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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 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

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

121 - 140 of 241 works

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

Measurement of blood-brain barrier permeability in acute ischemic stroke using standard first-pass perfusion CT data

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

Long term language recovery subsequent to low frequency rTMS in chronic non-fluent aphasia

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

Identifying EEG markers associated with anxiety in Parkinson's disease: late positive potential

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.

Clinical implications of impulse control disorders in Parkinson's disease

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

Drug-induced compulsive disorders: clinical, ethical and legal challenges

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.

Emotional dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease

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

Contribution of global rare copy-number variants to the risk of sporadic congenital heart disease

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

Improved receptive and expressive language abilities in nonfluent aphasic stroke patients after application of rTMS: an open protocol case series

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

Common polymorphisms in dystonia-linked genes and susceptibility to the sporadic primary dystonias

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

Validity and reliability of the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory in Parkinson's disease

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

Frequency and function of regulatory T cells after ischaemic stroke in humans

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

Compulsive use of dopamine replacement therapy: a model for stimulant drug addiction?

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

Stimulating Debate in the Field of Addiction

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.

Depression and anxiety in Parkinson’s disease

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.

Characterizing anxiety in Parkinson’s disease: clinical symptoms and neurophysiological markers

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

Neural mechanisms underlying emotional processing in healthy older adults: electrophysiological correlates of visual affective word processing

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.

Drug induced impulse control disorders: a prospectus for neuroethical analysis

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

Longitudinal modulation of N400 in chronic non-fluent aphasia using low-frequency rTMS: A randomised placebo controlled trial

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

CT perfusion and bilateral paramedian thalamic stroke due to Artery of Percheron occlusion

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

Neural correlates of emotional processing in Parkinson’s disease and the influence of affective disturbances

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

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Master Philosophy

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

    Associate Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

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

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Peter Nestor

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