Talk:Neuroscience Research Australia

Paid editing request: Neuroscience Research Australia Wiki page is very out of date and inaccurate
The below edits relate to the table and introduction of the wikipedia page:
 * What I think should be changed (include citations):


 * In the table on the right hand side of the page, change faculty number from 300 to 425. See https://neura.edu.au/ on homepage it has total staff number. Suggested wording: Faculty: 425
 * In the same table, change Nickname to Abbreviation. "Nickname" is inaccurate. Suggested wording: Abbreviation: NeuRA


 * In same table, update affiliations to include the more organisations as UNSW is not the only institution NeuRA collaborates with. Suggested wording: Affiliations: UNSW Sydney, Black Dog Institute, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD), Mindgardens Network.


 * The opening paragraph should include the following more detailed information about the institution. The information about rebranding is old and should be moved to history section. Suggested wording: Neuroscience Research Australia (or NeuRA) is an independent, not-for-profit medical research institute based in Sydney, Australia. Neuroscience Research Australia is made up of over 400 researchers specialising in research aimed at improving the lives of people living with brain and nervous system disorders.


 * The sentence about NeuRA being accredited by the National Health and Medical Research Council is not correct as such accreditations no longer exist. This needs to be removed and updated with more useful info and the deadlink to NHMRC in references needs to be removed Suggested wording: NeuRA adheres to the principles outlined in the Neuroethics Framework for the Australian Brain Institute and regularly receives funding for projects from the National Health and Medical Research Council, Australian Research Council and Medical Research Future Fund, as well as private philanthropy.


 * Insert the following into first section of page so that the information is more robust about NeuRA's mission and research focus. Suggested wording: NeuRA’s vision is to enhance the health and lives of individuals affected by brain and nervous system disorders, and mission is to discover solutions for neurodegeneration, mental health, and healthy ageing through world-class medical research. NeuRA’s research spans neurodegeneration, including dementia and Parkinson’s disease; mental health and mental illness including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia; and translational neuroscience including falls prevention, pain and injury prevention. The institute prioritises applied neuroscience and translating new discoveries into practical applications.


 * Insert location and affiliations/collaborators and accurate info about CEO. Suggested wording: Situated among the Randwick Health Precinct, NeuRA is affiliated with Black Dog Institute, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD), UNSW Sydney and Mindgardens Network. The current Chief Executive Officer and Institute Director is Professor Matthew Kiernan AM, who joined NeuRA in 2023.

The below edits related to 'Research Activity' section:


 * This opening sentence is incorrect and based on old information: "NeuRA’s research activity is organised into five themes". Change to the following suggested wording: NeuRA’s research activity is organised into three themes.

"Ageing and neurodegeneration: Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia and other types of dementia, Parkinson's disease, motor neuron disease, ageing research in indigenous populations, stroke rehabilitation. Brain function and imaging: brain mapping for research and clinical use, on-site MRI scanning, autism. Neural injury: spinal cord injury, assessment and prevention of road trauma in children Mental illness: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression Sensation, movement, balance and falls: human movement, fatigue, sleep apnoea, balance and vision, neural control of muscles, falls in older adults, chronic pain" Change to suggested wording:
 * The current list of five themes are no longer accurate with NeuRA's research direction:
 * 1) Neurodegeneration: Ageing in indigenous and general populations, Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia and other types of dementia, mitochondrial disease, motor neuron disease, NeuroHIV and Parkinson's disease.
 * 2) Mental health: Wellbeing and resilience, bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, and stress-related psychopathology.
 * 3) Translational neuroscience: Back and muscle pain, balance training, sleep apnoea, injury prevention, chronic pain, falls prevention, hip fracture care and recovery, spinal cord injury, neural injury, phantom limb pain, sensation, stroke and vestibular balance.


 * This sentence is out of date and the references can be condensed into one single reference: "NeuRA houses research centres, including the Sydney Brain Bank, Spinal Cord Injury Research Centre, Transurban Road Safety Centre and Centre for Pain IMPACT." Suggested wording: NeuRA is home to 28 research centres and groups, including the Aboriginal Health and Ageing program, Centre for Pain IMPACT, Centre for Wellbeing, Resilience and Recovery, Dementia and Health Ageing, Falls, Balance and Injury Research Centre, Mental Illness, Motor Impairment Research Centre, Parkinson’s and Mitochondrial Disease, Sensory Neurophysiology, Sleep Disorders, Spinal Cord Injury Research Centre, and Transurban Road Safety Centre.


 * This sentence is correct and can be left as is. Just insert citation. Suggested citation: "NeuRA runs the Australian and New Zealand Hip Fracture Registry which works to improve care outcomes. It was established by the Professor Jacqui Close and Professor Ian Harris in 2012 and produced its first facility level report in 2013 and patient level report in 2016 ."

