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Muscle Contracture In Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence And Rehabilitation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$175,583.00
Summary
A population-based study of prevalence of muscle contracture will provide helpful information to health providers about the magnitude of the problem of contracture. This information will focus research efforts, and help health care providers to allocate resources appropriately. Recent studies have found that current treatments for contracture often provide transient or no effects. This project will test a promising new direction in treatment of contracture in people with multiple sclerosis.
Hereditary Motor Neuronopathies And Neuropathies: Mechanisms Of Neurodegeneration And Potential Modification.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$104,664.00
Summary
The aim of the study is to investigate the pathophysiology of motor neuron degeneration in its various acquired and inherited forms. Nerve function will be determined by clinical and neurophysiological assessments in patients. The findings of the study will reveal further insights into the cause and progression of disorders of the motor neuron. This data may function to monitor disease progression, response to potential therapies and lead to the development of further therapeutic strategies.
Simvastatin Prevents Dopaminergic Neuronal Injury In Experimental PD Models Via Activation Of NF-kB And MMP 9 And 3
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$87,937.00
Summary
Increasing evidence shows that neuroinflammation may account for dopamine neuron death in Parkinson’s disease (PD). This work aims to provide systematic picture of inflammatory response in PD, and explore anti-inflammatory mechanisms of simvastatin on the progression of PD. We expect that the results may provide a therapeutic strategy using simvastatin via different methods of administration in treating PD, and provide new information about the anti-inflammatory roles of simvastatin.
Inclusion Body Proteins And Neurodegenerative Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$389,164.00
Summary
Parkinson's disease affects 1% of people aged over 50, and a related disorder, Dementia with Lewy bodies, causes dementia in elderly patients. These diseases are characterised by inclusion bodies (Lewy bodies) in a sub population of nerve cells. Multiple system atrophy, another adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder, is also characterised by inclusion bodies (glial inclusions). Inclusions may interfere with cellular function, contributing to the process of brain degeneration. The inclusion bodie ....Parkinson's disease affects 1% of people aged over 50, and a related disorder, Dementia with Lewy bodies, causes dementia in elderly patients. These diseases are characterised by inclusion bodies (Lewy bodies) in a sub population of nerve cells. Multiple system atrophy, another adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder, is also characterised by inclusion bodies (glial inclusions). Inclusions may interfere with cellular function, contributing to the process of brain degeneration. The inclusion bodies are precipitations of proteins and other cellular chemicals. In the last 10 years, in a search for the underlying cause of these neurodegenerative disorders, there has been an intensive research effort to identify the proteins precipitated in the inclusion bodies. The present project adopts a new strategy and aims to identify the precipitated proteins in the inclusion bodies in brains of people dying with Parkinson's disease, Dementia with Lewy bodies and Multiple system atrophy. We intend to isolate the Lewy bodies and the glial inclusions from fresh brain tissue of patients dying with relevant diseases. Throughout the various steps in the isolation process, the location of the inclusion bodies will be checked with a special antibody to a particular protein (alpha synuclein) which we and others have already discovered to be present in all inclusion bodies. Proteins will then be identified using electrophoresis and amino acid sequencing. With the identification of these proteins, their role in neurodegeneration in these diseases can be examined using multiple biomedical approaches. These proteins will be important candidates for developing novel diagnostic reagents, screening for gene mutations in patients, or as the target of therapeutic intervention in these diseases.Read moreRead less
Identifying genes that influence clinical course and susceptibility in multiple sclerosis. This project aims to identify the genetic basis of multiple sclerosis (MS), the most common neurologic disease in young Australian adults. MS urgently needs research to identify predisposition, aid early diagnosis and provide bona fide molecular targets for new therapies. This will benefit people with MS and those susceptible to it. Crucial new knowledge identified will benefit other major areas of MS rese ....Identifying genes that influence clinical course and susceptibility in multiple sclerosis. This project aims to identify the genetic basis of multiple sclerosis (MS), the most common neurologic disease in young Australian adults. MS urgently needs research to identify predisposition, aid early diagnosis and provide bona fide molecular targets for new therapies. This will benefit people with MS and those susceptible to it. Crucial new knowledge identified will benefit other major areas of MS research including epidemiology, immunology and neurobiology. Collaboration of 8 major Australian institutions is also important for this project and future studies. The team will have access to a new national MS GeneBank (platform) with samples from 2240 patients that should generate findings important to world-wide MS genetic knowledge.Read moreRead less