Researcher

Professor Mark Parsons

Biography

Professor Parsons is an internationally recognised leader in Stroke Medicine and a highly sought-after speaker, instructor and mentor, both nationally and internationally, in all aspects of clinical Neuroscience. He has just been appointed as Professor of Medicine and Neurology at UNSW South Western Sydney Clinical School. He remains as Professor in Neurology in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne....view more

Professor Parsons is an internationally recognised leader in Stroke Medicine and a highly sought-after speaker, instructor and mentor, both nationally and internationally, in all aspects of clinical Neuroscience. He has just been appointed as Professor of Medicine and Neurology at UNSW South Western Sydney Clinical School. He remains as Professor in Neurology in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne. Most recently he was Director of the Department of Neurology, Royal Melbourne Hospital. He is also a Conjoint Professor of Neurology in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Newcastle and a Visiting Professor at Fudan University, Shanghai. e is He

He is an international leader in Stroke clinical trials and brain imaging and has translated much of his research into clinical practice change. He has published in all major neurology specialty journals as well as the highest impact general clinical journals, despite heavy clinical and administrative workloads. He is recognised by his peers nationally and internationally as one of the leading mid-career clinician neuroscientists in the world, evidenced by >300 articles in peer reviewed journals (h index 72), and >100 speaking invitations and session chairs at international conferences and >100 at national meetings. He has been the Chair of Organising Committees for >20 National and International Stroke Conferences. Professor Parsons has been an immediate past president of the Stroke Society of Australasia and has chaired the Australasian Stroke Trials Network. He has attracted over $35m to support his research program during the past five years and is currently leading two major NHMRC-funded clinical phase III randomised trials of tenecteplase across 50 centres internationally (Tenecteplase versus Alteplase for Stroke Thrombolysis Evaluation, TASTE; and Extending the time window for Tenecteplase by Effective Reperfusion of peNumbrAL tissue in patients with Large Vessel Occlusion, ETERNAL). He is also a CI on an NHMRC Program Grant “Saving Brain and changing practice in Stroke” for $13.7 million dollars. This Grant was ranked number 1 of all Program Grants for 2017.

Professor Parsons has considerable industry collaborations both in terms of clinical stroke practice and imaging. With respect to clinical practice, he serves on international advisory boards for Boehringer Ingelheim for thrombolysis and national advisory boards for stroke anticoagulation for both Bayer and Boehringer Ingelheim. With respect to imaging, he has had a long research collaboration with Apollo Medical Imaging Technology, an Australian company based in Melbourne dedicated to developing innovative imaging software for use in medical research and clinical practice. With longstanding research collaborations with Siemens and Toshiba, he is currently working with Siemens on mobile stroke imaging and stroke ambulances. He was integral to the installation of one of the first 3-Tesla research Siemens MR Prisma systems in the world at the Hunter Medical Research Institute. In 2011, a then state-of-the-art 320-slice Toshiba CT scanner was installed at John Hunter Hospital, which was only possible because of a research collaboration between Toshiba and Professor Parsons. This resulted in JHH being the only Toshiba Neurological Luminary site outside of Japan and North America.

In terms of international academic collaborations, Professor Parsons devised, and leads, the INternational Stroke Perfusion Imaging Registry (INSPIRE), with more than 20 centres (and >4000 patients) in Australia, China, Canada, and India. His Chinese collaborations are extensive and especially strong with world top 50 ranked universities, Zheijiang (Hangzhou) and Fudan (Shanghai). He was recently appointed as a Visiting Professor at Fudan University. His extensive Chinese and Taiwanese connections have also prompted him to become fluent in Mandarin. Apart from China, he has many other strong and long-standing academic collaborations including with Stanford University, University of Alberta (Edmonton and Calgary), UCLA, and Cambridge.

