Overview
Background
After completing neurology training at the Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital(RBWH) in 1995, A/Prof O’Sullivan completed Fellowships in Movement Disorders at the Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre, Melbourne then the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, and Middlesex Hospital in London, UK. He was awarded a doctorate in Medicine from Melbourne University in 2000 for studies into surgery for Parkinson’s disease. He returned to the RBWH in 2001 and set up the Movement Disorders Clinical Service including botulinum toxin and later Friedreich's ataxia clinics, and co-ordinating the Huntington's disease multidisciplinary clinic. Through these clinics he has established collaborations with local, interstate and international researchers in the fields of Parkinson's disease, and other movement disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. He is currently Associate Professor of Medicine and Principal Research Fellow at UQ Centre for Clinical Research, previously Royal Brisbane and Uniting Care Health Clinical Units in UQ School of Clinical Medicine. A/Prof O'Sullivan past President of the Movement Disorders Society of Australia and New Zealand (MDSANZ), having previously served as Chair of the MDSANZ Clinical Trials and Research Group. He is on the Council of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurolgists (ANZAN) and previously chaired the ANZAN Scientific Program Committee
Availability
- Associate Professor John O'Sullivan is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Research interests
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Non-motor features of Parkinson's disease
This research involves studies into depression, anxiety and cognitive function in Parkinson's disease in collaboration with Dr Nadeeka Dissanayaka, Dr Robert Adam, Prof Gerard Byrne, Dr Nancy Pachana & Dr Rodney Marsh
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Novel compounds and clinical trials in neurodegenerative diseases
Research involves novel compounds and repurposed drugs for treatment and disease-modification in Parkinson's, Huntington's disease, Friedreich's Ataxia, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and motor neurone diseases in collaboration with Dr Richard Gordon, A/Prof Trent Woodruff, A/Prof Rob Henderson, Prof Pam McCombe, Dr Robert Adam and Wesley Medical Research.
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Exercise in Parkinson's disease
In collaboration with Prof Sandy Brauer, Dr Robyn Lamont, and Wesley Medical Research, studies exploring maintenance of exercise, gait and boxing in Parkinson's disease.
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Sleep in neurodegenerative diseases
These studies in collaboration with Dr Simon Smith, Dr Jane Nikles and Wesley Medical Research explore novel aspects involving sleep in Parkinson's, Huntington's and motor neurone diseases and Friedreich's ataxia
Research impacts
A/Prof O’Sullivan’s novel investigator-initiated clinical trial in Parkinson’s disease (PD) (Mov Dis 2007; 22:1543-9) is cited in the American Academy of Neurology Practice Parameters and MDS Evidence Based Medicine Review of Management of Non-motor symptoms in PD. The initial description of syndrome of Dopamine Dysregulation in PD (JNNP 2000; 68:423-428) complicating dopamine replacement therapy in some patients with Parkinson’s disease has led to widespread recognition of the syndrome, and this paper has had more than 400 citations. The Movement Disorders Society revision of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS–UPDRS) includes a section to address features of the dopamine dysregulation syndrome as a result of this. This research has also contributed to debate about addiction in general (Addiction. 2012;107(2):253).
Works
Search Professor John O'Sullivan’s works on UQ eSpace
2021
Journal Article
Sodium selenate as a disease-modifying treatment for progressive supranuclear palsy: Protocol for a phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Vivash, Lucy, Bertram, Kelly L, Malpas, Charles B, Marotta, Cassandra, Harding, Ian H, Kolbe, Scott, Fielding, Joanne, Clough, Meaghan, Lewis, Simon J G, Tisch, Stephen, Evans, Andrew H, O'Sullivan, John D, Kimber, Thomas, Darby, David, Churilov, Leonid, Law, Meng, Hovens, Christopher M, Velakoulis, Dennis and O'Brien, Terence J (2021). Sodium selenate as a disease-modifying treatment for progressive supranuclear palsy: Protocol for a phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. BMJ Open, 11 (12) e055019, e055019. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055019
2021
Conference Publication
Using N-of-1 tests to identify responders to melatonin for sleep disturbance in Parkinson’s Disease
Nikles, J., Mitchell, G. K., Smith, S. S., McGree, J. M., McDonald, S., Poli, N., Senior, H., Tan, S., Dissanyaka, N., Ritchie, A. and O'Sullivan, J. D. (2021). Using N-of-1 tests to identify responders to melatonin for sleep disturbance in Parkinson’s Disease. Australian Clinical Trials Alliance conference, Sydney, NSW, Australia, November 2021.
