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Associate Professor John O'Sullivan
Associate Professor

John O'Sullivan

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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

Research interests

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

241 works between 1988 and 2025

81 - 100 of 241 works

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.

Improving diagnosis and treatment of anxiety in Parkinson’s disease: IDATA-PD study

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.

Anxiety in patients with cognitive impairment and Parkinson’s disease

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.

Investigating the Association between Anxiety and Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson’s Disease: A Descriptive Study

2017

Conference Publication

Understanding neural activation in semantic fluency 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). Understanding neural activation in semantic fluency in Parkinson’s disease with mild cognitive impairment. The Movement Disorder Society of Australia and New Zealand Scientific Conference, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 22 September 2017.

Understanding neural activation in semantic fluency in Parkinson’s disease with mild cognitive impairment

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. The Movement Disorder Society of Australia and New Zealand Scientific Conference, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 22 September 2017.

Altered attention brain network in Parkinson’s disease with mild cognitive impairment

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. Centre for Advanced Imaging 4th Annual Symposium, Brisbane, Australia, 29 September 2017.

Altered attention brain network in Parkinson’s disease with mild cognitive impairment

2016

Journal Article

Cognitive behavior therapy for anxiety in Parkinson’s disease: outcomes for patients and caregivers

Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. W., Pye, Deidre, Mitchell, Leander K., Byrne, Gerard J., O'Sullivan, John D., Marsh, Rodney and Pachana, Nancy A. (2016). Cognitive behavior therapy for anxiety in Parkinson’s disease: outcomes for patients and caregivers. Clinical Gerontologist, 40 (3), 159-171. doi: 10.1080/07317115.2016.1240131

Cognitive behavior therapy for anxiety in Parkinson’s disease: outcomes for patients and caregivers

2016

Journal Article

Management of impulse control disorders in Parkinson's disease

Zhang, Susan, Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N., Dawson, Andrew, O’Sullivan, John D., Mosley, Philip, Hall, Wayne and Carter, Adrian (2016). Management of impulse control disorders in Parkinson's disease. International Psychogeriatrics, 28 (10), 1597-1614. doi: 10.1017/S104161021600096X

Management of impulse control disorders in Parkinson's disease

2016

Journal Article

Disease-specific anxiety symptomatology in Parkinson's disease

Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. W., O'Sullivan, John D., Pachana, Nancy A., Marsh, Rodney, Silburn, Peter A., White, Elizabeth X., Torbey, Elizabeth, Mellick, George D., Copland, David A. and Byrne, Gerard J. (2016). Disease-specific anxiety symptomatology in Parkinson's disease. International Psychogeriatrics, 28 (7), 1-11. doi: 10.1017/S1041610215002410

Disease-specific anxiety symptomatology in Parkinson's disease

2016

Conference Publication

Tailored Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to combat anxiety in Parkinson’s disease

Dissanayaka, N., Pye, D., Mitchell, L., Byrne, G., O'Sullivan, J., Marsh, R. and Pachana, N. (2016). Tailored Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to combat anxiety in Parkinson’s disease. 8th World Congress of Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 22-23 June 2016.

Tailored Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to combat anxiety in Parkinson’s disease

2016

Conference Publication

Mindfulness Intervention for motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease

Idu Jion, F., Dissanayaka, N., Harnett, P., O'Sullivan, J. and Pachana, N. (2016). Mindfulness Intervention for motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. 7th Singapore International Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Symposium, Singapore, 29 September - 1 October 2016.

Mindfulness Intervention for motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease

2016

Conference Publication

The association between anxiety and cognitive dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease

Toft, A., O'Sullivan, J., Marsh, R., Silburn, P., Mellick, G., Byrne, G. and Dissanayaka, N. N. W. (2016). The association between anxiety and cognitive dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease. 7th International Postgraduate Symposium in Biomedical Science, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 31 October - 1 November, 2016.

The association between anxiety and cognitive dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease

2016

Conference Publication

Mindfulness Intervention for Motor and Non-Motor Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease

Idu Jion, F., Harnett, P., Pachana, N. A., O’Sullivan, J. D., Marsh, R., Byrne, G. J. and Dissanayaka, N. N. W. (2016). Mindfulness Intervention for Motor and Non-Motor Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease. 25th Annual RBWH Healthcare Symposium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 12-16 September 2016.

