
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
2013
Journal Article
Measurement of blood-brain barrier permeability in acute ischemic stroke using standard first-pass perfusion CT data
Nguyen, Giang Truong, Coulthard, Alan, Wong, Andrew, Sheikh, Nabeel, Henderson, Robert, O'Sullivan, John D. and Reutens, David C. (2013). Measurement of blood-brain barrier permeability in acute ischemic stroke using standard first-pass perfusion CT data. NeuroImage: Clinical, 2 (1), 658-662. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2013.04.004
2013
Journal Article
Long term language recovery subsequent to low frequency rTMS in chronic non-fluent aphasia
Barwood, Caroline H. S., Murdoch, Bruce E., Riek, Stephan, O'Sullivan, John D., Wong, Andrew, Lloyd, David and Coulthard, Alan (2013). Long term language recovery subsequent to low frequency rTMS in chronic non-fluent aphasia. Neurorehabilitation, 32 (4), 915-928. doi: 10.3233/NRE-130915
2013
Conference Publication
Identifying EEG markers associated with anxiety in Parkinson's disease: late positive potential
Dissanayaka, N. N., Au, T., Angwin, A., Copland, D., O'Sullivan, J., Byrne, G. J., Marsh, R., Mellick, G. and Silburn, P. A. (2013). Identifying EEG markers associated with anxiety in Parkinson's disease: late positive potential. MDS 2013: 17th International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 16-20 June, 2013. Hoboken, NJ, United States: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/mds.25605
2013
Conference Publication
Clinical implications of impulse control disorders in Parkinson's disease
O'Sullivan, John and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka (2013). Clinical implications of impulse control disorders in Parkinson's disease. APSAD 2013: Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 24-27 November 2013. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2013
Conference Publication
Drug-induced compulsive disorders: clinical, ethical and legal challenges
Carter, Adrian, O'Sullivan, John, Dissanayaka, Nadeeka, Bartlett, Francesca, Hall, Wayne and Bell, Peter (2013). Drug-induced compulsive disorders: clinical, ethical and legal challenges. 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
2013
Conference Publication
Emotional 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. (2013). Emotional dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease. 22nd Annual RBWH Health Care Symposium, Brisbane, Australia, 14-18 October 2013.
2012
Journal Article
Contribution of global rare copy-number variants to the risk of sporadic congenital heart disease
Soemedi, Rachel, Wilson, Ian J., Bentham, Jamie, Darlay, Rebecca, Töpf, Ana, Zelenika, Diana, Cosgrove, Catherine, Setchfield, Kerry, Thornborough, Chris, Granados-Riveron, Javier, Blue, Gillian M., Breckpot, Jeroen, Hellens, Stephen, Zwolinkski, Simon, Glen, Elise, Mamasoula, Chrysovalanto, Rahman, Thahira J., Hall, Darroch, Rauch, Anita, Devriendt, Koenraad, Gewillig, Marc, O'sullivan, John, Winlaw, David S., Bu'lock, Frances, Brook, J. David, Bhattacharya, Shoumo, Lathrop, Mark, Santibanez-Koref, Mauro, Cordell, Heather J. ... Keavney, Bernard D. (2012). Contribution of global rare copy-number variants to the risk of sporadic congenital heart disease. American Journal of Human Genetics, 91 (3), 489-501. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2012.08.003
2012
Journal Article
Improved receptive and expressive language abilities in nonfluent aphasic stroke patients after application of rTMS: an open protocol case series
Barwood, Caroline H. S., Murdoch, Bruce E., Whelan, Brooke-Mai, Lloyd, David, Riek, Stephan, O’Sullivan, John D., Coulthard, Alan and Wong, Andrew (2012). Improved receptive and expressive language abilities in nonfluent aphasic stroke patients after application of rTMS: an open protocol case series. Brain Stimulation, 54 (3), 274-286. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2011.03.005
2012
Journal Article
Common polymorphisms in dystonia-linked genes and susceptibility to the sporadic primary dystonias
Newman, Jeremy R. B., Sutherland, Greg T., Boyle, Richard S., Limberg, Nicole, Blum, Stefan, O'Sullivan, John D., Silburn, Peter A. and Mellick, George D. (2012). Common polymorphisms in dystonia-linked genes and susceptibility to the sporadic primary dystonias. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, 18 (4), 351-357. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2011.11.024
2012
Journal Article
Validity and reliability of the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory in Parkinson's disease
Matheson, Sally F., Byrne, Gerard J., Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. W., Pachana, Nancy A., Mellick, George D., O'Sullivan, John D., Silburn, Peter A., Sellbach, Anna and Marsh, Rodney (2012). Validity and reliability of the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory in Parkinson's disease. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 31 (1), 13-16. doi: 10.1111/j.1741-6612.2010.00487.x
2012
Journal Article
Frequency and function of regulatory T cells after ischaemic stroke in humans
Yan, Jun, Read, Stephen J., Henderson, Robert D., Hull, Renee, O'Sullivan, John D., McCombe, Pamela A. and Greer, Judith M. (2012). Frequency and function of regulatory T cells after ischaemic stroke in humans. Journal of Neuroimmunology, 243 (1-2), 89-94. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2011.12.019
2012
Journal Article
Compulsive use of dopamine replacement therapy: a model for stimulant drug addiction?
