanic vestibular stimulation on human posture andperception while standing, Journal of Physiology,551:1033-1042, 2003

102. Wilcox RK, Bilston LE, Barton DC, Hall RM,Mathematical model for the viscoelastic properties of duramater, Journal of Orthopaedic Science, 8:432-434, 2003

Book Chapters

103. Brodbelt AR, Stoodley MA and Jones NR.Syringomyelia. In Clark CR (Ed), The Cervical Spine, 4thEdition, Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, 2003

104. Broe GA, Population ageing, human lifespan andneurodegenerative disorders: A fifth epidemiologictransition. In: Sachdev P, (Ed), The Ageing Brain. TheNetherlands: Swets & Zeitlinger (ISBN 90 265 1943 5),2003.

105. Burke D, Gandevia SC, Skeletal muscle: structureand function. In: Stålberg E, (Volume Editor), Daube JR,Mauguière F (Series Editors): Handbook of ClinicalNeurophysiology, Vol 2, Clinical Neurophysiology ofDisorders of Muscle and Neuromuscular Junction,Including Fatigue, Elsevier: Amsterdan, pp. 7-26, 2003

106. Burke D, Gandevia SC, Macefield VG,Microneurography and motor disorders. In: Hallett M,(Ed), Handbook of Clinical Neurophysiology, Volume 1Movement Disorders, Elsevier Science, Chapter 11:153-162, 2003

107. Double KL, Jellinger K, Zecca L, Youdim MBH,Piederer P, Gerlach M. Iron, neuromelanin and alpha-synuclein in the neuropathogenesis of Parkinson’sdisease. In: Zatta P (ed.), Metal ions andneurodegenerative disorders. London, World ScientificPublishing, pp 343-364, 2003

108. Double KL, Zecca L, Ben-Shachar D, Youdim MBH,Riederer P, Gerlach M. Neuromelanin may mediateneurotoxicity via its interaction with redox active iron. In:Storch A and Collins MA (Eds): Neurotoxic factors inParkinson’s disease and related disorders. New York:Kluwer Academic/Plenum, pp. 211-218, 2003

109. Gandevia SC, Butler JE, Petersen NT, Todd G,Taylor JL, Assessment of neural factors in maximalvoluntary performance. In: Gantchev N, (Ed), From basicmotor control to functional recovery III, Sofia: St. KlimentOhridski University Press, pp. 345-352, 2003

110. Kiernan MC, Impulse conduction. In: Aminoff M,Daroff R (Eds), Encyclopedia of the NeurologicalSciences. San Diego: Academic Press, Vol 2: 639-643,2003

111. Kril JJ, Patel S, Harding AJ, Halliday GM,Hippocampal neuron loss in vascular dementia andAlzheimer's disease. In Vellas B, Fitten LJ, Feldman H,Giacobini E, Grundman M, Winblad B (Eds.): Researchand practice in Alzheimer's disease and other dementias,Vol. 7. Paris: Serdi. pp. 198-203, 2003

112. Lord SR, St George R, Neurophysiological andsensory changes with ageing. In: Sachdev P (Ed), Theageing brain. The neurobiology and neuropsychiatry ofageing. Swets & Zietlinger, Lisse, 2003

113. Morris JGL, Hely MA, Halliday GM, Parkinsonismand ageing. In Sachdev P (Ed.): The ageing brain: Theneurobiology and neuropsychology of ageing, Swets &Zeitlinger, Lisse. pp. 275-282, 2003

114. Stoodley MA, Weir BK, Surgical Treatment of MiddleCerebral Artery Aneurysms. In: Le Roux PD, Winn HR(Eds) Management of Cerebral Aneurysms, W.B.Saunders, Orlando, pp 795-807, 2003.

115. Stoodley MA, Weir BK, Pregnancy and Aneurysms.In: Le Roux PD, Winn HR (Eds) Management of CerebralAneurysms, W.B. Saunders, Orlando, pp 347-355, 2003.

116. Stoodley MA, Primary Intracerebral Hemorrhage.In: Aminoff MJ, Daroff RB (Eds), Encyclopedia of theNeurological Sciences. Academic Press, San Diego, pp689-697, 2003.


40

Lynne Bilston· Chair, IEAust National Panel on the Biomechanics of Impact

Injury, 1996 - 2002· Member, IEAust National Panel on the Biomechanics of

Impact Injury, 1995 - · Board Member, College of Biomedical Engineers, IEAust.