Mindfulness Intervention for Motor and Non-Motor Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease

2016

Conference Publication

Improving Diagnosis and Treatment of Anxiety in Older Adults with Parkinson’s Disease (IDATA-PD STUDY)

Dissanayaka, N. N. W., Pachana, N. A., O'Sullivan, J. D., Marsh, R., Silburn, P. A., White, E. X., Torbey, E., Pye, D. and Mitchell, L. K. (2016). Improving Diagnosis and Treatment of Anxiety in Older Adults with Parkinson’s Disease (IDATA-PD STUDY). 25th Annual RBWH Healthcare Symposium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 12-16 September 2016.

Improving Diagnosis and Treatment of Anxiety in Older Adults with Parkinson’s Disease (IDATA-PD STUDY)

2016

Journal Article

Mindfulness for motor and nonmotor dysfunctions in Parkinson’s Disease

Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. W., Idu Jion, Farah, Pachana, Nancy A., O'Sullivan, John D., Marsh, Rodney, Byrne, Gerard J. and Harnett, Paul (2016). Mindfulness for motor and nonmotor dysfunctions in Parkinson’s Disease. Parkinson’s Disease, 2016 7109052, 7109052.1-7109052.13. doi: 10.1155/2016/7109052

Mindfulness for motor and nonmotor dysfunctions in Parkinson’s Disease

2016

Conference Publication

Tailored Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to Combat Anxiety in Parkinson’s Disease

Dissanayaka, N. N. W., Pye, D., Mitchell, L. K., Byrne, G. J., O'Sullivan, J. D., Marsh, R. and Pachana, N. A. (2016). Tailored Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to Combat Anxiety in Parkinson’s Disease. 25th Annual RBWH Healthcare Symposium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 12-16 September 2016.

Tailored Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to Combat Anxiety in Parkinson’s Disease

2016

Conference Publication

Emotional Inhibition In Parkinson’s Disease: An EEG Study

Hennessy, D., Au, T. R., Angwin, A. J., Yang, J. H., Copland, D. A., O'Sullivan, J. D. and Dissanayaka, N. N. W. (2016). Emotional Inhibition In Parkinson’s Disease: An EEG Study. 25th Annual RBWH Healthcare Symposium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 12-16 September 2016.

Emotional Inhibition In Parkinson’s Disease: An EEG Study

2016

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. (2016). Improving Diagnosis and Treatment of Anxiety in Parkinson’s Disease: IDATA-PD study. Australia and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (ANZAN) Annual Scientic Meeting, Perth, WA Australia, 24-27 May 2016.

Improving Diagnosis and Treatment of Anxiety in Parkinson’s Disease: IDATA-PD study

2015

Journal Article

Altered expression of metabolic proteins and adipokines in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Ngo, S. T., Steyn, F. J., Huang, L., Mantovani, S., Pfluger, C. M. M., Woodruff, T. M., O'Sullivan, J. D., Henderson, R. D. and McCombe, P. A. (2015). Altered expression of metabolic proteins and adipokines in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 357 (1-2), 22-27. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2015.06.053

Altered expression of metabolic proteins and adipokines in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

2015

Journal Article

Expert Consensus Group report on the use of apomorphine in the treatment of Parkinson's disease - Clinical practice recommendations

Trenkwalder, Claudia., Chaudhuri, K. Ray., Garcia Ruiz, Pedro J., LeWitt, Peter., Katzenschlager, Regina., Sixel-Doring, Friederike., Henriksen, Tove., Sesar, Angel., Poewe, Werner., Baker, Mary., Ceballos-Baumann, Andres., Gunther, Deuschl., Drapier, Sophie., Ebersbach, Georg., Evans, Andrew., Fernandez, Hubert., Isaacson, Stuart., van Laar, Teus., Lees, Andrew., Lewis, Simon., Castrillo, Juan Carlos Martinez., Martinez-Martin, Pablo., Odin, Per., O'Sullivan, John., Tagaris, Georgios. and Wenzel, Karoline. (2015). Expert Consensus Group report on the use of apomorphine in the treatment of Parkinson's disease - Clinical practice recommendations. Parkinsonism and Related Disorders, 21 (9), 1023-1030. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2015.06.012

Expert Consensus Group report on the use of apomorphine in the treatment of Parkinson's disease - Clinical practice recommendations

