Olivia Willis
Verified
Health journalist (on leave from @abcnews), currently studying global health at @karolinskainst
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Articles by Olivia Willis
Does Alzheimer’s disease cause an ‘energy traffic jam’ in the brain?
Key points In Alzheimer’s disease, the brain gradually loses its ability to turn glucose into energy. Florey researchers have identified a protein structure that may be contributing to a blockage that is potentially causing an energy failure in the brain. Dr Francesca Alves has received a CASS Foundation grant to study how this protein structure may affect brain function and its role in Alzheimer’s disease.
Resilience, Connection and Mental Wellbeing in Later Life
Florey Talk A panel of Florey experts explored the science of ageing well and how to support brain and mental health in later life. The event included contributions from Professor Anthony Hannan, Professor Ashley Bush and Dr Francesca Alves. Good brain health helps us live well as we age.
Single psilocybin dose improves social behaviour in OCD mouse model
Key points A Florey study has shown a single dose of the psychedelic drug psilocybin can improve aspects of social behaviour linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder in male mice. The researchers identified changes in brain activity that offer clues to the processes underlying the behavioural effects. Their findings build on earlier research showing psilocybin can reduce compulsive grooming in the same mouse model.
A tribute to Emeritus Professor Fred Mendelsohn AO
It is with deep sadness that we mourn the passing of former Florey director, Professor Fred Mendelsohn AO, at the age of 84. Professor Mendelsohn was a pioneering neuro-endocrine researcher and widely respected scientific leader, who helped to transform The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health into the largest brain research centre in Australia, helping to bring Australian neuroscience to prominence on the global stage.
How does the menopause drug Veoza work? And how is it different to hormone therapy?
Key points In The Conversation, Neuroscience researchers from The Florey Institute and University of Melbourne explain how a drug approved for menopause symptoms works in the brain. Unlike hormone replacement therapy, Veoza does not replace naturally declining hormones, but instead blocks signals in the brain’s temperature-control system. The drug, which is designed to treat hot flushes and night sweats, is effective for many women but does not stop symptoms completely.
Mediterranean-style diet linked to lower MS onset risk
Key points Florey researchhas found a potential linkbetween aMediterranean-style diet and alower risk of MS onset, with a key epigenetic process playing a partial mediating role. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex autoimmune disease driven by genetic and environmental factors. While previous studies have suggested diet is implicated in MS risk, how diet influences this risk remains unclear.
What is stem cell therapy and how is it being used for Parkinson’s?
Key points Stem cell therapy is an innovative approach that uses healthy cells to replace those lost due to disease. Rejection from the body’s immune system, however, presents a major challenge. Florey researchers are working on therapies which involve the transplantation of dopamine-releasing neurons with the potential to repair brain damage caused by Parkinson’s disease. The transplanted cells are engineered to evade immune system detection.
New stem cell therapy aims to ‘turn back the clock’ on Parkinson’s disease
Key points A new five-year $4.6million research program, supported by the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund, will test whether an innovative stem cell therapy can reverse the devastating effects of Parkinson’s disease.
How healthy sperm can help to protect future children’s brain development
Key points Professor Anthony Hannan heads The Florey’s Epigenetics and Neural Plasticity Groupand is a leading researcher ina field of study known as paternal immune activation (PIA). His team has usedmousemodels to show genes and life experiences, including exposure to infections such as COVID‑19,canaltersperm epigenetics and affect offspring brain development and behaviour. Professor Hannan says theirfindings reinforcethe importance of maintaining good sperm health before conception.
Florey expertise helps shape national Stroke Clinical Care Standard
Key points The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has released updated national clinical care guidelines to support people recovering from stroke. Expertsfrom the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry (AuSCR), a collaborative partnership led by The Florey, have helpedstrengthen the Stroke Clinical Care Standard using national data collected from hospitals and people who have experienced stroke. The updated Standardplaces a stronger focus on long-term care and rehabilitation.
Generous art gift supports Florey brain research
Key points Melbournefine artist and gallery director Antoinette Ferwerda hasdrawn on herfascination with the human brain to createastunningpainting for The Florey. Antoinette’s art donation willsupportFlorey research through a silent auction. The Florey’sbrain researchaims to helpimprove the lives of peoplelikeAntoinette’s art assistant, Evania Klintberg, who is a young stroke survivor.
Pounding the pavement to help conquer cancer
Key points Hundreds of runners and walkersare keeping a baton moving around the clockin Melbourne as part of a unique fundraising event and Guinness World Record attempt. Money raised through the Conquer Cancer relay will support The Florey’s brain cancer researchers andchildren’s cancer charity Camp Quality. The event is running 24 hours a dayduring May and aims to cover more than 6,500kms.