(also CBME Board executive committee) 1998 -

James Brock· Treasurer, Australian and New Zealand Microcirculation

Society, 1999 -

Tony Broe· Council Member, Australian Association of Gerontology,

1990 - 2003· President-elect, Australian Association of Gerontology,

2001 - 2003

Simon Gandevia· Chair, Section on Exercise & Work Physiology for the

International Union of Physiological Sciences, 2002 -· Member, Working Party on Electrical Techniques, American

Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society,1996 - 2002

· Co-Convenor of Exercise Group, Australian Physiological and Pharmacological Society, 1999 -

· Research Committee Member, Spinal Cord Society Research Institute of Australia, 1996 -

· Member, UNSW Committee on Experimental Procedures involving human subjects, 2002

· Member, UNSW Faculty of Medicine ResourcesSubcommittee, 2002

· Member, Australian Academy of Science:Europe Committee, 2002

· Member, Australian Academy of Science:Selby Committee, 2002

Glenda Halliday· Member, Scientific Advisory Board, Victorian Movement

Disorders Collaborative Research Group, 1998 - 2002· Member, Organising Committee for the 2002 Annual Meeting

of the Australian Neuroscience Society, 2000 - 2002· Member, Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine,

University of New South Wales, 1999 - 2002· Member, Management Council, Parkinson’s NSW Inc,

2000 - 2002· Executive Director, Brain Bank, POWMRI and Parkinson’s

NSW Inc, 1993 - 2002· Council Member, International Basal Ganglia Society,

2001 - 2004· Member, IBRO Adhoc Committee on Memberships and

Partnerships, 2001 - 2002· Member, Finance Committee, Faculty of Medicine,

UNSW, 2001 - 2002· Member, Scientific Board Member, International Consortium

on Dementia with Lewy bodies, 2000 - 2002

Antony Harding· Member, National Board, Transplant Australia, 1999 -

Janet Keast· Member of Executive Committee, International Society for

Autonomic Neuroscience, 1999 -· Core Reviewer, BMC Physiology 2001 -· NSW/ACT representative, National Association of Research

Fellows 2001 -

Matthew Kiernan· Board Member, Australian Brain Foundation, 2002 -

Stephen Lord· Vice President, International Society for Posture and Gait

Research, 2001 - · Member, Strategic Discussion Group, NSW Physical Activity

Task Force to promote physical activity in NSW, 1997 - 2002· Member, Osteoporosis Australia Medical and Scientific

Committee· Member and Scientific Advisor, New South Wales Falls

Prevention Network

SERVICE TO THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY

Professional service to the scientific community and related organisations:


41

EDITORSHIPS

Lynne BilstonComputer Methods in Biomechanics and BiomedicalEngineering

James BrockAutonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical

Richard FitzpatrickJournal of Physiology

Paul FoleyBooks Editor – Journal of the History of the Neurosciences(01/01/2004)

Simon GandeviaActa Physiologica Scandinavica (International Receiving Editor)Journal of Applied PhysiologyClinical and Experimental Pharmacology and PhysiologyAustralian Journal of Physiotherapy

Glenda HallidayNeuroscience Letters

Janet KeastAutonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical

Stephen LordJournal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences

Elspeth McLachlanClinical and Experimental Pharmacology and PhysiologyClinical Autonomic Research

George PaxinosNeuroImageNeuroscience and Biobehavioural ReviewsJournal of Chemical Neuroanatomy

Marcus StoodleyPediatric Neurosurgery

Vaughan Macefield· NSW State Representative for the Australian Neuroscience

Society, 1999 - 2002

Elspeth McLachlan· Member, Nuffield Foundation Medical Fellowships Committee,

1999- · Member, IBRO Asian-Pacific Regional Committee, 1999- · Member, Advisory Committee, Parkinson's NSW Inc, 2002- · AVCC Representative, AVCC/NHMRC/ARC Committee to

revise Joint Statement on Scientific Practice, 2003-.· NSW Regional Coordinator, Australian Academy of Science,

2004-

Shirley Sarks· Director, Gerontology Foundation of Australia

Marcus Stoodley· Member, Scientific Advisory Board, Cure for Life Foundation.· Member, Quality Committee, Institute of Neurological

Sciences, Prince of Wales Hospital.· Member, Patient Care Review Committee, Prince of Wales

Private Hospital.· Examiner, medical student clinical examinations, UNSW· Contributor, RACS neurosurgery curriculum development· Member, Brain Foundation NSW Committee.· Member, Prince of Wales Hospital Research Ethics Committee.· Member, Interventional Neuroradiology Committee,

Greater Metropolitan Transitional Taskforce.· Member, Information Management Committee, Greater

Metropolitan Transitional Taskforce.· Member, Education and Resource Development Committee,

Postgraduate Medical Council of NSW.· Director, Brain Foundation of Australia Pty Ltd.· Committee Member, University of Queensland Alumni

Association, Sydney Chapter.


