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Interesting News

1. CNRC Bionic Vision Project

The Australian Research Council recently announced a funding scheme to support Australian research into bionic vision. A number of the aims and objectives of this funding initiative align with current CNRC projects (see Research Projects). A group of CNRC Researchers and our partners have therefore recently completed a collaborative proposal for funding from this scheme. You can read more about the University of Adelaide Bionic Vision project here. 

2. Tooth Stem Cells Give Brain Surgery Hopes

Researchers at the University of Adelaide Centre for Stem Cell Research say they are close to repairing stroke-damaged brains using stem cells taken from human dental pulp.

Project coordinator, and CNRC Co-Convener, Dr Simon Koblar's group is currently testing the procedure on rats and are aiming to eventually move into human trials within the next 5 years.

The research has funding support from the Catholic Church because it avoids the ethical dilemma involved with use of embryonic stem cells.

Click here for the full story and video

3. Deep Brain Stimulation to Control Tourettes Syndrome

Bianca Saez was first diagnosed with an innocent blinking tic when she was three, since then, She has got progressively worse. Bianca was diagnosed with Tourettes Syndrome, the worst case doctors have ever seen.

Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder, which most often begins between the ages of 2 and 21, and lasts throughout life.

In an Australian first, Queensland Neurosurgeon Professor Peter Silburn performed deep brain stimulation therapy on Bianca, a treatment usually used in Parkinson's Disease, to try and control Her Tourettes.

One week after surgery, Bianca's and she is able to walk, talk and behave as a normal 16 year old girl. Approximately 90% of her tics have been significantly reduced or eliminated and Professor Silburn expects continued improvement over the next 4-6 weeks.

Professor Silburn said "This is an emerging surgical treatment for Tourettes Syndrome and is providing significant hope as you can see in Bianca's case, and improves their quality of life. So it is a very exciting area and it is providing real hope and therefore it is an area most rewarding to be involved in as a Doctor."

Click here to read the Sixty Minutes transcript and watch the video (note: this won't load properly on Firefox)

Click here to read the online chat with Professor Peter Silburn (note: this won't load properly on Firefox)

If you have anthing to add to the Interesting News section, please email cnrc@adelaide.edu.au