Professor Amy Brodtmann MBBS FRACP PhD
Principal Investigator
Amy leads the Cognitive Health initiative at Monash University’s Central Clinical School and leads Cognitive Neurology Services and dementia trials at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Eastern Cognitive Disorders Clinic.
Her research focuses on improving the diagnostic odyssey for people with dementia and understanding vascular contributions to late-life brain health. Her vision is brain health for all: developing measures of brain health and identifying opportunities for brain health promotion. She has received many awards and grants for her work in stroke and dementia and in 2022 was awarded the Mervyn Eadie Prize, the peak mid-career award for clinician researchers from the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists.
She sits on the editorial boards of Neurology, Stroke and International Journal of Stroke and is on the Science Committee for the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting, the largest neurology conference in the world. She is an Honorary Medical Advisor for Dementia Australia, was the inaugural President of the Australasian Cognitive Neurology Association, the inaugural Chair for the Australian Chapter of the Organization of Human Brain Mapping, and a founding member of the Australian Frontotemporal Dementia Association.
Associate Professor David Darby
Associate Investigator
A/Prof Darby is a cognitive neurologist with 30 years of clinical trials experience in neurology and dementia.
He does trials work in three major public Melbourne hospitals
Dr Natasha Krishnadas
Associate Investigator
Natasha is a Neurologist who completed a cognitive neurology fellowship at the Eastern Cognitive Disorders clinic in 2023.
She is also a post-doctoral researcher/Adjunct Senior Lecturer at Monash University.
She has expertise in neuroimaging biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease and the application of research advances to clinical practice and Clinical Trials
Claire McCarthy
Neurology Team Leader
Claire McCarthy is a research nurse with over 30 years’ experience in the medical field and has been leading the dementia research clinical trials unit at Box Hill for almost 10 years.
Claire has a compassionate and supportive research team behind her, and she is passionate about providing opportunities to patients with dementia related cognitive impairment to have access to the latest clinical research trials.
Tracy Morris
Study Coordinator
Tracy has dedicated a career to nursing for over three decades after completing her training in the UK as a registered psychiatric nurse.
After relocating to Australia in 2000, she worked as a registered nurse in various major Melbourne hospitals before transitioning to the field of neurology clinical trials in 2013.
Over the years she has played a pivotal role as a study coordinator in more than seven clinical trials and has acquired experience as a rater.
Narelle Stuart
Study Coordinator/rater
Narelle is a Registered Division 1 Nurse who has worked in various nursing roles throughout her career which began at Box Hill Hospital in 2002. She has been a member of the Eastern Clinical Research Unit since 2018 and brings with her a wealth of knowledge and skills to compliment the Dementia Clinical Trials team.
She has a passion for research and helping people find suitable treatments to enhance their quality of living.
Maria Lacson
Study Coordinator
Maria is a registered nurse with experience working on renal clinical trials initially as a haemodialysis nurse in the UK, before focusing on COVID-19 studies during the height of the pandemic and eventually other medical and surgical research specialties.
She worked in an acute hospital in Melbourne before joining the Dementia Clinical Trials team with her ongoing interest in the discovery of safe care and treatments.
She is passionate in contributing to best possible outcomes for patients and their families.
Lu Wang
Study Coordinator
Lu is a Registered Nurse who recently joined the Dementia Clinical Trials Team in 2025.
Prior to joining the team, she worked as a critical care nurse for more than 10 years at a metropolitan hospital in Melbourne and in community nursing. Lu has experience assisting with gastroenterology trials, as well as oncology and haematology trial clinical monitoring and observation.
Lu is passionate about improving the quality of care and quality of life to achieve the best outcomes for patients and their families.
Svetlana Ivanic
Project coordinator
Svetlana is a recent graduate from Monash University, having completed her Bachelor of Science Honours degree.
She has worked at ECRU since 2022 as coordinator of a research study involving the potential use of a blood test for dementia diagnosis.
Svetlana has an interest in combining healthcare and research to improve patient care and is particularly keen on improving the accessibility of research to both clinicians and patients.
Shruthi Patlori
Research officer
Shruthi Patlori is a research professional with a background in neurology.
A Deakin University graduate, she has experience working with prediction models using medical devices.
Since 2023, Shruthi has been with the Eastern Clinical Research Unit (ECRU) as a Research Officer, involving administrative aspects of clinical trials.
Her interests are focused on integrating health technology with research to enhance clinical practice and patient care.
Tara O’Donoghue
Rater
Tara is a Registered Nurse Division 1, with an Honours degree in Psychology.
She has worked in clinical trials in Neurology and Aged Care for 14 years.
She has a keen interest in Dementia and improving outcomes for patients and their support network.
Dr Logesh Palanikumar
Cognitive Fellow
Cognitive Fellow Dr Logesh Palanikumar commenced his fellowship in cognitive neurology at the ECDC under the supervision of Prof. Amy Brodtmann in 2025.
He finished his neurology training in South Australia, completing a stroke fellowship as well as core training years at the Royal Adelaide and Lyell McEwin Hospitals.
He has a strong interest in neuroimaging, stroke and neurodegenerative disorders.