Longitudinal Hippocampal Study

Longitudinal In Vivo Study of Hippocampal Structure and Function, and Relationship to Neurocognitive, Neurobehavioral and Epileptic Outcomes, in a Model of Human Traumatic Brain Injury

Chief Investigator: Associate Professor Terence O’Brien
Associate Investigators: Associate Professor David Howells, Dr Peter Batchelor, Dr Damien Myers, Professor Rod Hicks, Professor Chris Pantelis, Associate Professor Gary Egan, Associate Professor Edward Hogan, Dr Dennis Velakoulis, Dr Stefanie Dedeurwaerdere, Dr Nigel Jones, Dr Ke Fang
Lead Organisation: University of Melbourne
VNI Funding: $973,324
Project Start Date: 09-Oct-06

Project Summary:
Deficits in cognition, changes in behaviour and epileptic seizures are common and disabling long-term consequences of traumatic brain injury. Brain scans, such as CT or MRI, will often identify sites of damage, however, no systematic study has been performed to identify how changes to the injured brain are associated with behavioural changes after traumatic brain injury. The purpose of this study is to investigate the nature of progressive damage in the brain that continues long after the acute effects have resolved and identify targets for future interventions. This study will be performed using an animal model of closed head injury with advanced imaging techniques applied before and after the injury.