Award-winning research uncovers the unseen ripple effects of brain surgery
Key points Florey-led international research shows that structural changes following neurosurgery extend beyond the operation site, also leading to changes in distant brain regions. The researchers used sophisticatedMRI acquisition and image analysis software to demonstrate that these brain changes occur at the endpoints of surgically disrupted pathways and onwards throughout the brain network.
A tribute to Dr Hugh David Niall AO
The passing of Dr Hugh Niall AO marks the loss of a scientific figure of rare stature, one whose influence on Australian biotechnology, and on the translation of discovery science into medicines, was both profound and enduring. From the outset, Hugh Niall’s intellectual range set him apart.
Injecting new energy into Alzheimer’s disease research
Key points The Florey’s Dr Francesca Alves has been awarded a $735,000 fellowship from the Dementia Australia Research Foundation to develop a potential diagnostic tool and a new targeted treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. In Alzheimer’s, brain cells fail to produce enough energy to stay healthy and function properly and this failure is linked to brain cell damage and death.
The Florey secures new grants for key MS research
Key points Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that affects almost 40,000 Australians and three million people worldwide. Two researchers from The Florey have been awarded combined funding of almost $65,000 from MS Australia to fast track their MS research. The grants will support researchon the role genetic mutations in the brain play in drivingMS progression and the impactofa common virus onthe onset and progression of MS.
Florey study first to validate key MND hypothesis
Key points Researchers at The Florey have for the first time provided direct evidence to support a long-held hypothesis about where motor neurone disease (MND) starts in the body. For 30+ years research has supported the ‘dying forward’ hypothesis that MND starts and is driven by overactive motor neurons in the brain, rather than neurons in the spine. Cutting-edge technologywas used to inducecortical overactivity in mice, leading tohallmark symptoms and pathological features of MND/ALS.
Is it MS or something else? New research explains
Key points Multiple Sclerosis(MS) is an immune-mediated disease of the brain and spinal cord, influenced by multiple risk factors, including genetics. Some rare neurological conditions can mimic MS or occur alongside it, making diagnosis challenging. A group of MS researchers,including experts from the Florey,studied 4,340 people with MS and 2,861 without MS to investigate whether rare changes in 1680 neurological disease genes affect MS risk or severity.
A daughter’s love and a dad’s legacy
Key points In honour of her late father Graham, Tania West has established The Graham West Research Grant to support Dr Carlos Gantner’s research at The Florey. Graham was just 70 when has passed away from multiple system atrophy, a rare form of atypical Parkinson’s which progresses rapidly and for which there are no effective therapies available.
Florey hosts Neale Daniher National MND Clinical Network launch
Key points FightMND co-founder and former Australian of the Year, Neale Daniher, has attended a major funding announcement hosted at the Florey. The Federal Government isinvesting $40.1m to create the Neale Daniher National MND Clinical Network to continue the fight against motor neuronedisease. The Networkwill support vital research and give more people, including regional Australians living with MND,access to treatment trials.
Folate is a key pregnancy vitamin, but not all supplements are created equal. Here's what you need to know
Navigating pregnancy and early parenting advice can be overwhelming — and for many parents, the confusion begins in the supplement aisle. One of the first things women planning a pregnancy or in the early stages of one are advised to do is take a prenatal supplement containing folic acid — the synthetic version of folate, or vitamin B9 — and iodine.
Aerosol physicist Lidia Morawska wins 2025 Prime Minister's Prize for Science
She's an internationally renowned expert in the study of air quality and its impact on human health, and in 2021, was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine. Now, aerosol physicist and distinguished professor Lidia Morawska has won Australia's most coveted prize for scientific research.
Tick-bite illnesses can be complex and debilitating. Are we any closer to understanding them?
Over three decades as a GP in northern Sydney, Richard Schloeffel saw thousands of patients with complex chronic diseases. Many lived with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), while others struggled with long COVID. But it was a group of patients with debilitating, ongoing symptoms linked to tick bites that prompted the now-retired GP to undertake further research. "I think tick-borne illness can be treated," Dr Schloeffel, now a researcher at Macquarie University, said.
Gender gap in heart attack care narrowing, but not fast enough, research finds
Australian women having a heart attack are less likely to be promptly diagnosed and treated compared to men, although the gender gap in cardiac care is narrowing. A new study, led by researchers at the University of Sydney and published in the Medical Journal of Australia, analysed hospital records and heart attack outcomes in almost 30,000 people in NSW over nine years.
Inside the lab working on emerging disease threats
The Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) is a high-security facility that handles potentially lethal pathogens. One of its jobs is to respond to outbreaks of animal diseases, and to test new vaccines and therapeutics for humans. Olivia Willis got a look inside the secure zone. • Inside the Australian lab where scientists study bird flu and other emerging disease threats - ABC News
What is leucovorin, the drug Trump and RFK Jr claim can treat autism spectrum disorder?
