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 which he directs 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 at UQ Centre for Clinical Research, currently co-director of the Neurodegenertion Clinical Research Group. 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 has been 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
2015
Journal Article
Characteristics and Treatment of Anxiety Disorders in Parkinson's Disease
Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. W., White, Elizabeth, O'Sullivan, John D., Marsh, Rodney, Silburn, Peter A., Copland, David A., Mellick, George D. and Byrne, Gerard J. (2015). Characteristics and Treatment of Anxiety Disorders in Parkinson's Disease. Movement Disorders Clinical Practice, 2 (2), 155-162. doi: 10.1002/mdc3.12157
2015
Conference Publication
Peripheral immune complement activation in neurodegenerative disease
Mantovani, S., Gordon, R., Ngo, S., Pfluger, C., O'Sullivan, J., Noakes, P., Henderson, R., McCombe, P. and Woodruff, T. (2015). Peripheral immune complement activation in neurodegenerative disease. 25th Biennial Meeting of the International-Society-for-Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific-Society-for-Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian-Neuroscience-Society, Cairns Australia, 23-27 August 2015. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1111/jnc.13188
2015
Conference Publication
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for anxiety in Parkinson’s disease: Outcomes for patients and carers
Pye, D., Dissanayaka, N., Mitchell, L., O'Sullivan, J., Marsh, R., Byrne, G. and Pachana, N. (2015). Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for anxiety in Parkinson’s disease: Outcomes for patients and carers. RANZCP Faculty of Psychiatry of Old Age and APS Psychology and Ageing Special Interest Group Joint Conference, Adelaide, SA Australia, 26-28 November 2015.
2015
Conference Publication
Mindfulness for Parkinson’s disease: a qualitative study
Dissanayaka, N., Idu Jion, F., Harnett, P., O'Sullivan, J. and Pachana, N. (2015). Mindfulness for Parkinson’s disease: a qualitative study. 24th Annual RBWH Health Care Symposium, Brisbane, Australia, 12-16 October 2015.
2015
Conference Publication
Mindfulness to combat anxiety in people with Parkinson’s disease
Dissanayaka, N., Idu Jion, F., Harnett, P., O'Sullivan, J. and Pachana, N. (2015). Mindfulness to combat anxiety in people with Parkinson’s disease. 17th International Psychogeriatric Association International Congress, Berlin, Germany, 13-16 October 2015.
2015
Conference Publication
Segmentation Test-Retest of Perfusion Computed Tomography-Obtained Blood-Brain Barrier in Prediction of Infarct Expansion Following Acute Ischaemic Stroke
Shaffer, J., Nguyen, G., Coulthard, A., Wong, A., O'Sullivan, J. and Reutens, D. (2015). Segmentation Test-Retest of Perfusion Computed Tomography-Obtained Blood-Brain Barrier in Prediction of Infarct Expansion Following Acute Ischaemic Stroke. Southern Regional Meeting of the American-Federation-for-Medical-Research, New Orleans, LA, United States, 26-28 February 2015. Philadelphia, United States: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. doi: 10.1097/JIM.0000000000000146
2015
Conference Publication
Mindfulness to combat anxiety in people with Parkinson's disease
Pachana, N. A., Dissanayaka, N. N., Jion, F. I., Harnett, P. and O'Sullivan, J. (2015). Mindfulness to combat anxiety in people with Parkinson's disease. Balancing Cure with Care: Advances in Late Life Mental Health, 17th IPA International Congress, Berlin, Germany, 13-16 October 2015. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.
2014
Journal Article
Vertebrobasilar dissections: case series comparing patients with and without dissecting aneurysms
Badve, Monica S., Henderson, Robert D., O'Sullivan, John D., Wong, Andrew A., Mitchell, Ken, Coulthard, Alan and Read, Stephen J. (2014). Vertebrobasilar dissections: case series comparing patients with and without dissecting aneurysms. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 21 (11), 2028-2030. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2014.02.015
2014
Journal Article
The clinical spectrum of anxiety in Parkinson's disease
Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. N. W., White, Elizabeth, O'Sullivan, John D., Marsh, Rodney, Pachana, Nancy A. and Byrne, Gerard J. (2014). The clinical spectrum of anxiety in Parkinson's disease. Movement Disorders, 29 (8), 967-975. doi: 10.1002/mds.25937
2014
Journal Article
Deep Brain Stimulation for DYT3 Dystonia
Lehn, Alexander, Airey, Caroline, Olson, Sarah, O'Sullivan, John D. and Boyle, Richard (2014). Deep Brain Stimulation for DYT3 Dystonia. Movement Disorders Clinical Practice, 1 (1), 73-75. doi: 10.1002/mdc3.12017
2014
Conference Publication
Electrophysiological markers enhancing diagnostic accuracy of depression and cognitive dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease
Dissanayaka, N., Au, T., Angwin, A., O'Sullivan, J., Byrne, G., Silburn, P., Marsh, R., Mellick, G. and Copland, D. (2014). Electrophysiological markers enhancing diagnostic accuracy of depression and cognitive dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease. 23rd Annual RBWH Health Care Symposium, Brisbane, Australia, 13-17 October 2014.
