A Grey Matter

Antipsychotic drugs, like clozapine, can stabilise some schizophrenia symptoms, but they do not cure the illness and can cause severe side effects.At UQ, a neuroscientist, a chemist and a psychiatrist have hit on a formulation that may revolutionise the treatment of schizophrenia. The research team, led by Professor Darryl Eyles and Dr Xiaoying Cui, are investigating a new delivery mode for clozapine, in the hope that it may be better tolerated by people living with schizophrenia and improve their quality of life.In this engaging conversation, Darryl and Xiaoying discuss: Treatment-resistant schizophrenia and the side-effects of clozapineCollaborating with chemists to develop intranasal deliveryWhat they have found so far in preclinical studies The potential impact of their research on schizophrenia treatmentRelated resourcesIntranasal clozapine sol-gel formulation induces an antipsychotic effect at a fraction of a comparable oral therapeutic doseEpitranscriptomic regulation of striatal function: a new neurobiology of schizophreniaSchizophrenia research at QBI 

In neurodegenerative diseases, about 99% are associated with protein molecules aggregating together. In recent years, super-resolution microscopy has revolutionised how scientists view these minute molecules aggregating, along with other cellular events. QBI’s Professor Fred Meunier advocated that The University of Queensland invest in super-resolution microscopy; this had paid dividends, revealing fascinating discoveries about the nanoworld. Professor Meunier and his lab can now observe molecules moving in space and time and are developing new techniques to better understand how our cells help us treat brain disorders and diseases.In this dynamic conversation, Professor Fred Meunier and Anusha Malapaka discussHow super-resolution microscopy worksThe different types of super-resolution microscopyWhat super-resolution microscopy allows us to seeAI’s impact on future super-resolution microscopy technologyRelated resourcesUnravelling the mysteries of the presynapse with super-resolution microscopy Nanoscale spatiotemporal cluster analysis of expressed and endogenous proteins

Despite its everyday use in hospitals, scientists have yet to fully understand how general anaesthesia works. Professor Bruno van Swinderen began studying general anaesthesia using the tiny worm C.elegans in the 1990s. Now in his lab at UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute, Bruno and Dr Drew Cylinder are studying general anaesthesia reversal agents, which could shorten patients’ recovery time and potentially reduce the risk of post-operative complications.In this thought-provoking discussion, Bruno and Drew explore:How party drugs led to general anaesthetics The difference between local, regional, and general anaesthetics General anaesthesia’s effect on the brainImproving anaesthesia and the role of reversal agentsSleep, consciousness and anaesthesiaRelated resourcesCorals and fruit flies aid understanding of anaesthesia

Mitochondria are known as the powerhouses of our cells, but research is revealing their wide role in brain health and links to rare genetic diseases that affect the brain. At UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute, Professor Steven Zuryn, a leading researcher in this field, and PhD student Tessa Onraet are investigating how keeping mitochondria healthy may help brain function. By studying tiny but experimentally powerful worms, C. elegans, their discoveries may help us understand more about the ageing brain and potential treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.   In this engaging conversation, Steven and Tessa discuss:Mitochondria’s role in evolutionThe unique DNA inside mitochondriaWhy tiny worms called C.elegans are useful for studying mitochondriaHow our brain cells react to damaged mitochondriaThe future of mitochondria researchRelated papers and resourcesDigging deep into distinctly different DNAC. elegans as a model to study mitochondrial biology and disease

Exercise has many health benefits, including for our brains. Recent discoveries at UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute offer new clues about the mechanisms that generate exercise’s positive effects. In their labs, Dr Tara Walker and Professor Jana Vukovic investigate how exercise enhances cognitive capacity from different angles. They study various mechanisms that can improve learning, memory, and neurogenesis. They are both on the cusp of clinical trials to begin translating their findings into practice.  In this captivating conversation, Tara and Jana explore:How exercise impacts the brainThe process of neurogenesisWhether we can replicate the effects of exerciseHow exercise affects the brain’s primary immune cells (microglia) Why they want to see exercise prescribedRelated papers and resources Exercise can help slow cognitive declineWhat the evidence tells us about exercise and healthy brain ageingPlatelets can replicate the benefits of exercise in the brainUQ research reveals exercise brain boost can last for years 