42

Bridge for Brain Research ChallengeThe Institute’s Bridge for Brain ResearchChallenge received outstanding supportfrom Bridge players throughout NSW andthe ACT.

More than 70 Bridge Clubs from all overNSW and the ACT supported theinaugural Challenge raising funds tosupport the Institute’s research intoAlzheimer’s disease and dementia.

The 2004 Challenge offered great prizesto players and fundraisers including aholiday in Cairns cruising through theBarrier Reef on a Captain Cook Cruiseship, Nokia mobile phones and a year’ssupply of morning tea products fromStarbucks Coffee to the highestfundraising Bridge Club.

The overwhelming response from theinaugural Challenge augurs well for anational Challenge in 2005.

10th Anniversary Public LectureResearch launched to mark the Institute’s10th anniversary shows thatdevelopments in cures and prevention ofsystemic diseases that affect the body,such as cancer, heart and lung diseases,have resulted in people living longer.

While historically the brain has generallyoutlived the body, it is now unable tocope as more and more humans livebeyond 85 years.

The Institute’s Professor Tony Broepresented his findings at a Public Lectureat the Ritchie Theatre, University of NewSouth Wales.

Through his research Professor Broebelieves healthy ageing is achievable asloss of neurones which cause braindiseases is definitely not inevitable.

Professor Broe discussed protectivefactors for a healthy ageing brain whichinclude aspirin, non-steroidals,oestrogens, folate, anti-oxidants andmoderate alcohol use.

His lecture was followed by a paneldiscussion, mediated by the ABC’s DrNorman Swan, with members comprisingwell known septuagenarians andresearchers including food and nutritionexpert and National Living Treasure,Margaret Fulton and June Dally-Watkins.Other panel members were the Institute’sProfessor Glenda Halliday and AssociateProfessor Stephen Lord.

ASX-Reuters Charity FoundationSupports Parkinsons’s ResearchDr Kay Double, Professor Glenda Hallidayand Professor Tony Broe and their teamscompleted an experimental project on thedevelopment of new ways to diagnoseParkinson's disease which was funded bythe ASX-Reuters Charity Foundation. TheInstitute sincerely thanks the ASX-ReutersCharity Foundation for support with thisimportant project which takes researchersa step closer to the development of anew method of diagnosis for Parkinson'sdisease.

Individual and Corporate Giving

With your help…Our health tomorrow depends on thediscoveries from medical research today.

But fighting disease and injury is not justthe responsibility of researchers. It takesall of us. From the person who donatestime or money, to the patient whoparticipates in a research study - ourresearch is a challenge that requiressupport from everyone.

FUNDRAISING ANDCOMMUNITY EVENTS

Our Thanks

The Institute is indebted to the manycorporations, organisations andindividuals who gave significantfinancial support over the past year.Thank you also to the numerouscompanies and individuals whogenerously donated their services andproducts to ensure the success of ourevents. This support is invaluable.

Events

Vice Regal Book LaunchThe NSW Governor, Professor MarieBashir, launched two books by seniorscientists at the Institute which coverthe diverse field of neuroscience. “The Human Nervous System” byProfessor George Paxinos and “Beans,roots and leaves, A History of theChemical Therapy of Parkinsonism”, by Dr Paul Foley.

The Human Nervous System gives adetailed account of the structure of thehuman brain. The task of describing allparts of the nervous system from amodern structural and functionalperspective would be overwhelming fora single scientist.

“Beans, roots and leaves” explores thecolourful and sometimes alarminghistory of the attempts to provide atleast some relief from the symptoms ofParkinson’s disease, commencing withinteresting reports from ancient Indiaand medieval Europe and continuinguntil the present time.


43

Our ability to continue to help ensure thehealth of future generations is criticallydependent on our base of support.Private contributions play a vital role inhelping to fill in the gaps and providefunding for new research avenues, thelatest and most advanced equipment,launching the careers of young scientists,and providing a productive environmentfor researchers.

Please consider making a gift to theInstitute, and become a part of somethingreally important - the prevention andeventual cure of some of the world'smajor diseases and disabilities. While thechallenges are daunting, solutions areattainable – with your help.

Gifts of $2·00 or more aretax-deductible.

The Prince of Wales Medical ResearchInstitute is a not-for-profit organisation.There are many ways that you cansupport the work at the Institute.

Make a tax-deductible donation:Gifts of all sizes are important. You canmake a gift at any time by sending acheque, phoning us with your credit carddetails, or make an online donation byusing our secure server atwww.powmri.edu.au.