With respect to peer recognition and awards, Professor Parsons is on the editorial board of the two major international Stroke journals, Stroke, and International Journal of Stroke (where he is also the Imaging editor). He has been the past recipient of several major Fellowships recognising his developing leadership in the field, an Australia Research Council Future Fellowship and a National Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellowship. In 2015, he won both the Hunter New England Health Quality Awards and NSW Health Awards Translational Research Category for his pioneering work with NSW Ambulance service. In 2014, he was recognised with the Hunter Medical Research Institute’s Director’s Award for Mid-Career Research. In 2011, he received the University of Newcastle's Faculty of Health Award for Research Excellence, and then in 2012, he was awarded the University’s Alumni Medal for outstanding achievement (the top award for Alumni). In 2008, he was recognised by the Australia and New Zealand Association of Neurologists with the Leonard Cox Award. This prestigious award acknowledges recipients for a significant contribution to neuroscience within the first 10 years of becoming a neurologist. In 2018, he was a member of the Melbourne Mobile Stroke Unit Ambulance team which won the Melbourne Health Research Team of the Year. As a result of career achievements to date he was elected in 2019 as a Fellow to the prestigious Australian Academy of Health and Medical Scientists (FAAHMS).

Professor Parsons is extremely proud of his track record of mentoring research students and clinical Neurology trainees. He has five current PhD students, with eleven previous completions. Several of his PhD students have become research leaders in their own right, including Professor Bruce Campbell and Dr Andrew Bivard (who was promoted to Associate Professor at University of Melbourne in 2019 at the age of 32). He has supervised several allied health PhDs who have also become research leaders in their fields (Dr Isobel Hubbard and Dr Jodie Marquez), as well as scientists and medical clinicians. Many of his clinical trainees have now become clinical leaders, and Professor Parsons is also proud to have introduced many of them to clinical research.

Despite his achievements, Professor Parsons has also had a major career interruption. In March 2015, he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia after being hospitalised with acute respiratory failure. He spent the first week ventilated in ICU. He was very lucky to survive this acute period. Following that he underwent allogenic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in July 2015, but then relapsed in March 2016. He underwent a second allogenic BMT in June 2016. He has fortunately been in remission since then (despite being given a <20% chance of surviving 12 months after the relapse). The illness has given Professor Parsons rather a different perspective on the ‘patient journey’.


My Grants

2021-2025                  Medical Research Futures Fund (MRF1200267)

Neurological Disroders Grant: MIDAS-2 trial (Reducing debilitating fatigue after stroke to improve

Quality of LIfe).

Chief Investigators: Levi C, Bivard A, Parsons MW, Donnan GD, Khan F, Moodie M, Bajorek B, Butcher

K, Markus H, Nilsson M.

Total Funding: $1,006,075.00.

2020-2024                  National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (APP1182533)

Clinical Trials and Cohorts Grant: ETERNAL (Extending the Time window for Tenecteplase by Effective

Reperfusion of peNumbraL tissue in patients with large vessel occlusion).

Chief Investigators: Parsons MW, Butcher K, Campbell B, Churilov L, Davis S, Anderson C, Moodie M,

Levi C, Markus H, Coutts S.

Total Funding: $2,750,598.00.

2019                 Medical Research Futures Fund

Melbourne Academic Centre for Health, Rapid Applied Research Translation grant (Tenecetaplase versus Alteplase Stroke Thrombolysis Evaluation on the Ambulance, TASTE-A)

(Chief Investigators:  Bivard A, Parsons M, Churilov L, Campbell B, Yan B, Davis S, Donnan G Sanders L, Wijeratne T, Thijs V, Zhao H, Coote S.)

Total Funding:  $200,000

2018                 JT Reid Charitable Trust

Migraine treatment: a personalised medicine approach using new MRI techniques.

 (Chief Investigators:  Parsons M, Yan B, Bivard A.)

Total Funding:  $175,000

2018                 Neuroscience Foundation Grant

Post Stroke Cognitive Impairment

(Chief Investigators:  Alemseged F, Parsons M)

Total Funding:  $10,000

2018                 Neuroscience Foundation Grant

Monitoring of Motor Function in Acute Stroke

(Chief Investigators:  Yan B, Parsons M)

Total Funding:  $10,000

2018 - 2022       Medical Research Future Fund Program Grant (APP1152282)

STOP-MSU: Stopping hemorrhage with Tranexamic acid cOmmenced Prehospital in a Mobile Stroke Unit (Chief Investigators:  Davis S, Parsons M, Campbell B, Yan B, Skafidas S, Desmond P)

Total Funding:  $1,242,671.75

2017-2021        Canadian Institute of Health Research Program Grant (DC0190GP)

TEMPO-2 – A randomized controlled trial of TNK-tPA versus standard of care for minor ischemic stroke with proven occlusion.

