MRFF funding for psychedelic psychotherapy in treatment-resistant depression

Psilocybin is a naturally derived psychedelic that can

potentially assist people with treatment-resistant depression.
Image: ACS

The Medical Research Future Fund Clinical Trials Activity Initiative has awarded $2.7M for Innovative Therapies for Mental Illness to a Monash University-led team, to evaluate the efficacy of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in treatment-resistant depression.   

Congratulations to our promoted researchers!

L-R top row: Catriona Bradshaw, Kate Hoy, Trish Peel, Caroline
Gurvich. L-R bottom row: Joe Doyle, Lenka Vodstrcil, Jason Ong, 
Gemma Sharp

Eight Central Clinical School researchers have recently been promoted! Well done to all of them for their outstanding efforts in their respective fields.

Professor (Level E): Catriona Bradshaw (Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC)) and Kate Hoy (Department of Psychiatry, aka MAPrc)

Associate Professor (Level D): Trish Peel and Joe Doyle (both Department of Infectious Diseases), and Caroline Gurvich (Department of Psychiatry)

Senior Lecturer (Level C): Lenka Vodstrcil & Jason Ong (both MSHC), Gemma Sharp (Department of Psychiatry)

Could magnetic pulses help beat teen depression?

by Anne Crawford

A study showing that repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) reduced depression and anxiety in young people has pointed to factors suggesting who would be most likely to benefit from the treatment.

TMS, a non-invasive, well-tolerated procedure that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in the brain, is well-established as a treatment for depression in adults but little research has been conducted to test its use in young people.

Congratulations to A/Prof Kate Hoy on Telstra win!

Associate Professor Kate Hoy has won a Telstra award

Congratulations to neuropsychologist and NHMRC Fellow, Associate Professor Kate Hoy, who has won in the Public Sector and Academia category at the 2017 Telstra Victorian Business Women’s Awards!

Kate was the only Monash finalist in the Victorian arm of this year’s awards, and was one of four finalists in her category. She is Deputy Director of Therapeutic Brain Stimulation and heads the Cognitive Therapeutics Research Program at Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research centre.

See full story in Monash's 'Insider'.

Are you fit and forty+? Healthy volunteers wanted for research study!

Healthy control participants are sought for
MAPrc's ultra-runner research study.

Healthy male and female volunteers aged between 40-55 years are sought for a research study being conducted at the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre (MAPrc).

This study is looking at the cognitive, psychological and physiological attributes of ultra-runners compared to the general population. If you are healthy but not ultra-fit and would like to participate, we would love to hear from you!

Media mention: Alzheimer's trial using TMS

A/Prof Kate Hoy

Articles on A/Prof Kate Hoy's clinical trial treating cognitive symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer's with TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation)

16 Mar 2017 Channel 9 https://www.9now.com.au/today/2017/clip-cj0bte7av00bu0gloc3ow3nq4

15 Mar 2017 SMH, Age http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/brain-stimulation-for-alzheimers-disease-patients-shows-promise-20170313-guwz2p.html

14 Mar 2017 Herald Sun  http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/magnets-to-manipulate-brain-activity-latest-therapy-to-improve-early-symptoms-of-alzheimers-disease/news-story/75530cd8939c742371c2c9d2cf447dfe

Recent CCS publications: Week ending 22 April 2016

Transcranial stimulation

Recent publications with Central Clinical School affiliated authors:

Duan M, Steinfort DP, Smallwood D, Hew M, Chen W, Ernst M, Irving LB, Anderson GP, Hibbs ML. CD11b immunophenotyping identifies inflammatory profiles in the mouse and human lungs. Mucosal Immunol. 2016 Mar;9(2):550-63. 
Link: doi 10.1038/mi.2015.84.

Fitzgerald, P.B., Hoy, K.E., Elliot, D., McQueen, S., Wambeek, L.E., Daskalakis, Z.J. A negative double-blind controlled trial of sequential bilateral rTMS in the treatment of bipolar depression. Journal of Affective Disorders (2016) 198 pp. 158 - 162
Link: doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2016.03.052
 
Lim HY, Ng C, Donnan G, Nandurkar H, Ho P. Ten years of cerebral venous thrombosis: male gender and myeloproliferative neoplasm is associated with thrombotic recurrence in unprovoked events. J Thromb Thrombolysis. 2016 Apr 16. [Epub ahead of print]
Link: PMID 27085541

Maller JJ, Anderson RJ, Thomson RH, Daskalakis ZJ, Rosenfeld JV, Fitzgerald PB. Occipital bending in schizophrenia. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2016 Apr 11. pii: 0004867416642023. [Epub ahead of print]
Link: PMID 27066817

Unlocking the brain with new stimulation technologies

Associate Professor Kate Hoy

Brain connectivity and neuroplasticity are increasingly investigated and becoming better understood, and the insights are being employed with new technologies for treatment of cognitive disorders and brain injuries.

