
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
2019
Conference Publication
Identifying altered resting-state network in Parkinson's disease with mild cognitive impairment
Yang, J. H., McMahon, K. L., Copland, D. A., Byrne, G. J., Mitchell, L. K., O'Sullivan, J. D. and Dissanayaka, N. N. W. (2019). Identifying altered resting-state network in Parkinson's disease with mild cognitive impairment. 23rd Annual Meeting of the Organisation for Human Brain Mapping, Rome, Italy, 9-13 June 2019.
2018
Journal Article
A novel Parkinson's disease risk variant, p. W378R, in the Gaucher's disease GBA gene
Lubomski, Michal, Hayes, Michael, Kennerson, Marina, Ellis, Melina, Chu, Shannon, Blackie, Jeffrey, O'Sullivan, John D. and Nicholson, Garth (2018). A novel Parkinson's disease risk variant, p. W378R, in the Gaucher's disease GBA gene. Movement Disorders, 33 (10), 1662-1664. doi: 10.1002/mds.106
2018
Journal Article
Energization and spoken language production: evidence from progressive supranuclear palsy
Barker, Megan S., Nelson, Nicole L., O'Sullivan, John D., Adam, Robert and Robinson, Gail A. (2018). Energization and spoken language production: evidence from progressive supranuclear palsy. Neuropsychologia, 119, 349-362. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2018.09.004
2018
Journal Article
An overview of sleep and circadian dysfunction in Parkinson's disease
Mantovani, Susanna, Smith, Simon S., Gordon, Richard and O'Sullivan, John D. (2018). An overview of sleep and circadian dysfunction in Parkinson's disease. Journal of Sleep Research, 27 (3) e12673, e12673. doi: 10.1111/jsr.12673
2018
Conference Publication
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, Stell, Rick, White, Richard, Williams, David and Onuk, Koray (2018). Characteristics of advanced parkinson’s disease patients seen in movement disorder clinics – Australian results from the cross-sectional observe study. Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (ANZAN), Darwin, Australia, 29 May-1 June 2018 . London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2018-ANZAN.25
2018
Conference Publication
Altered network connectivity during resting state in Parkinson's disease patients with mild cognitive impairment as a marker for dementia
Yang, J. H., McMahon, K. L., Copland, D. A., Byrne, G. J., Mitchell, L. K., O'Sullivan, J. D. and Dissanayaka, N. N. W. (2018). Altered network connectivity during resting state in Parkinson's disease patients with mild cognitive impairment as a marker for dementia. NNIDR Australian Dementia Forum, Sydney, NSW Australia, 4-5 June 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Altered network connectivity during resting state in Parkinson's disease patients with mild cognitive impairment as a marker for dementia
Yang, J. H., McMahon, K. L., Copland, D. A., Byrne, G. J., Mitchell, L. K., O'Sullivan, J. D. and Dissanayaka, N. N. W. (2018). Altered network connectivity during resting state in Parkinson's disease patients with mild cognitive impairment as a marker for dementia. 8th Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Society Conference, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 22-25 November 2018.
2018
Journal Article
How well do caregivers detect depression and anxiety in patients with Parkinson disease?
Kua, Zhong Jie, Pachana, Nancy A., Byrne, Gerard J., O’Sullivan, John D., Rodney, Marsh, Torbey, Elizabeth, Silburn, Peter A., Mellick, George D. and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. W. (2018). How well do caregivers detect depression and anxiety in patients with Parkinson disease?. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, 31 (5), 089198871878864-236. doi: 10.1177/0891988718788641
2018
Conference Publication
Altered network connectivity during resting state in Parkinson's disease patients with mild cognitive impairment as a marker for dementia
Yang, J. H., McMahon, K. L., Copland, D. A., Byrne, G. J., Mitchell, L. K., O'Sullivan, J. D. and Dissanayaka, N. N. W. (2018). Altered network connectivity during resting state in Parkinson's disease patients with mild cognitive impairment as a marker for dementia. Imaging@Brisbane 2018, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 22-24 August 2018.