(Investigators:  Dr. Shelagh Brown Coutts Dr. Mayank Goyal Dr. Michael Douglas Hill. Dr. R. Appireddy Dr. P. Barber Dr. K. Butcher Dr. L. Casaubon Dr. A. Demchuk Dr. D. Dowlatshahi Dr. T. Field Dr. S. Greisenegger Prof. P. Kelly Prof. C. Levi Dr. J. Mandzia Dr. B. Menon Prof. K. Muir Prof. M. Parsons Dr. A. Penn Prof. T. Robinson Dr. T. Sajobi Dr. J. Teitelbaum Dr. A. Yu Dr. G. Hunter)

Total Funding:  $1,992,825 (CAD)

2017-2021        National Health and Medical Research Council Program Grant (APP1113352)

Saving brain and changing practice in stroke

(Chief Investigators:  Davis S, Donnan G, Hankey G, Parsons M, Levi C, Campbell B)

Total Funding:  $13,787,375

2017-2021        National Health and Medical Research Council Partnership Project Grant (APP1132621)

Telehealth and Advanced CT Imaging Combined Study (TACTICS).

(Investigators:  Levi C, Bivard A, Attia J, Bladin C, Davis S, Donnan G, Anderson C, Campbell B, Parsons M, Grimley R)

Total Funding:  $979,270

2017-2018        Canadian Institute of Health Research, Bridge Funding

TEMPO-2 – A randomized controlled trial of TNK-tPA versus standard of care for minor ischemic stroke with proven occlusion.

(Investigators:  Coutts S, Goyal M, Hill M, Appireddy R, Barber PA, Butcher K, Camden M-C, Casaubon L, Demchuk A,  Dowlatshahi D, Field T, Greisenegger S, Hunter G, Kelly P, Levi C, Mandzia J, Menon B, Molina C, Muir K, Parsons M, Robinson T.)

Total Funding:  $100,000 (CAD)

2016-2017        Canadian Institute of Health Research, Bridge Funding

TEMPO-2 – A randomized controlled trial of TNK-tPA versus standard of care for minor ischemic stroke with proven occlusion.

(Investigators:  Coutts S, Hill M, Goyal M, Demchuk A, Greisenegger S, Kelly P, Menon B, Muir K, Parsons M.)

Total Funding:  $100,000 (CAD)

2015-2019        National Health and Medical Research Council Project Grant (APP1079696)

Tenecteplase versus Alteplase for Stroke Thrombolysis Evaluation (TASTE) Trial

(Investigators:  Parsons M, Levi C, McElduff P, Lindley R, Desmond P, Albers G, Hacke W, Markus H, Campbell B, Phan T)

Total Funding:  $3,989,898

2015-2019        National Health and Medical Research Council (APP1058650)

Centre for Research Excellence in Stroke Rehabilitation and Brain Recovery

(Investigators:  Bernhardt J, Nilsson M, Carey L, van Vliet P, Cadilhac D, Parsons M, Bladin C, Middleton S, Levi C, Donnan G)

Total Funding:  $2,500,000

2014-2017        Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellowship

Tenecteplase versus Alteplase for Stroke Thrombolysis Evaluation (TASTE) Trial

(Investigator:  Parsons M)

Total Funding:  $640,000

2014                 John Hunter Charitable Trust

Implementation and assessment of cutting edge contrast free perfusion imaging in ischemic stroke

(Principal Investigator:  Parsons M)

Funding:  $27,512

2014                 Hunter Medical Research Foundation

Neuroimaging Biomarkers of Recovery: Longitudinal Imaging Study in the rehabilitation Phase post-Acute Ischemic Stroke (NEUROLISS)

(Investigators:  Bivard A, Parsons M, Levi C)

Funding:  $50,000

2014                 Hunter Medical Research Foundation

Individually tailoring stroke rehabilitation using advanced imaging

(Investigators:  Bivard A, Parsons M)

Funding:  $22,000

2014                 Hunter Medical Research Foundation

Director’s Award for Mid-Career Research

Funding:  $15,000

2014                 Hunter Medical Research Foundation

Mapping whole-brain metabolic networks

(Investigators:  Thienel R, Karayanidis F, Todd J, Stanwell P, Parsons M, Levi C.)

