Collaborators

Dr Naomi Cocks is a speech pathologist, lecturer, and researcher based at Curtin University. Her research focuses on communication difficulties and swallowing difficulties experienced by people with Parkinson’s.  In partnership with speech pathologists at Bentley Hospital, Naomi obtained a research grant to support a research project investigating the impact of a therapy programme on drooling and swallowing in Parkinson’s.  Naomi is particularly interested in communication issues in those with Parkinson's, and currently co-supervises a PhD student (Matthew Han) in this research area. If you would like to know more, please email Naomi at naomi.cocks@curtin.edu.au

Dr Virginie Lam is a researcher with expertise in the role of micronutrients, dietary lipids, and pharmacological interventions in a range of neurodegenera􀆟ve disorders.

Dr Lam has particular interests in Alzheimer’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis, and currently co‐leads Curtin University’s first clinical randomised control drug trial for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Virginie has managed large scale dietary & drug interventions across a range of different degenerative disorders. Andrea and Natalie recently invited me into ParkC to help develop a PhD project looking at brain derived neurotrophic factor (a protein that plays a significant role in neurogenesis) and thinking skills in Parkinson’s. If you would like to know more, please email Virginie at Virginie.lam@curtin.edu.au 

Dr Blake Lawrence completed his PhD with ParkC in 2016. Blake's PhD thesis examined  the therapeutic potential of cognitive training and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for improving cognitive function in people with Parkinson's and Mild Cognitive Impairment. Blake has since held research positions at Flinders University in Adelaide, Cancer Council NSW in Sydney, and at Ear Science Institute Australia in Perth. Blake is now a Research Fellow in the School of Psychology at Curtin University. Blake continues to be a valuable contributor to ParkC, helping to analyse data and write publications. If you would like to know more, please email Blake at blake.lawrence@curtin.edu.au 

Dr Ryan Anderton is a biomedical scientist with the Perron Institute and a lecturer at the University of Notre Dame.  His research focuses on the genetics involved in neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's and Motor Neuron Disease. Ryan is particularly interested in the gut microbiome in people with Parkinson's in Australia, and currently co-supervises a ParkC PhD student (Hayley Grant) in this research area.