We suggest to add a new subheading called "Location & Facilities" with the following suggested text:


 * "NeuRA is located in the purpose-built Margarete Ainsworth Building on Barker Street in Randwick, Sydney. The building houses multiple state-of-the-art facilities and laboratories such as: - Brain Mapping Facility - Gait labs - NeuRA Imaging - Sydney Brain Bank - Transurban Road Safety Centre The Brain Mapping Facility is run by world-renowned brain cartographer Scientia Professor George Paxinos AO and a team of researchers who produce atlases of the human brain. Atlases produced by NeuRA are used internationally as the standard guides for scientific work, as well as by neurosurgeons to target small deep lying structures in the brain.  NeuRA has three Gait and Balance Analysis Research Laboratories, including state-of-the-art 3D motion capture, in-floor force plates, electromyography, inertial sensors and an instrumented dual-belt perturbation treadmill. These laboratories facilitate NeuRA’s studies to understand the control of balance and walking, enabling researchers to identify fall risk factors, and develop strategies to prevent falls and fall-related injuries. The treatment of injuries from falls cost the Australian economy $2.3 billion a year .  The Sydney Brain Bank, located at NeuRA, is a specialised biobanking facility that collects, characterises, stores and distributes human brain and spinal cord tissue for research into ageing and neurodegenerative disorders.  Since its inception in 2005, it has gathered brain tissue samples from over 750 donors which, through post-mortem analysis, has led to the discovery of new disorders, novel genes and therapeutic strategies for conditions affecting the brain and mind. The Sydney Brain Bank has facilitated over 350 studies and provided more than 38,000 specimens of donated neurological tissue .  The NeuRA Imaging facility is run by Professor Caroline Rae and is an open-access 3T MRI research facility, available to those wanting to use it for academic, industry and clinical research purposes. Since the facility opened in 2003, the team has worked with universities and other research institutions, pioneered new cutting edge imaging techniques, published 350+ papers and continues to help to drive new knowledge of the human brain and body .  The Transurban Road Safety Centre was built in 2017 through a partnership with Transurban .  It combines world-class research with state-of-the-art facilities, including a custom-made crash sled, to enable NeuRA researchers to carry out research into improving road safety. Research conducted in evidence-based insights have been used to inform policymakers, education campaigns and driven technological advancements in vehicle safety."

We suggest to add a new subheading called "Notable Work" with the following suggested text:


 * "NeuRA’s research output is frequently translated into real world settings. In 2023, following a decade-long collaborative effort between Professor Carolyn Sue AM, Kinghorn Chair, Neurodegeneration at NeuRA, the Mito Medical Network and researchers from the Centre for Economic Impacts of Genomic Medicine at Macquarie University, and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, the group successfully secured publicly funded genetic testing for mitochondrial diseases in Australia . Researchers in NeuRA’s Aboriginal Health & Ageing team established the Koori Growing Old Well Study (KGOWS) to examine healthy ageing and dementia in NSW Aboriginal communities over a decade ago. Now in its third wave, this research has enabled, for the first time, neuroimaging of Alzheimer’s disease and cerebrovascular conditions in older Aboriginal participants with cognitive decline or dementia compared to cognitively intact controls. Significantly, these findings have enabled the co-design of translation outputs in partnership with communities and Aboriginal health services .  A large randomised control trial conducted by a team of NeuRA and UNSW researchers found that at-home gamified step exercises were effective at preventing falls in people over the age of 65, reducing the number of falls by 26 per cent when compared to a control group .  In 2022, NeuRA researchers from the Falls, Balance and Injury Research Centre contributed to the World Falls Guidelines , a publication which brought together falls prevention experts from 39 countries to provide recommendations on how to identify and assess the risk of falls.  In 2022, NeuRA researchers found people who installed their child car seats using ISOFIX compatible systems were up to three times less likely to make an error, versus those who installed their seats using the vehicle’s seatbelt .  Crash testing also looked at the protection offered by both ISOFIX and seatbelt installed restraints in a crash, as well as what happens when car seats secured each way were installed incorrectly. These findings have been used to improve guidelines and education campaigns for both carers and manufacturers in a bid to improve road safety.  In 2021, researchers from NeuRA’s Spinal Cord Research Centre launched the landmark eWALK trial . Primarily funded by SpinalCure Australia and CatWalk Trust NZ, the international trial harnessed the power of neuroplasticity to restore the function of remaining spinal nerves. The therapy, known as neurostimulation, sends electrical impulses through electrodes that sit on the surface of the skin over the spinal cord. When it is coupled with step and walking training in people with chronic paraplegia, the therapy helps to rewire the neural pathways that have been impaired.  In 2019, the Sydney Brain Bank, based in NeuRA launched a donor program in collaboration with the University of Newcastle, aimed at investigating the long-term effects of head injuries on former NRL players .  This initiative invited retired NRL players to contribute to research by donating their brains to the Sydney Brain Bank after their passing. Under the direction of Sydney Brain Bank Director Dr Claire Shepherd, researchers examined the donated brains for cellular changes indicative of conditions like chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) .   In 2019, Professor Kaarin Anstey and Associate Professor Ruth Peters contribute to World Health Organisation guidelines on risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementia. The Guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations on relevant lifestyle behaviours and interventions. They are designed to be a vital tool for health care providers, governments and policy makers.  In 2018, NeuRA formed a cooperative partnership of four clinical, educational and research allies, including Black Dog Institute, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) and UNSW Sydney to create Mindgardens Neuroscience Network which became the largest collaboration between researchers and clinicians in the Southern Hemisphere on brain disorders.  In 2013, National Child Restraint Guidelines developed by Professor Lynne Bilston and Associate Professor Julie Brown were adopted by the Australian government and this resulted in a reduction of child fatalities in motor vehicles by 45%.