Funding:  $25,000

2012-2016        National Health and Medical Research Council Program Grant (APP1013612)

Improving Stroke Outcomes: Attenuating Progression and Recurrence

(Chief Investigators:  Donnan G, Davis S, Hankey G, Howells D, Parsons M)

Total Funding:  $8,707,355

2012-2014        Australian Research Council Discovery Project Grant (DP120100340)

Cognitive flexibility from adolescence to senescence: variability associated with cognitive strategy and brain connectivity

(Chief Investigators:  Karayanidis F, Forstmann B, Lenroot R, Parsons M, Michie P, Phillips N, Wagenmakers E-J)

Total Funding:  $387,000.00

2012                 National Stroke Foundation

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS): A new modality in stroke rehabilitation

(Investigators:  Marquez J, Parsons M, Lagopoulos J, Karayanidis, Van Vliet P)

Funding:  $17,367

2012                 HMRI Project Grant

Beyond Perfusion: MRS to characterise metabolic changes in the ischaemic brain

(Investigators:  Parsons M, Stanwell P)

Funding:  $16,000

2012-2013        HMRI Donor Sponsored Project Grant - Dalara Foundation Stroke Research Project Grant

Experimental brain imaging to investigate novel protective mechanisms of short duration body cooling after stroke

(Investigators:  McLeod D, Spratt N, Parsons M, Levi, C)

Funding:  $20,000 (2012/$10,000; 2013/$10,000)

2011-2015        National Health and Medical Research Council Partnership Project Grant (APP1013719)

INSPIRE:  INternational Stroke Perfusion Imaging Registry

(Chief Investigators:  Parsons M, Levi C, Donnan G, Davis S, Attia J, Bladin C, Yang Q, Mitchell P, Goergen S, Kotagiri R)

Total Funding:  $1,075,461

2011-2013        National Health and Medical Research Council Project Grant (APP1004170)

Intensive reduction of blood pressure in intra-cerebral haemorrhage (INTERACT II) Trial

(Chief Investigators: Lindley R, Arima H, Parsons M, Wang J, Stapf C)

Total Funding:  $2,117,787

2011-2012        NSW Sporting Injuries Committee

Exploring Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) amongst current and former professional rugby league players

(Investigators:  Kay-Lambkin F, Stanwell P, Gardner A, Levi C, Parsons M, Schofield P)

Funding:  $20,863 (2011/$10,431; 2012/$10,432)

2010-2013        Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (FT0991128)

Prediction of tissue fate and functional outcome in acute ischemic stroke with advanced imaging analysis – experimental validation and translational studies

Total Funding:  $686,400

2010-2014        National Health and Medical Research Council Partnership Project (ID: 569328)

Evaluating the effectiveness of a strategy to increase the adoption of best evidence practice.  A cluster randomised trial in acute stroke care

(Chief Investigators:  Sanson-Fisher R, Levi C, Paul C, D’Este C, Parsons M, Bladin C, Lindley R, Attia J)

Total Funding:  $772,950

2010-2014        Victorian Department of Health

Evaluating the effectiveness of a strategy to increase the adoption of best evidence practice. A cluster randomised controlled trial in acute stroke care

(Investigators:  Sanson-Fisher R, Levi C, Paul C, d’Este C, Parsons M, Bladin C, Lindley R, Attia J)

Total Funding:  $772,950

2010                 University of Newcastle ‘Near Miss’ Grant (for NHMRC project grants achieving a score of 5)

Improving patient selection for acute stroke therapies – an experimental model of CT brain perfusion after stroke

(Investigators:  Parsons M, Spratt N, Levi C, McLeod D, Stanwell P)

Funding:  $50,000

2010                 University of Newcastle ‘Near Miss’ Grant, Bellberry Limited

Implementation of thrombolytic therapy in acute stroke. A cluster randomised trial

(Investigators: Levi C, Attia J, Paul C, Parsons M, Bladin C, Lindley R)

2010/2011 rolled over to 2012 - $30,000

2010                 Hunter Medical Research Foundation

Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound markers of the ischaemic penumbra: a prospective observational study using CT perfusion and angiography as comparators

(Investigators:  Quain D, Levi C, Parsons M, Inder K)

2010/$20,000

2010                 Hunter Medical Research Foundation

A structural and functional brain imaging study of how white matter lesions in patients with minor ischaemic stroke affect cognitive and motor control processes

(Investigators:  Karayanidis F, Parsons M, Michie P, Levi C, Jamadar S, Hughes M, Schofield P, Bateman G.)

