The Frontier FTD Research Clinic is the largest specialist frontotemporal dementia (FTD) clinic in Australia. Since 2007, we have specialised in the diagnosis, prognosis, and care of people with FTD and related conditions. We work towards understanding the manifestations, causes and biological bases of these progressive brain disorders.
We specialise in researching behaviour, cognition, social functioning, speech and language, clinical management, and many other aspects related to FTD and dementia more generally.
We work with individuals with FTD, Alzheimer's disease, and related brain conditions such as corticobasal syndrome (CBS) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).
We collaborate with carers and families to help inform diagnosis and obtain important information about participants' functioning and cognitive change. Importantly, we aim to assist carers through all stages of the FTD journey through education, psychosocial support, and referral to specialist services.
If you have been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, you have an important role to play in our research. Here is what you need to get involved.
We strongly recommend that you have a close family member or friend available to accompany you to the clinic, so that we can gather data from multiple perspectives.
If you, or someone you care for, meet these criteria and would like to participate in our research, ask your specialist (neurologist, geriatrician, or psychiatrist) to send us a referral at frontier@sydney.edu.au.
We are also always in need of healthy volunteers to aid us in our research. Participating with us as a volunteer typically involves the activities mentioned above. If you would like to volunteer, please email frontier@sydney.edu.au.
Research participation typically involves a two-day visit to the FRONTIER FTD Research Clinic. You will:
In collaboration with Associate Professor Rebekah Ahmed at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, the Frontier FTD Research Clinic is involved in pharmacological clinical trials.
Currently, we are recruiting participants with FTD caused by granulin mutations for the following trials:
For more information on these trials can be found here or by emailing us frontier@sydney.edu.au
The FRONTIER FTD Research Clinic offers information, advice, and service recommendations to individuals living with dementia, their families and carers as part of the clinic visit. When you visit our clinic, we will provide tailored advice, and provide you with resources and recommendations specific to your needs and diagnosis.
We have developed several resources that are available on our the Frontier FTD research group website. These are aimed at educating people about the Frontotemporal dementia syndromes, practical advice for symptom management such as apathy, behaviour changes, and anhedonia, and advice on accessing formal support services.
The FRONTIER FTD Research Clinic also seeks to raise public awareness of Frontotemporal dementia and its impacts on the individual, their carers and families. We endeavour to give back to our research participants and the general community by hosting annual family information seminars. View our webinars on YouTube channel.
Phone: +61 2 9114 4336
Email: frontier@sydney.edu.au
Level 1, Building G, Brain and Mind Centre, 100 Mallet Street, Camperdown, NSW, 2050
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