We suggest to add a new subheading called "Notable People" with the following suggested text:

The following edits related to the sub-section called 'History'
 * Professor Caroline Rae
 * Professor Carolyn Sue AM
 * Dr Claire Shepherd
 * Professor Cyndi Shannon Weickert
 * Professor Elspeth McLachlan, recipient of the Ramaciotti Medal (1998)
 * Scientia Professor George Paxinos AO
 * Professor Glenda Halliday AC, recipient of the 2019 NHMRC Elizabeth Blackburn Investigator Grant Award (Leadership in Clinical Medicine and Science)
 * Associate Professor Ingvars Birznieks
 * Professor Jacqueline Close AM
 * Professor James McAuley
 * Scientia Professor Kaarin Anstey, recipient of the Royal Society of NSW’s Award in the Social and Behavioural Sciences (2023)
 * Professor Lynne Bilston
 * Professor Matthew Kiernan AM, recipient of the Ramaciotti Medal (2022)
 * Professor Simon Gandevia
 * Scientia Professor Stephen Lord
 * Professor Sylvia Gustin
 * Terry Donovan OAM
 * Professor Tony Broe AM

The current text is as follows: "NeuRA was established in 1991 by Professor Ian McCloskey, Professor David Burke, Professor Simon Gandevia and Professor Erica Potter with the support of the Eastern Sydney Area Health Service (now South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service) and the University of New South Wales.

In 1993 the institute was established as an independent, not-for-profit company[9] and researchers moved into buildings on the site of the old Randwick Chest Hospital, next to the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick. It was officially opened on 8 November 1993 by the Commonwealth Minister for Health Graham Richardson and the NSW Minister for Health Ron Phillips.

On 15 November 2000, the Premier of New South Wales, Bob Carr, officially opened the new sections of the institute. In June 2009 the Minister for Science and Medical Research Jodi McKay opened the Prince Henry Wing extension.

In March 2010, the NSW government gave planning approval to the concept and project plans for a Neuroscience Research Precinct to be built on the existing site.[10] Building works began on the first phase of the project in March 2010; with the first stage of 13,000 square metres (140,000 sq ft) designed by COX Architecture completed in 2013 at a cost of A$40 million.[11]

The completed Neuroscience Research Precinct will provide six stories of laboratory and clinical research space, providing 25,000 square metres (270,000 sq ft) of floor space and housing up to 700 researchers, delivered in four stages.[10]

In 2018, NeuRA formed a cooperative partnership of four clinical, educational and research allies, including Black Dog Institute, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) and UNSW Sydney to create Mindgardens Neuroscience Network which became the largest collaboration between researchers and clinicians in the Southern Hemisphere on brain disorders.[12]" Change to suggested text with updated citations:

Early Years
NeuRA was previously called the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute and was established in 1991 by Professor Ian McCloskey, Professor David Burke, Professor Simon Gandevia and Professor Erica Potter with the support of the Eastern Sydney Area Health Service (now South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service) and the University of New South Wales. In 1993 the Institute was established as an independent, not-for-profit company and researchers moved into buildings on the site of the old Randwick Chest Hospital, next to the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick. It was officially opened on 8 November 1993 by the Commonwealth Minister for Health Graham Richardson and the NSW Minister for Health Ron Phillips.

On 15 November 2000, the Premier of New South Wales, Bob Carr, officially opened the new sections of the institute. In June 2009 the Minister for Science and Medical Research Jodi McKay opened the Prince Henry Wing extension.

New building and renaming
In May 2007, the NSW government gave planning approval to the concept and project plans for a Neuroscience Research Precinct to be built on the existing site. Building works began on the first phase of the project in March 2010; with the first stage of 13,000 square metres (140,000 sq ft) designed by COX Architecture completed in 2013 at a cost of A$40 million.

The completed building provides six stories of laboratory and clinical research space, 25,000 square metres (270,000 sq ft) of floor space and the ability to house up to 700 researchers. The institute relaunched as Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) on 1 June 2010.

We suggest to add a new subheading called "Research Achievements" with the following suggested text:

In 2023, Professor Carolyn Sue AM and her research team at NeuRA tested a new form of gene therapy aimed at slowing or stopping the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Professor Sue’s group tested their hypothesis that the Nix protein can rejuvenate mitophagy and mitochondrial function in individuals with the PINK1/PARKIN gene mutation. Unlike current treatments that only alleviate symptoms by managing dopamine levels, if successful, this form of gene therapy could potentially halt the disease's progression.

In 2022, Professor James McAuley from UNSW’s School of Health Sciences and NeuRA carried out the RESOLVE trial for chronic back pain. Using sensorimotor retraining, which focuses on the brain rather than bone or muscular problems, the treatment displayed long-term benefits, doubling complete recovery rates and enhancing quality of life for individuals living with low back pain.

