WA researchers receive funding

Dr Prashant Bharadwaj at Edith Cowan University has been awarded $250k by the WA Child Research Fund for a 2-year project to discover biomarkers for childhood dementia. The project aims to identify specific changes in proteins in the blood and urine from children with various types of childhood dementia that could be used to monitor the progression of their disease. These relatively non-invasive markers could be very useful tools to measure response to new treatments in clinical trials.

In addition, this project will add to the knowledge base about these diseases and may uncover new approaches to treatment. 

Dr Bharadwaj’s works at the Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease Research and Care which is led by famous Alzheimer’s researcher Professor Ralph Martins AO. Both researchers who have worked for many years in the aging dementia field were keen to apply their skills and knowledge to childhood dementia after hearing about this under-researched area. 

Big congratulations to Prashant and the team that he has assembled to work towards improving the lives of children with dementia.

Congratulations also to Professor Aleksandra Filipovska at the University of Western Australia who was awarded a grant to improve the diagnosis of paediatric mitochondrial diseases. Mitochondrial disease is one of the most common causes of childhood dementia.

News of funding can be found on the WA government's website.