Become a Corporate Sponsor:Companies can assist the Prince ofWales Medical Research Institute’sfundraising efforts through relationshipmarketing, sponsoring an event partiallyor wholly, and offering their professionalexpertise on a pro-bono basis. Bysponsoring a boardroom luncheon for18–20 people, companies can alsointroduce us to major clients as a way ofsourcing additional corporate support.Contact us on to discuss a donation plan.

Make a pledge:Make a commitment to give a series ofpayments to the Institute over a period oftime. Phone us to receive a pledge card.

Workplace Giving:Workplace Giving is designed to bring astrong sense of community into theworkplace and encourage employeeinvolvement. Employees can make aregular, tax-effective donation to theinstitute from their pre-tax pay. It’s simpleyet effective, in that funds are pooled andone contribution per pay, or per month, issent from the employer to the Institute.The Institute can provide you with formsand promotional material to help initiate apayroll giving program at your workplace.

Workplace Giving strengthens staffmorale and builds loyalty – staff membersknow they’re working for an organisationthat cares about their community.

Employers can also match employeedonations – doubling the effect of theemployee’s dollar and the overallprogram.

For more information on the benefits ofworkplace giving visit the AustralianCharities Fund websitewww.australiancharitiesfund.org.au.

Leave a bequest:Sometimes called the 'ultimate gift',contributing to the Institute through abequest allows you to retain full use ofyour assets during your lifetime and stillmake a significant gift to the Institute.Your solicitor is the best person to adviseyou on the legal aspects of your bequest.If you do not have a solicitor, the Institutecan assist you with free legal advice onyour bequest.

Give in memoriam: Make a gift to the Prince of WalesMedical Research Institute in lieu offlowers to honour a loved one, colleagueor member of staff who has passed away.

Gifts in kind: Don’t overlook the benefits of gifts inkind. Ask your tax advisor or solicitor tohelp you make the best plan for you.

Celebration gifts:Looking for the ideal way to celebrate abirthday, honour an anniversary, wedding,or other special occasion, orcommemorate festive times such asChristmas? Making a gift to help fightdisease and disability is a considerateand sensitive way to pay tribute to yourfriends, loved ones and specialoccasions. Your contribution will beacknowledged with a hand-addressedcard sent to the recipient.

Hold a Fundraising Event:It is an exhilarating and satisfyingexperience to enrich people’s lives. Whatbetter way to do it than through afundraising event where friends, family orstaff members can share the knowledgethat they play an important role in helpingto make the world a better place.

Have some fun-raising while fund-raisingfor research. Whether you are acorporation, community group, socialclub or an individual, make the Prince ofWales Medical Research Institute therecipient of proceeds from an event.

Mailing address for donations:PO Box 82ST PAULS NSW 2031Contact phone number:02 9399 1075


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AAldar Asset Management P/LAlexander, Ms MAllam, Mr PAllara, Mrs CARV, Hopetoun Village Bridge ClubAstridge, Ms HASX-Reuters Charity Foundation LtdJensen AM, Mr DAtkins, Ms BAtkinson, Ms MAtkinson, Ms NAbbenbroek, Ms L

BBalgowlah-Dee Why Bridge ClubBallina Seniors Bridge ClubBarker, Ms JBarker, Mr & Mrs M Barker, Mr PBarker, Mr RBarker, Ms SBennett QC, Mr DBenson, Mr RBertevicly, Ms MBilston, A/Prof LBingham, Mr HBirrell, Mr RBlake Dawson WaldronBlanch, Ms TBlunt, Mr GBolton, JKiely, Mr MBooth, Mrs HBourke, PBowen, EBowles, Mr SBracka, Mr MBraid, Mr JBraun, PBrent, LBridge at Club WilloughbyOrange Bridge ClubBrock, Dr JBroderick, Ms EBrodribb, Mrs ABrooks, Mrs E Brooks, Mr JBrooks, Dr WBrown, Mr BBrown, Ms JBrunswick Valley Bridge ClubBryans, Mr BBuck, Mrs NoBuffier, Ms MBurges, K & ABurns, Mrs ABurns, Mr SButler, Mr RButtenshaw, MBuxton, Ms A

CCallaghan, RCalvert, Ms DCameron, Mr J Campbell-Wilson, Mr & Mrs CCanberra Bridge Club Carapiet, Ms SCarnarvon Bridge Club Cartwright, Mr ICastell, Ms SCastronini, Mr & Mrs JCessnock Bridge Club Chapman-Woods, Mrs BCharley, Mr & Mrs RChatswood Golf Club Duplicate Bridge Cheltenham Bridge Club Cherry, Mr AClark OAM, Ms CClarke, A & MClarke, Ms BClarke, Mrs JCleary, Mr DCoffs Harbour Bridge Club Cohn, Mrs LCollingwood-Smith, Mr JCollyer, Ms AColorado Products P/L Condobolin Bridge Club Coonabarabran Bridge Club Cooper, Ms RCorporate Countdown Cox, Ms ECraig, Ms CCraine, Ms DCurran, Mr JCurran AO, Mr CCurtis, Ms CCusack, Ms GCusack, J & ACzimeth, Mrs M

