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
2007
Journal Article
Nonpharmacological treatment, fludrocortisone, and domperidone for orthostatic hypotension in Parkinson's disease
Schoffer, Kerrie L., Henderson, Robert D., O'Maley, Karen and O'Sullivan, John D. (2007). Nonpharmacological treatment, fludrocortisone, and domperidone for orthostatic hypotension in Parkinson's disease. Movement Disorders, 22 (11), 1543-1549. doi: 10.1002/mds.21428
2007
Journal Article
Validity of Hamilton Depression Inventory 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. (2007). Validity of Hamilton Depression Inventory in Parkinson's disease. Movement Disorders, 22 (3), 399-403. doi: 10.1002/mds.21309
2007
Conference Publication
Increased population of activated T cells in patients after acute ischemic stroke
Yan, J., Greer, J. M., Cavanagh, H., Henderson, R., O'Sullivan, J., Read, S., Etherington, K. and McCombe, P. A. (2007). Increased population of activated T cells in patients after acute ischemic stroke. 37th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australasian Society for Immunology, Sydney, Australia, 2-6 December 2007.
2007
Conference Publication
A candidate gene study of the serotonin and dopamine transporter genes in relation to depression in Parkinson’s disease
Dissanayaka, N., Silburn, P., O’Sullivan, J. and Mellick G. (2007). A candidate gene study of the serotonin and dopamine transporter genes in relation to depression in Parkinson’s disease. 6th Australian Human Gene Mapping Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 29-31 August 2007.
2007
Conference Publication
Genetic and non-genetic determinants of depression in the setting of Parkinson's disease
Dissanayaka, N., Silburn, P., O’Sullivan, J. and Mellick, G. (2007). Genetic and non-genetic determinants of depression in the setting of Parkinson's disease. ASMR Queensland Postgraduate Medical Research Student Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 23 May, 2007.
2007
Conference Publication
A candidate gene study of the serotonin and dopamine transporter genes in relation to depression in Parkinson's disease.
Dissanayaka, N., Silburn, P., O’Sullivan, J. and Mellick, G. (2007). A candidate gene study of the serotonin and dopamine transporter genes in relation to depression in Parkinson's disease.. 2007 Eskitis Institute Graduate Student Symposium, Brisbane, Australia, October, 2007.
2007
Journal Article
The time course and determinants of temperature within the first 48 h after ischaemic stroke
Wong, A. A., Davis, J. P., Schluter, P. J., Henderson, R. D., O'Sullivan, J. D. and Read, S. J. (2007). The time course and determinants of temperature within the first 48 h after ischaemic stroke. Cerebrovascular Diseases, 24 (1), 104-110. doi: 10.1159/000103124
2007
Conference Publication
What contributes to depression in the setting of Parkinson's disease?
Dissanayaka, N., Sellbach, A., Matheson, S., Marsh, R., Silburn, P., O’Sullivan, J., Byrne, G. and Mellick, G. (2007). What contributes to depression in the setting of Parkinson's disease?. 4th National Conference on Depression in the Elderly, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 28-29 June, 2007.