2010/$20,000

2010                 National Stroke Foundation

Establishing Computed Tomography Perfusion (CTP) imaging in an animal stroke model

(Investigators:  McLeod D, Spratt N, Calford M, Levi C, Parsons M)

2009/$20,000

2010                 John Hunter Hospital Charitable Trust

Minor stroke and Transient Ischaemic Attack pathways of care: a pilot of a cohort study based in general practice

(Investigators:  Parsons M, Lasserson D, Magin P, Levi C)

Funding:  $23,025

2009                 National Stroke Foundation Project Grant

A functional MRI study of upper limb therapy in community dwelling stroke survivors

(Investigators : Parsons M, Carey L, Hubbard I)

Funding:  $41,828

2009                 John Hunter Hospital Charitable Trust

Is there a difference in brain chemistry between the dominant and non-dominant hemispheres?

2009                 Hunter Medical Research Foundation

Towards better early imaging in stroke: use of an experimental model to investigate CT brain perfusion

(Investigators:  Spratt N, Parsons M, McLeod D, Levi C)

Funding:  $13,000

2008-2010        National Health and Medical Research Council Project Grant (ID: 510722)

Low-dose tenecteplase vs standard-dose alteplase for acute ischaemic stroke: an imaging based safety and efficacy study

(Chief Investigators:  Parsons M, Davis S, Bladin C, Markus R, Dewey H, Levi C)

Funding:  $335,500 (2008/$118,500; 2009/108,500 2010/$108,500)

2008-2009        National Heart Foundation of Australia

A randomised controlled trial of mild hypothermia in acute ischaemic stroke

(Investigators:  Levi C, Parsons M, Bladin C, Spratt N)

Funding:  $117,176

2007-2009        National Health and Medical Research Council Project Grant (ID: 457343)

The Third International Stroke Trial (IST-3)

(Chief Investigators:  Lindley R, Levi C, Read S, Parsons M, Hand P, Lueck C)

Total Funding:  $210,000

2008                 Australian Brain Foundation

A randomised controlled trial of mild hypothermia in acute ischaemic stroke

(Investigators:  Levi C, Parsons M, Spratt N)

Funding:  $37,000

2008                 John Hunter Hospital Charitable Trust

A functional MRI study of upper limb therapy in community dwelling stroke survivors

(Investigators:  Parsons M, Budd TW, Hubbard I)

Funding:  $15,000

2008                 University of Newcastle (Strategic Pilot Research Grants)

A functional MRI study of upper limb therapy in community dwelling stroke survivors

(Investigators:  Parsons M, Budd TW, Hubbard I)

Funding:  $19,504

2008                 Hunter Medical Research Foundation

PULSE Early Career Researcher

Funding:  $10,000

2007                 Australian Brain Foundation

Supplementary oxygen for acute ischaemic stroke: an imaging-based efficacy trial (SOS trial)

(Investigators:  Parsons M, Levi C)

Funding:  $39,182

2007                 Hunter Medical Research Foundation

A functional MRI and tractography study of the effect of early upper limb therapy on brain plasticity after stroke

(Investigators:  Budd B, Parsons M, Levi C)

Funding:  $19,039

2006                 University of Newcastle (Strategic Pilot Research Grants)

Supplementary oxygen for acute ischaemic stroke: an imaging-based efficacy trial (SOS trial)

(Investigators:  Parsons M, Levi C)

Funding:  $19,982

2006                 National Heart Foundation of Australia

A Functional MRI study of upper limb therapy in acute stroke

(Investigators:  Parsons M, Budd B, Levi C)

Funding:  $122,474

2005-2007        National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia Project Grant (ID: 351155)

Acute Stroke: Imaging the Ischaemic Penumbra with Perfusion CT

(Investigators:  Parsons M, Davis S, Tress B, Markus R, Read S, Levi C)

Funding:  $239,250 (2005 - $79,750; 2006 - $79,750; 2007 - $79,750)

2006                 John Hunter Hospital Charitable Trust

A functional MRI study of upper limb therapy in acute stroke

(Investigators:  Parsons M, Levi C, Budd T)

Funding:  $15,000

2005-2006        National Heart Foundation of Australia

Thrombolysis for acute ischaemic stroke: the third international stroke trial (IST-3)

(Investigators:  Lindley R, Hankey G, Levi C, Parsons M)

Funding:  $92,000

2005                 University of Newcastle

Neural consequences of cardiac surgery: a study using magnetic resonance measures of functional brain activation and brain metabolism

