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
2010
Journal Article
Current concepts in the management of Parkinson disease
Hayes, Michael W., Fung, Victor S., Kimber, Thomas E. and O'Sullivan, John D. (2010). Current concepts in the management of Parkinson disease. Medical Journal of Australia, 192 (3), 144-149. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2010.tb03453.x
2010
Conference Publication
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) and sham modulation of language function in non-fluent aphasia 2 months post stimulation
Barwood, Caroline, Murdoch, Bruce, Whelan, Brooke-Mai, Lloyd, David, Riek, Stephan and O'Sullivan, John (2010). Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) and sham modulation of language function in non-fluent aphasia 2 months post stimulation. AoA2010: 48th Academy of Aphasia Proceedings, Athens, Greece, 23-26 October, 2010. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier BV. doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.08.117
2010
Conference Publication
Risk factors for depression in Parkinson’s disease
Dissanayaka, N. N., O’Sullivan, J. D., Silburn, P. A. and Mellick, G. D. (2010). Risk factors for depression in Parkinson’s disease. 7th International Congress on Mental Dysfunctions and Other Non-motor Features in Parkinson’s Disease and Related Disorders, Barcelona, Spain, 9-12 December 2010.
2010
Conference Publication
Factors associated with freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease
Dissanayaka, N., O’Sullivan, J., Silburn, P. and Mellick, G. (2010). Factors associated with freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease. 19th Annual RBWH Health Care Symposium, Brisbane, Australia, 11-15 October 2010.
2010
Conference Publication
Immune response in acute ischaemic stroke
Badve, Monica S., Yan, J., Hull, R., Henderson, Robert, O’Sullivan, John D., Read, Stephen J., Wong, Andrew A. and McCombe, Pamela (2010). Immune response in acute ischaemic stroke. ANZAN Annual Scientific Meeting 2010, -, 2010. Oxford, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2010.07.064
2009
Journal Article
Validity of a self-rated method to identify a lifetime history of depression in Parkinson's disease
Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. W., Sellebach, Annabelle N., Matheson, Sally, Marsh, Rodney, O'Sullivan, John D., Silburn, Peter A., Byrne, Gerard J. and Mellick, George D. (2009). Validity of a self-rated method to identify a lifetime history of depression in Parkinson's disease. Movement Disorders, 24 (16), 2435-2438. doi: 10.1002/mds.22819
2009
Journal Article
Do Polymorphisms in the Familial Parkinsonism Genes Contribute to Risk for Sporadic Parkinson's Disease?
Sutherland, GT, Halliday, GM, Silburn, PA, Mastaglia, FL, Rowe, DB, Boyle, RS, O'Sullivan, JD, Ly, T, Wilton, SD and Mellick, GD (2009). Do Polymorphisms in the Familial Parkinsonism Genes Contribute to Risk for Sporadic Parkinson's Disease?. MOVEMENT DISORDERS, 24 (6), 833-838. doi: 10.1002/mds.22214
2009
Conference Publication
The impact of an individualised medication information session on medication knowledge and quality of life of people with parkinson’s disease
O’Maley, Karen A., O’Sullivan, John D., Wollin, Judy and Barras, Michael (2009). The impact of an individualised medication information session on medication knowledge and quality of life of people with parkinson’s disease. Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (ANZAN) 2008 Annual Scientific Meeting, Australia, 2008. Oxford, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2008.07.043
2009
Journal Article
Haplotype Analysis of the PARK 11 Gene, GIGYF2, in Sporadic Parkinson's Disease
Sutherland, Greg T., Siebert, Gerhard A., Newman, Jeremy R.B., Silburn, Peter A., Boyle, Richard S., O'Sullivan, John D. and Mellick, George D. (2009). Haplotype Analysis of the PARK 11 Gene, GIGYF2, in Sporadic Parkinson's Disease. Movement Disorders, 24 (3), 449-452. doi: 10.1002/mds.22427
2009
Journal Article
Serotonin and dopamine transporter genes do not influence depression in Parkinson's disease
Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. W., Silburn, Peter A., O'Sullivan, John D. and Mellick, George D. (2009). Serotonin and dopamine transporter genes do not influence depression in Parkinson's disease. Movement Disorders, 24 (1), 111-115. doi: 10.1002/mds.22134
2009
Conference Publication
Risk factors for depression in Parkinson’s disease
Dissanayaka, N. N., Sellbach, A., Matheson, S., Marsh, R., Silburn, P. A., O'Sullivan, J. D., Byrne, G. J. and Mellick, G. D. (2009). Risk factors for depression in Parkinson’s disease. 1st Joint Conference of the APS Psychology and Ageing Interest Group, and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Faculty of Psychiatry of Old Age, Gold Coast, Australia, 12-14 November 2009.