In 2021, Associate Professors Jan Fullerton, Tom Weickert and Professors Peter Schofield AO, Melissa Green and Professor Cyndi Shannon Weickert were involved in the world’s largest bipolar genetics study, comprising 200 institutions and over 415,000 research participants. The study identified 64 genomic regions that make people more susceptible to bipolar disorder – more than doubling the number of regions previously identified – and pinpointed the specific genes and pathways impacted. The study also revealed DNA sequence differences in specific genes that are involved in the therapeutic action of antipsychotics and a range of other medicines, which could lead to the development of more targeted medications, or the repurposing of existing medications as potential treatments. In 2018, Professor Cyndi Shannon Weickert discovered immune cells in brains of many people with schizophrenia opening new avenues for treatment. In November 2018, NeuRA’s team of neuroscientists led by George Paxinos reported a finding of a new region of the human brain which they called the endorestiform nucleus. Research carried out in NeuRA’s Brain Mapping Facility has led to the discovery of 94 hitherto unknown regions since the creation of the first brain atlas more than 30 years ago. The group has also adopted an innovative enhanced staining method. In 2017, Associate Professor Ingvars Birznieks discovered the neural code used to signal touch sensation. Professor Peter Schofield AO and Dr Bill Brooks are founding members of the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN) study – a significant collaborative effort studying familial Alzheimer’s disease through sites in the US, Australia, England and Germany. In 2012, DIAN researchers showed the onset of symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease is preceded by the accumulation of amyloid (abnormal protein) in the brain over a period of 15 to 20 years. This study paved the way for using biomarkers as surrogate end points in clinical trials.

In the 'See also' section please remove reference to 'Health in Australia' as it doesn't relate to our work in a direct way. Suggestions of more appropriate pages to link to include: National Health and Medical Research Council, Australian Research Council or Medical Research Future Fund.

The current Neuroscience Research Australia page on Wikipedia has gross inaccuracies and very out of date information on it. The page could also benefit from more robust details about the achievement and 30+ year history of the organisation. We would like to correct these, and have followed everything in accordance to Wikipedia's policies of paid disclosure, neutrality and transparency.
 * Why it should be changed:


 * References supporting the possible change (format using the "cite" button):

Brainfutures (talk) 05:29, 16 February 2024 (UTC)


 * , I haven't gone through the whole request, but it seems like majority of it is sourced to primary references (the company, the research paper funded by the company, etc.). While primary sources are allowed, we can't base this large of a portion of the article off of it. Additionally, the works wouldn't really be considered "Notable" if there's no secondary coverage.
 * I'd also advise splitting this request and making them gradually over a longer period of time, since it makes it easier for us reviewers. Please reopen this request once you have completed the requested fixes. Thanks. ARandomName123 (talk)Ping me! 16:22, 16 February 2024 (UTC)


 * Hi ARandomName123, a couple of questions:
 * - what kind of secondary coverage would you like to see for notable? We have newspaper and TV news clippings available as files. Not sure how to reflect them in references.
 * - Just clarifying, our research papers are funded from government and private grants, not ourselves directly. 129.94.231.148 (talk) 00:17, 19 February 2024 (UTC)

Faculty total staff incorrect - needs updating
In the table on the right hand side of the page, change faculty number from 300 to 425 the organisation has grown and now has 425 staff not 300 as stated on wikipedia.
 * What I think should be changed:
 * Why it should be changed:
 * References supporting the possible change (format using the "cite" button): See https://neura.edu.au/ on homepage for total staff number

Brainfutures (talk) 05:22, 29 February 2024 (UTC)


 * ✅ I have changed it to "400+", as indicated on the website. This should save you from coming back until they reach 500 :-) Superboilles (talk) 21:33, 29 February 2024 (UTC)

In the table on righthand side of the top of the page, change "Nickname" to "Abbreviation". "Nickname" is inaccurate and a clumsy expression. we do not have a "nickname" we have a formal appreviation that we use.
 * What I think should be changed:
 * Why it should be changed:
 * References supporting the possible change (format using the "cite" button):

Brainfutures (talk) 05:24, 29 February 2024 (UTC)


 * ❌ Ok so I looked at Template:Infobox_laboratory and there's only "nickname" available. Sounds odd to me too, tbh, but nothing I can do here (or rather, I'm not experienced enough to venture modifying a template that is being used a large number of times). Sorry. Superboilles (talk) 21:33, 29 February 2024 (UTC)

In table on righthand side of the top of page, update the 'affiliations' Suggested wording: Affiliations: UNSW Sydney, Black Dog Institute, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD), Mindgardens Network.
 * What I think should be changed:
 * Why it should be changed: UNSW is not the only institution NeuRA collaborates with, it holds multiple partnerships in the community.
 * References supporting the possible change (format using the "cite" button):

Brainfutures (talk) 05:26, 29 February 2024 (UTC)


 * ✅ Superboilles (talk) 21:33, 29 February 2024 (UTC)


 * What I think should be changed:

The opening paragraph should include the following more detailed information about the institution. The information about rebranding is old and should be moved to history section.

Suggested wording: Neuroscience Research Australia (or NeuRA) is an independent, not-for-profit medical research institute based in Sydney, Australia. Neuroscience Research Australia is made up of over 400 researchers specialising in research aimed at improving the lives of people living with brain and nervous system disorders[1].


 * Why it should be changed:

The opening paragraph should include the following more detailed and useful information about the institution. The information about rebranding is old and should be moved to history section.


