In the past 40 years there have been few significant changes to the neurophysiological investigation of patients with suspected neurological disorders. Motor and sensory nerve conduction studies, in combination with electromyography, have remained the method of choice for the clinician investigating peripheral nerve function.Nerve excitability research developed from a perceived need for neurophysiological methods suitable for studying patient symptomatology, disease mechanisms and disease pathophysiology. While routine nerve conduction studies can document the presence of a neuropathy, they do not always provide insight into these issues. This is particularly relevant now that "ion channel disorders"
Common causes
- Weakness: in relation to neurological disease
- pins-and-needles: a sign of nerve damage following injury
- fatigue: particularly in relation to multiple sclerosis
- pain: that develops secondary to nerve damage
- improving the benefits of therapies used in the treatment of neuropathic pain
About our research
Our group is at the forefront of a new research field in human neurophysiology, studies of nerve excitability and its disorders. In these studies we use novel physiological techniques to investigate nerve transmission and mechanisms of conduction failure. With a better understanding of ion channel physiology and function, as obtained by clinical recordings from patients with neurological disease, there arise important therapeutic implications - pharmacological manipulation of these channels may provide new therapeutic strategies for neurological disorders. We are currently investigating:
- motor neurone disease: establishing the site of onset and mechanisms of disease progression
- spinal cord injury: prevention of neurological damage following injury
- multiple sclerosis and neuromuscular diseases: delineating mechanisms of fatigue
- neurotoxicity: prevention of nerve damage induced by chemotherapies (for cancer treatment)
- nerve trauma: understanding the development of symptoms associated with nerve crush
- epilepsy and pain-related states: improving the effects of anticonvulsant therapies in treatment
We are also conducting clinical trials aimed at neuroprotective and physical therapies in neurological diseases. Our 15-strong team of clinicians, scientists, biomedical engineers and research students has a multi-focussed approach to neurological disease. Our research is intrinsically linked to the provision of local clinical services, particularly the multidisciplinary motor neurone disease clinic; the hereditary nerve and muscle clinics run through Prince of Wales Hospitals; neurological consultation and clinical neurophysiological investigations. We contribute to the Australian Motor Neurone Disease Registry, launched by Matthew Kiernan on MND Awareness Day 2004:
www.amndr.org. Our research is supported by grants from NHMRC, ARC Discovery, NSW Office for Science and Medical Research (program and project grants), the Australian Brain Foundation, The Ramaciotti Foundation, the Charles and Sylvia Viertel Foundation, the Sydney Medical Research Foundation, and the Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia.
What we have discovered
Our scientific discoveries have:
- resulted in new insights into the pathophysiology of different disease states, particularly related to disorders of the motor neurone, insights that should result in more appropriate treatment options.
- validated new testing protocols specifically developed to be suitable for routine use as clinical tests such that a new clinical testing techniques are now being adopted in many centres world-wide, to complement diagnostic nerve conduction studies.
Researchers from our group have been recognised through research prizes awarded by the American Association of Neuromuscular Medicine (Golseth Awards to Arun Krishnan and Steve Vucic); Coast Medical Association (TOW prizes to Cindy Lin, Arun Krishnan, Steve Vucic, Ron Granot, Eric Han and Susanna Park) and the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (Young Investigator Awards to Arun Krishnan and Steve Vucic; Leonard Cox award for Neuroscience to Matthew Kiernan).
Current projects
Our group is at the forefront of a new research field in human neurophysiology, studies of nerve excitability and its disorders. In these studies we use novel physiological techniques to investigate nerve transmission and mechanisms of conduction failure. With a better understanding of ion channel physiology and function, as obtained by clinical recordings from patients with neurological disease, there arise important therapeutic implications - pharmacological manipulation of these channels may provide new therapeutic strategies for neurological disorders.
