Traumatic brain injury research underlines need for NIIS

Treasurer Curtis Pitt says state government-funded research by the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) highlights the need for the new National Injury Insurance Scheme aimed to commence in Queensland from 1 July. 

Mr Pitt today visited the QBI at the University of Queensland to be briefed on research into traumatic brain injuries being supported by a $1.5 million state government grant to fund a fellowship position to undertake research into the assessment of traumatic brain injuries.

The grant has been provided through the state government’s Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC) which regulates the compulsory third party insurance scheme. 

“MAIC invests about $6 million a year in activities to help prevent road traffic injuries and improving the health and vocational outcomes of people injured on our roads,” Mr Pitt said. 

“The latest $1.5 million investment will help QBI develop tools to assess traumatic brain injuries to allow more targeted treatment and support.” 

Mr Pitt said the research was a reminder of the need for the new National Injury Insurance Scheme (NIIS) that will support those who are severely injured or disabled through accidents. 

“Most people would be aware of the National Disability Insurance Scheme and the support it will offer people born with a disability, but some may not be aware of the NIIS and its initial priority to cover those injured in motor vehicle crashes,” he said. 

“Because CTP is a fault-based scheme it leaves some catastrophically injured motorists without cover for medical costs, rehabilitation and ongoing care if they are deemed to be at fault in a crash or if nobody is found to be at fault. 

“The MAIC estimates an average of three people a week sustain catastrophic injuries — including brain or spinal injuries, limb amputations, severe burns, or blindness — in Queensland road crashes.

“But about half of those people are not covered by CTP insurance because they are found to be at fault or no one was at fault. 

“Nobody would risk being half-protected so doing nothing the fill the gap in CTP cover is not an option.” 

Mr Pitt said an all-party State Parliamentary Committee had examined the NIIS scheme and reported back on the scheme’s aim to fill the CTP gap in the state. 

"In 2013, the former Queensland Government along with all other states and territories except WA agreed to address the CTP gap through a new NIIS," Mr Pitt said. 

"There were mixed views on the Committee as to the model of delivery of the scheme — a pure no-fault statutory scheme at an expected cost per vehicle of $60 or a hybrid-model that would also allow common-law rights at $76 per vehicle. 

“Time is now critical and the government will need to decide which model provides the broadest benefit and I will be talking to the opposition and cross-bench MPs to hopefully secure bi-partisan support for legislation establishing the NIIS in our state. 

“The Newman Government signed our state up to the scheme, and the Palaszczuk Government is working hard to delivering the major reform to benefit and protect Queenslanders from 1 July. 

“In light of that, I'd be looking for the LNP opposition to offer bipartisan support for the scheme, regardless of the model. 

“The NIIS will later be extended to cover injuries in the work place, injuries from medical negligence cases, and general accidents in public places.” 

The successful applicant for the MAIC-funded Senior Research Fellow program was Dr Fatima Nasrallah — a neuroscientist with experience in using advanced imaging techniques in brain research.  

Dr Nasrallah has a background in magnetic resonance and interdisciplinary brain research. 

She graduated from the University of New South Wales in 2009 where she received a PhD in neurochemistry and metabolic resonance and has worked at both the Singapore Bioimaging Consortium and at the Clinical Imaging Research Centre in Singapore where she made her first foray into clinical brain research leading several clinical research studies on brain cancer, dementia, autism, stroke, and brain injury. 

QBI director Professor Pankaj Sah said MAIC’s contribution would help develop diagnostic tests to improve the treatment and rehabilitation of brain injuries, many of which were sustained during motor vehicle accidents.  

“There is no accurate way to assess the degree of damage after brain injury, nor is there a way to track changes or assess the effectiveness of treatment,” he said. 

“Several methods will be studied, including imaging techniques and the identification of molecular biomarkers to identify distinct patterns of proteins in the brain after a brain injury. 

“There is evidence to show that after a closed traumatic brain injury, cell death can continue on the brain for many months, and possibly years, after the initial damage occurs. 

“This work will build on recent scientific advances that have been applied to develop diagnostic tools for other types of neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia,” Professor Sah said.

For more information about the National Injury Insurance Scheme proposed for Queensland, visit qld.gov.au/niis or call 1300 302 568. 

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