 * References supporting the possible change (format using the "cite" button):

Brainfutures (talk) 05:28, 29 February 2024 (UTC)


 * ✅ Fair enough. I've reworded slightly the History section. Superboilles (talk) 21:33, 29 February 2024 (UTC)


 * What I think should be changed:

The sentence in the first section at the top of the page about NeuRA being accredited by the National Health and Medical Research Council is not correct as such accreditations no longer exist. This needs to be removed and updated with more useful info and the deadlink to NHMRC in references needs to be removed

Suggested wording: NeuRA adheres to the principles outlined in the Neuroethics Framework for the Australian Brain Institute and regularly receives funding for projects from the National Health and Medical Research Council, Australian Research Council and Medical Research Future Fund, as well as private philanthropy.

NeuRA being accredited by the National Health and Medical Research Council is not correct as such accreditations no longer exist (this info is several decades old). This needs to be removed and updated with more useful info and the deadlink to NHMRC in references needs to be removed
 * Why it should be changed:


 * References supporting the possible change (format using the "cite" button):

Brainfutures (talk) 05:31, 29 February 2024 (UTC)


 * ✅ Partially. I removed the accreditation thing, but did not add the adheres to the principles outlined in the Neuroethics Framework for the Australian Brain Institute as this is to be expected and frankly trivial to mention (a notable thing would be that it does not adhere to an ethics framework). Superboilles (talk) 21:33, 29 February 2024 (UTC)


 * What I think should be changed (include citations):

Insert the following into first section of page so that the information is more robust about NeuRA's mission and research focus.

Suggested wording: NeuRA’s vision is to enhance the health and lives of individuals affected by brain and nervous system disorders, and mission is to discover solutions for neurodegeneration, mental health, and healthy ageing through world-class medical research. NeuRA’s research spans neurodegeneration, including dementia and Parkinson’s disease; mental health and mental illness including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia; and translational neuroscience including falls prevention, pain and injury prevention. The institute prioritises applied neuroscience and translating new discoveries into practical applications.

There is nothing on the wikipedia page about what neura does exactly.
 * Why it should be changed:


 * References supporting the possible change (format using the "cite" button):

Brainfutures (talk) 05:35, 29 February 2024 (UTC)


 * ❌ Promotional fluff, this brings zero actionable info (please tell me which institution would make it its mission not to be world-class, to not care about enhancing people's lives, and to not discover solutions?). I only added the second sentence which, in fact, does describe its focus. Superboilles (talk) 21:33, 29 February 2024 (UTC)


 * What I think should be changed (include citations):

Insert location and affiliations/collaborators and accurate info about CEO into intro.

Suggested wording: Situated among the Randwick Health Precinct, NeuRA is affiliated with Black Dog Institute, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD), UNSW Sydney and Mindgardens Network. The current Chief Executive Officer and Institute Director is Professor Matthew Kiernan AM, who joined NeuRA in 2023.


 * Why it should be changed:

No useful info currently in the introduction.

Brainfutures (talk) 05:38, 29 February 2024 (UTC)


 * ✅ I think the CEO's nomination is a fairly trivial event, I've moved the ref to the infobox.

Research Activity section has old outdated information in it

 * What I think should be changed:

The below is related to 'Research Activity' section:

This opening sentence is incorrect and based on old information: "NeuRA’s research activity is organised into five themes".

Change to the following suggested wording: NeuRA’s research activity is organised into three themes.


 * Why it should be changed:

Since 2021, NeuRA's research activity is divided into 3 themes, not 5 themes.


 * References supporting the possible change (format using the "cite" button):

Brainfutures (talk) 05:42, 29 February 2024 (UTC)
 * ✅ Superboilles (talk) 21:39, 29 February 2024 (UTC)


 * What I think should be changed (include citations):

This section of the page which lists five research themes is no longer accurate with current NeuRA's research direction:

"Ageing and neurodegeneration: Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia and other types of dementia, Parkinson's disease, motor neuron disease, ageing research in indigenous populations, stroke rehabilitation. Brain function and imaging: brain mapping for research and clinical use, on-site MRI scanning, autism. Neural injury: spinal cord injury, assessment and prevention of road trauma in children Mental illness: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression Sensation, movement, balance and falls: human movement, fatigue, sleep apnoea, balance and vision, neural control of muscles, falls in older adults, chronic pain"

Change to suggested wording: Neurodegeneration: Ageing in indigenous and general populations, Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia and other types of dementia, mitochondrial disease, motor neuron disease, NeuroHIV and Parkinson's disease. Mental health: Wellbeing and resilience, bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, and stress-related psychopathology. Translational neuroscience: Back and muscle pain, balance training, sleep apnoea, injury prevention, chronic pain, falls prevention, hip fracture care and recovery, spinal cord injury, neural injury, phantom limb pain, sensation, stroke and vestibular balance.


 * Why it should be changed:

what is currently there no longer accurate with current NeuRA's research direction.


 * References supporting the possible change (format using the "cite" button):

Brainfutures (talk) 05:47, 29 February 2024 (UTC)
 * ✅ Superboilles (talk) 21:39, 29 February 2024 (UTC)

Outdated info on this page

 * What I think should be changed:

In the Research Action section, the following sentence is several decades out of date and the references can be condensed into one single reference: "NeuRA houses research centres, including the Sydney Brain Bank, Spinal Cord Injury Research Centre, Transurban Road Safety Centre and Centre for Pain IMPACT."

