Annual Report 2005 - Westmead Millennium Institute

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Neuroscience &VisionBrain Dynamics CentreCentre for Vision ResearchResearchers in the Neuroscience and Vision division aimto shed light on the functioning of the human brain and eyein both health and disease. Using a combination of imagingtechnology, molecular biology and epidemiology,researchers are investigating the causes of emotionaldisorders, mental illness and visual disorders.
Brain Dynamics CentreSchizophrenia and psychosisPsychotic disorders such as schizophrenia are characterised bydebilitating symptoms such as hallucinations, paranoia, dramaticpersonality change, disorganised thinking, loss of motivation andcognitive ability.Working with the Western Sydney First Episode Psychosis Project,researchers are using clinical, neuropsychological,electrophysiological and radiological investigations to determine aprofile of changes that define the first episode of psychosis andpredict the subsequent course of the illness. Funded by theSchizophrenia Fellowship of NSW, NISAD, Pfizer (fellowship), ARCand the NSW Department of Health, initial results indicate thatyoung people with first episode psychosis (FEP) already suffersignificant neuropsychological and functional deficits including aloss of cortical grey matter.Gamma phase synchrony research on these young peopleindicated that FEP was characterised by a loss and delay of earlyfrontal brain synchrony. Results also point towards an earlyseparation between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder whereyoung people with first episode schizophrenia displayed worseneuropsychological functioning which failed to improve over time.This work is being extended with the ongoing collection of mooddisorder data to further elucidate the mechanisms of bothschizophrenia and affective psychosis. All results demonstrate theimportance of early diagnosis and immediate treatment in cases ofFEP in young people. Initial treatment research focused oncognitive remediation programs has shown significantimprovements in cognitive functions, including attention,concentration, executive processing and speed of processing.ADHD and Conduct DisorderAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is defined by lack ofattention and concentration, commonly occurring with hyperactivity,and can lead to difficulties in learning and disruptive behaviour.Current research aims to identify the profile of brain markersdissociating ADHD from healthy peers, to evaluate the effects ofRitalin on these markers and to determine the impact of sexdifferences on these effects. This work is currently being extendedto investigate the effect of non-stimulant treatments.Children with Conduct Disorder display a range of antisocialbehavioural problems and without successful treatment, thesebehaviours may continue on to adulthood. Whilst effectivetreatments do exist, diagnostic heterogeneity means some patientsdon’t respond to traditional treatment strategies. Attempts todisentangle this heterogeneity have shown that children with highlevels of “callous-unemotional” traits tend to have poor treatmentresponse. Researchers aim to evaluate emotion processing andautonomic arousal functioning in children with both low and highCU traits to identify more targeted treatments for Conduct Disorder.Anorexia nervosaAnorexia nervosa is a debilitating and chronic illness defined byextreme food restriction, weight loss and emotional disturbances.Little is understood of the psychological and biological factors thatcause this serious disorder. Researchers are using brain imagingmeasures combined with psychological testing to identify if thisdisease could be caused by disturbances in the brain regionsresponsible for emotional functioning to identify why and howanorexia develops.
Page 2 and 3: ContentsAbout Us 2 Chairman’s Rep
Page 5 and 6: Chairman’s ReportIn the research
Page 7 and 8: MessagesFrom the Chief Executive,Sy
Page 9 and 10: Liver and MetabolicThe NHMRC Centre
Page 11 and 12: Centre for Infectious Diseasesand M
Page 13 and 14: Viral immunobiology and apoptosisSp
Page 15 and 16: streptococcal biofilms. They are no
Page 17 and 18: Breast cancer researchThe Breast Ca
Page 19 and 20: Genetic epidemiology of cancerFor m
Page 21: Throughout 2005 Professor Geoffrey
Page 25 and 26: Centre for Vision ResearchRetinal v
Page 27 and 28: Ludwig Engel Centre forRespiratory
Page 29 and 30: FundingNational Health & Medical Re
Page 31 and 32: Advisory Board andCouncil of Govern
Page 33 and 34: PhD StudentsMs Kim ChhourMs Alice L
Page 35 and 36: Leukaemia Cell BiologyResearch Grou
Page 37 and 38: ExecutiveInstitute DirectorProf Ton
Page 39 and 40: Elder G. Parathyroidextomy in theca
Page 42 and 43: The Millennium FoundationThe Millen
Page 44: Darcy Road, PO Box 412Westmead NSW

Annual Report 2005 - Westmead Millennium Institute

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