Microglial Paralysis In Post-stroke Neurodegeneration: Help Or Hindrance?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$512,351.00
Summary
Dementia and cognitive decline may occur months or years after a stroke, associated with delayed loss of brain cells in different brain regions. We recently discovered that the cells responsible for protection and repair of brain, called microglia, become paralysed in these regions. We will use a live-imaging microscope to determine whether the microglial paralysis causes brain cell death. We will also determine if a commonly used stroke prevention drug can worsen the microglial paralysis.
Elucidating The Mechanisms By Which Bis(thiosemicarbazone)-copper Complexes Protect Neurons In Models Of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$353,377.00
Summary
Dr Liddell is a neuroscientist investigating potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of diseases of affecting the brain such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. He is examining a class of metal-based compounds that are showing strong potential for disease treatment, and is investigating how these compounds work. The findings will be used to further develop and improve these therapeutic agents, and may help understand the underlying causes of these diseases.
Nfib Regulates Glial Differentiation During Development And Disease Via Repression Of The Key Epigenetic Protein, Ezh2
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$572,912.00
Summary
Glial development is critical during development, and unrestrained proliferation of glial stem cells in the adult can lead to deadly brain cancers such as glioma. At present there is no cure for glioma and current treatments do not significantly delay tumour progression. Nfib is a transcription factor that may prevent tumour growth through cellular differentiation. We will investigate the role of Nfib during development and in the pathogenesis of glioma and its potential as a therapeutic target.
Role Of Calcium-activated Potassium Channels In Neuronal Excitability, Synaptic Plasticity And Sensory Processing
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$612,272.00
Summary
Disturbances in brain function, as occur in diseases such as epilepsy and schizophrenia, are associated with abnormal electrical activity. This electrical activity leads to increases in calcium inside nerve cells. In this project we plan to investigate how changes in calcium inside nerve cells regulates electrical activity, and how this impacts on the capacity of the brain to process and learn new information.
Developing Insight Into The Molecular Origins Of Familial And Sporadic Frontotemporal Dementia And Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$6,377,279.00
Summary
There is strong evidence that frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) represent a spectrum of neurodegenerative disease with common origins. A combined study of FTD/ALS patient cohorts will provide greater power to identify these shared molecular origins. We aim to discover gene variants that cause, predispose, or modify onset and progression of inherited and sporadic FTD/ALS, and validate and study our discoveries in new cell and animal models of these disorders.
Axon Degeneration And Axon Protection In CNS Disease And Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$389,120.00
Summary
One of the major reasons for the clinical symptoms of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Motor Neuron Disease is the loss of connections between the nerve cells. Nerve cells are connected by specialized processes called axons. In disease these processes can breakdown. This project specifically looks at how axons break down in disease and tests therapeutic strategies to protect them.
A Central Role For ER-Golgi Trafficking In Motor Neuron Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$434,652.00
Summary
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients currently face a bleak future. In the common global form of disease, the average length of survival after diagnosis is 31 months. Current therapies have at best a modest effect on the course of the disease with little or no benefit in terms of overall patient survival. This study will address the basic underlying biochemical mechanisms of disease in both sporadic and genetic forms of ALS. This studies will lead to opportunities to develop new therapie ....Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients currently face a bleak future. In the common global form of disease, the average length of survival after diagnosis is 31 months. Current therapies have at best a modest effect on the course of the disease with little or no benefit in terms of overall patient survival. This study will address the basic underlying biochemical mechanisms of disease in both sporadic and genetic forms of ALS. This studies will lead to opportunities to develop new therapies in the future.Read moreRead less
Astrocyte Regulation Of Ammonia And Glutamate In Neonatal Hypoxia-Ischaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$523,804.00
Summary
Lack of oxygen is a common problem for newborn infants, ocurring during events such as a difficult labour, and can lead to brain damage. We have discovered that a protein in the brain which normally removes ammonia (a toxic product of metabolism) is rapidly lost after a brief period of low oxygen. We propose that a build up of ammonia in the brain may be a key damaging event in hypoxia-related brain injury, and that it will be ameniable to therapeutic intervention.