DDalmeny Bridge Club Daum, Ms PDavids, Mr HDavie, Mr RDavies, Mr JDavis, Mr EDebus, Mr RDee Why School for Seniors DeGroot, Mr HDenn, CDFF Investments Dickison, Mrs BDillon, LDistinguished Vineyards Dixon, RDonaghy, Mrs DDoumani, Mr JDowton, Prof BDubbo Bridge Club Dwyer, Dr R

EEbsary, Mrs PEldershaw, Mr JEllicott QC, Mr RElphick, Ms EErgos, Mr PMillar, Mr JEvans, Mr W

FFairfax, Mr JFarmoz Farrell, Mr FFay, Ms AFegent, Mr JFerguson, KFitch, Mr LFitzmaurice, Mrs MFitzpatrick, Dr RFlemming, Ms MFoster, Mr PFragomeni, Ms MFraser, BFrederick, SFrish, Mrs IFrish, Mr SFromer, Mr JFuller, Mrs NFyfe, Mrs S

GGall, Ms DGandevia, Prof SGardener, Mr JGarrard, Mr BGarvin, Ms JGaunt, Ms MGavagna, Mr RGifford, Mr PGilmore, Ms DGilmore, Ms FGilmore, Ms LGlen Bridge Club Goff, Ms JGoldrick, Ms EGoldsworth, Ms JGordon Bridge Centre Goulburn Bridge Club Graduates Garden Club Grafton Bridge Club Graham, Ms AGraham, Mr RGreen, JGreencorp Magnetics Gregory, Ms GGreig, Miss MGreyling, Mrs SGrimes AO, Dr DGross, Dr MGuest, Ms SGuiffe, Ms AGunnedah Bridge Club Gursel, Ms J

HHabe Garments Pty Ltd Hain, Ms LHales, Mr JHampson, Rev'd CHarding, Dr AHarkness, D & EHarland, Mr LHarrow Productions Hausmann, Ms JHausmann Communications Hawker, Ms JHawks Nest Golf Club Bridge Club Hayata P C Australia Hayim, Mr SHaynes, Mr MHeath, NHeiman, Mrs THellenic Club Hemphill, Mr GHennessy, Ms BHickson Lawyers Hilton, Ms LHocking, PHogarth, Mr AHolden, Mr FHoyland, Ms JHrassnig, Mr JHughes AO QC, The Hon T Hui, W & RHume, Prof WHunt, Ms PHunter, CHunter, C & BHuxley, BHuxley, GHuxley, L

IInverell Delvyn Bridge Club Ioannidis, Ms SIsherwood, Mr KIsherwood, Mr P

JJ S O'Brien & Associates Jackson, Ms JJaitco Pty Ltd Janssen-Cilag JAP World Spares Jobbod, Mr BJohn Swire & Sons Johnson SC, Mr PJones, Mrs JJones, Mr JJory, CJoy, Mr IJoye, Mr C

KKaracanta, Mr OKarcher, EKaye, P & JKeast, Dr JKeating, Ms DKempsey Chinese Restaurant Kennington, Mr DKerr, P & MKhan, Mrs KKiama & District Bridge Club Kintominas, PKnight, Ms EKukovec, T

THANK YOU


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LLaidlaw, Mr TLalor Park Senior Citizens Club Langridge, JLaTella, Mr FLaw, Ms MLawrence, Ms CoralLee, Mr WLeeton Soldiers Bridge Club Lenban, Mr NLevy, Mr GLewis, PLions Club of East Maitland Little, RLogan, Ms ALohan, YLonergan, Mrs NLong, W & RLord, Miss DLove, Ms ALowe, Mr ELuckey, Mrs Lynch, Ms A

MMacarthur Collegians Bridge Club Macefield, Dr VMacKay, D & EMahoney, Ms JMailfert, NMaitland Bridge Club Mallarky, Dr & Mrs SMalone, Mr & Mrs J Maple-Brown, Mr & Mrs RMarcellos, Mrs PMarjason, Mrs MMarley, Dr PMarsh, Mr PMarsim Corporation Pty Ltd Martin, Mrs JMartin, Ms JMartin, Mr OMartin, Mr PMarx, Ms GMcCaskill, T & EMcDonnell, Mrs NMcFadzean, Ms JMcIlrath, Ms MMcIntosh, Mrs WMcKay, Ms DMcKay, Mr FMcKenzie, Ms DMcLachlan, Mr & Mrs C McLaughlin, Ms EMcLennan, Ms JMcTaggart, Mr LMelinda Groups P/L Melville, Mrs JMercer, Ms MMerewether Bridge Club Metro Parking Michlmayr, Mr JMid-Mountain Bridge Club Miller, B & AMillner, Mrs JMitchell, Ms OlTween Bridge Club Mobbs, Mrs CMollymook Bridge Club Moon, Mr AMordo, MMorgan, NMorrison, Ms J