Virtual reality (VR) is changing how scientists study memory, and it involves exploring virtual mazes. At UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute, cognitive neuroscience leader Professor Jason Mattingley, PhD student Richard Ronayne, and research assistant Jayce Rushton are conducting VR experiments that they hope will be adopted in clinical settings to test people’s navigational and spatial memory.  In part two of this two-part series, our guests discuss:The challenge of using VR when conducting experimentsParticipants’ reactions to trying the VR memory testBuilding a virtual maze to test memoryHow VR can be used in a clinical settingWhy VR could help people struggling with memory lossRelated papers and resources Interpreting memory  

Virtual reality (VR) is more than just a video game tool — it’s helping advance our understanding of memory. At UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute, cognitive neuroscientist Professor Jason Mattingley, PhD student Richard Ronayne, and research assistant Jayce Rushton are using VR to immerse people in a world they can explore to test their navigational and spatial memory.  In part one of this two-part series, our guests discuss:The different types of memory Why traditional memory tests may need refiningRichard’s unique journey from mining sites to neuroscience labsThe inspiration behind using VR to test memory What a VR experiment looks like for participantsRelated papers and resources:What is memory?Types of memory

Professor Massimo Hilliard and Dr Ramon Martinez-Marmol grew up far from Queensland – Massimo in Naples, Italy, and Ramon in Catalonia, Spain. Their passion for biology led them both overseas as postdoctoral researchers: Massimo to the United States, and then Ramon to Australia. In 2015, they met at UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute, where Ramon joined the Meunier lab before moving to the Hilliard lab in 2020 as a Research Fellow. Together, they have been extending the limits of what is known or expected about neuronal fusion.   In this fascinating conversation, Massimo and Ramon explore: What happens when neurons fuse How viral infections, like Covid-19, can induce fusion, disrupting neural circuits The surprising role of a tiny, transparent roundworm, C.elegans, in advancing their research How the lab’s discoveries of critical molecular players, like fusogens, may one day revolutionise nerve injury repairAdvice for early-career researchers pursuing discovery scienceRelated resources SARS-CoV-2 infection and viral fusogens cause neuronal and glial fusion that compromises neuronal activityEFF-1-mediated regenerative axonal fusion requires components of the apoptotic pathwayFusogen-mediated neuron−neuron fusion disrupts neural circuit connectivity and alters animal behavior 

In this special World Stroke Day edition, three remarkable women open up about stroke from every angle — surviving it, treating it, and fighting it in the lab. Letishia Living was just 35 when her life changed overnight; today, she’s a powerful voice for young stroke survivors. Tennille Rowland, an occupational therapist on the frontlines of recovery, reveals the strategies behind rebuilding lives and QBI neuroscientist, Dr Matilde Balbi, takes us inside her cutting-edge research searching for new treatments to heal the brain.In this informative podcast, our three guests discuss:Surviving a stroke as a parentAdvice for stroke survivors and the importance of support networksThe challenges for young stroke survivors in the acute recovery phaseStrategies to support young stroke survivorsHow the brain recovers from strokeGamma frequency stimulation's role in stroke recoveryRelated papers and Resources The brief executive language screen: sensitivity and specificity in acute to early sub-acute strokeNew screening tool to help stroke survivorsStroke signs and symptomsQueensland Brain Injury CollaborativeThe Stroke Foundation

In this episode, Dr Margreet Ridder — whose project was ranked the top FightMND-funded study in 2024 — reflects on her journey to becoming a researcher at the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) with her group leader, Professor Pankaj Sah. She shares how her fascination with neuronal communication led her to electrophysiology and ultimately to pursue gene therapy as a potential treatment for motor neurone disease (MND). In this insightful conversation, Pankaj and Margreet discuss: Why hyperactivity in neurons has become an attractive target for MND treatments The science of gene therapy Gene therapy’s potential to treat MND  How viruses can be harnessed for good  The challenges discovery scientists face Discover how their work is paving the way for future treatments — and why hope for MND starts with discovery.  Related resources The story behind Margreet’s pioneering research into MND Motor neurone disease  

