A Grey Matter

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A Grey Matter

Queensland Brain Institute

86 episodes

Few seconds ago

Professor Massimo Hilliard and Dr Ramon Martinez-Marmol grew up far from Queensland – Massimo in Naples, Italy, and Ramon in Catalonia, Spain. Their passion for biology led them both overseas as postdoctoral researchers: Massimo to the United States, and then Ramon to Australia. In 2015, they met at UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute, where Ramon joined the Meunier lab before moving to the Hilliard lab in 2020 as a Research Fellow. Together, they have been extending the limits of what is known o...

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Professor Massimo Hilliard and Dr Ramon Martinez-Marmol grew up far from Queensland – Massimo in Naples, Italy, and Ramon in Catalonia, Spain. Their passion for biology led them both overseas as postdoctoral researchers: Massimo to the United States, and then Ramon to Australia. In 2015, they met at UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute, where Ramon joined the Meunier lab before moving to the Hilliard lab in 2020 as a Research Fellow. Together, they have been extending the limits of what is known o...

Show more...

Episodes (20/86)

A Grey Matter

The fusion frontier

Professor Massimo Hilliard and Dr Ramon Martinez-Marmol grew up far from Queensland – Massimo in Naples, Italy, and Ramon in Catalonia, Spain. Their passion for biology led them both overseas as postdoctoral researchers: Massimo to the United States, and then Ramon to Australia. In 2015, they met at UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute, where Ramon joined the Meunier lab before moving to the Hilliard lab in 2020 as a Research Fellow. Together, they have been extending the limits of what is known o...

Few seconds ago

30 minutes

A Grey Matter

Surviving, treating, fighting stroke

In this special World Stroke Day edition, three remarkable women open up about stroke from every angle — surviving it, treating it, and fighting it in the lab. Letishia Living was just 35 when her life changed overnight; today, she’s a powerful voice for young stroke survivors. Tennille Rowland, an occupational therapist on the frontlines of recovery, reveals the strategies behind rebuilding lives and QBI neuroscientist, Dr Matilde Balbi, takes us inside her cutting-edge research searching fo...

1 week ago

33 minutes

A Grey Matter

Cracking the MND code

In this episode, Dr Margreet Ridder — whose project was ranked the top FightMND-funded study in 2024 — reflects on her journey to becoming a researcher at the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) with her group leader, Professor Pankaj Sah. She shares how her fascination with neuronal communication led her to electrophysiology and ultimately to pursue gene therapy as a potential treatment for motor neurone disease (MND). In this insightful conversation, Pankaj and Margreet discuss: W...

2 weeks ago

33 minutes

A Grey Matter

Getting inside bipolar

Please note that this episode contains discussions about suicidal ideation, which some listeners may find distressing. If you or someone you know is affected by these kinds of issues, we encourage you to seek support from professional services. Heather Cruickshank was pursuing a lifelong dream to become a medical doctor when bipolar disorder, a complex mental health condition, stopped her in her tracks and forced her to rethink her career. A chance encounter with QBI Associate Professor...

1 month ago

39 minutes

A Grey Matter

The science of staying young

While countless supplements and products promise to reverse aging without scientific proof, the real secret to defying age may be found in the study of epigenetics. This field of study explores how our behaviours and environment can lead to changes that influence how our genes function. Dr Anne Hahn from the Zuryn laboratory has recently discovered a mechanism in the DNA of genes that regulates how disease-causing mutations are inherited. The findings offer a promising therapeutic avenu...

1 year ago

19 minutes

A Grey Matter

How memories shape us

Dr Matt Kenna is fascinated by the science of memory. As a researcher at UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute, Matt is tasked with challenging prominent theories centred around one of the biggest unknowns in the world of neuroscience. Memory is fundamental to our identity, shaping who we are. As a member of the Sah lab, Matt studies synaptic plasticity to explore how memories are formed, retrieved, and influence behavior.In this engaging conversation, Matt discusses:How memory is definedWhere memo...

1 year ago

34 minutes

A Grey Matter

Redefining mental health

Professor John McGrath, a distinguished clinician and researcher at UQ's Queensland Brain Institute, is at the forefront of global mental health research. Growing up in Brisbane, John initially pursued a career as a psychiatrist before transitioning to groundbreaking research aimed at unraveling the complexities of mental health disorders. Co-leading a major international study in collaboration with The University of Queensland and Harvard Medical School, John’s research revealed that one in ...

1 year ago

43 minutes

A Grey Matter

When comedy meets science

Mr Mehershad Wadia has written numerous scripts for short comedies screened at international film festivals like Mumbai and San Francisco, joined the writing team for the third season of The Office India and published a children’s book. Matching his passion for entertainment is Mehershad’s commitment to brain research. He is adamant there is no reason to choose between the two. At UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute, Mehershad works in the Hilliard lab, studying the nervous system of c.elegans. &...

