As a society, we can learn much about optimising the health and wellbeing outcomes of the older population by adopting a strengths-based approach that privileges the voices, cultures, and perspectives of older Indigenous peoples – and this is where the Good Spirit Good Life Centre for Excellence begins. Associate Professor Lyn Goldberg from the Wicking Dementia Centre is part of a 5-year project, funded by the NHMRC, and led by Professor Dawn Bessarab, a Bard/Yindijibarndi woman with a social work background and the Director of the Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health at the University of Western Australia. The project aims to increase the capability of the services, systems, and communities that support older Indigenous Australians as they age. READ MORE | A grant from the Batten Disease Support and Research Association (BDSRA) Australia has been awarded to Associate Professor Tony Cook and his team to research into Batten disease, one of the most common forms of childhood dementia. The funds ($49,400) will support their research in innovative human stem cell models of the most common subtype of Batten disease, CLN3 disease. “CLN3 Batten disease is a truly devastating, fatal neurodegenerative disease for which there is currently no cure or treatment,” said Dr Ineka Whiteman, Head of Research, Medical and Scientific Affairs at BDSRA Australia. “The research being undertaken by A/Professor Cook and his team is truly world-class, and we are delighted to support their work which aims to further our understanding of CLN3 disease mechanisms and the development of potential future therapeutics.” READ MORE |