Suggested wording: NeuRA is home to 28 research centres and groups, including the Aboriginal Health and Ageing program, Centre for Pain IMPACT, Centre for Wellbeing, Resilience and Recovery, Dementia and Health Ageing, Falls, Balance and Injury Research Centre, Mental Illness, Motor Impairment Research Centre, Parkinson’s and Mitochondrial Disease, Sensory Neurophysiology, Sleep Disorders, Spinal Cord Injury Research Centre, and Transurban Road Safety Centre.

NeuRA has grown and houses many more research centres than the 4 listed above. The info currently there is several decades out of date and the references can be condensed into one single reference
 * Why it should be changed:


 * References supporting the possible change (format using the "cite" button):

Brainfutures (talk) 23:12, 29 February 2024 (UTC)


 * @Brainfutures: We don't really need that many examples. Choose a few that you think are the most important. ARandomName123 (talk)Ping me! 19:44, 6 April 2024 (UTC)


 * As ARandomName123 said, we dont really need that many examples, Please select the important ones and the ones that stand out from the rest The AP  ( talk ) 09:28, 28 April 2024 (UTC)
 * NeuRA is home to 28 research centres and groups, including the Aboriginal Health and Ageing program; Dementia and Health Ageing; Falls, Balance and Injury Research Centre, Parkinson’s and Mitochondrial Disease; Spinal Cord Injury Research Centre; and the Transurban Road Safety Centre. Brainfutures (talk) 05:23, 18 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Is it okay to have these 6 examples? These are only 6 out of our 28 groups. If I have to narrow down then let's go with Aboriginal Health and Ageing program; Dementia and Health Ageing; Falls, Balance and Injury Research Centre; and the Transurban Road Safety Centre. Brainfutures (talk) 11:49, 8 July 2024 (UTC)

Suggestion to add a new subheading called "Location & Facilities"

 * What I think should be changed (include citations):

Insert new subheading called "Location and Facilities" (many other wikipedia pages feature such a subheading.

Suggested wording:

"NeuRA is located in the purpose-built Margarete Ainsworth Building on Barker Street in Randwick, Sydney. The building houses multiple state-of-the-art facilities and laboratories such as: - Brain Mapping Facility - Gait labs - NeuRA Imaging - Sydney Brain Bank - Transurban Road Safety Centre

The Brain Mapping Facility is run by brain cartographer Scientia Professor George Paxinos AO and a team of researchers who produce atlases of the human brain. Atlases produced by NeuRA are used internationally as the standard guides for scientific work, as well as by neurosurgeons to target small deep lying structures in the brain.

NeuRA has three Gait and Balance Analysis Research Laboratories, including state-of-the-art 3D motion capture, in-floor force plates, electromyography, inertial sensors and an instrumented dual-belt perturbation treadmill. These laboratories facilitate NeuRA’s studies to understand the control of balance and walking, enabling researchers to identify fall risk factors, and develop strategies to prevent falls and fall-related injuries. The treatment of injuries from falls cost the Australian economy $2.3 billion a year.

The Sydney Brain Bank, located at NeuRA, is a specialised biobanking facility that collects, characterises, stores and distributes human brain and spinal cord tissue for research into ageing and neurodegenerative disorders. Since its inception in 2005, it has gathered brain tissue samples from over 750 donors which, through post-mortem analysis, has led to the discovery of new disorders, novel genes and therapeutic strategies for conditions affecting the brain and mind. The Sydney Brain Bank has facilitated over 350 studies and provided more than 38,000 specimens of donated neurological tissue.

The NeuRA Imaging facility is run by Professor Caroline Rae and is an open-access 3T MRI research facility, available to those wanting to use it for academic, industry and clinical research purposes. Since the facility opened in 2003, the team has worked with universities and other research institutions, pioneered new cutting edge imaging techniques, published 350+ papers and continues to help to drive new knowledge of the human brain and body.

The Transurban Road Safety Centre was built in 2017 through a partnership with Transurban. It combines world-class research with state-of-the-art facilities, including a custom-made crash sled, to enable NeuRA researchers to carry out research into improving road safety. Research conducted in evidence-based insights have been used to inform policymakers, education campaigns and driven technological advancements in vehicle safety."


 * Why it should be changed:

We have noticed that other Wikipedia pages about medical research institutes usually feature a "Location and Facilities" subheading on the page. For example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Chang_Cardiac_Research_Institute

We would like to have such a subheading as well.


 * References supporting the possible change (format using the "cite" button):

Brainfutures (talk) 23:21, 29 February 2024 (UTC)

Suggestion to add a new sub section called "Notable Work"

 * What I think should be changed (include citations):

We suggest to add a new subheading called "Notable Work" with the following suggested text: "NeuRA’s research output is frequently translated into real world settings. In 2023, following a decade-long collaborative effort between Professor Carolyn Sue AM, Kinghorn Chair, Neurodegeneration at NeuRA, the Mito Medical Network and researchers from the Centre for Economic Impacts of Genomic Medicine at Macquarie University, and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, the group successfully secured publicly funded genetic testing for mitochondrial diseases in Australia.

Researchers in NeuRA’s Aboriginal Health & Ageing team established the Koori Growing Old Well Study (KGOWS) to examine healthy ageing and dementia in NSW Aboriginal communities over a decade ago. Now in its third wave, this research has enabled, for the first time, neuroimaging of Alzheimer’s disease and cerebrovascular conditions in older Aboriginal participants with cognitive decline or dementia compared to cognitively intact controls. Significantly, these findings have enabled the co-design of translation outputs in partnership with communities and Aboriginal health services.

