Lucette’s Bio 2021

Associate Professor Lucette Cysique is a neuropsychologist with extensive neuroimaging training, who has led a research program in NeuroHIV, neuropsychology and neuroimaging at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney since 2009. She has been leading cross-disciplinary research into the neurocognitive and brain changes associated with HIV and aging, HIV and cardiovascular diseases, and HIV and mental health. Dr. Cysique has expertise in the measurement of cognitive trajectories in longitudinal cohort studies and clinical trials, and contributes to the development of normative neuropsychological data for cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. Additionally, Dr. Cysique has extensive experience in cross-cultural neuropsychology. Dr. Cysique is currently employed as a Senior Research Fellow at UNSW Psychology via a visiting scholar support from the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital, support from the Sydney St. Vincent’s Hospital Applied Medical Research Centre in the Applied Neuroscience Unit, and support from the Melbourne Alfred Hospital Infectious Diseases research.

Dr. Cysique’s cursus includes a master’s degree in clinical neuropsychology/neuroscience with research and clinical training in dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (Lyon I University, Paris VI University France). She migrated in 2001 in Australia and completed a Ph.D., (09/2005, UNSW) in the neuropsychology of HIV infection and a 3 -year post-doctoral fellowship at the prestigious HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program in San Diego, US, where she was trained in the neuropsychology and neuropsychiatry of HIV and Hepatitis C. While at UCSD and at the Laboratory of Cognitive Imaging, Dr. Cysique also received training in structural and functional MRI applied to HIV and HCV. Upon her return to Australia in 2008, she was awarded a 3-year Brain Sciences UNSW fellowship and subsequently a 3-year NHMRC project grant (as young investigator PI/CIA), along with several industry support grants. This funding allowed Dr. Cysique to complete further training in MRI (Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Diffusion Imaging). In 2013, Dr. Cysique was awarded a 4-year NHMRC Clinical Career Development Fellowship, extended 2 years by UNSW Medicine, to pursue her independent research career into the chronic effects of HIV on brain, cognitive and mental health.

In the last 10 years, Dr. Cysique has had major international and national research responsibilities, and associated funding, on more than 20 NeuroHIV studies/trials as a neuropsychology or neuroimaging leader. Dr. Cysique has extensive experience in one-on-one research instruction and supervision (total career completed in neuropsychology, HIV clinical sciences and neuroimaging: 11 Hons; 10 Masters; 3 co-supervised PhD, 2 post-docs; Current: 2 Masters, 1 PhD, 3 post-docs).

With the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Cysique has initiated a new research axis into the neurocognitive, olfaction/taste and mental health changes associated with COVID-19. Currently, she is Chair of the International Neuropsychological Society NeuroCOVID-19 special Interest Group and the neuropsychology leader of the landmark ADAPT COVID-19 prospective study at Sydney St. Vincent’s Hospital.

Dr. Cysique is also currently employed at Sydney St. Vincent’s Hospital as a clinical neuropsychologist in the neurology clinical trial unit. Dr. Cysique was originally trained in the field of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in France (see also clinical training at the end of the CV).

Professor Bruce Campbell is a Professor of Neurology in the Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne. He is a consultant neurologist and Head of Neurology and Stroke at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.


His research interests are focused on the imaging and treatment of acute stroke and he was co-principal investigator and medical co-ordinator of the EXTEND-IA and EXTEND-IA TNK multi-centre randomised trials published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2015 and 2018. He is Chair of Clinical Council and a director of the Stroke Foundation and co-chairs the Australian stroke guidelines working party. He has been an inaugural member of the Victorian stroke telemedicine project and chairs the Victorian Statewide Stroke Reperfusion Therapy Committee. He is also the co-ordinator of the National Brainschool training program for neurologists in training.

Clara Chung is an early career clinical geneticist at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, and Liverpool Hospital. She is a conjoint lecturer at the University of New South Wales, School of Women’s & Children’s Health. Her clinical and research interest is in tuberous sclerosis complex and mosaic genetic conditions. She is a clinician in the tuberous sclerosis management clinic at Sydney Children’s Hospital, and also provides medical advice to the Tuberous Sclerosis Australia support group.