Please note that this episode contains discussions about suicidal ideation, which some listeners may find distressing. If you or someone you know is affected by these kinds of issues, we encourage you to seek support from professional services. Heather Cruickshank was pursuing a lifelong dream to become a medical doctor when bipolar disorder, a complex mental health condition, stopped her in her tracks and forced her to rethink her career. A chance encounter with QBI Associate Professor Susannah Tye, internationally renowned for her research into the biological mechanisms behind mood disorders, encouraged Heather to use her lived experience to pave the way for more effective treatments for bipolar disorder.     In this compelling conversation, Sue and Heather explore: ·       The link between mental and physical health ·       What it’s like to have bipolar disorder ·       Why studying the biology of mood disorders matters ·       The role of melatonin, oxidative stress and dopamine·       How lived experience can help shape research

While countless supplements and products promise to reverse aging without scientific proof, the real secret to defying age may be found in the study of epigenetics. This field of study explores how our behaviours and environment can lead to changes that influence how our genes function. Dr Anne Hahn from the Zuryn laboratory has recently discovered a mechanism in the DNA of genes that regulates how disease-causing mutations are inherited. The findings offer a promising therapeutic avenue to stop the onset of heritable and age-related diseases. In this informative interview Dr Hahn explains:Why the old belief that DNA mutations inevitably lead to disease might not be trueThe important part mitochondria play in cell ageingThe lifestyle factors the can influence our genetic make-upWhy epigenetic modification is important in age-related diseasesRelated Resources Cell protein discovery points to healthier ageing

Dr Matt Kenna is fascinated by the science of memory. As a researcher at UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute, Matt is tasked with challenging prominent theories centred around one of the biggest unknowns in the world of neuroscience. Memory is fundamental to our identity, shaping who we are. As a member of the Sah lab, Matt studies synaptic plasticity to explore how memories are formed, retrieved, and influence behavior.In this engaging conversation, Matt discusses:How memory is definedWhere memories are stored in the brainThe importance of sleep in consolidating memoryWhy some memories are more important than othersHow we can delay cognitive decline and improve memory in old ageRelated papers and resourcesInterpreting memory: Research and Innovation Week 2024Podcast: Train your brainUQ Research reveals exercise brain boost can last for yearsUQ Research reveals new brain networks critical to memory formation

Professor John McGrath, a distinguished clinician and researcher at UQ's Queensland Brain Institute, is at the forefront of global mental health research. Growing up in Brisbane, John initially pursued a career as a psychiatrist before transitioning to groundbreaking research aimed at unraveling the complexities of mental health disorders. Co-leading a major international study in collaboration with The University of Queensland and Harvard Medical School, John’s research revealed that one in two people will develop a mental health disorder by the age of 75. This pivotal study sheds light on crucial questions about mental health.In this fascinating conversation, Professor McGrath discusses:The recent study findings showing how half of us will develop a mental health disorder by age 75.What epidemiology means, and why its useful in understanding mental health.The value of discovery science.The beauty of collaboration to reach a common goal.Whether mental health disorders could be prevented in the future.

Mr Mehershad Wadia has written numerous scripts for short comedies screened at international film festivals like Mumbai and San Francisco, joined the writing team for the third season of The Office India and published a children’s book. Matching his passion for entertainment is Mehershad’s commitment to brain research. He is adamant there is no reason to choose between the two. At UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute, Mehershad works in the Hilliard lab, studying the nervous system of c.elegans.  In this insightful conversation, Mehershad explains:  How the right experimental conditions led to a stand-up comedy career What studying worm brains can teach us about the human brain The parallels between comedy and science Why he became a writer for The Office during the pandemic How skills in the arts and science are helpful in any career.     

Professor Gail Robinson has developed a new diagnostic tool to assess cognitive function in post-stroke patients called The Brief Executive Language Screening Test (BELS). This brief 20-minute test, can predict how much a stroke patient will recover to function independently in their first year.In this informative podcast, Professor Robinson discusses:Stroke symptoms and causesWarning signs of a strokeThe window that the BELS test can be taken to best inform recoveryThe typical clinical pathway of a stroke patientLifestyle factors that can cause a stroke

We know exercise is beneficial for our body and mind. Research has shown that neurogenesis – the production of neurons in the brain – continues throughout our lives and is key to improving cognition. At the Queensland Brain Institute, Dr Daniel Blackmore, has been captivated by this process of neurogenesis. Alongside colleagues from The University of Queensland, he completed a comprehensive study, investigating the potential of exercise in mitigating the cognitive decline associated with diseases impacting learning and memory. In this fascinating conversation, Dr Blackmore discusses: What is happening in the brain at the onset of dementia?How stem cells are important in producing new neurons?What did you find out from the study?What type of exercise leads to cognitive improvement?Is there still more we can discover from this one study?