A large randomised control trial conducted by a team of NeuRA and UNSW researchers found that at-home gamified step exercises were effective at preventing falls in people over the age of 65, reducing the number of falls by 26 per cent when compared to a control group.

In 2022, NeuRA researchers from the Falls, Balance and Injury Research Centre contributed to the World Falls Guidelines, a publication which brought together falls prevention experts from 39 countries to provide recommendations on how to identify and assess the risk of falls.

In 2022, NeuRA researchers found people who installed their child car seats using ISOFIX compatible systems were up to three times less likely to make an error, versus those who installed their seats using the vehicle’s seatbelt. Crash testing also looked at the protection offered by both ISOFIX and seatbelt installed restraints in a crash, as well as what happens when car seats secured each way were installed incorrectly. These findings have been used to improve guidelines and education campaigns for both carers and manufacturers in a bid to improve road safety.

In 2021, researchers from NeuRA’s Spinal Cord Research Centre launched the landmark eWALK trial. Primarily funded by SpinalCure Australia and CatWalk Trust NZ, the international trial harnessed the power of neuroplasticity to restore the function of remaining spinal nerves. The therapy, known as neurostimulation, sends electrical impulses through electrodes that sit on the surface of the skin over the spinal cord. When it is coupled with step and walking training in people with chronic paraplegia, the therapy helps to rewire the neural pathways that have been impaired.

In 2019, the Sydney Brain Bank, based in NeuRA launched a donor program in collaboration with the University of Newcastle, aimed at investigating the long-term effects of head injuries on former NRL players. This initiative invited retired NRL players to contribute to research by donating their brains to the Sydney Brain Bank after their passing. Under the direction of Sydney Brain Bank Director Dr Claire Shepherd, researchers examined the donated brains for cellular changes indicative of conditions like chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

In 2019, Professor Kaarin Anstey and Associate Professor Ruth Peters contributed to World Health Organisation guidelines on risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementia. The Guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations on relevant lifestyle behaviours and interventions. They are designed to be a vital tool for health care providers, governments and policy makers.

In 2018, NeuRA formed a cooperative partnership of four clinical, educational and research allies, including Black Dog Institute, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) and UNSW Sydney to create Mindgardens Neuroscience Network which became the largest collaboration between researchers and clinicians in the Southern Hemisphere on brain disorders.

In 2013, National Child Restraint Guidelines developed by Professor Lynne Bilston and Associate Professor Julie Brown were adopted by the Australian government and this resulted in a reduction of child fatalities in motor vehicles by 45%.


 * Why it should be changed:

The current page does not feature much of our latest and most notable work. We have noticed that other pages about medical research institutes have similar sections.


 * References supporting the possible change (format using the "cite" button):

NOTE: 'I have done my best to use secondary sources as I note that the article currently relies too much on primary sources. The journal articles cited are from independent, peer-reviewed journals or news sources.'' ''' Brainfutures (talk) 23:50, 29 February 2024 (UTC)

Suggestion to add a new subheading called "Notable People"

 * What I think should be changed (include citations):

Suggestion to add a new subheading called "Notable People" to reflect those who have worked at NeuRA and received accolades or awards. Other pages feature such a section - for example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Chang_Cardiac_Research_Institute

Suggested wording:


 * Professor Caroline Rae
 * Professor Carolyn Sue AM
 * Dr Claire Shepherd
 * Professor Cyndi Shannon Weickert
 * Professor Elspeth McLachlan, recipient of the Ramaciotti Medal (1998)
 * Scientia Professor George Paxinos AO
 * Professor Glenda Halliday AC, recipient of the 2019 NHMRC Elizabeth Blackburn Investigator Grant Award (Leadership in Clinical Medicine and Science)
 * Associate Professor Ingvars Birznieks
 * Professor Jacqueline Close AM
 * Professor James McAuley
 * Scientia Professor Kaarin Anstey, recipient of the Royal Society of NSW’s Award in the Social and Behavioural Sciences (2023)
 * Professor Lynne Bilston
 * Professor Matthew Kiernan AM, recipient of the Ramaciotti Medal (2022)
 * Professor Simon Gandevia
 * Scientia Professor Stephen Lord
 * Professor Sylvia Gustin
 * Terry Donovan OAM, recipient of an Order of Australia Medal
 * Professor Tony Broe AM


 * Why it should be changed:

"Notable People" will reflect those who have worked at NeuRA and received accolades or awards. Other pages feature such a section - for example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Chang_Cardiac_Research_Institute


 * References supporting the possible change (format using the "cite" button):

Brainfutures (talk) 23:57, 29 February 2024 (UTC)


 * @Brainfutures: Do you have citations to show these people have worked here? ARandomName123 (talk)Ping me! 19:52, 6 April 2024 (UTC)

Suggestion to add more info to History sub section

 * What I think should be changed (include citations):

The history sub section can benefit from additional info and follow similar formatting to other page's history sections, For example this page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Chang_Cardiac_Research_Institute

I have incorporated what's already on the wikipedia history section and just added extra info.

