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SIMON GANDEVIA
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Professor
Simon Gandevia, PhD MD DSc FAA FRACP
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Personal history
Professor Gandevia is one of four Founding Scientists of
the Institute; Founding Member of the Governing Board of Mayne
Clinical Research Imaging Centre, POWMRI; Co-Director of the
Spinal Injuries Research Centre, POWMRI; Conjoint Professor
at UNSW; and Clinical Neurophysiologist at PHH/POWH. He undertakes
innovative studies in integrative human neuroscience.
Currently he is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Applied
Physiology.
Current Appointment
Deputy Director, POWMRI
Senior Principal Research Fellow, NHMRC
Current Projects
Proprioception and kinaesthesia: Studies are undertaken
to examine the role of muscle, cutaneous and joint signals
in human proprioception. Studies are also examining the role
of motor command signals.
Proprioception and the body image: Studies are undertaken
of the way in which the body image may be distorted when the
sensory input is altered.
Motor control: Studies involve the role of muscle
spindle inputs and pain in the control of movement, and the
way in which fatigue and muscle damage affect motor
performance.
Mechanical behaviour of human muscles and tendons:
Studies involve measurements of the mechanical behaviour of
human muscles using ultrasound and other imaging techniques. The
length-tension curve for gastrocnemius can be derived in vivo.
Central control of human breathing muscles: The
output to various inspiratory and upper airway muscles is
studied in human subjects including patients with respiratory
disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea
Reflex control of human breathing muscles: The reflex
behaviour of human inspiratory muscles is examined during
airway occlusion and when other inputs change in healthy subjects
and patients.
Cortical, spinal and peripheral aspects of muscle fatigue
and exercise: We study the changes occurring at a cortical,
spinal and peripheral levels during and following exercise
and fatigue. We are trying to understand how descending
drives and reflex inputs control motoneurone output.
Patient studies are undertaken to examine pathophysiology
in Asthma, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and sleep
disorders, Breast cancer, Polio, Spinal cord injury, and Stroke.
Additional collaborative studies involve the 3T MRI
facility at the Institute.
Research staff include
Assoc Prof David McKenzie (P/T), Head, Respiratory Medicine
at POWH:
Collaborative studies are undertaken on the neural control
of breathing in health and disease.
Dr Janet Taylor, NHMRC Senior Research Fellow
Collaborative studies are undertaken into a range of areas
involving human proprioception, muscle performance and central
changes in fatigue and exercise.
Dr Peter Nickolls, Senior Research Officer
Collaborative studies are undertaken into the control of human
motoneurones and pathophysiological mechanisms involved in
spinal cord injury.
Dr Jane Butler, NHMRC RD Wright Fellow
Collaborative work entails studies of respiratory muscle control,
respiratory reflexes and muscle performance in exercise.
Dr Nivan Weerakkody, NHMRC Research Officer
Ms Janette Smith, NHMRC Research Officer
Ms Rachel McBain, NHMRC Research Assistant
Mr Lee Walsh, NHMRC Research Assistant
Research Students
Mr Phu Hoang – PhD student (at Sydney University)
He is studying the changes in the length tension properties
of individual human muscles in health and following muscle
damage or disease (with Dr R Herbert)
Ms Orawan Prasarwuth - PhD student (at Sydney University)
Studies are undertaken of the central control of human muscles
following eccentric muscle damage.
Mr Julian Saboisky - PhD student (co-supervisor with Dr Jane
Butler)
He is studying the central control of the output in individual
human muscles using a range of techniques.
Mr Peter Martin -
PhD Student (Co-supervisor with Dr Janet Taylor)
Studies of motor
cortical and corticospinal actions on motoneurones
Dr Nick Murray -
PhD Student (Co-supervisor wit Dr Jane Butler)
Studies of the
reflex control of human inspiratory muscles in health and
disease.
Key Publications
Professor Gandevia’s work has been accepted in major
physiological and other relevant international journals. He
recently published a major review in Physiological
Reviews (2001) and has written many handbook and encyclopaedia
chapters. Three papers have been the subject of editorial
review in the Journal of Physiology (one on respiratory
sensations and reflexes, one on motor cortical output, and
one on novel properties of human motoneurones), and 3 have
featured on the cover. Since 1975, he has published over 200
refereed papers (including more than 70 in the Journal
of Physiology), more than 30 reviews and major reference
works, and 40 chapters in books. He has edited 4 research
volumes and 4 volumes of abstracts.
Full publications in scientific journals:
Gandevia, S.C., Killian, K., McKenzie, D.K., Crawford, M.,
Allen, G.M., Gorman, R.B. & Hales, J.P. (1993). Respiratory
sensations, cardiovascular control, kinaesthesia and transcranial
stimulation during complete paralysis in humans.
Journal
of Physiology 470: 85-107.
Gandevia, S.C. (1996). Kinesthesia: roles for afferent signals
and motor commands. In: Handbook on Integration
of Motor, Circulatory, Respiratory and Metabolic Control during
Exercise (eds. Rowell, L.B. and Shepherd, J.T.)
American Physiological Society, pp.128-172.
Gandevia, S.C. & Phegan, C.M.L. (1999). Perceptual distortions
of the body image due to local anaesthesia and other changes
in peripheral input. Journal of Physiology
514: 609-616.
Collins, D.F., Burke, D. & Gandevia, S.C. (2001). Large
involuntary forces consistent with plateau-like behavior of
human motoneurons. Journal of Neuroscience
21: 4059-4065.
Gandevia, S.C. (2001). Spinal and supraspinal factors in
human muscle fatigue. Physiological Reviews
81: 1725-1789.
Gorman, R.B., McKenzie, D.K., Pride, N.B., Tolman, J.F.,
Gandevia, S.C. (2002). Diaphragm lengthening during tidal
breathing in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
American
Review of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine,
166: 1461-1469.
Petersen, N.T., Butler, J.E, Taylor, J.E. & Gandevia,
S.C. (2003) Depression of activity in the corticospinal pathway
during human motor behaviour after strong voluntary contractions.
Journal of Neuroscience,
23:7974-7980.
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