THE FLOREY ANNUAL REPORT 2013 OUR MISSION To improve lives through brain research OUR VISION To create significant knowledge about the brain OUR VALUES Generate scientific knowledge to improve global health Innovate and problem-solve Work together with integrity Share our discoveries with our supporters and partners OUR COVER Associate Professor Julie Bernhardt’s career continues to be recognised with a range of awards, fellowships and publications in the field of stroke rehabilitation. In 2013, Julie, left, not only pursued her research, but mentored several young scientists – men and women. Dr Emma Burrows, centre, from the cognitive neuroscience division, is one such beneficiary of Julie’s experience. Julie’s support is mirrored by philanthropists like Ms Naomi Milgrom, right, who has made a significant contribution to the Florey’s Women in Science program. Naomi has a long relationship with the Florey, dating back to nearly a decade on the Board and more recently, taking an active interest in the Florey’s progress towards a more supportive workplace for women. THE FLOREY INSTITUTE OF NEUROSCIENCE & MENTAL HEALTH ANNUAL REPORT 2013 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Our mission, vision and values 1 Untangling the wires in our heads 68 About us 4 Huntington’s – searching for a cure 70 Why do we study the brain? 6 Schizophrenia – the push to find some answers 72 Florey in a flash 7 The Florey’s impact on schizophrenia 73 Chairman’s & Director’s report 8 The financial cost of mental illness 73 Chief Operating Officer’s report 11 Unravelling the secrets of Alzheimer’s disease 86 Repairing a vulnerable brain 12 When changing a nappy is exciting 112 Taking care of business 14 Save a minute, save a day 125 Neuroscience Trials Australia 16 When stroke becomes dementia 126 Neuroscience for the next generation 18 Our brain’s fundamental need for salt 127 Foundation Council Chairman’s report 19 Florey students team-up for excellence 132 Board of Directors 22 Florey Governors 135 Division heads 28 Board committees & Foundation Council 136 Equality in Science report 32 The Florey Faculty & senior positions 137 The science 34 It is Pozible 139 Jess and her iPad loving mice 39 Our donors 140 The global health challenge of neurological disorders 40 Financial statements 144 Meet the team from the Developmental Psychobiology lab 49 Our people 146 4 THE FLOREY INSTITUTE OF NEUROSCIENCE & MENTAL HEALTH ANNUAL REPORT 2013 THE FLOREY INSTITUTE OF NEUROSCIENCE & MENTAL HEALTH ANNUAL REPORT 2013 5 ABOUT US ADDICTION ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE MENTAL ILLNESS EPILEPSY HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE he Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health is one of the largest brain research centres in the world and MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE the biggest in Australia. Our scientists share a common T MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS goal – to improve people’s lives through brain research and, ultimately, to influence global wellbeing and health economics. PARKINSON’S DISEASE We employ 596 staff and educate approximately 120 post- graduate students each year. STROKE Neuroscience is an area of medical research attracting enormous SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME attention as our understanding of the brain rapidly evolves. Internationally, populations are ageing and there is a sense of TRAUMATIC BRAIN AND urgency to find causes, treatments and cures for conditions SPINAL CORD INJURY affecting the brain and mind. We need to address these conditions to avoid suffering and to contain health-related expenditure. The Florey is a world-leader in imaging technology, genetics, stroke rehabilitation and epidemiological studies. Mental health research is also a growing focus with psychotic illnesses and neurodegenerative diseases demanding attention. 6 THE FLOREY INSTITUTE OF NEUROSCIENCE & MENTAL HEALTH ANNUAL REPORT 2013 THE FLOREY INSTITUTE OF NEUROSCIENCE & MENTAL HEALTH ANNUAL REPORT 2013 7 FLOREY IN A FLASH WHY DO WE STUDY THE BRAIN? STAFF AND STUDENTS TOTAL STUDENTS HONORARIES FLOREY FACULTY he human brain — a spongy, 1.5kg mass of tissue — is the most complex living structure. It has the capacity T to store more information than a supercomputer and to create a network of connections far superior to any social network. The brain has enabled humans to achieve SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL breathtaking milestones — exploring the solar system, PHD STUDENTS SUPPORT STAFF ALUMNI mapping the human genome and composing masterpieces of art, literature, and music. Scientists still have not uncovered the full extent of what the brain can do. This single organ controls every aspect of our lives, ranging from heart rate and appetite to emotion and memory. The brain controls the immune system’s response to disease and determines, in part, how well people respond to medical treatments. It shapes our thoughts, beliefs, dreams and imagination. Neuroscientists specialise in the study of the brain and the nervous system. We are inspired to decipher the brain’s command over all its diverse functions. In the last 