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Neurotrauma Research Program

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Neurotrauma Research Program

The Insurance Commission partners with the Neurotrauma Research Program (NRP) at the Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science to find innovative solutions for the recovery, rehabilitation and independence of people with brain and spinal cord injuries acquired from vehicle and workplace accidents.

Funding neurotrauma research provides the Insurance Commission with an opportunity to see improved outcomes for its customers with catastrophic injuries.

Researchers can apply for Insurance Commission funding for grants to support patient focused rehabilitation research projects for catastrophic injuries.

Insurance Commission Sponsored Projects

Year	Investigators	Project
2022	Chief Investigators Dr Lakkhina Troeung Associate Investigators Dr Angelita Martini Dr Georgina Mann Dr Kris Singh Professor Colin MacLeod Janet Wagland Miffy Durham	Development and evaluation of a novel, sector-driven, online intervention to improve psychosocial adjustment to traumatic brain injury and enable continuity of care from acute to chronic injury. Post-injury psychosocial and emotional adjustment problems are common and can reduce quality of life, functional recovery, and increase healthcare costs. This project will develop a novel online intervention to improve adjustment to traumatic brain injury (TBI) across acute, post-acute, and chronic phases, providing a cost-effective solution to enable continuing and specialised psychosocial intervention for Australians with TBI as they recover.
2022	Chief Investigators A/Prof Ryan Anderton Associate Investigators Ms Bianca Haagman Jade Kenna A/Prof Paola Chivers	Effect of probiotic intervention on the gut microbiome, peripheral symptoms, and quality of life in individuals with spinal cord injuries. Spinal cord injuries (SCI) cause significant physiological changes secondary to partial paralysis including decreased bowel movements and loss of bladder control. This study aims to implement a probiotic intervention for individuals with SCI to investigate the improvements in functional performance, daily independence and psychological well-being for individuals with SCI.
2021	Chief Investigators Associate Professor Rodrigo Becerra Associate Professor Carmela Pestell Associate Professor Michael Weinborn Associate Investigators Professor James J. Gross Natalie Pepping Nick Rushworth Miffy Durham	A group therapy program for individuals with emotion dysregulation after an acquired brain injury. Focus is on improving emotional dysregulation for people with an acquired brain injury in an aim to improve engagement in rehabilitation, maintain interpersonal relationships and psychological wellbeing, and increase community participation.
2021	Chief Investigator Dr Danielle Bartlett Associate Investigators Dr Travis Cruickshank Professor David Blacker Mrs Miffy Durham Associate Professor Mandy Stanley Dr Johnny Lo Dr Jen Walsh Dr Cele Richardson Mr Mitchell Turner	The effectiveness of green-blue light therapy intervention on daytime sleepiness and fatigue to improve work productivity and quality of life outcomes following traumatic brain injury. This project involves using light therapy to reduce fatigue following traumatic brain injury (TBI) in an aim to increase a person’s productivity levels for improved quality of life outcomes. Following TBI, many people experience excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue which has a significant impact on participation in daily activities and work productivity. Work is regarded as a primary indicator of successful rehabilitation, and an important marker of recovery and improved self-worth for an injured claimant.
2019	Chief Investigator Associate Professor Stuart Hodgetts Associate Investigators Emeritus Professor Alan Harvey Marcus Giacci Professor Gong Chen Institutions Perron Institute The University of Western Australia Penn State University Jinan University	Direct in vivo reprogramming of host astrocytes into functional neurons in the injured spinal cord. The team aims to reprogram cells that form scar tissue surrounding the spinal cord injury into neurons (nerve cells) that can then potentially form new circuits to bridge the gap and restore function.
2018	Chief Investigator Prof Sarah Dunlop Associate Investigators Mr Trenton Barrett Mr Peter Woodland Ms Louise Goodes Ms Gabby Simpson Mr Jeff Thavaseelan Ms Carly Hartshorne Mr Matthew Rawlins Dr Duncan McLellan Ms Anne Watts Dr Alethea Rea A/Professor Peter Boan Clinical Collaborators Dr Emma-Leigh Synnott Mr Johnson M. Paily Ms Sheryl Jonescu Institutions The University of Western Australia Fiona Stanley Hospital Royal Perth Hospital Perth Urology Clinic	Early treatment following spinal cord injury (SCI) to prevent urinary tract infection (UTI). Following a SCI, UTI is common and debilitating, often leading to long-term urological problems. There are currently no evidence-based interventions to prevent early UTI. UTIs are the single biggest cause of readmission to hospital in Western Australia for people living with chronic SCI. This project assesses the safety and feasibility of a therapy to biologically restore and maintain the integrity of the bladder lining, which breaks down rapidly following SCI. Due to the bladder breaking down, this renders patients with SCI more susceptible to UTI.
2018	Chief Investigator A/Prof Jennifer Rodger Associate Investigators A/Prof Stuart I. Hodgetts Prof Alan R. Harvey Lab Members Dr Alex Tang Mr Darren Clarke Ms Kerry Leggett Mr Dan Binks Ms Marissa Penrose-Menz Ms Jessica Moretti Ms Lianne Jiang Ms Katherine Hankinson Ms Bhedita Seewoo Dr Alesha heath Institutions The University of Western Australia Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science	Assessing the effects of repetitive transcrannial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) training on functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI). Previously repetitive rTMS has been used to induce cortical plasticity in the brain resulting in moderate improvements in functional recovery of the affected forelimbs after cervical SCI in a laboratory setting with a test animal. This project will reinforce or strengthen such plasticity related effects by using rTMS (after an SCI), at the same time as other training protocols, to further enhance excitability in the motor/sensorimotor cortex, producing even greater functional forelimb improvements.
2017	Chief Investigator A/Prof Michael Rosenberg Associate Investigators Dr Ann-Maree Vallence Dr Jennifer Rodger A/Prof Chris Etherton-Beer Dr Alex Shaykevich Institutions The University of Western Australia Murdoch University Royal Perth Hospital	A music-based gait entrainment instrument for acquired brain injury rehabilitation. This project focuses on stimulating locomotory movement in people with acquired brain injuries by using a mobile application that plays music and triggers pressure sensors on the foot. This project tests the efficacy of the application to improve gait during rehabilitation exercises and to deliver improvements to patients’ neurological and functional outcomes.
2017	Chief Investigator Adj A/Prof Bruno Meloni Associate Investigators Prof Neville Knuckey A/Prof Stuart Hodgetts Dr Jane Cross Institutions Perron Institute of Neurological and Translational Science Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital The University of Western Australia	Pre-clinical assessment of a peptide to reduce central nervous system injury following neurotrauma. Certain peptides can protect the brain’s neural pathways following an injury. The project assesses the neuro-protective potential of a peptide to reduce brain damage in neurotrauma-related injuries.