Ambermoon, Polly, Carter, Adrian, Hall, Wayne, Dissanayaka, Nadeeka and O'Sullivan, John (2012). Compulsive use of dopamine replacement therapy: a model for stimulant drug addiction?. Addiction, 107 (2), 241-247. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2011.03511.x
2012
Journal Article
Stimulating Debate in the Field of Addiction
Carter, Adrian, Hall, Wayne, Ambermoon, Polly, Dissanayaka, Nadeeka and O'Sullivan, John (2012). Stimulating Debate in the Field of Addiction. Addiction, 107 (2), 253-253. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2011.03717.x
2012
Conference Publication
Depression and anxiety in Parkinson’s disease
Dissanayaka, N., Mellick, G., O’Sullivan, J. and Silburn, P. (2012). Depression and anxiety in Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s Australia National Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 13-14 July 2012.
2012
Conference Publication
Characterizing anxiety in Parkinson’s disease: clinical symptoms and neurophysiological markers
Dissanayaka, N., Au, T., Angwin, A., O’Sullivan, J., Byrne, G., Copland, D., Marsh, R., Mellick, G. and Silburn, P. (2012). Characterizing anxiety in Parkinson’s disease: clinical symptoms and neurophysiological markers. 21st Annual RBWH Health Care Symposium, Brisbane, Australia, 8-12 October 2012.
2012
Conference Publication
Neural mechanisms underlying emotional processing in healthy older adults: electrophysiological correlates of visual affective word processing
Au, Tiffany, Angwin, Anthony, Copland, David, Mellick, George, O’Sullivan, John, Silburn, Peter, Byrne, Gerard and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka (2012). Neural mechanisms underlying emotional processing in healthy older adults: electrophysiological correlates of visual affective word processing. 3rd Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Conference (ACNS 2012 ), Brisbane, Australia, 29 November - 2 December 2012. Lausanne, Switzerland: Frontiers Research Foundation. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2012.208.00121
2012
Conference Publication
Drug induced impulse control disorders: a prospectus for neuroethical analysis
Carter, A., Dissanayaka, N., O’Sullivan, J. and Hall, W. (2012). Drug induced impulse control disorders: a prospectus for neuroethical analysis. Parkinson’s Australia National Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 13-14 July 2012.
2012
Journal Article
Longitudinal modulation of N400 in chronic non-fluent aphasia using low-frequency rTMS: A randomised placebo controlled trial
Barwood, Caroline H. S., Murdoch, Bruce E., Whelan, Brooke-Mai, O'Sullivan, John D., Wong, Andrew, Lloyd, David, Riek, Stephan and Coulthard, Alan (2012). Longitudinal modulation of N400 in chronic non-fluent aphasia using low-frequency rTMS: A randomised placebo controlled trial. Aphasiology, 26 (1), 103-124. doi: 10.1080/02687038.2011.617812
2012
Conference Publication
CT perfusion and bilateral paramedian thalamic stroke due to Artery of Percheron occlusion
Sheikh, N., Wong, A., O'Sullivan, J., Blum, S., Airey, C., Dionisio, S., Mitchell, K., Coulthard, A., Cloustan, J., Groundwater, A., Rajah, T., Jhamb, A. and Henderson, R. (2012). CT perfusion and bilateral paramedian thalamic stroke due to Artery of Percheron occlusion. Annual Scientific Meeting and the 8th Smart Strokes Australasian Nursing and Allied Health Stroke Conference, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 29-31 August 2012. Richmond, VIC Australia: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia. doi: 10.1111/j.1747-4930.2012.00907.x
2012
Conference Publication
Neural correlates of emotional processing in Parkinson’s disease and the influence of affective disturbances
Dissanayaka, Nadeeka, Au, Tiffany, Angwin, Anthony, Copland, David, O’Sullivan, John, Byrne, Gerard, Marsh, Rodney, Mellick, George and Silburn, Peter (2012). Neural correlates of emotional processing in Parkinson’s disease and the influence of affective disturbances. 3rd Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Conference (ACNS 2012 ), Brisbane, Australia, 29 November - 2 December 2012. Lausanne, Switzerland: Frontiers Research Foundation. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2012.208.00140
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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