Suggested wording:

Early Years
NeuRA was previously called the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute and was established in 1991 by Professor Ian McCloskey, Professor David Burke, Professor Simon Gandevia and Professor Erica Potter with the support of the Eastern Sydney Area Health Service (now South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service) and the University of New South Wales. In 1993 the Institute was established as an independent, not-for-profit company and researchers moved into buildings on the site of the old Randwick Chest Hospital, next to the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick. It was officially opened on 8 November 1993 by the Commonwealth Minister for Health Graham Richardson and the NSW Minister for Health Ron Phillips.

On 15 November 2000, the Premier of New South Wales, Bob Carr, officially opened the new sections of the institute. In June 2009 the Minister for Science and Medical Research Jodi McKay opened the Prince Henry Wing extension.

New building and renaming
In May 2007, the NSW government gave planning approval to the concept and project plans for a Neuroscience Research Precinct to be built on the existing site. Building works began on the first phase of the project in March 2010; with the first stage of 13,000 square metres (140,000 sq ft) designed by COX Architecture completed in 2013 at a cost of A$40 million. The completed building provides six stories of laboratory and clinical research space, 25,000 square metres (270,000 sq ft) of floor space and the ability to house up to 700 researchers. The institute relaunched as Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) on 1 June 2010.


 * Why it should be changed:

We have a 30 plus year history and the wikipedia page does not currently reflect all of that. Also now this section fits with the format of other medical research pages such as https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Chang_Cardiac_Research_Institute


 * References supporting the possible change (format using the "cite" button):

Brainfutures (talk) 00:08, 1 March 2024 (UTC)
 * . The section doesn't have many citations, but seeing as this is just a reorganization. I've accepted this request. ARandomName123 (talk)Ping me! 20:02, 6 April 2024 (UTC)


 * What I think should be changed:

Remove this: In 2000, Neurochemist Dr Kay Double develops the world’s first blood test for early detection of Parkinson’s disease.[12] From the 'Research Achievements' section. It's not factual information.

It's not factual information this blood test didn't eventuate.
 * Why it should be changed:


 * References supporting the possible change (format using the "cite" button):

Brainfutures (talk) 00:11, 1 March 2024 (UTC)


 * ARandomName123 (talk)Ping me! 20:03, 6 April 2024 (UTC)

Suggestion to expand on the 'research achievements' section

 * What I think should be changed (include citations):

incorporate the following up to date info about NeuRA's research achievements into the 'Research Achievements' section

Suggested wording:

In 2023, Professor Carolyn Sue AM and her research team at NeuRA tested a new form of gene therapy aimed at slowing or stopping the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Professor Sue’s group tested their hypothesis that the Nix protein can rejuvenate mitophagy and mitochondrial function in individuals with the PINK1/PARKIN gene mutation. Unlike current treatments that only alleviate symptoms by managing dopamine levels, if successful, this form of gene therapy could potentially halt the disease's progression.

In 2022, Professor James McAuley from UNSW’s School of Health Sciences and NeuRA carried out the RESOLVE trial for chronic back pain. Using sensorimotor retraining, which focuses on the brain rather than bone or muscular problems, the treatment displayed long-term benefits, doubling complete recovery rates and enhancing quality of life for individuals living with low back pain.

In 2021, Associate Professors Jan Fullerton, Tom Weickert and Professors Peter Schofield AO, Melissa Green and Professor Cyndi Shannon Weickert were involved in the world’s largest bipolar genetics study, comprising 200 institutions and over 415,000 research participants. The study identified 64 genomic regions that make people more susceptible to bipolar disorder – more than doubling the number of regions previously identified – and pinpointed the specific genes and pathways impacted. The study also revealed DNA sequence differences in specific genes that are involved in the therapeutic action of antipsychotics and a range of other medicines, which could lead to the development of more targeted medications, or the repurposing of existing medications as potential treatments.

In 2018, Professor Cyndi Shannon Weickert discovered immune cells in brains of many people with schizophrenia opening new avenues for treatment.

In November 2018, NeuRA’s team of neuroscientists led by George Paxinos reported a finding of a new region of the human brain which they called the endorestiform nucleus. Research carried out in NeuRA’s Brain Mapping Facility has led to the discovery of 94 hitherto unknown regions since the creation of the first brain atlas more than 30 years ago. The group has also adopted an innovative enhanced staining method.

In 2017, Associate Professor Ingvars Birznieks discovered the neural code used to signal touch sensation.

Professor Peter Schofield AO and Dr Bill Brooks are founding members of the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN) study – a significant collaborative effort studying familial Alzheimer’s disease through sites in the US, Australia, England and Germany. In 2012, DIAN researchers showed the onset of symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease is preceded by the accumulation of amyloid (abnormal protein) in the brain over a period of 15 to 20 years. This study paved the way for using biomarkers as surrogate end points in clinical trials.


 * Why it should be changed:

Current page features very old info and some of it is inaccurate. we have compiled our most recent and significant research achievements which also attracted the most media attention.

NOTE: the references are all from independent, peer-reviewed journals or news outlets. I have tried to steer away from primary references as I see that the page currently over relies on primary sources.

Brainfutures (talk) 00:30, 1 March 2024 (UTC)


 * @Brainfutures: The news outlets are fine, but when we say primary, that includes the research paper. We want other publications commenting on the research paper as a source (ex, the ABC source), instead of the research paper itself. ARandomName123 (talk)Ping me! 19:48, 6 April 2024 (UTC)