2009
Conference Publication
Risk factors for depression in Parkinson’s disease
Dissanayaka, N., Sellbach, A., Matheson, S., O'Sullivan, J., Silburn, P. A., Marsh, R., Byrne, G. and Mellick, G. (2009). Risk factors for depression in Parkinson’s disease. 18th Annual RBWH Health Care Symposium, Brisbane, Australia, October 2009.
2009
Conference Publication
Assessing depression in Parkinson’s disease
Dissanayaka, N. N. W., Sellbach, A., Matheson, S., Marsh, R., Silburn, P. A., O'Sullivan, J. D., Byrne, G. J. and Mellick, G. D. (2009). Assessing depression in Parkinson’s disease. 5th National Conference on Depression in Elderly., Sydney, Australia, 2009.
2009
Journal Article
Immune activation in the peripheral blood of patients with acute ischemic stroke
Yan, Jun, Greer, Judith M., Etherington, Kellie, Cadigan, Greg P., Cavanagh, Helen, Henderson, Robert D., O'Sullivan, John D., Pandian, Jeyaraj D., Read, Stephen J. and McCombe, Pamela A. (2009). Immune activation in the peripheral blood of patients with acute ischemic stroke. Journal of Neuroimmunology, 206 (1-2), 112-117. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2008.11.001
2009
Conference Publication
What contributes to depression in Parkinson’s disease?
Dissanayaka, N. N. W., Silburn, P. A., O’Sullivan, J. D. and Mellick, J. D. (2009). What contributes to depression in Parkinson’s disease?. Australian Society for Medical Research Queensland Postgraduate Student Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 26 May 2009.
2008
Journal Article
Natural history of blood glucose within the first 48 hours after ischemic stroke
Wong, A. A., Schluter, P. J., Henderson, R. D., O'Sullivan, J. D. and Read, S. J. (2008). Natural history of blood glucose within the first 48 hours after ischemic stroke. Neurology, 70 (13), 1036-1041. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000306635.08410.68
2008
Conference Publication
Is depression in Parkinson’s disease ‘organic’ or ‘reactive’
Dissanayaka, N., Silburn, P., O’Sullivan, J. and Mellick, G. (2008). Is depression in Parkinson’s disease ‘organic’ or ‘reactive’. Australian Society for Medical Research Queensland Postgraduate Student Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 29 May 2008.
2008
Conference Publication
Risk factors for depression in Parkinson’s disease
Dissanayaka, N., O’Sullivan, J., Silburn, P. and Mellick, G. (2008). Risk factors for depression in Parkinson’s disease. 6th International Congress on Mental Dysfunctions and Other Non-motor Features in Parkinson’s Disease, Dresden, Germany, 16-19 October 2008.
2007
Journal Article
The time course and determinants of blood pressure within the first 48 h after ischemic stroke
Wong, Andrew A., Davis, James P., Schluter, Philip J., Henderson, Robert D., O’Sullivan, John D. and Read, Stephen J. (2007). The time course and determinants of blood pressure within the first 48 h after ischemic stroke. Cerebrovascular Diseases, 24 (5), 426-433. doi: 10.1159/000108432
2007
Journal Article
Unusual triggers for stroke
Pandian, Jeyaraj Durai, Perel, Robert, Henderson, Robert D., O'Sullivan, John D. and Read, Stephen (2007). Unusual triggers for stroke. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 14 (8), 786-787. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2006.05.012
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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