Features and profiles

In this series, meet the people who make up the NeuRA community - scientists, research participants, families, carers and supporters…

"I offered to help with this study because they need to find out about health and getting older. Otherwise, how are they going to learn, especially about my people?"

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"Breathing to me is the most important function of your muscles, apart from your heart. It has to go all the time, without conscious thought."

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"I don't mind having Asperger's. Maybe it's good because I think about things that other people don't think of, and I come up with different solutions to problems."

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"My greatest hope is that we will find a cure for this condition so that other people don't feel the heartache that my family and I experienced everyday."

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"My work will help develop better treatments for schizophrenia. I have seen first-hand the limited effectiveness of the drugs available to patients."

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In this series, meet the new generation of researchers undertaking their PhD at NeuRA. Explore the diverse and fascinating world of neuroscience through their eyes…

Andy Liang is creating a map of the connections between the brain and spinal cord to help us treat spinal cord injury more effectively.

Ben Beck is part of a NSW-wide crash investigation to determine how to prevent rear seat fatalities.

Duncan Sinclair is investigating how molecular changes in the brain alter the ability of people with schizophrenia to respond to stress.

Flavia Di Pietro and Luke Parkitny are unravelling the complexity of chronic pain.

Katherine Scarpin is investigating why people with Parkinson’s disease have low levels of copper in their brains.

Sharpley Hsieh is using music and sound to understand the effects of frontotemporal dementia on the brain.

Yash Tiwari is looking for genes that make people susceptible to developing bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Anne Kuczerawy had just celebrated her 51st birthday when she was given the devastating news that she had frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a progressive, degenerative disease similar to Alzheimer’s.

Damien McDonell has schizoaffective disorder and is taking part in a drug trial that NeuRA researchers hope will reduce some of the negative symptoms of the disorder.

We believe we’re one step closer to detecting Parkinson’s disease earlier and faster than ever. Our idea doesn’t involve looking at your brain – we’re looking for clues in your blood.

After Isabelle died in a low impact car crash, her parents worked with NeuRA researchers to change child car restraint laws.

Pam Angus Lappan has been having a boogie in the name of science, trying out a new dance mat designed to help older people decrease their risk of falling.

Dr Lorimer Moseley has run a series of unusual experiments aimed at tackling pain, involving a pair of binoculars.

Jan Woodmore's husband Richard has younger onset dementia, and initially found it very difficult to find support.

Professor George Paxinos and his team of brain cartographers are the international leaders in mapping the brain.