Centre for Neurorehabilitation, Ageing and Balance Research
Role Description:
Neurology Team Leader:
Gerontology Team Leader:
Academic Staff / Postdoctoral Researchers:
Research Assistants:
Physiotherapy Clinicians:
Research Higher Degree Candidates:
| Candidate | Degree | Supervisor/s | Project Title/Description |
| Katrina Williams | PhD | Prof Sandra Brauer, Prof Nancy Low Choy (ACU) | Sensory and vestibular symptoms in people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and their impact on function. |
June Quek | PhD | Prof Sandra Brauer, Dr Julia Treleavan, Dr Ross Clark (USC) | The influence of neck pain on postural control in older adults. This project aims to investigate the mechanisms underlying neck-pain related. |
| Ingrid Rosbergen | PhD | Prof Sandra Brauer, Dr Kate Hayward (UBC), Dr Rohan Grimley | Effect of an enriched environment on activity levels in people with stroke in an Acute Stroke Unit. |
| Jill Boughen | PhD | Associate Prof Venerina Johnston, Dr Asad Khan, Dr Jenny Nitz | Can the start position of the Centre of Gravity be used to reflect the mean position of the Centre of Gravity in standing balance tests? Does this change with age and under different test conditions? |
| Heather Batten | PhD | Prof Suzanne Kuys (ACU), Dr Allison Mandrusiak, Dr Steven McPhail (QUT) | Functional Outcomes of Lower Limb Amputees. |
| Erin Caruana | MPhil | Prof Sandra Brauer, Prof Suzanne Kuys (ACU), Jane Clarke (ACU) | Investigating the impact a Saturday rehabilitation physiotherapy service has on patient outcomes and length of stay. |
| Christopher MacKay | PhD | Prof Sandra Brauer, Prof Suzanne Kuys (ACU), Prof Stephan Riek | The effect of aerobic exercise on neurotrophic factors, motor and cognitive function in people with stroke. |
| Alexandra Picorelli | PhD | Dr Anna Hatton, Dr Michelle Smith | Understanding lateral reactive balance control mechanisms in older adults with hip osteoarthritis. |
| Elise Gane | PhD | Dr Shaun O’Leary, Dr Steven McPhail, Dr Anna Hatton, Associate Prof Ben Panizza | Identifying risk factors for shoulder and neck problems (dysfunction) following surgery (neck dissection) for head and neck cancer. |
Research Projects:
Neurology:
| Project Title | Funding | Investigators | Contact |
| IMPACT – Improving Physical Activity after Stroke | NHMRC Project grant, OHMRC, QH | Prof Sandra Brauer, Prof Louise Ada, Prof Suzanne Kuys, Dr Jenny Paratz | For enquiries: Katrina Kemp (07) 3176 2405 k.kemp@uq.edu.au or Sandra Brauer s.brauer@uq.edu.au |
Improving postural stability and reducing falls risk in people with Parkinson's disease using textured insoles: A randomised controlled trial | NHMRC project grant | Prof Graham Kerr, Prof Sandra Brauer, Dr Anna Hatton, Prof Ewald Hennig | Research participants wanted! Contact Anna Hatton a.hatton1@uq.edu.au |
SMART Arm: A non-robotic device to improve arm function after stroke | NHMRC Project grant | Prof Sandra Brauer, Dr Ruth Barker, Dr Richard Carson, Dr Kate Hayward, Dr David Lloyd | For enquiries: see website – smartarm.com.au |
| The effects of prolonged wear of textured shoe insoles on walking in people with Multiple Sclerosis | MS Research Australia | Dr Anna Hatton, Prof Sandra Brauer, Katrina Williams | Research participants wanted! Contact Anna Hatton a.hatton1@uq.edu.au |
| The long-term effects of textured shoe insoles on balance, walking ability and function in people with Multiple Sclerosis | MS Society (UK) | Prof John Dixon, Dr Anna Hatton, Ass/Prof Patrick McKeon, Ms Rosie Warnett, Prof Keith Rome, Prof Denis Martin | For enquiries: Anna Hatton a.hatton1@uq.edu.au |
| Dance for Parkinson’s Disease | Prof Sandra Brauer, Dr Robyn Lamont, Prof Graham Kerr, A/Prof Gene Moyle, Erica-Rose Jeffrey | For enquiries: Katrina Kemp (07) 3176 2405 k.kemp@uq.edu.au or r.lamont@uq.edu.au | |
| Remote monitoring in people with Parkinson’s Disease | Asia-Pacific Centre for Neuromodulation | Dr Robyn Lamont, Prof Sandra Brauer, Dr Jackie Liddle, Prof Peter Silburn | Research participants wanted! Contact Robyn Lamont r.lamont@uq.edu.au |