A prescription medicine used for patients with cancer and anaemia is set to be made available for the treatment of autism in some children in the United States. On Monday, the Trump administration announced the US medicines regulator would be modifying the label — and expanding the use — of a drug called leucovorin, or folinic acid, a type of folate.
Inside the Australian lab where scientists study bird flu and other emerging disease threats
When Jennifer Barr arrives at work each morning, she goes through half-a-dozen security checkpoints, removes her clothes, and passes through two steel airlocked doors. Once inside, she changes into freshly washed medical scrubs and, if she's heading into the lab, puts on a fully encapsulated suit which connects to a separate air supply — akin to what astronauts are kitted out in. This carefully orchestrated process, involving multiple showers and hair-washes, is because this is no ordinary lab.
Frontotemporal dementia patients missing out on timely diagnosis and treatment, researchers say
Australians with one of the most common forms of younger-onset dementia may be missing out on a timely diagnosis and access to treatment because of "overly restrictive" guidelines. That's according to researchers, who recently undertook the most comprehensive review of diagnostic criteria for behavioural-variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), which mostly affects people aged 45 to 65.
How does our environment impact our health? Unravelling the 'exposome'
With around 125,000 children and parents enrolled, Generation Victoria — or GenV — is set to become one of the largest health studies of its kind in the world. But its scientific director, Melbourne paediatrician Melissa Wake, says at its heart is a "simple idea". "At a population level, more people are dying from diseases that we ought to be able to prevent … and it's now become clear that children are likely to face shorter life spans than their parents," Professor Wake says.
Is your no-sugar drink really the healthier option?
If you reach for a no-sugar drink, thinking you're making a wise choice, you might need to think again. A new study suggests artificially sweetened drinks carry a similar type 2 diabetes risk to sugar sweetened beverages. Also, loneliness is a growing public health issue, especially among younger people. What can we do to address it? And gynaecological cancer survivors are flipping the script, teaching health professionals.
The repurcussions of RFK Jr's mRNA funding cut
US Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr has pulled $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccines. Experts are dismayed and say it could impede our ability to react fast and effectively to another pandemic. Also, clinical practice guidelines for the use of psychedelics in psychiatry have been released for public consultation.
How loneliness impacts your health
There are calls for a national loneliness strategy, after a report revealed the extent of the issue, especially in young people. Researchers found 43 per cent of people aged 15 to 25 feel lonely — that’s more than two in five young people. One in seven reported persistent loneliness lasting at least two years. Technology was both a help and at times, a hindrance to connection.
Artificial sweeteners and type 2 diabetes risk
Artificially sweetened drinks — think kombuchas or no sugar fizzy drinks — have been thought of as a healthier alternative. However a new Australian study has found both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages are associated with type 2 diabetes. The researchers say this drives home the need for policy changes to address sweetened beverages as a whole.
Survivors teaching students about cancer
Doctors can’t know everything — and there’s plenty they can learn from people with lived experience. A program is connecting people who’ve dealt with ovarian and gynaecological cancers with student doctors. The hope is to raise awareness of symptoms, and to give a glimpse into the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis and treatment.
7,000 steps a day linked to reduced risk of chronic disease and death, study finds
If you find getting your daily step-count up to 10,000 a challenge, Australian researchers have some good news: you may be able to get away with a few less steps to reap similar health benefits. In a large new study, University of Sydney researchers associated walking 7,000 steps a day with a reduced risk of serious health issues, including heart disease, dementia and cancer.
How to add 14 years to your lifespan
Five risk factors explain 50 per cent of cardiovascular risk at age 50, according to a new study. Addressing those risk factors can add years to your life, even if you address them in middle age. Also, the UK demonstrates a cutting edge IVF technique is effective at avoiding mitchondrial disease. ADHD treatment has real world positives, but the effects are lessening as more people get diagnosed. And an update on how RSV vaccination in pregnant women is going, five months into the program.
Cutting edge IVF technique births eight healthy children
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Researchers in the UK have published the results of a clinical trial of an IVF technique known as mitochondrial donation. The technique has been used before, but this latest round provides further evidence of its efficacy and safety. In Australia, about 60 babies born each year will develop a serious or fatal case of mitochondrial disease. We could be next to trial this IVF technique.
By Norman Swan Verified, Olivia Willis Verified
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Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
Verified
The five things to change for a longer life
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There are five risk factors that account for about 50 per cent of the global burden of cardiovascular disease. If you've got all five, your risk is between 24 and 38 per cent, but there is hope. A new study has found quitting smoking, or addressing hypertension in midlife can reap years of benefits. • Professor Annette Dobson, Professor of Biostatistics in the School of Public Health at the University of Queensland
By Norman Swan Verified, Olivia Willis Verified
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Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
Verified
Are we diagnosing the right people with ADHD?
