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Giving Day for Alzheimer’s research: March 4
On March 4, you will have the opportunity to play an even bigger role in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease, with donations you make MATCHED by a caring group of Bionics Institute supporters.
By giving generously on Alzheimer’s Research Giving Day, you will be doubling your impact towards life-changing research that gives hope to so many people who are living with the devastating effects of the disease around the world.
Our new Ambassador: Vance Joy!
While you may know him from his hit song Riptide — which has been streamed more than 2 billion times on Spotify — you may not know that Vance is passionate about finding a way to combat memory loss and the worst effects of Alzheimer’s disease. With your help, he is hoping we raise enough money this Giving Day to progress our pioneering research into the disease.
I’m proud to support the Bionics Institute in their research into brain stimulation treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, aiming to combat memory loss. If you’re able to support, please donate to their Giving Day on March 4. Vance Joy
Your support can make a huge difference to people like Daryl
Daryl was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s in 2021 at just 58 years old.
Following his diagnosis and progression of the disease, Daryl has had to give up his life-long career teaching primary school children, and like many people with Alzheimer’s, he and his family have had to rapidly adjust to a new way of life to ensure he has the support he needs.
For his wife Cathy, and their family, the impact has been profound. Cathy, who manages the local bookstore, has shouldered the primary caregiving role, while their daughter and her husband have moved back home to help.
“You have to have a lot of patience dealing with Alzheimer’s and it can be like putting your regular life on hold to make everything work around the disease,” Cathy says.
“We have a pretty good system of visuals in the house, and every day we try and make a bit of a plan of what’s going to happen. We just have to make sure that we’re super organised.”
Cathy and Daryl are both grateful to have taken part in the Bionics Institute’s Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) trial, which has brought a glimmer of hope.
The whole experience was really positive for us. We felt valued and always comfortable and supported and well looked after. I’m really hoping it progresses and as many people as possible can get it. Cathy, Daryl’s wife and carer
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The veski Bionics Institute Girls in STEM Mentoring Program
For eight years, our Girls in STEM Mentoring Program has inspired high school students to consider STEM careers by connecting them with leading female professionals.
We are thrilled to announce that in 2025, the program will be administered by veski as:
The veski Bionics Institute Girls in STEM Mentoring Program
veski shares our vision for giving more young people the experiences needed early on in their academic life to support them to be future STEM leaders.
As an organisation which brings together bright minds and resources to support scientific and innovation excellence, Veski is a life-long partner for those pursuing a career in STEM and offers fellowships and runs initiatives to build a strong STEM community.
We know the program is in safe hands for 2025 and beyond.
Learn more about the veski Bionics Institute Girls in STEM Mentoring Program:

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Q&A with Dr Oscar Murphy
Dr Oscar Murphy is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Senior Clinical Research Fellow who studies how brain function relates to mental health issues and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s.
His research at the Bionics Institute focuses on creating and testing new brain stimulation treatments for neurological and psychiatric conditions. We sat down with him to hear about the exciting possibilities of the team’s research.
Can you tell us about the Bionics Institute’s innovative treatment of Alzheimer’s disease?
We are trialing the use of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), which is a form of brain stimulation that uses magnetic pulses to alter brain activity. Brief magnetic pulses are passed from a handheld coil through the scalp to induce a weak electrical current within selected regions of the brain. By delivering repeated magnetic pulses, we aim to improve brain connections and thereby improve the symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
What are the benefits?
TMS has been investigated for more than 30 years and is safe and very well tolerated. It is non-invasive, painfree, does not require surgery and has few side effects. Importantly, it is already a proven and clinically available treatment for depression and is listed on the Medicare Benefits Schedule in Australia for the treatment of depression.
What difference could it make?
The devastating symptoms of Alzheimer’s create significant impacts, not just for those with the disease, but also for their families and the surrounding community.
Currently, there are no truly effective treatments to pause or reverse the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
Our treatment could enable people with Alzheimer’s to enjoy more time with family, live independently for longer, participate socially, and remain engaged in the workforce to a greater extent.
It also enables families and carers to have relief from the emotional distress of caring for someone with the disease, remain working, spend more quality time with their loved ones, and know loved ones with Alzheimer’s are safer.
We are so grateful to all our caring and generous supporters who help us develop a new treatment, which could give people with Alzheimer’s the chance to have more cherished time and memories with their loved ones. Dr Oscar Murphy
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Groundbreaking Research Sheds Light on Cerebellar Ataxias: Advancing Hope for Balance Disorder Treatment
At the Bionics Institute, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of medical research to address the most pressing and overlooked health challenges.
One such challenge are the cerebellar ataxias, a devastating group of over 100 genetic disorders, which disproportionately affect Indigenous Australians living in remote communities. Under the leadership of Associate Professor David Szmulewicz, our researchers are determined to bring hope and innovative solutions to those who need them most.
A yet-to-be-quantified public health emergency
Cerebellar ataxias are progressive conditions that impair coordination, balance, vision, speech, and swallow.
For those afflicted, the impact is profound: many become wheelchair-bound, lose the ability to communicate effectively, and require assistance to eat and drink.
Tragically, most patients with cerebellar ataxias die prematurely from a range of complications including choking and severe pneumonia related to swallowing difficulties, as well as the complications of falls.
The prevalence of cerebellar ataxias among remote Indigenous populations is staggering.
In East Arnhem Land communities, it is estimated that the most common form of this condition can occur up to times 180 more frequently than worldwide.
This disparity is compounded by limited access to specialist medical care and diagnostic services.
Many affected individuals remain undiagnosed and untreated, further exacerbating health inequities and leading to lifelong disabilities that could have been mitigate with early intervention.
Pioneering solutions with cutting-edge technology
Associate Professor Szmulewicz and his team are developing a groundbreaking diagnostic platform that utilises wearable sensors and artificial intelligence to diagnose and accurately measure the progression of ataxia.
This innovative approach allows clinicians to assess the condition in real-world scenarios, such as during walking, sitting, eating and drinking.
What difference could it make?
The devastating symptoms of Alzheimer’s create significant impacts, not just for those with the disease, but also for their families and the surrounding community.
Currently, there are no truly effective treatments to pause or reverse the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
Our treatment could enable people with Alzheimer’s to enjoy more time with family, live independently for longer, participate socially, and remain engaged in the workforce
to a greater extent.
It also enables families and carers to have relief from the emotional distress of caring for someone with the disease, remain working, spend more quality time with their loved ones, and know loved ones with Alzheimer’s are safer.
We have developed a medical device platform that can objectively measure the hallmarks of ataxia such as imbalance and incoordination and can be used by GPs, physiotherapists and nurses in remote communities. Associate Professor David Szmulewicz
What our researchers aim to achieve
Accurate measurement is a crucial step in understanding these debilitating disorders and monitoring their progression.
It also paves the way for developing new, effective treatments and ensuring that patients receive the best care available.
Prototype devices have returned favourable results in early trials and our ultimate goal is to eliminate barriers to health care access, empowering individuals with ataxia to lead fuller, more independent lives.