Biomedical Seminars
Each month, our public seminars are an opportunity to hear about our research projects and learn from local and international biomedical thought leaders.
You don’t need to be a researcher or academic to come along, all members of the public are welcome to join our seminars.
18 October: Dr Hamish MacDougall
Neurological Assessment using Virtual Reality
Date: Friday 18 October 2024
Time: 4.00-5.00pm
Location: in person and online via Teams
Contact: [email protected]
About the Seminar
Join Dr Hamish MacDougall as he presents a seminar that will explore how VR technology can be used to conduct neurological assessment both subjectively and objectively, in local or remote settings. Dr. MacDougall will discuss the latest advancements in VR-driven tools, highlighting their potential for improving diagnostic precision and therapeutic outcomes in patients with neurological conditions.
About Dr Hamish MacDougall
Dr. Hamish MacDougall is a world-renowned researcher specializing in vestibular function and the vestibulo-ocular reflex. Over the past 20 years, he has led pioneering research, including the development of 3D video eye trackers and VR-based tools. His work has been instrumental in spaceflight research, collaborating with NASA on projects related to astronaut performance in challenging gravitational and inertial environments. Dr. MacDougall’s innovative contributions also extend to clinical applications, where he developed the widely-used video Head Impulse Test (vHIT), revolutionizing the diagnosis of inner ear (semicircular canal) function.
11 October: Professor Chris Reid
How to design precise medicines for genetic epilepsy
Date: Friday 1 November 2024
Time: 4.00-5.00pm
Location: in person and online via Teams
Contact: [email protected]
About the seminar
Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies or DEEs are predominantly monogenic disorders which are individually rare but collectively occur in 1 in 590 births, equating to >500 newly diagnosed children in Australia per year. DEE are characterised by severe refractory seizures and a range of comorbidities including significant developmental delay. With a genetic cause now identified in over 50% of individuals with a DEE, the era of precision medicine has begun. Pathogenic HCN1 variants have emerged as an important cause of DEE.
In this talk Professor Chris Reid will update you on the progress we have had in understanding HCN1 epilepsy. This will include how human variants in HCN1 have informed how the channel works, identifying an unrecognised retinal comorbidity and a promising small molecule that provides proof in principle that both seizures and comorbidities can be treated.
Professor Reid will also present work on new genetic mouse models of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) based on a human genetic underpinning. Physiological studies in the mice suggest that cardiac factors play an important part in the pathological cascade leading to premature death. We show that β-blockers can prevent premature death suggesting that ‘protecting the heart from the brain’ could reduce the incidence of SUDEP.
About Professor Chris Reid
Professor Chris Reid is Research lead of the Epilepsy Mission, member of Faculty and Head of the Neurophysiology of Excitable Networks Laboratory at The Florey. He is a translational neuroscientist and leads a multidisciplinary team that investigates the molecular and cellular causes of epilepsy. Key work includes developing and characterising new genetic rodent models of epilepsy and identifying new molecular targets for treating this devastating disease.
Professor Reid has strong engagement with industry and clinical partners providing a translational path. This includes past collaborations with the BioCurate and CSL. He also contributes significantly to the neuroscience community acting as Director of the Australian Course in Advanced Neuroscience (from 2020) and sitting on International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) and American Epilepsy Society (AES) Genetic Task Forces. His vision is to continue to drive pre-clinical programs that will create and validate therapeutic strategies targeted at ion channels in epilepsy and other neurological disorders.
