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
2012
Conference Publication
Abnormal event related brain potentials generated while processing emotional information in anxious Parkinson’s disease patients
Dissanayaka, N., Au, T., Angwin, A., Copland, D., O’Sullivan, J., Byrne, G., Marsh, R., Mellick, G. and Silburn, P. (2012). Abnormal event related brain potentials generated while processing emotional information in anxious Parkinson’s disease patients. 8th International Congress on Mental Dysfunction and Other Non-Motor Features in Parkinson's Disease and Related Disorders, Berlin, Germany, 3-6 May 2012.
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.
2011
Journal Article
Ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack after head and neck radiotherapy: a review
Plummer, Chris, Henderson, Robert D., O'Sullivan, John D. and Read, Stephen J. (2011). Ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack after head and neck radiotherapy: a review. Stroke, 42 (9), 2410-2418. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.111.615203
2011
Journal Article
Single and dual task gait training in people with Parkinson's Disease: A protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Brauer, Sandra G., Woollacott, Marjorie H., Lamont, Robyn, Clewett, Sandy, O'Sullivan, John, Silburn, Peter, Mellick, George D. and Morris, Meg E. (2011). Single and dual task gait training in people with Parkinson's Disease: A protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMC Neurology, 11 (1) 90, 1-6. doi: 10.1186/1471-2377-11-90
2011
Journal Article
Improved language performance subsequent to low-frequency rTMS in patients with chronic non-fluent aphasia post-stroke
Barwood, C. H. S., Murdoch, B. E., Whelan, B. -M., Lloyd, D., Riek, S., O'Sullivan, J. D., Coulthard, A. and Wong, A. (2011). Improved language performance subsequent to low-frequency rTMS in patients with chronic non-fluent aphasia post-stroke. European Journal of Neurology, 18 (7), 935-943. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2010.03284.x
2011
Journal Article
Factors associated with depression in Parkinson's disease
Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. W., Sellbach, Anna, Silburn, Peter A., O'Sullivan, John D., Marsh, Rodney and Mellick, George D. (2011). Factors associated with depression in Parkinson's disease. Journal of Affective Disorders, 132 (1-2), 82-88. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2011.01.021
2011
Journal Article
A mutation in the Golgi Qb-SNARE gene GOSR2 causes progressive myoclonus epilepsy with early ataxia
Corbett, Mark A., Schwake, Michael, Bahlo, Melanie, Dibbens, Leanne M., Lin, Meng, Gandolfo, Luke C., Vears, Danya F., O'Sullivan, John D., Robertson, Thomas, Bayly, Marta A., Gardner, Alison E., Vlaar, Annemarie M., Korenke, G. Christoph, Bloem, Bastiaan R., de Coo, Irenaeus F., Verhagen, Judith M. A., Lehesjoki, Anna-Elina, Gecz, Jozef and Berkovic, Samuel F. (2011). A mutation in the Golgi Qb-SNARE gene GOSR2 causes progressive myoclonus epilepsy with early ataxia. American Journal of Human Genetics, 88 (5), 657-663. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2011.04.011
2011
Journal Article
Levels of phosphorylated axonal neurofilament subunit H (pNfH) are increased in acute ischemic stroke
Singh, P., Yan, J., Hull, R., Read, S., O'Sullivan, J., Henderson, R.D., Rose, S., Greer, J.M. and McCombe, P.A. (2011). Levels of phosphorylated axonal neurofilament subunit H (pNfH) are increased in acute ischemic stroke. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 304 (1-2), 117-121. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2011.01.025
2011
Journal Article
The effects of low frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) and sham condition rTMS on behavioural language in chronic non-fluent aphasia: Short term outcomes
Barwood, Caroline H. S., Murdoch, Bruce E., Whelan, Brooke-Mai, Lloyd, David, Riek, Stephan, O'Sullivan, John, Coulthard, Alan, Wong, Andrew, Aitken, Phil and Hall, Graham (2011). The effects of low frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) and sham condition rTMS on behavioural language in chronic non-fluent aphasia: Short term outcomes. NeuroRehabilitation, 28 (2), 113-128. doi: 10.3233/NRE-2011-0640
2011
Journal Article
Modulation of N400 in chronic non-fluent aphasia using low frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)
Barwood, Chs, Murdoch, BE, Whelan, BM, Lloyd, D, Riek, S, O'Sullivan, JD, Coulthard, A and Wong, A (2011). Modulation of N400 in chronic non-fluent aphasia using low frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS). Brain and Language, 116 (3), 125-135. doi: 10.1016/j.bandl.2010.07.004
2011
Journal Article
Impulse control disorders in patients with Parkinson's disease receiving dopamine replacement therapy: Evidence and implications for the addictions field
Ambermoon, Polly, Carter, Adrian, Hall, Wayne D., Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N.W. and O'Sullivan, John D. (2011). Impulse control disorders in patients with Parkinson's disease receiving dopamine replacement therapy: Evidence and implications for the addictions field. Addiction, 106 (2), 283-293. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2010.03218.x
2011
Conference Publication
Abnormal event related brain potentials generated while processing emotional information in anxious Parkinson’s disease patients
Dissanayaka, N., Angwin, A., Copland, D., O’Sullivan, J., Byrne, G., Marsh, R., Mellick, G. and Silburn, P. (2011). Abnormal event related brain potentials generated while processing emotional information in anxious Parkinson’s disease patients. 20th RBWH Healthcare Symposium, Brisbane, Australia, 10-14 October 2011.