2014
Conference Publication
Cognitive and Emotional processing in Parkinson’s disease
Dissanayaka, N., Au, T., Angwin, A., O'Sullivan, J., Byrne, G., Silburn, P., Marsh, R., Mellick, G. and Copland, D. (2014). Cognitive and Emotional processing in Parkinson’s disease. 12th International Conference on Cognitive Neurosicence, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 27-31 July 2014.
2014
Journal Article
Risk factors for idiopathic dystonia in Queensland, Australia
Newman, Jeremy R. B., Boyle, Richard S., O'Sullivan, John D., Silburn, Peter A. and Mellick, George D. (2014). Risk factors for idiopathic dystonia in Queensland, Australia. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 21 (12), 2145-2149. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2014.03.032
2014
Conference Publication
Negative biases and slow negative wave in Parkinson’s disease
Au, T., Angwin, A., Copland, D., O'Sullivan, J., Byrne, G., Silburn, P., Marsh, R., Mellick, G. and Dissanayaka, N. (2014). Negative biases and slow negative wave in Parkinson’s disease. 12th International Conference on Cognitive Neurosicence, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 27-31 July 2014.
2014
Conference Publication
Symptomatology and treatment of anxiety in Parkinson’s disease
White, E., Byrne, G., O'Sullivan, J., Marsh, R., Silburn, P., Pachana, N., Mellick, G., Copland, D. and Dissanayaka, N. (2014). Symptomatology and treatment of anxiety in Parkinson’s disease. In: School of Medicine, The University of Queensland Annual Student Symposium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, (). 2014.
2013
Journal Article
Genome-wide association study of multiple congenital heart disease phenotypes identifies a susceptibility locus for atrial septal defect at chromosome 4p16
Cordell, Heather J., Bentham, Jamie, Topf, Ana, Zelenika, Diana, Heath, Simon, Mamasoula, Chrysovalanto, Cosgrove, Catherine, Blue, Gillian, Granados-Riveron, Javier, Setchfield, Kerry, Thornborough, Chris, Breckpot, Jeroen, Soemedi, Rachel, Martin, Ruairidh, Rahman, Thahira J., Hall, Darroch, Van Engelen, Klaartje, Moorman, Antoon F.M., Zwinderman, Aelko H., Barnett, Phil, Koopmann, Tamara T., Adriaens, Michiel E., Varro, Andras, George Jr., Alfred L., Dos Remedios, Christobal, Bishopric, Nanette H., Bezzina, Connie R., O'Sullivan, John, Gewillig, Marc ... Keavney, Bernard D. (2013). Genome-wide association study of multiple congenital heart disease phenotypes identifies a susceptibility locus for atrial septal defect at chromosome 4p16. Nature Genetics, 45 (7), 822-824. doi: 10.1038/ng.2637
2013
Conference Publication
Deep brain stimulation for DYT3 dystonia: A case report
Lehn, A. C., Airey, C. A., O'Sullivan, J. and Boyle, R. (2013). Deep brain stimulation for DYT3 dystonia: A case report. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
2013
Journal Article
'North Sea' progressive myoclonus epilepsy: phenotype of subjects with GOSR2 mutation
Lomax, Lysa Boisse, Bayly, Marta A., Hjalgrim, Helle, Moller, Rikke S., Vlaar, Annemarie M., Aaberg, Kari M., Marquardt, Iris, Gandolfo, Luke C., Willemsen, Michel, Kamsteeg, Erik-Jan, O'Sullivan, John D., Korenke, G. Christoph, Bloem, Bastiaan R., de Coo, Irenaeus F., Verhagen, Judith M. A., Said, Ines, Prescott, Trine, Stray-Pedersen, Asbjorg, Rasmussen, Magnhild, Vears, Danya F., Lehesjoki, Anna-Elina, Corbett, Mark A., Bahlo, Melanie, Gecz, Jozef, Dibbens, Leanne M. and Berkovic, Samuel F. (2013). 'North Sea' progressive myoclonus epilepsy: phenotype of subjects with GOSR2 mutation. Brain, 136 (4), 1146-1154. doi: 10.1093/brain/awt021
2013
Conference Publication
Emotional processing in Parkinson's disease and anxiety: an EEG study of visual affective word processing
Dissanayaka, N., Au, T., Angwin, A., O’Sullivan, J., Byrne, G., Silburn, P., Marsh, R., Mellick, G. and Copland, D. (2013). Emotional processing in Parkinson's disease and anxiety: an EEG study of visual affective word processing. BaCI 2013: First International Conference on Basic and Clinical Multimodal Imaging, Geneva, Switzerland, 5-8 September, 2013. Thousand Oaks, CA, United States: Sage Publications. doi: 10.1177/1550059413507209
2013
Conference Publication
Patient perspectives on treatment-induced impulse control disorders
Carter, Adrian, Bell, Peter, Diezel, Helene, Dissanayaka, Nadeeka, O'Sullivan, John and Hall, Wayne (2013). Patient perspectives on treatment-induced impulse control disorders. Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 24-27 November 2013. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.. doi: 10.1111/dar.12077
Funding
Current funding
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
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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
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Master Philosophy
Digital symptom tracking - using digital tools for measuring and tracking motor, cognitive, and speech changes
Associate Advisor
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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