2021
Journal Article
Anxiety disorders are associated with verbal memory impairment in patients with Parkinson’s disease without dementia
Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N., Forbes, Elana J., Yang, Ji Hyun J., Pourzinal, Dana, O’Sullivan, John D., Mitchell, Leander K., Copland, David A., McMahon, Katie L. and Byrne, Gerard J. (2021). Anxiety disorders are associated with verbal memory impairment in patients with Parkinson’s disease without dementia. Journal of Neurology, 269 (3), 1600-1609. doi: 10.1007/s00415-021-10736-x
2021
Conference Publication
Therapy to reduce dementia risk in Parkinson’s disease (TRIP): Proof-of-concept protocol
Pourzinal, D., Bakker, A., Byrne, G.J., McMahon, K., O’Sullivan, J., Adam, R., Copland, D., Yang, J.H.J., Au, T., Littleford, R., Chatfield, M., Pontone, G., Mari, Z. and Dissanayaka, N. (2021). Therapy to reduce dementia risk in Parkinson’s disease (TRIP): Proof-of-concept protocol. Australia Dementia Forum 2021, Online, 31 May - 1 June 2021.
2021
Journal Article
Defining atypical anxiety in Parkinson's disease
Forbes, Elana J., Byrne, Gerard J., O'Sullivan, John D., Yang, Jihyun, Marsh, Rodney and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. (2021). Defining atypical anxiety in Parkinson's disease. Movement Disorders Clinical Practice, 8 (4), 571-581. doi: 10.1002/mdc3.13193
2021
Journal Article
Neural correlates of attentional deficits in Parkinson’s disease patients with mild cognitive impairment
Yang, Jihyun, Pourzinal, Dana, McMahon, Katie L., Byrne, Gerard J., Copland, David A., O’Sullivan, John D. and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. (2021). Neural correlates of attentional deficits in Parkinson’s disease patients with mild cognitive impairment. Parkinsonism and Related Disorders, 85, 17-22. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2021.02.009
2021
Conference Publication
Investigating resting state functional connectivity in sub-phenotypes of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease
Pourzinal, D., Yang, J.H., Byrne, G.J., O’Sullivan, J.D., McMahon, K., Copland, D.A. and Dissanayaka, N. (2021). Investigating resting state functional connectivity in sub-phenotypes of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease. Australia Dementia Forum 2021, Online, 31 May – 1 June 2021.
2021
Journal Article
Characteristics of advanced Parkinson's disease patients seen in movement disorder clinics - Australian results from the cross-sectional OBSERVE study
Evans, Andrew, Fung, Victor S. C., O'Sullivan, John D., Stell, Rick, White, Richard, Williams, David R., Femia, Samira and Onuk, Koray (2021). Characteristics of advanced Parkinson's disease patients seen in movement disorder clinics - Australian results from the cross-sectional OBSERVE study. Clinical Parkinsonism and Related Disorders, 4 100075, 100075. doi: 10.1016/j.prdoa.2020.100075
2020
Conference Publication
Identification and clinical characteristics of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease
Yang, J., Forbes, E., Pourzinal, D., McMahon, K., Copland, D., Byrne, G., O'Sullivan, J., Mitchell, L. and Dissanayaka, N. (2020). Identification and clinical characteristics of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease. Herston Health Precinct Symposium 2020, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 7-11 December 2020.
2020
Conference Publication
Anxiety disorders are associated with verbal memory impairment in patients with Parkinson’s disease without dementia
Forbes, E., Byrne, G. J., Yang, J. H. J., O'Sullivan, J., Copland, D. A., McMahon, K. L., Mitchell, L. K. and Dissanayaka, N. N. (2020). Anxiety disorders are associated with verbal memory impairment in patients with Parkinson’s disease without dementia. Herston Health Precinct Symposium 2020, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 7-11 December 2020.
2020
Conference Publication
Neural correlates of semantic fluency deficits in Parkinson’s disease patients with mild cognitive impairment
Yang, J., Copland, D., McMahon, K., Byrne, G., O'Sullivan, J. and Dissanayaka, N. (2020). Neural correlates of semantic fluency deficits in Parkinson’s disease patients with mild cognitive impairment. Herston Health Precinct Symposium 2020, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 7-11 December 2020.
2020
Conference Publication
Therapy to Reduce dementia risk In Parkinson’s disease (TRIP): proof-of-concept protocol
Pourzinal, D., Bakker, A., Byrne, G. J., McMahon, K., O'Sullivan, J., Adam, R., Copland, D., Yang, J. H. J., Au, T., Littleford, R., Chatfield, M., Pontone, G., Mari, Z. and Dissanayaka, N. (2020). Therapy to Reduce dementia risk In Parkinson’s disease (TRIP): proof-of-concept protocol. UQ Faculty of Medicine Higher Degree by Research Student Symposium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 23-27 November 2020.