In this article, Elouise Brennan interviews A/Prof Kate Hoy of the Monash Alfred Psychiatry research centre on how the techniques of transcranial direct current stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation are being used for schizophrenia, Alzheimer's and depression. Link to full story.

A new treatment to enhance working memory

By Dr Jodie Abramovitch

Non-invasive stimulation of the brain by a weak electrical current can have therapeutic effects in a range of mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and depression. A newer form of this non-invasive techniques is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) which has been shown to improve cognitive processes such as working memory (includes comprehension, reasoning and learning).

A/Prof Kate Hoy

Recently, research conducted by Associate Professor Kate Hoy and colleagues from the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre (MAPrc) has focused on a closely related form of brain stimulation called transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). This method of stimulation is thought to induce changes in the brain which more closely mimics natural brain activities.

In this study, healthy individuals were given tACS, tDCS or a sham brain stimulation across separate testing sessions, at least one week apart. Working memory was tested before and after treatment via a series of computerised tasks. Results revealed that working memory was improved in participants following tACS when undertaking more difficult memory tasks. This was not seen in participants treated with tDCS or the sham treatment. 

These results provide a platform for ongoing investigations into tACS and how it may be used to improve cognition.

Reference: Hoy KE, Bailey N, Arnold S, Windsor K, John J, Daskalakis ZJ, Fitzgerald PB. The effect of γ-tACS on working memory performance in healthy controls. Brain Cogn. 2015 Dec; 101:51-6

doi: 10.1016/j.bandc.2015.11.002

PhD in Clinical Neuroscience: Top Up Scholarship

We are seeking a high performing new PhD student to work in the Brain Stimulation group at the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre (MAPrc). The successful student will be supervised by Professor Paul Fitzgerald, a world leading brain stimulation expert. An APA scholarship (or equivalent) is required to apply, with a top-up scholarship to be awarded to the successful applicant ($8,500pa).

The project will utilise cutting edge neurotechnologies in order to investigate the mechanisms of therapeutic brain stimulation in psychiatric illness. This is a unique opportunity to join Australia’s leading research group spanning both basic and therapeutic brain stimulation research.

To apply send your CV and half-page statement on your research interests to Paul.Fitzgerald@monash.edu

For more information contact:

• Professor Paul Fitzgerald
• Paul.Fitzgerald@monash.edu
• www.maprc.org.au/Psychiatric-Neurotechnology

Schizophrenia and working memory

Researchers at MAPrc have published a pair of research papers providing crucial proof-of-principle for a new treatment for cognitive impairment in schizophrenia.  Cognitive impairment is a core symptom of schizophrenia, occurring in greater than 80% of patients, and results in considerable functional disability. Despite the prevalence and significant burden associated with these symptoms, treatment options are few and of limited effectiveness.

Novel form of brain stimulation enhances working memory

Dr Kate Hoy, lead researcher on the TBS study

MAPrc researchers have recently published a world first finding in Cerebral Cortex.

The paper, lead authored by Dr Kate Hoy, investigated the use of a novel form of brain stimulation to enhance working memory.  Impairments in cognition, such as difficulties in attention and memory, are core symptoms of a number of psychiatric and neurological conditions. These difficulties greatly affect patient’s ability to engage in day-to-day life and there are currently no effective treatments.

Mental health week 2015: Schizophrenia and mirror system function

MAPrc student Dr Sophie Andrews supervised by Dr Kate Hoy, Professor Paul Fitzgerald, and Dr Richard Thomson recently authored a study which looked at patients with schizophrenia and whether their mirror neuron systems are impaired.

Dysfunctional mirror neuron systems have been proposed to contribute to the social cognitive deficits observed in schizophrenia. A few studies have explored mirror systems in schizophrenia using various techniques such as TMS (levels of motor resonance) or EEG (levels of mu suppression), with mixed results.

