The Australian School of Advanced Medicine
Research
The Australian School of Advanced Medicine is a designated Concentration of Research Excellence (CoRE) at Macquarie in neuroscience, vascular science and surgery. It is also an international luminary research site for GE Healthcare. We currently have a dynamic group of 30 PhD students working under the direction of Professor Paul M Pilowsky, a renowned neuroscientist. The research group will be moving to purpose-built laboratories in the Macquarie University Clinic at the end of 2009.
For information about graduate studies at Macquarie University click here.
Areas of Research
Blood Flow
The pulsatility of blood flow in arteries is an inherent feature of the circulation because of the beating heart. Professor Alberto Avolio’s vascular research group investigates the relations between pulsatile pressure and flow in arteries and the properties of the artery wall that contribute to arterial stiffness. This is becoming an important parameter as changes in the pulsatile function of arteries have been shown to have significant effects on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk factors, especially in the aging population.
Cardiorespiratory Neuroscience
Professor Paul Pilowsky’s studies are concerned with the central neurotransmitters that control cardiorespiratory nerves in order to maintain a stable breathing pattern, a normal blood pressure and to respond appropriately to environmental stimuli. Cardiorespiratory nerves are located in the brainstem and spinal cord and interact to produce a stable appropriate breathing pattern in addition to an appropriate blood pressure and heart rate. He focuses on the different neurotransmitters and receptors that mediate signalling between nerves. His principal hypothesis is that nerves with different function have specific combinations of neurotransmitters and receptors and that as a result these nerves integrate reflexes and tone in different ways. This work has resulted in over 130 publications.
Cardiovascular Neuroscience
The interest of the cell signaling group under the direction of Associate Professor Ann Goodchild is to identify and understand the role and impact of, intracellular signaling machinery in brainstem neurons that control the blood vessels and the heart and therefore blood pressure. Her group is also interested in how these signaling pathways are altered under different conditions including hypertension, low blood glucose and heart failure and whether these alterations cause or are consequence of the condition.
Neurosurgery
This research group has two areas of interest: The cause of spinal cord cysts and methods of improving the treatment of brain blood vessel abnormalities. Fluid cysts ("syringomyelia") can form inside the spinal cord after spinal injury, or in association with spinal tumours or scarring around the cord (such as after meningitis). Syringomyelia causes damage to the spinal cord, resulting in paralysis, pain, loss of sensation and even death in extreme cases. The cause of syringomyelia is unknown. Professor Marcus Stoodley’s team is investigating the origin of fluid that collects in the cysts, where it normally flows to, and the responses of the spinal cord tissue around the cysts.
Brain Blood Vessel Malformations ("arteriovenous malformations", or "AVMs") are congenital abnormal connections between the arteries and veins in the brain. Bleeding from these malformations is a leading cause of stroke in children and young adults. Contemporary methods of treatment include surgery and a special type of focussed radiation, although each has significant limitations. Many patients are untreatable. Professor Marcus Stoodley’s group is investigating methods to promote occlusion of the abnormal vessels using a combination of focussed radiation to alter the cells lining the vessels and then using antibodies against the altered cells to promote occlusion of the vessels. Their pilot work is very encouraging with regard to changing the treatment of AVMs in the future.
Vascular Surgery
Professor Rod Lane’s research group is focused on a novel endovenous stent for the treatment of deep venous disease, and a revolutionary treatment and medical device for the prevention of lower limb amputation due to atherosclerosis. This device is currently the subject of a multi-centre clinical trial with significant interest from surgeons, hospitals and patients in Europe and the US. The group is also looking at the control of cerebral blood flow, innovative treatments for cardiac disease, as well as a fresh approach to oncology.
Visual Science
Professor Stuart Graham’s research areas involve various methods of detecting eye diseases using electrophysiology, psychophysical testing and retinal imaging. His group, including Associate Professor Alex Klistorner, has particular expertise in multifocal systems which detect small localised signals from both the eye and the brain, generated in response to visual stimuli. These diagnostic techniques have particular relevance to glaucoma, optic neuritis which is a precursor to multiple sclerosis, and also to the diagnosis of many retinal disorders. He is also investigating the mechanisms involved in glaucoma damage, particularly the role that vascular factors may play, and the relationship with systemic vascular disease.