30 years, the 24 538 2823 neuroscience field has made enormous progress. We continue to strive for a deeper understanding of how the brain’s 100 billion Countries represented by our Papers, chapters, books edited Scientific publications nerve cells are born, grow, and connect. We study how these staff and students and abstracts in 2013 published over 10 years cells organise themselves into effective, functional circuits that usually remain in working order for life. Brain researchers are motivated to understand behaviour. How do cell circuits enable us to read and speak? How and why do we form relationships? How do we think, remember, despair, or motivate? We are discovering possible causes of devastating disorders of the brain and body, as well as ways to prevent or cure SCIENTIFIC PAPERS CUMULATIVE CITATIONS AVERAGE CITATION them. We strive to understand how the world around us works. Scientific papers published Cumulative citations of scientific Average citation over 10 years in 2013 publications over 10 years 100 AVERAGE CITATIONS 564 H-index Average citations per item 2013 Citations cumulative 2013 Adapted from a piece written by the Society for Neuroscience. 8 THE FLOREY INSTITUTE OF NEUROSCIENCE & MENTAL HEALTH ANNUAL REPORT 2013 THE FLOREY INSTITUTE OF NEUROSCIENCE & MENTAL HEALTH ANNUAL REPORT 2013 9 Chairman’s & Director’s Report Chairman’S & DIRECTor’S REPORT s the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health celebrates its 50th Report from the Chairman of the anniversary, we have been reflecting on our achievements and also looking Board, Mr Harold Mitchell AC, and the A forward to a new era in medical research. The Florey has evolved to become Scientific Director, Professor Geoffrey Donnan part of a sector that is a world-class asset to Australia’s economy, delivering significant dividends through highly successful academic activity and biotech ingenuity. The Florey’s work directly benefits the health of Australians. In fact, research conducted during 2013 has had an international impact, by influencing the way people are treated within hours of a stroke as well as encouraging changes in rehabilitation practice to ensure the damaged brain’s plasticity is given the very best chance to make new connections. These are just two of the significant pieces of work you will read about in this report. Within the next five years, investment in translational research into chronic neurological diseases and mental health will be critical to prevent an unprecedented health care crisis. By 2020, 5.5 million baby boomers (20% of current workers) will be leaving the workforce. Longer life expectancy means there will be an increase in the incidence of chronic diseases of brain and mind (stroke, dementia and mental illness) and associated disability in this population. Health care costs are projected to double by 2050. What we need to avert this crisis is a coordinated frontier program of research focused on translation that changes clinical practice in the treatment of chronic neurological diseases and mental illness. Florey researchers are focussed on the role they will play in helping to maintain healthy brains from adolescence through full maturity and ageing. Our work will contribute to the nation’s need for a productive, engaged population with high levels of workforce participation throughout life. With imaging and genetics now providing fundamental insights to modern medicine, the Florey is beautifully positioned to confront these future health challenges, led by extraordinary scientific leaders. Today the Florey accommodates 600 people, including more than 120 students, and we work with neuroscientists from 34 countries. We plan to grow even more in the next few years and to collaborate with an even wider range of partners. During 2013, the Florey joined with the Australian Football League to use our sophisticated imaging equipment to assess the long-term impact of concussion on football players. Professor Graeme Jackson, neurologist and senior deputy director of the Florey, is keen to create a Centre of Research Excellence, bringing key researchers together so that athletes – from little six-year old contenders through to professional players – are offered the best advice to stay safe when competing. Professor Jackson and his team also refined imaging techniques that not only identify types of epilepsy but help neurosurgeons operate with greater accuracy. Professor Ingrid Scheffer continued in her extraordinary quest to identify the genes responsible for a range of serious childhood epilepsies, winning a major award on the way. Our Alzheimer’s researchers have contributed to a major advance: we are close to being able to provide a blood test that will identify biological markers associated with the toxic protein called amyloid beta. It could help identify those at risk of dementia 10 THE FLOREY INSTITUTE OF NEUROSCIENCE & MENTAL HEALTH ANNUAL REPORT 2013 THE FLOREY INSTITUTE OF NEUROSCIENCE & MENTAL HEALTH ANNUAL REPORT 2013 11 CHIEF OPERATING OFFICer’S REPORT Chairman’s & Director’s Report Report from the Chief Operating Officer, Gary Gray up to 17 years before symptoms appear, along with scanning and cognitive testing.