2011
Conference Publication
Abnormal event related brain potentials generated while processing emotional information in anxious Parkinson’s disease patients
Dissanayaka, Nadeeka, Au, Tiffany, Angwin, Anthony, Copland, David, O’Sullivan, John, Byrne, Gerard, Marsh, Rodney, Mellick, George and Silburn, Peter (2011). Abnormal event related brain potentials generated while processing emotional information in anxious Parkinson’s disease patients. 2nd Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Conference, Sydney, Australia, 9-12 December 2011.
2011
Conference Publication
Assessment methods and factors associated with depression in Parkinson's disease
Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N., O'Sullivan, John D., Silburn, Peter A. and Mellick, George D. (2011). Assessment methods and factors associated with depression in Parkinson's disease. 7th International Congress on Mental Dysfunction and other Non-Motor Features in Parkinsons Disease and Related Disorders, Barcelona, Spain, 9-12 December 2010. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2011.06.031
2011
Conference Publication
A New Form of Progressive Myoclonus Epilepsy with Early Ataxia and Scoliosis Due to Mutation in the Golgi Protein Gosr2
Berkovic, S. F., Corbett, M. A., Schwake, M., Bahlo, M., Dibbens, L. M., Lin, M., Gandolfo, L., Vears, D., O'Sullivan, J., Robertson, T., Bayly, M. A., Gardner, A. E., Vlaar, A. M., Korenke, G. C., Bloem, B. R., de Coo, I. F., Verhagen, J. M. A, Lehesjoki, A. E., Saftig, P. and Gecz, J. (2011). A New Form of Progressive Myoclonus Epilepsy with Early Ataxia and Scoliosis Due to Mutation in the Golgi Protein Gosr2. 29th International Epilepsy Congress, Rome Italy, Aug 28-Sep 01, 2011. MALDEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
2011
Conference Publication
Abnormal event related brain potentials generated while processing emotional information in anxious Parkinson’s disease patients
Dissanayaka, N., Angwin A., Copland, D., O’Sullivan, J., Byrne, G., Marsh, M., Mellick, G. and Silburn, P. (2011). Abnormal event related brain potentials generated while processing emotional information in anxious Parkinson’s disease patients. The Biannual Movement Disorder Society of Australia Conference, Melbourne, Australia, 8-10 September 2011.
2010
Journal Article
Juvenile levodopa-responsive Parkinsonism with early orobuccolingual dyskinesias and cognitive impairment
Espay, Alberto J., Paviour, Dominic C., O'Sullivan, John D., Schmidt, Robert E., Revilla, Fredy J. and Metman, Leo Verhagen (2010). Juvenile levodopa-responsive Parkinsonism with early orobuccolingual dyskinesias and cognitive impairment. Movement Disorders, 25 (12), 1860-1867. doi: 10.1002/mds.23194
2010
Journal Article
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study to assess the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant MitoQ as a disease-modifying therapy in Parkinson's disease
Snow, Baryy J., Rolfe, Fiona L., Lockhart, Michelle M., Frampton, Christopher M., O'Sullivan, John D., Fung, Victor, Smith, Robin A. J., Murphy, Michael P. and Taylor, Kenneth M. (2010). A double-blind, placebo-controlled study to assess the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant MitoQ as a disease-modifying therapy in Parkinson's disease. Movement Disorders, 25 (11), 1670-1674. doi: 10.1002/mds.23148
2010
Journal Article
Anxiety Disorders in Parkinson's Disease: Prevalence and Risk Factors
Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. W., Sellbach, Anna, Matheson, Sally, O'Sullivan, John D., Silburn, Peter A., Byrne, Gerard J., Marsh, Rodney and Mellick, George D. (2010). Anxiety Disorders in Parkinson's Disease: Prevalence and Risk Factors. Movement Disorders, 25 (7), 838-845. doi: 10.1002/mds.22833
2010
Journal Article
The effect of ageing on human lymphocyte subsets: comparison of males and females
Yan, Jun, Greer, Judith M., Hull, Renee, O'Sullivan, John D., Henderson, Robert D., Read, Stephen J. and McCombe, Pamela A. (2010). The effect of ageing on human lymphocyte subsets: comparison of males and females. Immunity & Ageing, 7 (4) 1742, 1-10. doi: 10.1186/1742-4933-7-4
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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