Graviceptive neglect after human brain lesion: clinical expression, recovery, neuroimaging and neurophysiological investigation

• Grant number: 24/09711-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: October 01, 2024 - September 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Mobility Program: SPRINT - Projetos de pesquisa - Mobilidade
• Principal Investigator: Taiza Elaine Grespan Santos Edwards
• Grantee: Taiza Elaine Grespan Santos Edwards
• Principal researcher abroad: Jimena Garcia-Vega
• Institution abroad: University of Western Australia (UWA), Australia
• Principal researcher abroad: Rhonda Clifford
• Institution abroad: University of Western Australia (UWA), Australia
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 23/03252-2 - Graviceptive neglect after stroke: reversal with focal neuromodulation and investigation of the neuroanatomical basis, AP.R

Abstract

The Brazilian and Australian research groups involved in this collaborative proposal have a track record of working together. Nonetheless, securing funding is essential for advancing and solidifying our partnership, which promises to yield highly impactful contributions poised to flourish. Therefore, the aims of the present proposal are: 1) To learn from the Australian team about their health system, population, rehabilitation strategies and neuroimaging analyses. The in-person observation of the Australian rehabilitation service and visit to the neuroimaging facilities will strengthen the ongoing international collaboration. The knowledge about the structure of the Australian health system and population characteristics will enable the development of an appropriate study design for future grant proposals. 2) To provide clinical research training to the Australian team in assessing and treating graviceptive neglect. This capacity-building initiative ensures the sustainability and progress of future research endeavours within the Australian context. 3) Oversee the execution of an innovative observational study investigating graviceptive neglect in brain tumour patients may prove the need for the neuromodulation approach tested in post-stroke patients within the ongoing clinical trial and expand the external validity of this treatment. The scientific missions will facilitate close supervision and collaboration in the ongoing study that has already received resources from Australian funding agencies. 4) To expand the research network to encompass other Australian experts, with the dual objectives of disseminating the neuroimaging methodologies employed by our group and analysing the possibility of using alternative statistical techniques to analyse data emerging from the current GravNegElect trial funded by FAPESP. The possibility of being in Australia in person will enable the contacting and building of new collaborations with Australian researchers, especially with scientists from the new UWA imaging facility launched in October 2023. 5) To formulate at least one grant proposal. A thorough and collaborative analysis of the feasibility within each site and grant announcements available in both countries will determine the proposal's focus. This will be aligned with the study group's expertise, which will be enhanced by the existing funding and will consider the research field's strategic advancement. The group encompasses esteemed institutions and researchers from both Brazil and Australia, each with a strong track record of successful grant projects. Their proven capacity to conduct scientific studies is a positive indicator of the potential success of developing this new collaborative grant proposal. The objective performance indicators for the planned activities will be the number of trained Australian and Brazilian researchers, the scientific publications, and the submitted grant proposal(s). At the end of this project, we expect the following to have expanded the horizons for solidifying the research capacity of the team by setting future projects involving both Brazilian and Australian students and scientists to provide a continuous source of learning, integration of excellence, and scientific contribution to the field of knowledge. (AU)