2007
Journal Article
Development and utilization of the patient knowledge questionnaire on Botulinum toxin use in movement disorders
Schoffer, K. L., O'Maley, K. and O'Sullivan, J. D. (2007). Development and utilization of the patient knowledge questionnaire on Botulinum toxin use in movement disorders. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 14 (8), 737-741. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2006.03.021
2006
Journal Article
Charles Dickens: The man, medicine, and movement disorders
Schoffer, Kerrie L. and O'Sullivan, John D. (2006). Charles Dickens: The man, medicine, and movement disorders. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 13 (9), 898-901. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2005.12.035
2006
Journal Article
Congenital disorder of glycosylation type Ia presenting as early-onset cerebellar ataxia in an adult
Schoffer, Kerrie L., O'Sullivan, John D. and McGill, Jim (2006). Congenital disorder of glycosylation type Ia presenting as early-onset cerebellar ataxia in an adult. Movement Disorders, 21 (6), 869-872. doi: 10.1002/mds.20804
2006
Journal Article
Cerebral Vasculitis in Ulcerative Colitis
Pandian, Jeyaraj Durai, Henderson, Robert D., O'Sullivan, John D. and Rajah, Thulasi (2006). Cerebral Vasculitis in Ulcerative Colitis. Archives of Neurology, 63 (5), 780-780. doi: 10.1001/archneur.63.5.780
2006
Conference Publication
Assessing risk factors for depression in Parkinson’s disease
Dissanayaka, N., Selbach, A., Matheson, S., Marsh, R., Silburn, P. A., O'Sullivan, J. D., Byrne, G. J. and Mellick, G. D. (2006). Assessing risk factors for depression in Parkinson’s disease. 5th National Conference of Emerging Researchers in Aging, Sydney, Australia, 2006. Sydney, Australia: University of Sydney, Centre for Education and Research on Ageing.
2006
Conference Publication
Regular exposure to pesticides is related to depression associated with Parkinson's disease: evidence from two independent Australian samples
Dissanayaka, N., Sellbach, A., Matheson, S., Marsh, R., Silburn, P., O’Sullivan, J., Byrne, G. and Mellick, G. (2006). Regular exposure to pesticides is related to depression associated with Parkinson's disease: evidence from two independent Australian samples. 2006 Eskitis Institute Graduate Student Symposium, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, November, 2006.
2006
Conference Publication
Regular exposure to pesticides is related to depression associated with Parkinson's Disease: evidence from two independent Australian samples
Dissanayaka, N., Sellbach, A., Matheson, S., Marsh, R., Silburn, P., O’Sullivan, J., Byrne, G. and Mellick, G. (2006). Regular exposure to pesticides is related to depression associated with Parkinson's Disease: evidence from two independent Australian samples. 5th International Congress on Mental Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 12-14 June, 2006. Camden, London, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/S1353-8020(07)70104-9
2006
Conference Publication
Assessing the risk factors for depression in Parkinson's disease
Dissanayaka, N., Sellbach, A., Matheson, S., Marsh, R., Silburn, P., O’Sullivan, J., Byrne, G. and Mellick, G. (2006). Assessing the risk factors for depression in Parkinson's disease. ASMR Queensland Postgraduate Medical Research Student Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 26 May, 2006.
2006
Conference Publication
Validity of three depression rating scales in Australian Parkinson's Disease patients
Dissanayaka, N., Sellbach, A., Matheson, S., Marsh, R., Silburn, P., O’Sullivan, J., Byrne, G. and Mellick, G. (2006). Validity of three depression rating scales in Australian Parkinson's Disease patients. 5th International Congress on Mental Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 12-14 June, 2006. Camden, London, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/S1353-8020(07)70108-6
2006
Conference Publication
Validity of three depression rating scales in Australian Parkinson's disease patients
Dissanayaka, N., Sellbach, A., Matheson, S., Marsh, R., Silburn, P., O’Sullivan, J., Byrne, G. and Mellick, G. (2006). Validity of three depression rating scales in Australian Parkinson's disease patients. 2006 Eskitis Institute Graduate Student Symposium, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, November, 2006.
2005
Journal Article
First case report of X linked dystonia parkinsonism (XDP) or 'lubag' in Australia
Plummer, C., Bradfield, J., Singleton, A. B., Hernandez, D., Singleton, A. A. and O'Sullivan, J. (2005). First case report of X linked dystonia parkinsonism (XDP) or 'lubag' in Australia. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 12 (8), 946-947. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2004.10.015
2005
Conference Publication
Circadian blood pressure variation after acute stroke
Pandian, J., Wong, A., Lincoln, D., Davis, J., Henderson, R., O'Sullivan, J. and Read, S. (2005). Circadian blood pressure variation after acute stroke. 18th World Congress of Neurology, Sydney, Australia, 5-11 November 2005. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier .
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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