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Treating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with medication can be life-changing. It's consistently associated with lower risks of self-harm, unintentional injury, traffic crashes and crime. However a new study has found as prescription rates increased, some of these associations weakened. Professor David Coghill, chair of developmental mental health at the University of Melbourne and president of the Australasian ADHD Professionals Association. Australia, Health, Public Health, ADHD
By Norman Swan Verified, Olivia Willis Verified
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Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
Verified
Good news in the first months of the RSV vaccine rollout
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Since the start of February, pregnant women have been eligible to get vaccinated against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The vaccine is administered during the 28 to 36 week mark of pregnancy to protect newborns from RSV. As of June, more than 60,000 women had received the vaccine. Professor Jim Buttery, Murdoch Children's Research Institute and infectious diseases physician at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne Australia, Health, Viruses, Pregnancy and Childbirth
By Norman Swan Verified, Olivia Willis Verified
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Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
Verified
Mapping the environmental exposures that impact human health
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The human exposome is the environmental equivalent of the human genome, and there's a project in the works to map it. It's a huge project that needs to take into account our lifestyles, cultures, economics and politics. Essentially, everything but our genome. Also, a concerning disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians when it comes to kidney transplants. And a small risk comes to light in relation to GLP-1s used for diabetes and weight loss.
By Norman Swan Verified, Olivia Willis Verified
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Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
Verified
Trump's threat of 200pc tariffs on pharmaceuticals
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US President Donald Trump has flagged the possibility of imposing 200 per cent tariffs on pharmaceutical products coming into America. Last year Australia exported around $2.2 billion in pharmaceutical products to the US — however we imported around $4 billion. • What's gone wrong with cannabis prescribing? - the Health Report
By Norman Swan Verified, Olivia Willis Verified
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Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
Verified
Weight loss drugs and the risk of macular degeneration
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GLP-1 agonists, like Ozempic and Wegovy, have been heralded as miracle drugs. They started out as diabetes drugs, but have shown benefits well beyond diabetes – including in weight loss and other metabolic conditions. However these are new drugs, and as more and more people take them, researchers are keeping tabs on their effects. While the risk is small, there are potential eye-related side effects. A new study has looked into macular degeneration in particular.
By Norman Swan Verified, Olivia Willis Verified
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Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
Verified
Indigenous people less likely to be waitlisted for a kidney transplant
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There’s a gap in the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are waitlisted for a kidney transplant. A study has found while eight per cent of non-Indigenous dialysis patients were waitlisted, just two per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients were. In most cases it was because of an incomplete work‐up, because they were awaiting transplant assessment or because their eligibility had not yet been assessed.
By Norman Swan Verified, Olivia Willis Verified
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Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
Verified
What is the exposome?
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The Human Exposome Project is a global effort underway to understand how the environment influences our health. It includes exposures from our diets, our lifestyles and our behaviors. It’s hoped that, like the Human Genome Project, it will help us prevent and treat things like heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.
By Norman Swan Verified, Olivia Willis Verified
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Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
Verified
Global HIV fight faces major setbacks amid funding and research cuts
Experts are concerned cuts to US foreign aid and medical research in recent months could jeopardise the goal of ending the global HIV epidemic. They've estimated that if US funding was further slashed and proposed cuts by four European countries went ahead, there could be almost 11 million additional HIV infections by the end of the decade. There is work underway to identify new funding sources, but researchers say the scale of financial losses will be "difficult" to make up.
Low influenza and COVID vaccination rates spark concern as flu season kicks off
The number of Australians vaccinated against influenza is "worryingly low", health experts say, as new data reveals the winter flu season has begun. Since mid-May, flu cases have increased in most parts of the country, following a record-breaking number of infections earlier in the year that had recently plateaued. At the same time, COVID-19 infections have begun to climb, while cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) have steadily increased since the start of 2025.
World-first CRISPR therapy could 'transform' treatment for rare genetic diseases, but key challenges lie ahead
It's been described as a revolutionary technology — and won its inventors a Nobel Prize. CRISPR gene-editing, often simply dubbed CRISPR, is a tool that allows scientists to precisely target and modify the human genome, making it possible to correct mutations and potentially treat genetic causes of disease. Earlier this month, scientistsused CRISPR technology to achieve a significant milestone: re-write the DNA of a baby with a rare genetic disease.
Deepfake scammers have stolen Norman’s voice
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If you've come across ads of Norman pushing a product for you to buy — no you haven't. These ads are actually deepfake scams using an AI Norman to sell unproven supplements. Also, why a new Alzheimer's drug coming onto the market might not become cheap enough for most people to take. A breakthrough in gene-editing could push us closer to a future full of CRISPR treatments. And why eight hours a night might not be the magic number for sleep.
By Norman Swan Verified, Olivia Willis Verified
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Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
Verified
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