Dr Bonnie Searle is passionate about getting children to eat. In her past life as a paediatric dietitian for children with food aversions, she experienced first-hand the power of changing how we feed children. She is currently working on a special research project at the Queensland Brain Institute, called Mealtimes Matter, which suggests that there are some serious nutritional deficiencies in some childcare centres, particularly in disadvantaged areas, that is having a detrimental effect on child development. In this insightful conversation, Dr Searle discusses:Why nutrition is important for developing brainsThe quality of nutrition at childcare centres across QueenslandHealthy lunchbox tipsTips for fussy eaters

What do Wally Lewis AM and Nic Berry have in common? Quite a lot, it turns out. Wally started playing rugby union before switching codes to rugby league, becoming a legend of the game. Nic kicked off in rugby league before his professional career in rugby union, first as a player and now as an international match official. Both have also experienced significant head knocks in rugby and, with the benefit of hindsight, are passionate supporters of QBI’s concussion research.In this relaxed conversation, they share:  What they love about the game Their experiences of concussion in professional sport How the game has changed in the past decade What’s been done to protect the players Why more awareness and research are needed  Related resources  What is concussion?  Concussion signs and symptoms  About concussion research  QBI concussion study (high school athletes) 

Last year, neuroengineer Dr Clarissa Whitmire joined the Queensland Brain Institute as a senior research fellow and is the Institute’s newest group leader. Originally from the United States, Clarissa arrived at UQ following a postdoctoral appointment at the Max Dellbruck Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin.  In a joint appointment with UQ’s School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Clarissa seeks to combine her expertise in biomedical engineering with the next phase of neuroscience. Here at QBI, Dr Whitmire and her team are working to improve the human condition by developing tools and technologies to interface with our bodies.   Neuroscientists call this technology Brain Computer Interfaces – devices that establish a direct connection between the brain and a computer, allowing information to be transferred and translated from or even back to the brain.  In this episode of A Grey Matter, Clarissa discusses:🧬 The rapidly emerging field of biomedical engineering (BME).💻 Neuroengineering and where Brain Computer Interfaces sit within this.🎬 Whether popular media influences neuroengineering technologies.👩‍⚕️ Her background and what drew her to neuroscience.🤔 What the future holds for neuroengineering.

As a Research Fellow in Neuroeconomics, Dr Dragan Rangelov investigates human sensory perception, decision-making and memory. His work explores how the brain processes and stores information that leads us to make decisions in all aspects of life. He does this by using techniques designed to measure and record brain activity, such as electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging and by identifying patterns of neural activity associated with external sensory stimuli.In this conversation, Dragan delves into various intriguing topics, including:The brain systems responsible for decision-makingHow neuroeconomics explores economic decision makingGame theory and how it provides a platform for neuroeconomic studiesWhy we choose to purchase one thing over anotherThe idea behind establishing a neuroeconomics research profile at UQ

Robyn Hilton and Allison Scifleet may never have become firm friends had it not been for their involvement in fundraising for dementia research. Both women understand what it is like to care for a loved one with dementia. With more than 421,000 Australians living with dementia and no cure (yet), Robyn and Allison are determined to raise awareness in the community and vital funds for research. All while having as much fun as possible!   In this delightful conversation, Robyn and Allison share:  What inspired one woman’s annual tribute to her late husband The serendipitous moment that led the other to QBI The challenges of caring for someone with dementia How bringing dementia out of the shadows helps families How they tackle fundraising fatigue and the flow-on effect of doing good.  Related resources 2024 QBI Lexus Alzheimer's Jazz Gala QBI and Lexus of Brisbane High Tea What is Alzheimer’s disease?  What is dementia? Ultrasound therapy shows promise as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease Dementia Australia   

