Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
I am a Research Fellow in the Department of Neuroscience, Monash University and an emerging leader in the field of Positron Emission Topography (PET) radiotracer development, application and translation for rare neurodegenerative and neurological diseases known as tauopathies. I have a major interest in the role of the protein tau in neurodegenerative diseases, and the development of biomarkers to better identify tauopathies.
I use neuroimaging techniques (particularly PET imaging) to study the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases in order to change the current diagnosis and treatment of rare neurodegenerative diseases.
I have a strong translational research focus with capability in proof of concept in vitro studies (preclinical development and commercialisation), through to diagnostic validity in clinical application. My work in developing PET radiotracers has received substantial funding through the NIH (CI $1.4M USD, 2022-2025), the Department of Science the Environment and Resources (CI $1M, 2022-24), Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia (CI $235,000, 2021-22) and the NHMRC (CID $870,000, 2018-21).
My research program has focussed on early phase “first in human” and “first in disease” clinical trials of sodium selenate, a potentially disease-modifying treatment for tauopathies. Long term (<23 months) treatment with sodium selenate showed reduced cognitive decline than expected with natural history.
I lead a research group in which I supervise two PhD students, one MSc student, and three Honours students. I also co-supervise one post-doc and one PhD student. I am part of the iBRAIN research group leadership team.
I am one of the chief investigators of the Monash Cognition and Imaging Study (MCIS), a study that aims to better characterise different neurodegenerative diseases and find new biomarkers for earlier diagnosis. This is funded by the pharmaceutical company Biogen (USD$169,000) and philanthropic donations ($50,000).
I am an active collaborator in the ENIGMA epilepsy and MELD consortia.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Research area keywords
- Neurodegenerative Diseases/Disorders
- Neuropharmacology
- Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
- Neuroimaging
- Position Emission Tomography (PET)
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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A multi-modality med-tech approach to dietary therapy for epilepsy care (MED-TEC): A randomised controlled trial
Kaul, N., Kwan, P., Ademi Delaney, Z., Chen, Z., Johns, H., Nicolo, J., Vivash, L., Skafidas, E. S. & Erlichster, M.
1/06/23 → 31/05/27
Project: Research
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A Phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of sodium selenate as a disease modifying treatment for chronic drug resistant temporal lobe epilepsy (SELECT Trial)
O'Brien, T., Vivash, L., Churilov, L., Kwan, P., Carney, P., Perucca, P., Nicolo, J., Cook, M. J., Gillinder, L., Casillas-Espinosa, P., Hovens, C. M., Malpas, C., Shultz, S., Velakoulis, D., Lawn, N. D., Johns, H., Wijayath, M., Burford, J., Wait, L., D'Souza, W. J. & Reutens, D. C.
1/02/23 → 31/01/28
Project: Research
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Manufacturing and commercialization of [18F]-PET radiotracers
Stupple, P., Baell, J., Hawkey, L., Mudududdla, R., O'Brien, T., Vivash, L., Jupp, B., Santamaria, G., Ware, R. E., Stephens, A. W. & Mueller, A.
10/04/21 → 30/04/25
Project: Research
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Sodium Selenate as a Disease Modifying Treatment for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (Sodium Selenate for PSP)
O'Brien, T., Bertram, K., Vivash, L., Evans, A. H., Kimber, T. E., O'Sullivan, J. D., Malpas, C., Fielding, J., Velakoulis, D. & Law, M.
1/06/20 → 31/05/26
Project: Research
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NHMRC Equipment Grant - Lateral Fluid Percussion Injury (LFPI) Device
Vivash, L., Leung, J., Casillas-Espinosa, P., Ali, I., O'Brien, T., Shultz, S. & Jones, N.
1/11/23 → 31/12/24
Project: Research
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Association of Localizing 18F-FDG-PET Hypometabolism and Outcome Following Epilepsy Surgery: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Courtney, M. R., Antonic-Baker, A., Chen, Z., Sinclair, B., Nicolo, J. P., Neal, A., Marotta, C., Bunyamin, J., Law, M., Kwan, P., O'Brien, T. J. & Vivash, L., 14 May 2024, In: Neurology. 102, 9, 14 p., e209304.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
1 Citation (Scopus) -
Automated segmentation of epilepsy surgical resection cavities: Comparison of four methods to manual segmentation
Courtney, M. R., Sinclair, B., Neal, A., Nicolo, J. P., Kwan, P., Law, M., O'Brien, T. J. & Vivash, L., 1 Aug 2024, In: NeuroImage. 296, 8 p., 120682.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Combining OPM and lesion mapping data for epilepsy surgery planning: a simulation study
Mellor, S., Timms, R. C., O’Neill, G. C., Tierney, T. M., Spedden, M. E., Brookes, M. J., Wagstyl, K., Barnes, G. R. & The MELD Project Consortium, Dec 2024, In: Scientific Reports. 14, 1, 12 p., 2882.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Inflammasomes at the crossroads of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic epilepsy
Javalgekar, M., Jupp, B., Vivash, L., O’Brien, T. J., Wright, D. K., Jones, N. C. & Ali, I., Dec 2024, In: Journal of Neuroinflammation. 21, 1, 15 p., 172.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access2 Citations (Scopus) -
In vivo biomarkers of GABAergic function in epileptic rats treated with the GAT-1 inhibitor E2730
Ali, I., Jupp, B., Hudson, M. R., Major, B., Silva, J., Yamakawa, G. R., Casillas-Espinosa, P. M., Braine, E., Thergarajan, P., Haskali, M. B., Vivash, L., Brkljaca, R., Shultz, S. R., Kwan, P., Fukushima, K., Sachdev, P., Cheng, J. Y., Mychasiuk, R., Jones, N. C., Wright, D. K., & 1 others , Nov 2024, In: Epilepsia. 65, 11, p. 3376-3390 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access
Press/Media
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A new treatment for behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia
16/06/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Blogs, Podcasts and Social Media › Podcasts
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Testing a Drug’s Disease-Modifying Potential For Frontotemporal Dementia
14/06/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Sodium selenate: A potential future treatment for early-onset dementia
12/05/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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