| Sensory system function in people with Multiple Sclerosis | Katrina Williams, Jess Riggall, Prof Sandra Brauer, Prof Nancy Low Choy | For enquires: Katrina Williams k.williams2@uq.edu.au Ph: 0407 550 930 | |
| Activity of community dwelling people with Multiple Sclerosis | Katrina Williams, Prof Trevor Russell | For enquires: Katrina Williams k.williams2@uq.edu.au Ph: 0407 550 930 | |
| Community exercise groups in people with Multiple Sclerosis | Katrina Williams, Dr Anna Hatton | For enquires: Katrina Williams k.williams2@uq.edu.au Ph: 0407 550 930 | |
| SCAT3 and Dynamic Visual Acuity in elite combat sports participants | Katrina Williams, Yaheli Bet-Or, Prof Bill Vicenzino | For enquires: Katrina Williams k.williams2@uq.edu.au Ph: 0407 550 930 | |
| Unilateral Vestibular loss measures | Katrina Williams, Dr Julia Treleavan | For enquires: Katrina Williams k.williams2@uq.edu.au Ph: 0407 550 930 | |
| ICARE, a tool to increase step completion in community dwelling people with neurological conditions | Katrina Williams, Rebecca Wilding, Sabina Rico | Completed | |
| Pilot study: How active are people with Multiple Sclerosis when participating in community exercise groups | Katrina Williams, Prof Trevor Russell | Completed | |
| Participation in independent exercise during primary rehabilitation in individuals with newly acquired spinal cord injuries | Susan Stoikov, Tiffany Goss, Gabrielle Ferguson, Joshua Simmons, Dr Adam Semciw | Susan.Stoikov@health.qld.gov.au | |
| MINDFIT for MS: Smartwatch training to improve prospective memory and reduce fatigue in people with Multiple Sclerosis | HABS Collaborative Research Seeding Grant (UQ) | Dr Hannah Gullo, Prof Jenny Fleming, Dr Anna Hatton, Dr Sean Tweedy, Prof Keith Pakenham | For enquiries: Anna Hatton a.hatton1@uq.edu.au |
Gerontology:
| Project Title | Funding | Investigators | Contact |
| Understanding Lateral Reactive Balance control mechanisms in older adults with hip osteoarthritis | PAH Research Foundation | Dr Anna Hatton, Dr Michelle Smith, Alexandra Picorelli | For enquires: Alexandra Picorelli Data Collection commencing in 2016 |
| Femoroacetabular impingement and early arthritis | NHMRC project grant (La Trobe University), Queensland orthopedic physiotherapy network (QOPN); UQ early career research grant | Prof Kay Crossley, Dr Adam Semciw, Prof Paul Hodges, Prof Bill Vicenzino, Dr Joanne Kemp, Dr Anthony Schache | For enquires: Dr Adam Semciw a.semciw@uq.edu.au |
| Functional outcomes of lower limb amputees | 2013 ISPO ANMS Research Grant, QH HP Grant | Healther Batten, Dr Allison Mandrusiak, Prof Suzanne Kuys, A/Prof Steven McPhail, Dr Paul Varghese | For enquires: Heather Batten heather.batten@health.qld.gov.au |
| Deep hip muscle function in health and disease | UQ early career research grant | Dr Adam Semciw, Dr Kylie Tucker, Prof Paul Hodges | For enquires: Dr Adam Semciw a.semciw@uq.edu.au |
| Lower limb kinematics and muscle control after lateral ankle sprains | HABS-MABS Research Collaboration Seeding Grant (UQ) | Dr Michelle Smith, Dr Kylie Tucker, Dr Anna Hatton, Dr Olga Panagiotopoulou | Completed |
Media Comment:
- SMART Arm: featured on Catalyst June 16, 2013: View video here
- Dance for Parkinson’s
- Textured shoe insoles a ‘positive’ step. DPS News, Caring & Carers [Online], 4th April 2014
- Textured insoles could be a positive step for people with MS. UQ News [Online], The University of Queensland, 2nd April 2014
- Falls in the elderly. 4BC Radio (1116AM, Brisbane, Australia) Health and Well-Being Show with John Scott, 17th March 2013
- How to keep your feet. The Northern Echo (Northern Edition) 14 October 2009
- Researchers focus on falls suffered by older people. Business Quarterly: (Special Report Autumn 2009) Ageing and Vitality
- Insole solution for falls by elderly investigated. Assistive Technologies Dec 2009/Jan 2010