Regulating Microglia To Combat Hippocampal-dependent Cognitive Decline In Ageing
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$493,768.00
Summary
Age-related cognitive decline, a hallmark of dementia, coincides with reduced activity of neural precursor cells and reduced rate of neuron production in the hippocampus – a key brain structure for learning and memory. Importantly, we have demonstrated that exercise can activate neural precursor cells and boost the production of new neurons as well as improve learning and memory. This project will explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind these exercise-induced benefits on cognition.
Disorder in the circuits that process emotional stimuli are central in the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders. In this grant we will study the circuits that are inolved in fear learnng. Our results will provide the background to developing more effective therapies for a range of anxiety related disorders such as generalised anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder.
Stimulation Of Neurogenesis By Growth Hormone To Improve Cognition In An Aged Animal Model Of Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$550,828.00
Summary
Production of new neurons in the hippocampus of adult animals plays a role in regulating learning and memory, and this production slows continuously with increasing age. Here we explore ways to activate dormant populations of neurogenic precursor cells in the hippocampus to produce new neurons. Since the precursor cells are still present in the hippocampus of an aged animal these studies will provide unequivocal evidence for their importance in reversing age-related cognitive decline and dementi ....Production of new neurons in the hippocampus of adult animals plays a role in regulating learning and memory, and this production slows continuously with increasing age. Here we explore ways to activate dormant populations of neurogenic precursor cells in the hippocampus to produce new neurons. Since the precursor cells are still present in the hippocampus of an aged animal these studies will provide unequivocal evidence for their importance in reversing age-related cognitive decline and dementia.Read moreRead less
A Comparative Study Between The Effects Of C-terminally Truncated A-synuclein Metabolites And Full Length A-synuclein In Aged Rat Hippocampal Neurons
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$231,284.00
Summary
I am a neurologist from Xi�an Jiaotong University, China. My major research interest is in neurodegenerative diseases, especially Parkinson and Alzheimer�s disease. I enter this field because I know ageing population will have an enormous impact on the world�s economy. I started collaboration with Dr. Weiping Gai in Flinders University. We are interested in the toxic effects of both a-synuclein and its metabolites, their mechanisms and ways to block them.
Do Changes In HCN Channels Function Cause Epilepsy?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$386,172.00
Summary
About 100 000 people suffer from epilepsy in Australia with about one third poorly controlled with current anti-epileptic drugs. It is important to continue to develop novel modes of treatment for this debilitating disease. This project investigates an ion channel, known as HCN that is thought to be involved in making a brain epileptic. Understanding how changes in HCN channels make nerve cells and nerve networks more excitable will help us develop better strategies for designing drugs.
Altered HCN Channel Expression And Function In Acquired Epilepsy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$279,912.00
Summary
About 100 000 people currently suffer from epilepsy in Australia and of these about one third are poorly controlled with current anti-epileptic drugs. It is therefore important to continue to develop novel modes of treatment for this debilitating disease. This projects investigates an ion channel, known as the HCN channel, that is thought to be involved in making a brain epileptic. We explore how changes in this channel can make a brain more excitable. Also, our group is the first in the world t ....About 100 000 people currently suffer from epilepsy in Australia and of these about one third are poorly controlled with current anti-epileptic drugs. It is therefore important to continue to develop novel modes of treatment for this debilitating disease. This projects investigates an ion channel, known as the HCN channel, that is thought to be involved in making a brain epileptic. We explore how changes in this channel can make a brain more excitable. Also, our group is the first in the world to discover a mutation in this channel that is linked to epilepsy. We will also investigate how this mutation changes the channel properties to make a brain more likely to be epileptic. The HCN channel is an important target for developing anti-epileptic drugs. Understanding how changes in HCN channels make nerve cells and therefore nerve cell networks more excitable will help us develop better strategies for designing anti-epileptic drugs.Read moreRead less