Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170101514
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
The control of neuroplasticity in the brain. This project aims to determine how neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to remodel and make new circuits – is controlled in both excitatory and inhibitory neurons. This capacity, vital for all cognitive functions, diminishes as people age. It is imperative to determine neuroplasticity’s mechanisms and how and why they change, but it is not known how both excitatory and inhibitory neurons contribute to neuroplasticity and how these dynamic alterations ....The control of neuroplasticity in the brain. This project aims to determine how neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to remodel and make new circuits – is controlled in both excitatory and inhibitory neurons. This capacity, vital for all cognitive functions, diminishes as people age. It is imperative to determine neuroplasticity’s mechanisms and how and why they change, but it is not known how both excitatory and inhibitory neurons contribute to neuroplasticity and how these dynamic alterations are controlled. Understanding neuroplasticity is vital for learning, memory and healthy ageing throughout life.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120101311
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Role of intrinsic versus extrinsic cues in cell type determination during development and regeneration. During development all of the different cell types are generated by the action of genes and also signals from the embryo that read out which cell types are present or missing. This project studies how much environmental signals affect cell type generation developmentally and if they can be used to regenerate only the types missing in different diseases.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190101244
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$342,411.00
Summary
Unravelling the relationship between food and the brain. This project aims to investigate how highly palatable foods that are high in fat and sugar, interact with the brain to cause their overconsumption. Highly palatable foods cause plasticity in brain reward circuitry in a manner similar to drugs of abuse. Identifying how these "junk" foods interact with reward areas of the brain will explore the neural mechanisms underlying the hedonic nature of appetite. This project will not only inform our ....Unravelling the relationship between food and the brain. This project aims to investigate how highly palatable foods that are high in fat and sugar, interact with the brain to cause their overconsumption. Highly palatable foods cause plasticity in brain reward circuitry in a manner similar to drugs of abuse. Identifying how these "junk" foods interact with reward areas of the brain will explore the neural mechanisms underlying the hedonic nature of appetite. This project will not only inform our understanding of how exposure to these foods can contribute to overeating and obesity, a huge and growing problem in Australia, but will also provide evidence to inform policy options relevant to advertising and marketing of these foods.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200101272
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$420,885.00
Summary
Glial Plasticity: How experience and aging change brain structure. 50 % of the cells in the brain are called glia. These cells work with neurons to regulate how we think, feel and behave. Most glial cells are added to the brain after birth, however we know very little about how this process works, or how it may be changed by lived-experience. The overarching aim of this study is to better understand how lived-experience impacts the growth of the major types of glial cells in the brain. To do th ....Glial Plasticity: How experience and aging change brain structure. 50 % of the cells in the brain are called glia. These cells work with neurons to regulate how we think, feel and behave. Most glial cells are added to the brain after birth, however we know very little about how this process works, or how it may be changed by lived-experience. The overarching aim of this study is to better understand how lived-experience impacts the growth of the major types of glial cells in the brain. To do this, I will use cutting-edge technologies and identify; 1) the rates of cell growth for the major types of glia, and 2) map how they are integrated into the brain. This will lead to important new information on how lived-experience can shape the growth and structure of the brain.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140100588
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$395,220.00
Summary
Gene-environment interactions in the regulation of neuroplasticity and cognitive function . This project will study the effects of different housing conditions on neuroplasticity-related cognitive function by combining an innovative operant conditioning behavioural test (computerised touch-screen technology) and new molecular approaches. Potential gene-environment interactions will be revealed using genetically targeted mice which have never been assessed in that context (mutants with altered gl ....Gene-environment interactions in the regulation of neuroplasticity and cognitive function . This project will study the effects of different housing conditions on neuroplasticity-related cognitive function by combining an innovative operant conditioning behavioural test (computerised touch-screen technology) and new molecular approaches. Potential gene-environment interactions will be revealed using genetically targeted mice which have never been assessed in that context (mutants with altered glucocorticoid and serotonin signalling). This project will study whether specific stages of the neuroplasticity process are differentially modulated through gene-environment interactions, ultimately resulting in changes to behaviour and cognitive functions. This will lead to a better understanding of the potential approaches that could be used to improve cognitive function.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190101078