Morrison, TMorrow, Mr DMorton, JMoss, Ms VMulholland, JMulholland, RMusgrave, TMuswellbrook Bridge Club Muysken, Ms E

NNelson Bay Bridge Club Newcastle Bridge Club Newman, Mr RNewton, Mrs ANewton, Mr MNewton, Ms PNickolls, Mrs RNoonan, ANorman, Ms ANorthey, BNoss, Ms E NSW Bridge Association Nyngan Bridge Club

OO`Grady, Mr BOitoole, ROksis, Mr GOxley Bridge Club

PPardoe, Mr & Mrs JParker, Mr RParker, Mr TParkes Bridge Club Pennant Hills Bridge Club Penrith RSL Bridge Club Pepper, PPerera, Mr GPerkins, Mrs VPerpetual Trustees Australia Limited Petersen, LPetrucco, Mrs IPetrucco, Mr JPfizer Phipps, Mrs CPorges, Mrs Port Macquarie Panthers Bridge Club Porter, Mr TPotter, Prof EPratt Foundation Brassil, Mr PPride, Ms JProctor, Mr MPruden, Ms WPuddick, Ms HPullen, Mr DPurcell, RPurves, Ms MPyne, Ms J

QQuinlan, Mrs V

RRandwick Bridge Club Rayward, FRenfrey, Mr Revesby Workers Bridge Club Riesel, Mrs TRing, Mrs JRitchie, Mrs ERobert, Dr & Mrs Roberts, Dr & Mrs H Robinson, Mrs DRolston, Mrs BRomer, Ms DRomer, Ms MRomer, Ms SRosewall, Mr KRoss-Smith, Mr MRoss-Jones, B & JRowe, Mrs MRuss, Ms JRussell, Ms K

SSankey, Mrs JSapphire Coast Bridge Club Sarks, Drs J & SSaunders, Mr WSchultz, Mr BSecombe, Ms HSheath, Mrs MShenstone, AShenstone, Mr DShepherd, Dr CSherrington, Mrs CShields, Mr JShmith, Mr DSholler, Mr HSimms, JSimons, Ms PSimpson, Dr SSmith, Ms PSmith, Mrs RSouth Canberra Bridge Club Southwell, Ms BSowey, Ms ASpight, Mr ISpranc, Mrs ESprang, Mr JSpringwood Bridge Club Sproule MarionSt George Bridge Club St George Budapest Bridge Club St Marys Bridge Club Stein, Ms KStevenson, Mr B Stoodley, A/Prof MStracey, Ms LStuerz, Ms ASturnieks, Dr DSullivan, MSummers, Mrs CSutherland, Ms LSweeney, Ms ESweetland, Ms GSydney Chinese Bridge Club

TTan, Ms LTate, Mrs JTaylor’s Wines (NSW) Pty Ltd Tenterfield Bridge Club The Grange Bridge Group The Macquarie Bank Foundation Thompson, Mr AThomson, JThomson, MThorpe, Mr JToben, Mr DTosi, Mr A Tradies; Bridge Basics Club Trebartha Apartments Trumps Bridge Centre Tumut Bridge Club Turton, Mrs CTweed Heads Bridge Club Twin Towns Services Bridge Club

UUBS WarburgUnited Services Union Uttley, Mr C

Vvan Dort, Ms RVan Reeken, Mr Jvan Zeist, Mrs AVarga, Ms DVercoe, Mrs MVersluis, Mrs R

WWalkinshaw, Mr TWalton AM, Mr JWang, KWard, D & CWarden, Mr & Mrs Watson, Mrs AWebster, B & HWeir, Ms CWenban, Ms JWhatham, FWhirlpool White, BerylWhite, Ms VWhitlam, Hon A Wicks, Mr JWilliams, JWillis, Miss NWinning, Mr BThomas, Mr & Mrs DWintour, Mrs E Withey, AWollstonecraft Bridge Club Woodward, MWyatt, R & RWyner, Ms I

YYee, Mrs PYeoh, Ms MYoung, Mr KYoung, Mr P

ZZamel, Mr G

The Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute thanks

all our supporters for 2003-04 including:


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Executive Director & CEOProf Peter Schofield BScAgr(Hons) PhD DSc[from July 2004]

Deputy DirectorProf Simon Gandevia BSc(Med) PhD MD DSc FAAFRACP [from July 2004]

Director, Clinical Research and Head, Neurology, Prince Henry/Prince of Wales HospitalsAssoc Prof James Colebatch PhD MD FRACP

NHMRC Senior Principal Research FellowsProf Simon Gandevia BSc(Med) PhD MD DScFAA FRACPProf Erica Potter BSc PhD DSc

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research), UNSWDirector, Spinal Injuries Research Centre, POWMRIProf Elspeth McLachlan DSc FAA

NHMRC Principal Research FellowsProf Glenda Halliday BSc(Hons) PhDAssoc Prof Stephen Lord BSc MA PhDScientia Prof George Paxinos BA MA PhD DSc AO

NHMRC Senior Research FellowsAssoc Prof Janet Keast BSc(Hons) PhD [to June 2004]Dr James Brock BSc(Hons) DPhilDr Vaughan Macefield BSc(Hons) PhDDr Janet Taylor MBiomedE MD

Head, Respiratory Medicine, PHH/POWHAssoc Prof David McKenzie MBBS BSc(Med) PhDFRACP

Neurosurgeon (PHH/POWH), Senior Lecturer (UNSW)Assoc Prof Marcus Stoodley, MBBS(Hons) PhD FRACS

Consultant Neurologist (POWH), Senior Lecturer(UNSW)Dr Matthew Kiernan MBBS(Hons) PhD FRACP

Senior ScientistsAssoc Professor Lynne Bilston, BE(Mech)(Hons)MSE(BioEng) PhD

NHMRC R Douglas Wright Research FellowsDr Kay Double BSc(Hons) PhDDr Jane Butler, BSc(Hons) PhD

Postdoctoral Research FellowsDr Paul Foley BSc(Hons) PhD (UNSW Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow)

Overseas Postdoctoral Research FellowsDr Cindy Lin MEngSc BE PhD (CJ Martin Fellow)Dr Olivier Piguet BPsych MA(ClinNeuropsych) PhD(Neil Hamilton Fairley Fellow)

Visiting FellowsDr Leah Bent BSc MSc PhD

Senior Research OfficersAssoc Prof Wayne Reid BA(Hons) MPsychol PhD Dr William Brooks, BA MBBS MPHDr Richard Fitzpatrick BSc(Hons) MBBS PhDDr Antony Harding BSc(Hons) PhDDr Yuri Koutcherov BSc(Hons) PhDDr Peter Nickolls MBBS BSc BE(Elec) PhDDr Claire Shepherd BSc(Hons) PhD

Research OfficersDr Hayley Bennett BA(Hons) MA MSc PhD[to Dec 2003]Dr Melissa Broe BSc(Hons) PhDDr Linda Cheung BSc (Hons) PhD MSc Dr James Fallon BScBE(Hons)PhDDr Yue Huang BM PhD MSc Dr Sarah McKay BSc(Hons) MSc DPhilDr Penelope McNulty BHMS(Hons) PhDDr Tertia Purves-Tyson BSc(Hons) MSc PhD[to June 2004]Dr Catherine Sherrington BAppSc(Phty) MPH PhDDr Daina Sturnieks BAppSc(Hons) PhDDr Joy Tan BSc(Hons) PhDDr Yewlan Wanigasekara-Mohotti BMedSc(Hons) PhD[to July 2004]

Senior Hospital ScientistsDr James Tu MBBS(China) MSc PhD

Research AssistantsMs Mehreen Arshi BMedSc [from Feb-June 2004] Ms Heather Campbell BSc(Hons) [to June 2004]Ms Francine Carew-Jones BSc(Med)Ms Julie Brown BScMs Heidi Cartwright BScMr Michael Cartwright BScMs Kirsten Chapman BA BScMr John Chew BEMs Anurina Das MEpidemiol [to Dec 2003]Mr Robert Gorman BEMr Stephen Hicks BSc(Hons) Mr Ping Hu BMed MMMr Paul Kelly BTech [to May 2004] Ms Emma Kettle BAppSc GradDip(Epidemiol)Ms Marcella Kwan BSC GradDip(Biotech) GCHSM MPHMs Suelyn Lai-Smith BScPsych(Hons)Mr Billy Luu BSC(Hons) [from Jan 2004]