What inspired the creation of the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI)? And how did QBI become one of the leading neuroscience research centres in the world? On our 20th anniversary, QBI’s inaugural Director, Emeritus Professor Perry Bartlett, and its current Executive Director, Professor Pankaj Sah, take us back to 2003, an exciting and optimistic time for Australian neuroscience, when it all began. They share memories and insights into QBI's origins, what and who has shaped our research over the years, and the community’s vital role in inspiring and sustaining QBI.  In this engaging conversation, Pankaj and Perry delve into:   Why and how QBI was created How the Institute grew from three labs to over 30 What’s changed in neuroscience research in 20 years The power of community support  What lies ahead for neuroscience  

Stroke is one of Australia’s biggest killers, with more than 445,000 Australians living with its impacts. Stroke is common, is not always preventable and can happen to anyone at any age. QBI’s Dr Matilde Balbi and her team combine multiple approaches, including in vivo imaging, brain stimulation and AI-driven, individually tailored recovery paradigms, to study the brain’s recovery from stroke. Their goal is to identify and harness intrinsic neuroprotective mechanisms to improve stroke treatments.   In this engaging conversation, Matilde explores:     What happens in the brain after a stroke How her team records and tracks neuronal activity Why using animal models is a huge advantage  How stroke therapies are evolving with technology Why she focuses her attention on the acute phase of a stroke 

QBI researcher Dr Nela Durisic is fascinated with how the brain coordinates electrical activity and how faulty electrical communication can lead to brain disorders like epilepsy. By observing the architecture and function of single molecules and their intricate connections, the Durisic lab aims to discover what leads to genetic epilepsy and uncover new ways to treat it. This knowledge may also advance our understanding of other brain disorders, including depression, addiction and autism.   In this conversation, Nela dives into intriguing topics, including:   The triggers and genetic causes of epilepsy The different roles of excitatory and inhibitory neurons What happens in the brain before and during a seizure How microscopy and organoids are advancing her lab’s research Potential new directions for the treatment of genetic epilepsy  

QBI researcher Professor Frederic Meunier is passionate about using highly innovative technology to discover how our brain cells communicate. His lab uses advanced nanoscale imaging (super-resolution microscopy) to observe single molecules in living neurons as they perform their function. In collaboration with mathematicians, the Meunier lab is analysing how small mutations can affect the nanoscale dynamics of single proteins and their function to help us understand the origins of brain disorders and diseases.      In this conversation, Fred traverses far-ranging topics, including:   Our brain’s chaotic inner cellular environment   How imaging technology is evolving to accelerate discoveries  Why video games led to a new spatiotemporal data analysis approach  What Botox can teach us about the function of the synapse between two brain cells  Why pharmaceutical companies are starting to invest in single molecule imaging  

Boots, beanies and all, QBI researcher Dr Adam Walker is in the fight to find a cure for motor neurone disease (MND). His team uses genetic editing techniques and rapidly advancing technology to study what’s happening at the early onset of disease. By understanding the biological processes that cause MND, they hope to design new therapies that prevent or halt its progression.  In this inspiring conversation, Adam explores:   How the brain initiates movement  Why expensive muesli can help explain MND The protein TDP-43 and its role in the death of motor neurons The exciting potential for targeted MND therapeutics  Philanthropy’s vital role in blue sky MND research   

How do we make choices? And what happens in our brain when we do? Cognitive Neuroscientist Professor Jason Mattingley and his team study human brain activity and structure and how people pay attention, prioritise information and decide. With adolescence being a time of great change, the team is fascinated with how young people assess risk and develop an understanding of what’s at stake. It’s one of several studies the team conducts to understand the complex brain processes that give rise to human behaviour.  In this engaging conversation, Jason delves into:   Why it’s important to study the decision-making of healthy teenagers  How decision-making changes when you’re stressed and as you age The science behind following your gut instinct Whether changing your mind is a good thing What happens when there is no ‘right’ answer?  

