Hollywood Private Hospital Involved in World First Clinical Study Hollywood Private Hospital (Hollywood) and CSIRO’s Australian e-Health Research Centre (AEHRC) have commenced the world’s first large scale ocular biomarker study for mental health disorders. The research team involved in the clinical study (L–R): Dr Justin Sebastian, Professor Yogesan Kanagasingam (Research Director, CSIRO), Dr Mathew Samuel (Consultant Psychiatrist, The Hollywood Clinic), and Dr Davinder Hans (Senior Psychiatry Registrar). Angie Monk Ramsay Health Care, WA 2016 Nurse of the Year hestaawards.com.au The Ramsay Way 2016 | 02 9 HOSPITALS The collaborative research project will investigate whether the retina can allow specialists to more effectively detect and monitor brain disorders such as post-traumatic stress, anxiety, eating disorders, major depression and alcohol dependence. Researchers will also try to determine if eye biomarkers are specific to different disorders and if they can predict the success of treatments. These questions will be addressed using retinal photography, optical coherence tomography and pupillometry. This important clinical study started in April this year and has a target of 200 participants. It is being conducted at The Hollywood Clinic, Hollywood’s standalone private mental health facility, and is being led by Dr Mathew Samuel, Consultant Psychiatrist at The Hollywood Clinic, and Professor Yogesan Kanagasingam, Research Director, AEHRC. Commenting on the research project, Dr Samuel said “We believe the retina may provide a window to detect and monitor brain disorders. As a developmental outgrowth of the brain, it provides central nervous system access through live, non-invasive optical imaging with great detail”. “This research has the potential to improve the lives of individuals suffering from mental illness. Unfortunately for sufferers, current methods of diagnosis are complex and subjective, therapeutic options are limited, and misdiagnosis may often occur. We hope that this study will help to resolve these issues”. Professor Kanagasingam added “We already know that there are multiple structural and physiological disturbances of the eye related to schizophrenia and we are eager to learn what else the retina can tell us about other disorders and their treatments”. “We make a difference.” H.E.S.T. Australia Ltd ABN 66 006 818 695 AFSL No. 235249 Trustee of Health Employees Superannuation Trust Australia (HESTA) ABN 64 971 749 321. See hestanursingawards.com for details. 1765_HANA_AngieMonk_265x206.indd 1 20/05/16 10:58 AM
The Ramsay Way - 2016 Edition 2
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