OUR PEOPLE 2003-04


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Ms Linda MacDonald BMedSc [to June 2004] Ms Heather McCann DipHlthSciMs Susan Murray DipRGRT MGerontolMs Teresa Orr RN MNMs Sandra O’Rourke BMedSc(Hons) Ms Svetlana Pianova MScMr Farid Rahimi BSc(Hons) [from Feb 2004]Ms Tonia Russell [from May 2003]Ms Christine Song BSc(Hons) Ms Kate Stark BA(Hons) Psychology Ms Rebecca St George BSc(Hons) BAMs Anne Tiedemann BSc GradDipBiomedSciMs Gabrielle Todd BSc(Hons)Ms Diana Tripovic BSc(Hons) Ms Sharla Vijayaratnam BSc MSc [to Jan 2004]Dr Connie Vogler MBBS(Hons) FRACPMs Hongqin Wang MBBS (China)Ms Lolita Warden BSc [to Oct 2003]Ms Amy Watling BScMr Mark Weeden BSc [to Nov 2003]Ms Melanie Yeoh BPsySc

Technical, Field and LaboratoryMs Adeline Akkari Ms Rachael Brown RNMr Bob BryansMr Hilary CarterMs Marcelle D’UgoMs Rebecca Gee RN [to Dec 2003]Ms Joanne IronsMr Francesco La Tella Mr Lajos WeiszMr Collin YeoMs Kerrie Atkins RNMs Catherine Kirkham

AdministrationMs Deborah McKay BHlthAdminMs Annie Butler BA(Tourism Mgmt)Ms Ursula DanielsMs Rosalie Dworjanyn BSc GradDipInfoMgmtMrs Karen GobbeMrs Lee Hilton

FinanceMr Andrew Dermott BEc CA, Company SecretaryMr John Dayton ANIA [to Dec 2003]Ms Ruby Wang [from Jan 2004]

Information Technology Mr John Hales BSc MBiomedEMr Chris Uttley [to June 2004]

Public Relations and MarketingMs Anne Graham RNMs Stephanie Barker BA (Communications)

Scientific SupportMs Roslyn Nickolls BA DipEdMs Polly Smith [to March 2004]

StudentsDr Athula Karunanayaka, PhDDr Arun Krishnan, PhDDr Mark Latt, PhDDr Jack Liao, PhDDr Carolyn Orr, PhDDr Kingsley Storer, PhDNegin Amanat, PhDCynthia Ashley, PhDGang Cheng, PhDShaokoon Cheng, PhDSvetlana Cherepanoff, PhDJohn Chew, PhD

Heidi Federow, PhDEva Feredoes, PhDRobert Gorman, PhDGillian Gregory, PhDPhu Hoang, PhDCndy Kersaitis, PhDElizabeth Kyriakou, PhDGila Lepar, PhDPeter Martin, PhDJasmine Menant, PhDJulian Saboisky, PhDEmma Schofield, PhDAnne Tiedemann, PhDGabrielle Todd, PhDConnie Vogler, PhDAlex Voukelatous, PhDPhilippa Williams, PhDVanessa Young, PhDMichael Yuen, PhDJulie Brown, MScRachael Brown, MScAnnie Butler, MScStephen Duma, BE(Elec)/M BioMedEngMarianne Huot, MEngJulianne Lim, M BioMedEngAmy Watling, MScAmr Alaved, HonsEmily Barling, HonsAlex Burton, HonsElizabeth Clarke, HonsEric Han, HonsJhonny El Khoury-Maroun, HonsBilly Luu, HonsMarianne Matheson, HonsCatalina Palma, HonsMichael Seitz, HonsTana Tan, HonsMark Weeden, Hons


48

Balance Sheet 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004$000 $000 $000 $000 $000

Current Assets 2,571 3,641 5,535 5,096 5,163

Property, Plant & Equipment 6,280 6,294 6,375 7,220 6,945

Total Assets 8,851 9,935 11,910 12,316 12,108

Current Liabilities 143 177 1,576 1,351 885

Provisions 0 1 5 112 225

Total Liabilities 143 178 1,581 1,463 1,110

Retained Surplus 5,058 6,107 6,679 7,203 7,348

Reserves 3,650 3,650 3,650 3,650 3,650

Total Net Funds 8,708 9,757 10,329 10,853 10,998

FFINANCIAL SUMMARY

Financial Statements, including Notes to the FinancialStatements and the Audit Opinions, can be obtainedfree of charge on request to the Finance Manager,Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, BarkerStreet, Randwick NSW 2031.

Financial information was extracted from the auditedFinancial Statements of POWMRI Limited, the statutoryentity of the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute,for the year ending 30 June 2004 and is included herefor information purposes only. A full copy of the audited


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Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute

Barker Street, RandwickNSW 2031 AustraliaTelephone 02 9399 1000Facsimile 02 9399 [email protected]

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