1 year ago

24 minutes

A Grey Matter

Testing Stroke Recovery

Professor Gail Robinson has developed a new diagnostic tool to assess cognitive function in post-stroke patients called The Brief Executive Language Screening Test (BELS). This brief 20-minute test, can predict how much a stroke patient will recover to function independently in their first year.In this informative podcast, Professor Robinson discusses:Stroke symptoms and causesWarning signs of a strokeThe window that the BELS test can be taken to best inform recoveryThe typical clinical pathw...

1 year ago

30 minutes

A Grey Matter

Train your brain

We know exercise is beneficial for our body and mind. Research has shown that neurogenesis – the production of neurons in the brain – continues throughout our lives and is key to improving cognition. At the Queensland Brain Institute, Dr Daniel Blackmore, has been captivated by this process of neurogenesis. Alongside colleagues from The University of Queensland, he completed a comprehensive study, investigating the potential of exercise in mitigating the cognitive decline associated with...

1 year ago

26 minutes

A Grey Matter

Meals matter for child brain development

Dr Bonnie Searle is passionate about getting children to eat. In her past life as a paediatric dietitian for children with food aversions, she experienced first-hand the power of changing how we feed children. She is currently working on a special research project at the Queensland Brain Institute, called Mealtimes Matter, which suggests that there are some serious nutritional deficiencies in some childcare centres, particularly in disadvantaged areas, that is having a detrimental effect...

1 year ago

28 minutes

A Grey Matter

Tackling concussion

What do Wally Lewis AM and Nic Berry have in common? Quite a lot, it turns out. Wally started playing rugby union before switching codes to rugby league, becoming a legend of the game. Nic kicked off in rugby league before his professional career in rugby union, first as a player and now as an international match official. Both have also experienced significant head knocks in rugby and, with the benefit of hindsight, are passionate supporters of QBI’s concussion research.In this relaxed conve...

1 year ago

32 minutes

A Grey Matter

Memory enhancing mushrooms

1 year ago

21 minutes

A Grey Matter

A neuroengineered future

Last year, neuroengineer Dr Clarissa Whitmire joined the Queensland Brain Institute as a senior research fellow and is the Institute’s newest group leader. Originally from the United States, Clarissa arrived at UQ following a postdoctoral appointment at the Max Dellbruck Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin. In a joint appointment with UQ’s School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Clarissa seeks to combine her expertise in biomedical engineering with the next phase of n...

1 year ago

25 minutes

A Grey Matter

The business of neuroscience

As a Research Fellow in Neuroeconomics, Dr Dragan Rangelov investigates human sensory perception, decision-making and memory. His work explores how the brain processes and stores information that leads us to make decisions in all aspects of life. He does this by using techniques designed to measure and record brain activity, such as electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging and by identifying patterns of neural activity associated with external sensory stimuli.In ...

1 year ago

26 minutes

A Grey Matter

Remembering to give

Robyn Hilton and Allison Scifleet may never have become firm friends had it not been for their involvement in fundraising for dementia research. Both women understand what it is like to care for a loved one with dementia. With more than 421,000 Australians living with dementia and no cure (yet), Robyn and Allison are determined to raise awareness in the community and vital funds for research. All while having as much fun as possible! In this delightful conversation, Robyn and Alli...

1 year ago

29 minutes

A Grey Matter

Reflecting on 20 years of brain research excellence

What inspired the creation of the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI)? And how did QBI become one of the leading neuroscience research centres in the world? On our 20th anniversary, QBI’s inaugural Director, Emeritus Professor Perry Bartlett, and its current Executive Director, Professor Pankaj Sah, take us back to 2003, an exciting and optimistic time for Australian neuroscience, when it all began. They share memories and insights into QBI's origins, what and who has shaped our research over th...

2 years ago

31 minutes

A Grey Matter

Hijacking the brain’s intrinsic recovery mechanisms to improve stroke therapies

Stroke is one of Australia’s biggest killers, with more than 445,000 Australians living with its impacts. Stroke is common, is not always preventable and can happen to anyone at any age. QBI’s Dr Matilde Balbi and her team combine multiple approaches, including in vivo imaging, brain stimulation and AI-driven, individually tailored recovery paradigms, to study the brain’s recovery from stroke. Their goal is to identify and harness intrinsic neuroprotective mechanisms to improve stroke treatme...

2 years ago

15 minutes

A Grey Matter

Understanding epilepsy's electrical storm in the brain

QBI researcher Dr Nela Durisic is fascinated with how the brain coordinates electrical activity and how faulty electrical communication can lead to brain disorders like epilepsy. By observing the architecture and function of single molecules and their intricate connections, the Durisic lab aims to discover what leads to genetic epilepsy and uncover new ways to treat it. This knowledge may also advance our understanding of other brain disorders, including depression, addiction and autism. &nbs...

2 years ago

25 minutes

A Grey Matter

What we can see inside our brain cells with super-resolution microscopy

QBI researcher Professor Frederic Meunier is passionate about using highly innovative technology to discover how our brain cells communicate. His lab uses advanced nanoscale imaging (super-resolution microscopy) to observe single molecules in living neurons as they perform their function. In collaboration with mathematicians, the Meunier lab is analysing how small mutations can affect the nanoscale dynamics of single proteins and their function to help us understand the origins of brain disor...

2 years ago

26 minutes