This study used a novel multimodal approach (eg: concurrent TMS and EEG) to further investigate mirror systems and social cognition in schizophrenia. Nineteen individuals with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and 19 healthy controls participated.

The study found that the schizophrenia group showed significant deficits in facial affect recognition and higher level theory of mind, compared to healthy controls. A significant positive relationship was revealed between mu suppression and motor resonance for the overall sample, indicating concurrent validity of these measures. Levels of mu suppression and motor resonance were not significantly different between groups.

These findings indicate that in stable outpatients with schizophrenia, mirror system functioning is intact. Therefore, their social cognitive difficulties may be caused by alternative pathophysiology.

Reference (full study): Andrews SC, Enticott PG, Hoy KE, Thomson RH, Fitzgerald PB. No evidence for mirror system dysfunction in schizophrenia from a multimodal TMS/EEG study. Psychiatry Research 228:3,pp.431–440, 30 Aug 2015.

Participants sought: Can brain stimulation improve memory and attention?

A study participant engages in a memory task

Dr Kate Hoy's team at MAPrc is currently conducting a number of projects looking at the use of brain stimulation for the treatment of cognitive impairment in people with head injuries or with schizophrenia. 

Congratulations to Dr Kate Hoy for her research excellence, recognised by the NHMRC

Dr Kate Hoy with a research study participant

MAPrc’s Dr Kate Hoy was recognised for her outstanding research this week at the NHMRC Research Excellence Awards and Biennial Awards.

Dr Hoy received the award for the highest ranked Career Development Fellowship – Biomedical, Level 1 for her research which looks at developing new treatments for cognitive impairment.

Review publication: Measuring brain stimulation induced changes in cortical properties using TMS-EEG

TMS plus EEG equals more insight into
effects of brain stmulation

Neuromodulatory brain stimulation can induce plastic reorganization of cortical circuits that persist beyond the period of stimulation. Most of our current knowledge about the physiological properties has been derived from the motor cortex. The integration of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroencephalography (EEG) is a valuable method for directly probing excitability, connectivity and oscillatory dynamics of regions throughout the brain. Offering in depth measurement of cortical reactivity, TMS-EEG allows the evaluation of TMS-evoked components that may act as a marker for cortical excitation and inhibition.

Participants sought: Can gentle brain stimulation improve cognition in people who have had a mild to moderate head injury ?

We are seeking volunteers between 18 and 65 years of age who have developed memory and attention problems following a mild to moderate head injury. We are testing whether combining gentle electrical stimulation with ‘brain training’ can improve memory and attention following a head injury.

Participants sought: Can transcranial direct current stimulation enhance second language learning?

See more about the study: ccs-clin-trials.med.monash.edu.au/trials/can-transcranial-direct-current-stimulation-enhance-second-language-learning

Healthy adults are sought between the ages of 18 and 45 to help investigate the influence of gentle brain stimulation on learning. MAPrc researchers are investigating whether gentle electrical stimulation can improve people's ability to learn a second language.

CCS awards 'Near Miss' funding to Kate Hoy, Catriona Bradshaw and Margaret Hibbs

Dr Kate Hoy

Dr Margaret Hibbs

Dr Catriona Bradshaw

The CCS has expanded its near miss funding program this year to provide additional support to investigators affected by the tightening of NHMRC purse strings. Three grants that all scored Category 5 quartile 4 and participated in the CCS review process will be awarded $100,000 each. Congratulations to our awardees this year, Dr Kate Hoy (MAPRc), Dr Catriona Bradshaw (Melbourne Sexual Health) and Dr Margaret Hibbs (Immunology).

2013 Faculty strategic grant award winners for Central Clinical School

Congratulations to the CCS researchers who are lead Chief Investigators for 2014 Faculty strategic grant awards. A total of 31 grants were made.

• Professor Paul Fitzgerald (MAPrc): Development of an enhanced magnetic field concentrator design for Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. See Brain Stimulation and Neuroscience page for both Paul's and Kate's research.

Dr Kate Hoy (MAPrc): Investigating optimal methods of cognitive enhancement: A comparison of the behavioural and biological effects of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation  

Prof Rob Medcalf (ACBD): Proving a smart drug delivery approach for the improved treatment of traumatic brain injury. See Laboratory page. 

See complete list of awards.