(Investigators:  Hunter M, Michie P, Parsons M)

Funding:  $11,305

2005                 Hunter Medical Research Institute (Stroud Charity Rodeo) Project Grant

Acute Stroke:  Imaging the Ischaemic Penumbra with Perfusion CT

(Investigator:  Parsons M)

Funding:  $13,500

2005                 Sylvia and Charles Viertel Research Establishment Grant

The use of Brain Imaging to guide therapies for acute stroke and stroke recovery

(Investigator:  Parsons M)

Funding:  $55,000

2004                 Ramaciotti Research Grant

The use of Brain Imaging to guide therapies for acute stroke and stroke recovery

(Investigator:  Parsons M)

Funding:  $28,140

2004                 Pfizer Cardiovascular Lipid Research Grant

Acute Stroke: Imaging the Ischaemic Penumbra with Perfusion CT

(Investigators:  Parsons M, Levi C)

Funding:  $54,340

2003                 Australian Brain Foundation Research Grant

Acute Stroke: imaging the ischaemic penumbra with perfusion CT

(Investigators:  Parsons M, Levi C)

Funding:  $20,000

2003                 Hunter Medical Research Project Grant (Dr Andrew Lojszczyk Memorial Award)

Novel Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors in Atherothrombosis:  The Role of Variation in COX-2, tPA and PAI-1 Activity

(Investigators:  Levi C, Henry D, McGettigan P, Attia J, Parsons M, Seldon M, Scott R)

Funding:  $28,000

2003                 National Heart Foundation Research Grant

Stroke thrombolysis: extending the time window with MRI

(Investigators:  Davis SM, Donnan G, Tress B, Parsons M)

Funding:  $100,000

2000-2002        National Health and Medical Research Council postgraduate PhD scholarship

The investigation of new MRI techniques in acute stroke

Funding:  $25,000/year

2000-2002        National Stroke Foundation Research Scholarship

The use of echoplanar MRI in the selection of patients for acute stroke therapy

1999                 Parke Davis/Pfizer Cardiovascular Lipid Research Grant

The adverse effect of diabetes on stroke outcome: An echoplanar MRI study


My Qualifications

B.Med (University of Newcastle), PhD (University of Melbourne), FRACP (Neurology), FAAHMS.

 


My Awards

  • Admitted as Fellow to the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Scientists, 2019
  • Melbourne Health Research Team of the Year. The Melbourne Mobile Stroke Unit, reducing disability and saving lives, 2018
  • Winner, NSW Health Awards, Translational Research Category:  Transforming Acute Stroke Care Locally and Globally.  November, 2015.
  • Winner, Hunter New England Health Quality Awards, Translational Research Category:  Transforming Acute Stroke Care Locally and Globally.  August, 2015.
  • Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) Director’s Award for Mid-Career Research, 2014.
  • University of Newcastle Alumni Medal Winner 2012, awarded to a graduate of the University for outstanding achievement. This is the major annual award for Alumni of the University of Newcastle.
  • University of Newcastle, Faculty of Health Award, Researcher of the Year, 2011.
  • Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (ANZAN) Leonard Cox Award 2008 – awarded to a neurologist who has made a significant contribution to neuroscience research in the 10 years since becoming a neurologist.
  • Philips CT Publication of the year (runner-up), 2007
  • Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) Award for Early Career Research, 2007.
  • Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) Award for Excellence in Brain and Mental Health Research, 2004.
  • Stroke Society of Australasia Young Investigator Award, 2001.
  • Royal Melbourne Hospital Cleveland Young Investigator Award, 2000.
  • Attained FRACP written and clinical examinations in 1995 (first attempt).
  • American Academy of Neurology Residency in Training Examination March 1997 (in first year of Neurology Training) - 78th centile for all candidates.

My Research Activities

  • Cerebrovascular disease (particularly acute interventional therapies such as thrombolysis).
  • Cerebral blood flow and metabolism
  • Functional brain imaging techniques in stroke: Particularly diffusion and perfusion MRI, MR spectroscopy, perfusion CT, and transcranial Doppler ultrasound.
  • Neurological rehabilitation and brain recovery.
  • Fatigue and Neurological Disease (particularly imaging)

  • Functional Neurologic Disease (particularly imaging)

  • Digital Telehealth solutions

  • Stroke Ambulance

  • Concussion in sport

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