2020
Conference Publication
Therapy to reduce dementia risk in Parkinson’s disease (TRIP): proof-of-concept protocol
Pourzinal, D., Bakker, A., Byrne, G. J., McMahon, K., O'Sullivan, J., Adam, R., Copland, D., Yang, J. H. J., Au, T., Littleford, R., Chatfield, M., Pontone, G., Mari, G. and Dissanayaka, N. (2020). Therapy to reduce dementia risk in Parkinson’s disease (TRIP): proof-of-concept protocol. Herston Health Precinct Symposium 2020, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 7-11 December 2020.
2020
Conference Publication
Altered functional connectivity of the hippocampus in posterior-cortical subtype of cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease
Pourzinal, D., Yang, J. H., Byrne, G. J., O'Sullivan, J. D., Mitchell, L. K., McMahon, K. L., Copland, D. A. and Dissanayaka, N. N. W. (2020). Altered functional connectivity of the hippocampus in posterior-cortical subtype of cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease. Australian Society for Medical Research Queensland Postgraduate Student Conference, Online, 11 November 2020.
2020
Conference Publication
Improving diagnosis and treatment of anxiety in Parkinson’s disease: IDATA-PD study update
Dissanayaka, N., Byrne, G. J., Mitchell, L. K., O'Sullivan, J. D., Padmassini, A., White, E. X., Yang, J. H. J., Forbes, E., Thangavelu, K., Au, T., Lehn, A., Adam, R. and Pachana, N. A. (2020). Improving diagnosis and treatment of anxiety in Parkinson’s disease: IDATA-PD study update. Herston Health Precinct Symposium 2020, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 7-11 December 2020.
2020
Conference Publication
Defining atypical anxiety in Parkinson’s disease
Forbes, E., Byrne, G. J., Yang, J. H. J., O'Sullivan, J., Copland, D. A., McMahon, K. L., Mitchell, L. K. and Dissanayaka, N. N. (2020). Defining atypical anxiety in Parkinson’s disease. Herston Health Precinct Symposium 2020, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 7-11 December 2020.
2020
Conference Publication
Profiling atypical anxiety in Parkinson’s Disease
Forbes, E., Byrne, G.J., Yang, J.H.J., O'Sullivan, J., Copland, D.A., McMahon, K.L., Mitchell, L.K. and Dissanayaka, N.N. (2020). Profiling atypical anxiety in Parkinson’s Disease. MDS Virtual Congress 2020, Online, 12-16 September 2020.
2020
Journal Article
Differential patterns of internally generated responses in parkinsonian disorders
Tjokrowijoto, Priscilla, Ceslis, Amelia, O'Sullivan, John D., Adam, Robert, Mellick, George, Silburn, Peter and Robinson, Gail A. (2020). Differential patterns of internally generated responses in parkinsonian disorders. Neuropsychologia, 146 107569, 107569. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2020.107569
2020
Journal Article
Identifying subtypes of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease using cluster analysis
Pourzinal, Dana, Yang, Ji Hyun J., Byrne, Gerard J., O’Sullivan, John D., Mitchell, Leander, McMahon, Katie L., Copland, David A. and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. (2020). Identifying subtypes of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease using cluster analysis. Journal of Neurology, 267 (11), 3213-3222. doi: 10.1007/s00415-020-09977-z
2020
Journal Article
Too much of a good thing: hedonistic homoeostatic dysregulation and other behavioural consequences of excessive dopamine replacement therapy in Parkinson’s disease
O'Sullivan, John D (2020). Too much of a good thing: hedonistic homoeostatic dysregulation and other behavioural consequences of excessive dopamine replacement therapy in Parkinson’s disease. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 91 (6), 566-567. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2019-322378
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor John O'Sullivan is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Master Philosophy
Digital symptom tracking - using digital tools for measuring and tracking motor, cognitive, and speech changes
Associate Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
The evolution of cognitive deficits in Lewy body disorders and related degenerative diseases.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Nestor
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Cognitive subtypes in Parkinson's disease: exploring phenotypes, neuroimaging targets, and therapeutics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gerard Byrne, Dr Ji Hyun Julia Yang, Professor Nadeeka Dissanayaka
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
Depression in Parkinson's disease: assessment methods and risk factors
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Michael Roberts
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor John O'Sullivan directly for media enquiries about:
- Botulinum toxin
- Dystonia
- Huntington's disease
- Movement disorders
- Parkinson's disease
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