Axonal Fusion To Promote Nerve Repair: Molecules And Mechanisms.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$456,189.00
Summary
Nerve injuries are in most cases untreatable, leaving patients with high level of disabilities for the rest of their life. Understanding the molecular mechanism regulating nerve regeneration is critical to develop new drugs and design innovative therapies. We discovered molecules that mediates axonal repair by favouring the stitching together of the two separated fragments of an axon. We aim to study how they functions to possibly exploit a similar mechanism of repair for human injuries.
How Do P75 And Sortilin Facilitate TrkA-mediated Survival Signalling?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$559,354.00
Summary
Neurotrophins are the classical growth factors that regulate neuronal survival and death throughout the nervous system in both the developing and adult animal. These factors signal through one of three receptors, but precisely how the receptors interact to propagate cell survival is unclear. The goal of this grant is to unravel the molecular basis underpinning this life and death signalling decision so that we can then devise ways to promote cell survival in neurodegenerative conditions
Electrical activity in early enteric neuron development. Intestinal movements and secretion are critical to the good health and nutrition of both humans and animals. These functions are regulated by a large nervous system contained within the intestinal wall, the enteric nervous system. This project will identify how enteric nerve cells develop and how their behaviour influences the development of other enteric nerve cells. This is will provide an important base for more applied research aime ....Electrical activity in early enteric neuron development. Intestinal movements and secretion are critical to the good health and nutrition of both humans and animals. These functions are regulated by a large nervous system contained within the intestinal wall, the enteric nervous system. This project will identify how enteric nerve cells develop and how their behaviour influences the development of other enteric nerve cells. This is will provide an important base for more applied research aimed at developing treatments for diseases like chronic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome. It will also contribute to the growing knowledge about how epigenetic factors can modify genetically programmed development within the nervous system.Read moreRead less
Cell cycle and enteric neuron and glial differentiation. Enteric neurons arise from a very small starting population of precursor (neural crest) cells, most of which emigrate from the hindbrain, and colonise the developing gut. Over a protracted period of time the precursors proliferate and differentiate into glia and many different types of neurons. Cell cycle exit is a critical event in the development of many neuron types, largely because the time at which cells exit from the cell cycle lim ....Cell cycle and enteric neuron and glial differentiation. Enteric neurons arise from a very small starting population of precursor (neural crest) cells, most of which emigrate from the hindbrain, and colonise the developing gut. Over a protracted period of time the precursors proliferate and differentiate into glia and many different types of neurons. Cell cycle exit is a critical event in the development of many neuron types, largely because the time at which cells exit from the cell cycle limits the number of neurons that will be generated. We will determine whether exit from the cell cycle contributes to the differentiation and specification of enteric neurons and glia.Read moreRead less
Identifying the pathways employed by growth hormone to regulate the proliferation of adult neural stem cells. As stem cells underpin the maintenance and regeneration of the brain and are known to decline in number and competence with age; understanding exactly how these cells are regulated is of broad national benefit. Furthermore, given the regulatory role of growth hormone throughout the body, insights gained from this project should lead to the discovery of novel therapeutic targets both with ....Identifying the pathways employed by growth hormone to regulate the proliferation of adult neural stem cells. As stem cells underpin the maintenance and regeneration of the brain and are known to decline in number and competence with age; understanding exactly how these cells are regulated is of broad national benefit. Furthermore, given the regulatory role of growth hormone throughout the body, insights gained from this project should lead to the discovery of novel therapeutic targets both within and outside the nervous system, ultimately leading to preventative and restorative strategies for maintaining good health. Finally, this Proposal is of significant national benefit as it will undoubtedly advance our knowledge base in stem cell biology, helping to maintain Australia as a global leader in stem cell research.Read moreRead less