Published Tuesday, 10 July, 2007 at 02:11 PM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Funding to help Queensland researchers shed light on motor neurone disease
The Queensland Government is investing in a project which will help the State lead new international research into the diagnosis, and treatment of motor neurone disease (MND)
Minister for State Development John Mickel said Dr Robert Henderson from the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) would receive $150,000 over three years for a research project which had the potential to revolutionise the care and treatment of MND patients.
“MND refers to a group of disorders that deteriorate and destroy motor neurons” Mr Mickel said.
“The disease causes progressive loss of muscle strength, making it difficult for sufferers to swallow, speak, move, and breathe. While MND sufferers retain full mental capacity, the condition eventually leads to respiratory failure and life expectancy is usually around three years.
“Funding through the Queensland Clinical Research Fellowship (QCRF) program will help researchers get a better understanding of this devastating condition, which currently has no treatment and no easy way of monitoring.”
Dr Henderson said the aim of his research was to establish an objective marker of MND progression.
“The research involves investigating a new method of standard neurology tests whereby electrodes send small electrical stimuli to the motor neurons to study nerve activity,” Dr Henderson.
“This information gathered from MND patients will be combined with a new mathematical technique to help determine the number of motor nerves supplying muscles.
“As such, the main work under the project will be the collection of data from MND patients at RBWH and close liaison with the Queensland University of Technology’s School of Mathematical Sciences.
“The research will help assist in the assessment of how the disease is likely to progress in patients and assess potential therapies.”
Mostly affecting Australians in middle-age, MND currently affects around 1,200 people nationwide.
While about 400 new cases are identified each year, there is no single diagnostic test for the disease. Doctors evaluate a person’s symptoms and undertake neurology assessments such as MRI, muscle strength tests, as well as blood tests. This is often to eliminate the possibility of other diseases.
Treatment involves managing the symptoms with help from neurologists, Allied Health services, respiratory and palliative care specialists and other health professionals.
Dr Henderson said his research had the potential to be used in clinical trials for MND treatments.
“Through our collaborations in the Netherlands and the United States, we have had preliminary interest in the use of our method in a treatment trial which MND patients around the world have been desperately waiting for.”
Dr Henderson said his research also had the potential to be applied to other diseases involving motor nerves such as muscular atrophies and compression neuropathies.
The QCRF are part of the Queensland Government’s Smart State Health and Medical Research Fund, a $4.7 million investment program launched in 2004 to strengthen the State’s health and medical research capacity.
Mr Mickel is hosting a special reception at 3pm today for the latest recipients of the QCRF and Smart State Fellowship programs at the Queensland Room, the Executive Building, 100 George Street, Brisbane.
“The Queensland Government has invested more than $3 billion in innovation, science and research since 1998. I think this demonstrates our deep and ongoing commitment to maintaining Queensland’s reputation as the Smart State,” Mr Mickel said.
Contact details for Dr Robert Henderson: 3636 8111, email: Robert_Henderson@health.qld.gov.au
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784
10 July, 2007
Minister for State Development John Mickel said Dr Robert Henderson from the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) would receive $150,000 over three years for a research project which had the potential to revolutionise the care and treatment of MND patients.
“MND refers to a group of disorders that deteriorate and destroy motor neurons” Mr Mickel said.
“The disease causes progressive loss of muscle strength, making it difficult for sufferers to swallow, speak, move, and breathe. While MND sufferers retain full mental capacity, the condition eventually leads to respiratory failure and life expectancy is usually around three years.
“Funding through the Queensland Clinical Research Fellowship (QCRF) program will help researchers get a better understanding of this devastating condition, which currently has no treatment and no easy way of monitoring.”
Dr Henderson said the aim of his research was to establish an objective marker of MND progression.
“The research involves investigating a new method of standard neurology tests whereby electrodes send small electrical stimuli to the motor neurons to study nerve activity,” Dr Henderson.
“This information gathered from MND patients will be combined with a new mathematical technique to help determine the number of motor nerves supplying muscles.
“As such, the main work under the project will be the collection of data from MND patients at RBWH and close liaison with the Queensland University of Technology’s School of Mathematical Sciences.
“The research will help assist in the assessment of how the disease is likely to progress in patients and assess potential therapies.”
Mostly affecting Australians in middle-age, MND currently affects around 1,200 people nationwide.
While about 400 new cases are identified each year, there is no single diagnostic test for the disease. Doctors evaluate a person’s symptoms and undertake neurology assessments such as MRI, muscle strength tests, as well as blood tests. This is often to eliminate the possibility of other diseases.
Treatment involves managing the symptoms with help from neurologists, Allied Health services, respiratory and palliative care specialists and other health professionals.
Dr Henderson said his research had the potential to be used in clinical trials for MND treatments.
“Through our collaborations in the Netherlands and the United States, we have had preliminary interest in the use of our method in a treatment trial which MND patients around the world have been desperately waiting for.”
Dr Henderson said his research also had the potential to be applied to other diseases involving motor nerves such as muscular atrophies and compression neuropathies.
The QCRF are part of the Queensland Government’s Smart State Health and Medical Research Fund, a $4.7 million investment program launched in 2004 to strengthen the State’s health and medical research capacity.
Mr Mickel is hosting a special reception at 3pm today for the latest recipients of the QCRF and Smart State Fellowship programs at the Queensland Room, the Executive Building, 100 George Street, Brisbane.
“The Queensland Government has invested more than $3 billion in innovation, science and research since 1998. I think this demonstrates our deep and ongoing commitment to maintaining Queensland’s reputation as the Smart State,” Mr Mickel said.
Contact details for Dr Robert Henderson: 3636 8111, email: Robert_Henderson@health.qld.gov.au
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784
10 July, 2007