Funding

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2028
    A randomised controlled trial, of N-Acetyl Cysteine, for premanifest Huntingtin gene expansion carriers (NAC-preHD)
    Western Sydney Local Health District
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    A randomised controlled trial of N-Acetyl Cysteine for premanifest Huntington gene expansion carriers (NAC-preHD)
    Huntington's Australia Research Grant
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    Mining the gut microbiome to develop new treatments and biomarkers for Parkinson's disease
    Wesley Medical Research Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2027
    Enhancing utility of neuropsychological evaluation for earlier and effective diagnosis of dementia in Parkinson's disease
    NHMRC MRFF Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Mining the inflammasome-gut microbiome axis to uncover new biomarkers and therapeutic targets for Parkinson's disease
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Validating Magnetic Resonance diagnosis in Parkinson's Disease
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    Gilchrist Family Parkinson's Research Program
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    Sodium Selenate as a Disease Modifying Treatment for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (Sodium Selenate for PSP) (MRFF RCRDUN Neurological Disorders Grant administered by Monash University)
    Monash University
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2024 - 2025
    Evaluation of noval disease-modifying therapeutics for Parkinson's disease (The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research Project led by QUT)
    Queensland University of Technology
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2024
    Evaluation of Tolebrutinib as a novel disease-modifying therapeutic for Parkinson's disease
    The Michael J Fox Foundation Therapeutic Pipeline Program
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Comparative and Cross Validation of alpha- Synuclein Seeding Assays in Peripheral Biomatrices skin, submandibular gland, CSF, Saliva and Tear Fluids
    University of Georgia
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Validating the functional role of the pathogenic microbiome metabolite Trimethylamine (TMA) at the gut-brain axis in Parkinson's disease
    The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Uncovering a novel therapeutic target to reduce dementia risk in Parkinson's disease
    Metro North Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Uncovering a novel therapeutic target to reduce dementia risk in Parkinson's disease (TRIP study)
    Metro North Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    A randomised placebo-controlled crossover trial of micronised resveratrol as a treatment for Friedreich ataxia
    Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Pharmacological targeting of inflammasome activation mechanisms in synuclein models of Parkinson's disease
    The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Targeting peripheral inflammatory pathology in Parkinson's disease using repurposed drugs
    Wesley Medical Research Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2023
    A randomised controlled trial, of N-Acetyl Cysteine, for premanifest Huntingtin gene expansion carriers (NAC-preHD) (MRFF LCTRC administered by University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Sleep measurements in Friedreich's ataxia, Huntington's disease patients and healthy volunteers
    Wesley Medical Research Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Virtual reality innovation to treat anxiety in patients with cognitive impairment and Parkinson's Disease
    Metro North Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Therapeutic switching of a licensed oncology drug to target neuropathology in Parkinson's disease
    The Cure Parkinson's Trust
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Defining inflammatory biomarkers in motor neuron disease patients to assist in clinical trial efficiency of the C5aR antagonist PMX205
    Wesley Medical Research Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2023
    The Queensland Drug Repurposing Initiative
    Queensland Government Advance Queensland Innovation Partnerships
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2018
    Pharmacological Targeting of Proinflammatory Kinase Signalling in Parkinson's disease
    The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Cognitive behaviour therapy for anxiety in Parkinson's disease: outcomes for patients and caregivers
    Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Complement activation as a therapeutic target and clinical biomarker for Parkinson's disease
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Mindfulness therapy for depression, anxiety, motor and cognitive dysfunction in Parkinson's disease
    Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Developing a non-invasive composite measure to enhance accuracy of identifying anxiety in Parkinson's disease
    Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    Characterising anxiety in Parkinson's disease: A psycholinguistic and psychophysiology study comparing to anxious older adults
    Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    Improving diagnostic methods of anxiety disorders in Parkinson's disease: Phase 2
    Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Therapeutic Targeting of Complement C5a Receptors in Huntington's Disease
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Associate Professor John O'Sullivan is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The evolution of cognitive deficits in Lewy body disorders and related degenerative diseases.

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Peter Nestor

  • Master Philosophy

    Digital symptom tracking - using digital tools for measuring and tracking motor, cognitive, and speech changes

    Associate Advisor

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Associate Professor John O'Sullivan directly for media enquiries about:

  • Botulinum toxin
  • Dystonia
  • Huntington's disease
  • Movement disorders
  • Parkinson's disease

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au