Dr Nathalie Dehorter and her team study interneurons (the neurons controlling the excitation-inhibition balance in the central nervous system) during brain development and in disorders like autism, schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease. Nathalie aims to identify early changes in neuronal activity and connectivity that give rise to impairment in the adult brain. She hopes that a better understanding of these processes may, one day, lead to new therapies tailored for a person’s age and gender.    In this brief conversation, Nathalie explains:    What mouse models of autism can teach us about the human condition How early brain changes may lead to autism  The mechanisms common to autism and schizophrenia When the team hopes to move into clinical trials  Why she chose QBI as her research home 

Professor Peter Nestor is a clinician-researcher interested in memory and cognition. As a doctor, he diagnoses people living with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's. By studying patients, he hopes to enhance our understanding of the brain areas most vulnerable to neurodegeneration to improve diagnosis and therapies. In this fascinating conversation, Peter delves into:Why we don't remember every moment of our livesThe difference between episodic and semantic memoryWhat factors make us remember things How our memory changes as we ageWhy it's important to enjoy every day

Exercise has many benefits for our bodies, including our brains. So, can we replicate the positive effects of exercise to boost new neurons in the adult brain? Dr Tara Walker thinks so and has dedicated her research career to discovering how. Tara was one of the first researchers recruited to QBI when it opened in 2003. She swapped plant biotechnology for neurogenesis research, and it has taken her to Germany and back to QBI (eight years later) to run her own lab.   In this conversation, Tara explains:     The strongest way to generate new neurons in the adult brain What mice have taught us about the benefits of running Selenium as a potential stroke therapy Her international collaboration related to Alzheimer’s disease The advantages of being at an institute dedicated to the brain 

QBI researcher Dr Margaret Moore discusses the fascinating and dynamic process of paying attention. Amidst the sensory overload around us, the brain takes as many shortcuts as possible to process information. To save energy, the brain efficiently chooses to process only what it expects is most helpful, most relevant, and most important to us. It also relies on predictions of what it expects to see, based on past experiences. When this expectation differs from what we actually see, a prediction error occurs, and the brain builds a new model of reality.In this conversation, Margaret explores:  The process of paying attentionPredictive attention and why the brain needs to take short cuts to save energyHow we perceive differences in what we expect to see and what we actually seeHer past research on visual spatial neglect in stroke patientsHer current research on healthy brains to understand what is happening in the brain when we pay attentionThe need to approach our understanding of the brain from both a clinical and neuroscience perspective 

QBI researcher Professor Tim Bredy believes his team are on the verge of something big. They are studying the role of ribonucleic acid (RNA), which is present in all living things, including viruses. RNA is structurally like DNA but it is involved in multiple functions, including brain development, learning and memory.   In this conversation, Tim explores:   RNA’s functions in our body, including in our brain His team’s exciting discovery of a circular RNA  The vast potential of emerging RNA therapies Embracing third-generation sequencing to accelerate discoveries How fundamental science is helping to advance RNA therapeutics 

Ever wondered what’s happening in your brain while you sleep and why you need sleep?   QBI researchers Professor Bruno van Swinderen and Dr Sally Staton approach sleep from different ends of the scientific spectrum, but both are fascinated by how sleep helps us learn and respond to the world.   In this conversation, they delve into thought-provoking topics like:   how sleep impacts a child’s brain development the different functions of sleep the value of REM sleep why study sleep in fruit flies  how consciousness may have evolved  

This episode features an insightful conversation between Sallyanne Atkinson AO, former Lord Mayor of Brisbane and current member of the QBI advisory, and Professor Emeritus Perry Bartlett AO, founding Director of the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) .You'll hear about the origins of the Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), the power of philanthropy and some of the research that’s been nurtured at the Centre over the past decade. 

You probably have heard of a pacemaker – a small device which is implanted in the chest to help control the heartbeat for people living with heart conditions. But did you know similar technology is being used to treat several brain disorders?Today we are joined by Professor Peter Silburn AM, neurologist, researcher and pioneer in deep brain stimulation (DBS). DBS technology delivers a continuous electrical impulse to targeted regions of the brain to treat many disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease and obsessive compulsion disorder (OCD).

In recent years, we’ve seen a growing number of sportspeople speak out about their experiences of head injuries, and concussions are forcing more and more athletes to take a break from or cut short their sporting careers.  And research on the brains of former athletes is raising awareness of the long-term neurological damage that can be caused by repeated, apparently minor knocks to the head.  Associate Professor  Fatima Nasrallah is currently spearheading a ground-breaking study here at the Queensland Brain Institute, investigating the long-term effects of concussion on the brain.  

