Clinical Neuroscience

Unit Code

00078

Department/Institution Offering Unit

Neurosciences Institutes and Department of Medicine
Level 1, Neurosciences Building,
Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital, Austin Health
300 Waterdale Road
Heidelberg Heights
Victoria 3081 Australia

web: www.brain.org.au and www.strokeresearch.com.au

Unit Points

Research Points:87.5

Coursework Points: 12.5

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Contacts

Unit Coordinator/s:

Dr Helen Dewey
National Stroke Research Institute
Neurosciences Building
Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital, Austin Health
300 Waterdale Road
Heidelberg Heights
Victoria 3081 Australia

tel: +61 3 9496 2838
fax: + 61 3 9496 2650
email: deweyhm@unimelb.edu.au


Dr Michelle Porritt
Dept. Medicine
University of Melbourne
Austin Health
Studley Rd
Heidelberg
Victoria 3084 Australia

tel: +61 3 9496 5635
fax: + 61 3 9496 5485
email: mporritt@unimelb.edu.au

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Overall Objectives

• To develop an understanding of how clinical neurological problems seen at the bedside are investigated by imaging, epidemiology, genetics, basic laboratory studies, clinical trials and electrophysiological testing
• To develop an understanding of the close links between research and clinical practice
• To appreciate how basic science knowledge can be applied to clinical problems and to understand the scope and limitation of current research approaches
• To gain an effective approach to the biomedical literature

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Content

Coursework: Intermediate Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

Research: The major component of this course will be a clinical research project conducted under the supervision of staff members of the Neurological Institutes and Department of Neurology at Austin Health. Our group was recently appointed as one of the prestigious NH&MRC's Clinical Centres of Research Excellence. We have a strong track record in clinical research, which is ideal for medical students who will be able to see the link between research at a number of levels and clinical care.

There is a diverse range of possible neuroscience research projects involving the major clinical problems of stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and neuro-oncology. We study these disorders with cutting edge investigatory techniques including the first Australian 3 Tesla MRI machine, Positron Emission Tomography, sophisticated electrophysiological techniques as well as basic science research. The research institutes are closely linked to busy clinical services including comprehensive, multi-disciplinary services for epilepsy, stroke, neuro-oncology, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis. There is a busy clinical electrophysiology service.

Participation in departmental meetings/seminars will be expected.

Sample Research Topics:

There are a large number of research projects offered by the Clinical Neuroscience Unit.

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Assessment Breakdown

Research Component: 87.5 points
Research Report (up to 9,000 words): 75%
Oral presentation to the combined Institutes weekly scientific meeting on at least one occasion: 15%
Supervisor Evaluation: 10%

Coursework Component: 12.5 points
Intermediate Epidemiology and Biostatistics, assessed as per subject description.

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Student Numbers

Number of places available:
12