Lindsay Thitchener completed his pathology training at the Institute of Technology in Sydney while working as a trainee at the Royal Hospital for Women and, later, at Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick. He joined Douglass Laboratories in 1982, initially in a business development role, and has remained with this practice through its evolution into Sonic Healthcare over the past 40 years. During his time at Sonic, he has worked in the laboratory, both on the bench and as a supervisor, as a regional manager and as the Business Development Manager for Douglass Hanly Moir Laboratories (a division of Sonic Healthcare). He spent eight months’ leave-without-pay working in Nicaragua, Central America, in 1988. During this time, he helped to establish a small laboratory and clinic for women and children in Managua, called ‘Ixchen’.

Dr Renee Testa is a clinical neuropsychologist with previous experience within public and private settings. Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Behavioural Science, Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology and a Doctorate in Clinical Neuropsychology. Renee previously co-ordinated the multidisciplinary Learning Difficulties Clinic and Neurodevelopmental Clinic for the Western Health Network for eight years and has a long history working collaboratively with allied health professionals (social work, speech pathology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy), and with professionals within the school and education system. She has also run information and education sessions for teachers and schools on learning difficulties and intervention strategies and techniques. She currently practices clinically within a private practice focused upon children with neurodevelopmental disorders and works as a Senior Neuropsychologist in the Neurodevelopment Clinic at the Royal Children’s Hospital. Renee is also lecturer at Monash University within the Doctoral Clinical Neuropsychology Program teaching the paediatric neuropsychology course curriculum. Renee has provided expert consultation to government departments such as Specialist Children’s Services and the Department of Education.

Professor John Olynyk is a consultant Hepatologist in the Department of Gastroenterology at Fiona Stanley Hospital Group and Dean of Clinical Research, Edith Cowan University.
He is also the Honorary Director of Research, Spinnaker Health Research Foundation.
He is a medical advisor to the Haemochromatosis Australia and a consultant for the Lifeblood Australia. He has established internationally recognized research programs in Hereditary Haemochromatosis and disorders of iron metabolism, chronic liver injury, hepatocellular carcinoma and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. He has published over 230 original articles and has a H index of 60.

Vince Carroll has more than 40 years of experience in nursing in aged care, hospital administration, education and clinical nursing in medical, surgical, critical care, and operating theatre settings in both urban and rural areas of Australia and the United Kingdom. Since 2015 Vince has worked with the Mid North Coast Health District of New South Wales and Parkinson’s NSW as a Parkinson’s Clinical Nurse Consultant caring and supporting people with Parkinson’s disease across the continuum in the acute hospital, aged care, and community settings. He is also studying research at Charles Sturt University. The focus of his studies is Parkinson’s Support Groups. Vince has been instrumental in developing services and partnerships to enhance the quality of life for people affected by Parkinson’s disease.

Stephanie works as a GP Educator for a national training body – Dementia Training Australia – who deliver Dementia focused education for nurses, allied health professionals and medical professionals across Australia.
She is also recording her first podcast series – Dementia in Practice – covering a wide range of topics within the sphere of Cognitive Impairment.

Locally, Stephanie has experience in working with people impacted by Dementia within the wider Adelaide community through her work with SA Health in the Central Adelaide Multi-Disciplinary Geriatric Service (CALHN MCGS).

The next stage of Stephanie’s journey is through Sensus Cognition – a Specialist GP consultancy service for people and their families seeking advice, guidance and assessment where concern exists around Cognitive Health & Dementia. If you would like to find out more about booking an appointment

Stephanie will continue to practice as a traditional GP in the northern suburbs, whilst through Sensus Cognition, providing focused services direct to patients, raising awareness and hosting educational events for local agencies

Sensus Cognition aims to work in a Multi-Disciplinary way, collaborating with Allied Health colleagues such as Occupational Therapists, Community Nursing Teams, GPs & Geriatricians.

Prof Nancy Baxter is the Head of the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health at the University of Melbourne.

Nancy is a clinical epidemiologist, general surgeon and health services researcher. She was previously a Professor in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Professor of Surgery in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto.

As a strategic and dedicated leader, Nancy has been responsible for academic programs and innovative student experiences in her role as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. In this capacity, she led the development of a new Master of Public Health in Indigenous Health and an Advanced Standing Master of Public Health in Family and Community Medicine.

Registered Nurse Cathy Melton manages the Parkinson’s NSW 1800 InfoLine which provides advice and support for people living with Parkinson’s, caregivers, GPs, and Allied Health professionals. Cathy has more than 40 years of nursing experience across clinical management, nurse education, aged care, and community nursing. She is a member of the Australian Neurological Nurses Association, NSW Nurses Association, and the Movement Disorder Society both the ANZ and International chapters.