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Scientific research can be a slow and gradual endeavour, with researchers naturally cautious not to over interpret their findings. When pressed by the media or the interested public on when their research will come to fruition, scientists will often give the answer: "in five to ten years".
Road trauma researchers, Prof Lynne Bilston and Dr Julie Brown, have found that more than half of Australian children travelling in cars are sitting in a seat that is too big for them. “This dramatically reduces the protection these restraints offer,” says Dr Julie Brown.
Dr John Kwok and team have been working on the genetics of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a devastating disease that affects people’s personality, behaviour and ability to speak. There is currently no treatment to slow or stop this disease.
Pip Kuczerawy’s mum, Anne, was 50 when she was diagnosed with FTD. Pip says the change in her mum’s eating habits was one of the first things they noticed.
Dr Olivier Piguet has been working on another aspect of FTD – overeating. People with this symptom are unable to control their urge to eat, gorging on sweet and carbohydrate-rich foods, a situation that is unhealthy as well as highly distressing for the family.
Assoc Prof Kay Double is using ultrasound – an imaging technique better known for looking at babies in the womb – to 'see' into the brain, with the hope of diagnosing Parkinson's disease much earlier than is currently possible.
When Lorraine Rayward saw the ad in the paper, she didn’t hesitate to book herself in as a volunteer in our Parkinson’s diagnosis study.
Our crane has finally arrived – and with it, the start of the construction on our new building. If you’re in the area, look out for it on Barker Street, Randwick.
With both her father and uncle in their nineties, Heather Webster knows the value of studies that help older people avoid falling. "At 95, Dad is now falling about twice a year, so I think this research is very worthwhile."
Michael Darda joined the Neuroscience Research Australia team in September to head up the NeuRA Foundation.
Calling all bridge players – Join the 2011 Bridge for Brain Research Challenge, 1 – 7 May 2010. The Challenge promotes the benefits of playing bridge, whilst raising crucial funds for research at Neuroscience Research Australia.
We are looking for volunteers aged 5-18 years to participate in an online experiment to help us study how young people learn to tell their left from their right. All you need is a computer and 20 minutes – and it’s fun! Go to our volunteers and click on ‘Online motor imagery task’.
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