People living with dementia often have disturbed sleep – even years prior to experiencing any other symptoms.  Unfortunately, as is the case with many risk factors, we don’t know whether this is a cause or a symptom, and it could in fact be both.  Professor Elizabeth Coulson specialises in dementia research here at the Queensland Brain Institute and she’s heading up a team who are looking into the connection between sleep apnoea and dementia risks. 

The development of the brain is a fascinating process, with complex brain connections being made rapidly as a foetus grows inside its mother’s womb.Darryl Eyles, Professor of neurobiology, is studying how known risk factors for certain mental disorders can change the way the brain develops.In this episode we explore how the developing brain can adapt to risk factors for mental health disorders and why sometimes it can’t compensate.

How can you study the human brain at the cell level, when you can't get inside to see these tiny processes in action? Well, you build your own brain in a dish of course! Organoids, or mini brains, are an exciting new area of neuroscience an have many applications, including personalised medicine. We talk to Professor Enrst Wolvetang, who's using this cutting-edge research to understand how brains are made.

In this episode, we examine consciousness – what is it, when does it begin, and how might sleep and dreams be the key to answering these questions. Professor Bruno van Swinderen sheds more light on this fascinating topic.

Queensland Chief Scientist, Professor Hugh Possingham and Queensland Brain Institute Director, Professor Pankaj Sah talk about the lessons we can learn from conservation science and neuroscience, how to influence decision-makers, and why maths is so important!CREDITSProduced,  hosted and edited by Carolyn Barry

When we pay attention to something, our minds are selectively concentrating on a discrete piece of information, while choosing to ignore other perceivable elements. Dr Anthony Harris is an ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award Fellow at the Queensland Brain Institute and an expert on human attention. He discusses what goes on in the brain when we are giving something our full attention, and breaks down whether or not multitasking is a myth.

Almost 500,000 Australians have some kind of dementia, the most common form of which is Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, there is no cure, and only one drug was recently approved for treatment. Researchers here at the Queensland Brain Institute are working on an ultrasound treatment that may offer the best chance to hit the damaged neurons and slow the progression of this terrible disease. We talk to QBI’s Professor Jurgen Gotz about this cutting-edge technology.CREDITHosted, produced and edited by Carolyn Barry

Artist Sam Leach’s work focuses on a connection between science and art, in a more modern twist. He uses AI to compose art that he then paints. It’s a blending of two fields in a similar way that researchers are blending machine learning and neuroscience, to push the limits of AI. We talk also talk to neuroscientist Emeritus Professor Srini Srinivasan, whose work inspired Sam.CREDITHosted, produced and edited by Carolyn Barry

How do you make sure clinical treatment of people with brain injury, diseases and disorders is best informed by neuroscience? This is where the worlds of neuroscience and psychology collide. In this episode, we talk to Professor Gail Robinson, clinical neurospsychologist at the Queensland Brain Institute.

Paralysed people walking again and direct brain to brain communication aren’t just ideas in the realm of science fiction. We hear from Dr Lilach Avitan, a Computational Neuroscientist at UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute who investigates how our brain processes information in order to understand normal and abnormal brain function. We chat about her start in the Israeli air force, the so called ‘Jennifer Aniston neuron’, how to build more intelligent computing devices and brain-machine interfaces.

The brain is one of the most complex things that scientists study, with trillions of connections between brain cells responsible for our thoughts and actions and baseline functions. You’d think that if you zoom down and look into the cells and how they talk to each other, that things would be simpler but that’s not the case. Down at the nanoscale level of the brain is an entire tiny intricate world going on. In this episode, we talk to Dr Victor Anggono, who is trying to make sense of this world.CREDITHosted, produced and edited by Carolyn Barry

More and more we are finding out about the peculiar symptoms of coronavirus that make it such a nasty bug. Many of these symptoms, especially those with a long tail of illness seem to point to effects on the nervous system: the loss of smell, dizziness, confusion, strokes, muscle weakness, fatigue. New research born out of collaborations with virologists and neuroscience here at QBI has shown that coronavirus has co-opted a clever entry mechanism to get into cells - including neurons. In this episode, we do a zoom chat to virologist Dr Giuseppe Balistreri and neuroscientists Prof Fred Meunier and Dr Merja Joensuu about this new research.CREDITHosted, produced and edited by Carolyn Barry