Medical / Research Team

Here you will find recommended medical practitioners,  our current research team, their roles and responsibilities and any current research and treatment trials being carried out in Australia.

MdDS Australia Medical Practioners & Research Team
Roles and Responsibilities
Research and Treatment Trials

MdDS Australia Medical Practitioners & Research Team

Roles and Responsibilities

• Dr Shaun Watson, neurologist. Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery  Shaun practices out of Blacktown and Randwick in NSW. He is affliated with the Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick in Sydney.                                        Contact : (02) 9622 7722
• Dr Luke Chen, neurologist. MBBS FRACP PhD.Dr Luke Chen and predominantly practices in Melbourne.  He trained in neurology at Austin and Alfred Hospitals in Melbourne, before moving to Sydney to complete a fellowship in hearing and balance disorders (neuro-otology) at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and University of Sydney. He practiced as a consultant neurologist at the MS Society clinic, Brain and Mind Centre. He holds a PhD from University of Sydney in quantitative vestibular abnormalities in neurological disorders. Dr Chen practices as a general neurologist, and has particular subspecialty interests in neuro-otology, vestibular physiology, neuro-ophthalmology and eye movement disorders in neurological diseases such as acute stroke, multiple sclerosis and movement disorders.                    Contact : Neurology Network, Melbourne (03) 9500 8366
• Carlo Rinaudo   Chiropractor/ Vestibular Neuro-Rehabilitation
  BMedSci (HONS), Chiro, ICSSD, DACNB, PhD(c)
  Carlo Rinaudo is a registered Chiropractor based in Sydney with 20 years of clinical experience. He is the clinic director of a multidisciplined clinic focused on helping people with dizziness, concussion and balance related conditions. His integrative approach utilises latest neuroscience research with cutting-edge technologies, delivered within a patient-centred model. He is completing a PhD in vestibular rehabilitation at UNSW and NeuRA (Neuroscience Research Australia), working alongside leading researchers and Neurologist  in the field. He is a frequent speaker, nationally and internationally \, presenting his research findings as well as teaching practitioners about vestibular rehabilitation, concussion, whiplash and chronic pain conditions.
  Contact :
  Brain Hub  – a dizziness and concussion clinic
  Gladesville : Leichhardt
  Ph: 1300 770 197
  www.brainhub.com.au
  carlo@brainhub.comau

The Research Team

• Dr Cherylea Browne, is a lecturer in Human Anatomy at Western Sydney University. Cherylea has recently started a MdDS research group due to her own MdDS diagnosis in 2015. Her interests include the underlying hormonal aspects of MdDS and autonomic nervous system maladaptation in MdDS patients. She heads research and clinical trials here in Australia.
• Dr. Viviana Mucci (Ph.D) a postdoc researcher from University of Zurich and currently affiliated to the Swiss Concussion Centre, Schulthess Klinik in Switzerland. Viviana was awarded in November 2018 with the Future Science Early Career Research Award, following her work on Mal de Debarquement Syndrome performed during her Ph.D. She completed her Ph.D. program in the field of Neurotology in July 2018 from Antwerp University, Faculty of Medical Science.  Her background involves a BSc in Medical Physiology (University of East London, UK), which she completed with distinction in 2012 and a MSc in Space Physiology and Health from King’s College London (UK), where she graduated in 2013. Since her Ph.D. Viviana’s work has been focusing on continuing investigating Mal de Debarquement Syndrome. She currently continues treating MdDS patients in Switzerland (Zurich and Geneva).

• Dr Mingjia Dai, PhD, Assistant Professor, Neurology, Mt Sinai, NYC, USA – sadly passed away February 2019

Research and Treatment Trials

Repetitive Trans Magnetic Stimulation

Research and trial treatments in Australia firstly came about in 2013. following a phone call Alan Pearce received from a desperate lady seeking a diagnosis and treatment for her Mother with MdDS. He used rTMS (repetitive trans magnetic stimulation) treatment and went on to trial treatments with patients with MdDS in late 2014. The treatment is a noninvasive procedure using magnetic fields to stimulate the brain.  His results were promising and can be found in the Journal of Neuropsychology, 2015.

Optokinetic Stimulation

Optokinetic Stimulation is a protocol developed by Dr Mingjia Dai at Mt Sinai in NYC. Optokinetic stimulation involves rolling the head from side to side whilst watching a full-field visual stimulus. In the USA, the success rate has been reported at 60%. But more long term data is required to adequately determine the above.
Treatment of a similar nature, based on the protocol developed by Dr Mingjia Dai, is being carried out in Australia. And again, more long term data is required from this to determine the effectiveness as a successful treatment.

Mal de Debarquement Research Group (Australia)

Based at the University of Western Sydney, Dr Cherylea Browne,  her research aims to contribute to the understanding of the underlying mechanisms of MdDS. Specifically, her studies seek to collate data regarding the basic clinical features of MdDS, which might be unidentified or overlooked due to the subjective nature of the condition.