People

Director, MSRA Brain Bank
Dr Michael Barnett

Dr Michael Barnett is a staff neurologist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Senior Lecturer in Neurology at the University of Sydney. He is appointed to the MS Society Clinic at BMRI and was previously Fellow and Locum Consultant in Neurology & Neuro-ophthalmology at the National Hospital for Neurology, London, UK. He holds a PhD in Multiple Sclerosis pathogenesis. Dr Barnett practices as a general Neurologist but has particular interests in Neuroimmunology & Multiple Sclerosis, Neuro-ophthalmology and Neurophysiology.

Research Facilitator, MSRA Brain Bank
Dr Julia Morahan
Office +61 2 9468 8305
Fax +61 2 9411 7456
Email msrabrainbank@msra.org.au 

MSRA Brain Bank Advisors in MS Neuropathology
 

 Professor John Prineas

Prof Prineas is the 2009 winner of the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation’s (MSIF) prestigious biennial Charcot Award for a lifetime achievement in research into the understanding or treatment of multiple sclerosis. He is currently an Honorary Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Sydney. His research activities throughout have been directed at understanding the pathogenesis of peripheral and central demyelinating diseases. His recent findings of sick and dying cells in the early stages of MS, prior to the autoimmune response, have revolutionised the worldwide understanding of the disease, providing hope for new therapies which include the potential to repair the neural damage.

MSRA Brain Bank Advisory Board

The MSRA Brain Bank Advisory Board provides advice and recommendations to the MSRA Brain Bank Director and MSRA with respect to matters regarding the MSRA Brain Bank and which are within the Advisory Board's competence and expertise. It is a sub-committee of the MSRA Board and includes people with (i) qualifications and experience in neuropathology of MS; (ii) research interests in the neuropathology of MS; (iii) an awareness of the impact of MS on those who suffer from it; and (iv) membership of the National Management Committee of ABBN.

The MSRA Brain Bank Advisory Board consists of the following members:

• Prof Simon Hawke, Director, MSRA Brain Bank
• Prof Bill Carroll, Chairman, MSRA Research Management Council
• Dr Michael Barnett, Neurologist, Advisor in neuropathology
• Prof John Prineas, Advisor in neuropathology
• Dr Elizabeth McDonald, Medical Director of MS Australia – ACT/NSW/VIC
• Prof John Pollard, Professor of Neurology, The University of Sydney
• Prof Catriona McLean, National Director,  Australian Brain Bank Network
• Mr Jeremy Wright, Executive Director, MSRA

MSRA Brain Bank Scientific Advisory Committee
 

The MSRA Brain Bank Scientific Advisory Committee (MSRABB SAC) reviews MS tissue requests received from researchers based on the scientific quality and merit of the proposed research project. It ensures that the appropriate ethics approval has been obtained and makes a decision in relation to which research applications will be approved. It is a sub-committee of the MSRA Board and includes people with (i) qualifications and experience in neuropathology of MS; (ii) research interests in the neuropathology of MS; and (iii) membership of the National Management Committee of ABBN.

The MSRA Brain Bank Scientific Advisory Committee consists of the following members:

• Dr Michael Barnett, Senior Lecturer in Neurology, University of Sydney
• Prof Bill Carroll, Chairman, MSRA Research Management Council
• Dr Judith Greer, Senior Research Fellow, University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research
• Prof Catriona McLean, National Director, Australian Brain Bank Network
• Prof Trevor Kilpatrick, Senior Principal Research Fellow, Florey Neurosecience Institutes
• Prof Simon Hawke, Director, MSRA Brain Bank