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$374,433.00
Summary
Functional role of a novel DNA modification in the adult brain. This project aims to understand how neuronal DNA is modified upon learning and how this impacts memory formation. The project will investigate the combination of different genome-wide sequencing approaches and molecular and cell biological assays to provide new insight into the functional role of a novel DNA modification, N6-methyl-2'-deoxyadenosine in the adult brain. This projects expects to have a major impact on many fields, inc ....Functional role of a novel DNA modification in the adult brain. This project aims to understand how neuronal DNA is modified upon learning and how this impacts memory formation. The project will investigate the combination of different genome-wide sequencing approaches and molecular and cell biological assays to provide new insight into the functional role of a novel DNA modification, N6-methyl-2'-deoxyadenosine in the adult brain. This projects expects to have a major impact on many fields, including neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and genetics, by helping to shape a new way of thinking about gene-environment interactionsRead moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200100778
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,000.00
Summary
Mapping the neural circuits that underlie emotional learning. This project aims to understand the precise neural circuits that mediate the formation of emotional memories. Recent findings have identified a novel complexity in these circuits and the goal of this proposal is to resolve the underlying mechanism that drives emotional memories. In detail, this project will combine state of the art dual- optical stimulation techniques combined with behaviour-dependent tagging of neurons to investigate ....Mapping the neural circuits that underlie emotional learning. This project aims to understand the precise neural circuits that mediate the formation of emotional memories. Recent findings have identified a novel complexity in these circuits and the goal of this proposal is to resolve the underlying mechanism that drives emotional memories. In detail, this project will combine state of the art dual- optical stimulation techniques combined with behaviour-dependent tagging of neurons to investigate the precise brain circuits linked to emotional learning, an approach that also allows knowledge transfer to other research fields. Expected outcomes and benefits of the project is a significant shift in our understanding of the neural mechanisms that underlie emotional learning.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120100235
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
A novel approach to modelling nicotine dependence in the rat. With repeated exposure, tobacco smoking can rapidly develop into a habit. How this happens is poorly understood. This project will model the changes to the brain and behaviour of rats during the development of nicotine-seeking habits with a view to better understanding how to reduce tobacco dependence.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100628
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
Promotion of NAD+ anabolism to promote lifespan. The project aims to identify mechanisms of ageing, the role of stress on the ageing brain and how NAD+ modulates these effects. NAD+ maintains cellular energy, repairs DNA and performs other essential cell functions. Intracellular NAD+ levels, the essential substrate for sirtuin activity including SIRT2, decline with age in humans and physiologically aged rats. This project will investigate the mechanisms by which pharmacological strategies design ....Promotion of NAD+ anabolism to promote lifespan. The project aims to identify mechanisms of ageing, the role of stress on the ageing brain and how NAD+ modulates these effects. NAD+ maintains cellular energy, repairs DNA and performs other essential cell functions. Intracellular NAD+ levels, the essential substrate for sirtuin activity including SIRT2, decline with age in humans and physiologically aged rats. This project will investigate the mechanisms by which pharmacological strategies designed to elevate intracellular NAD+ levels will maintain optimal SIRT2 function to extend lifespan and improve age-related cognitive decline in vivo. Potential outcomes include using NAD+ to improve brain health in advanced old age.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160101275
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Contribution of basal ganglia networks to the fine-tuning of action. This project aims to identify the changes occurring in specific brain circuits when new behaviours are learned. Our ability to perform efficient goal-directed actions involves a learning process in which separate movements are organised into sequences of action. This project aims to determine how this is encoded in the brain by mapping basal ganglia networks that are directly engaged during different stages of learning. This pr ....Contribution of basal ganglia networks to the fine-tuning of action. This project aims to identify the changes occurring in specific brain circuits when new behaviours are learned. Our ability to perform efficient goal-directed actions involves a learning process in which separate movements are organised into sequences of action. This project aims to determine how this is encoded in the brain by mapping basal ganglia networks that are directly engaged during different stages of learning. This project also seeks to identify specific neural circuits that are important for the refinement of action. The knowledge developed in this project is expected to support the development of training programs to instruct individuals in specialised tasks and may be used in the design of biologically inspired robots.Read moreRead less