2017
Journal Article
Stepwise partitioning of Xp21: a profiling method for XK deletions causative of the McLeod syndrome
Gassner, Christoph, Brönnimann, Chantal, Merki, Yvonne, Mattle-Greminger, Maja P., Sigurdardottir, Sonja, Meyer, Eduardo, Engström, Charlotte, O'Sullivan, John D., Jung, Hans H. and Frey, Beat M. (2017). Stepwise partitioning of Xp21: a profiling method for XK deletions causative of the McLeod syndrome. Transfusion, 57 (9), 2125-2135. doi: 10.1111/trf.14172
2017
Journal Article
N400 and emotional word processing in Parkinson's disease
Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. W., Au, Tiffany R., Angwin, Anthony J., O’Sullivan, John D., Byrne, Gerard J., Silburn, Peter A., Rodney Marsh, Mellick, George D. and Copland, David A. (2017). N400 and emotional word processing in Parkinson's disease. Neuropsychology, 31 (6), 585-595. doi: 10.1037/neu0000333
2017
Journal Article
Practical approaches to commencing device-assisted therapies for Parkinson's disease in Australia
Williams, David R., Evans, Andrew H., Fung, Victor S., Hayes, Michael, Iansek, Robert, Kimber, Thomas, O'Sullivan, John D. and Sue, Carolyn M. (2017). Practical approaches to commencing device-assisted therapies for Parkinson's disease in Australia. Internal Medicine Journal, 47 (10), 1107-1113. doi: 10.1111/imj.13398
2017
Conference Publication
A case-control spectral analysis of sleep in Friedreich's Ataxia
Forbes, R., Smith, S. S., Ritchie, A., O'Sullivan, J. D. and Mantovani, S. (2017). A case-control spectral analysis of sleep in Friedreich's Ataxia. World Sleep 2017, Prague, Czech Republic, 7-11 October 2017. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2017.11.611
2017
Conference Publication
Altered attention brain network in Parkinson’s disease with mild cognitive impairment
Yang, J. H., McMahon, K . L., Copland, D. A., Byrne, G. J., Toft, A. J. H., Mitchell, L. K., O'Sullivan, J. D. and Dissanayaka, N. N. W. (2017). Altered attention brain network in Parkinson’s disease with mild cognitive impairment. International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, Vancouver, BC Canada, 4-8 June 2017. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley-Blackwell.
2017
Conference Publication
Validity and reliability of anxiety and neuroticism assessment in Parkinson’s disease
Pachana, N., Torbey, E., O'Sullivan, J., Marsh, R., Silburn, P., Mellick, G., Byrne, G. and Dissanayaka, N. (2017). Validity and reliability of anxiety and neuroticism assessment in Parkinson’s disease. Stress and Anxiety Research Society 38th Annual Meeting 2017, Pokfulan, Hong Kong, 5-7 July 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
Electrophysiological markers for emotional and cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease
Dissanayaka, N., Au, T., Angwin, A., O’Sullivan, J., Byrne, G., Silburn, P., Marsh, R., Mellick, G. and Copland, D. (2017). Electrophysiological markers for emotional and cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease. International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 4-8 June 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
Impairments in functional networks linked to attentional deficits in mild cognitive impairment MCI in patients with Parkinson’s disease
Yang, J. H., McMahon, K. L., Copland, D. A., Byrne, G. J., Toft, A. J. H., Rheinberger, T. J., Mitchell, L. K., O'Sullivan, J. D. and Dissanayaka, N. N. W. (2017). Impairments in functional networks linked to attentional deficits in mild cognitive impairment MCI in patients with Parkinson’s disease. 7th Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Society Conference, Adelaide, SA Australia, 23-26 November 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
Improving diagnosis and treatment of anxiety in Parkinson’s disease: IDATA-PD study
Dissanayaka, N., Pachana, N., O’Sullivan, J., Marsh, R., Silburn, P., White, E., Torbey, E., Pye, D., Mitchell, L., Mellick, G., Copland, D. and Byrne, G. (2017). Improving diagnosis and treatment of anxiety in Parkinson’s disease: IDATA-PD study. International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 4-8 June 2017. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley.
2017
Conference Publication
Anxiety in patients with cognitive impairment and Parkinson’s disease
Dissanayaka, N. N. W., Toft, A., Yang, J. H., Pachana, N., O'Sullivan, J., Mitchell, L., Copland, D. and Byrne, G. (2017). Anxiety in patients with cognitive impairment and Parkinson’s disease. NNIDR Australian Dementia Forum, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 15-17 October, 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
Investigating the Association between Anxiety and Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson’s Disease: A Descriptive Study
Toft, A., Yang, J., Byrne, G., O’Sullivan, J., Mitchell, L., Copland, D. and Dissanayaka, N. (2017). Investigating the Association between Anxiety and Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson’s Disease: A Descriptive Study. International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, Vancouver, BC Canada, 4-8 June 2017. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley-Blackwell.
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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