The majority of stroke results from focal brain infarction, followed by substantial secondary excitotoxic damage in the surrounding areas. Tau has been shown to contribute to excitotoxicity and neurodegeneration in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Preliminary data show that tau reduction also protects against excitotoxic damage after experimental stroke. We aim to dissect the molecular mechanisms of stroke using a tau-deficient mouse model.
Vitamin D Synthesis Within Osteoblasts Increases Bone Mineral By Regulating Remodelling: Is This The Link Between Vitamin D Status And Fractures?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$627,082.00
Summary
This project will contribute to understanding mechanism of vitamin D action within bone to modulate bone resorption and offers the exciting prospect of identifying the mechanism by which an adequate vitamin D status can reduce the risk of osteoporotic hip fractures. Thus, this project has great potential to improve community health by being able to recommend vitamin D supplementation made on the basis of maintaining normal bone cell function with psarticular reference to modulating bone resorpti ....This project will contribute to understanding mechanism of vitamin D action within bone to modulate bone resorption and offers the exciting prospect of identifying the mechanism by which an adequate vitamin D status can reduce the risk of osteoporotic hip fractures. Thus, this project has great potential to improve community health by being able to recommend vitamin D supplementation made on the basis of maintaining normal bone cell function with psarticular reference to modulating bone resorption.Read moreRead less
Identifying Novel Antimalarial Targets Using ENU Mutagenesis In The Mouse
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$760,170.00
Summary
Malaria is estimated to cause 1.2 million deaths per year. The malarial parasite has developed resistance to most drugs and new drugs are needed. We aim to mimic the protective red blood cell diseases common in human populations in malarial endemic areas by identifying host targets that are important in parasite growth.
Elucidating The Role Of MiR-196 In Formation Of The Axial Skeleton
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$520,087.00
Summary
Exquisite regulation of gene expression is a fundamental principle underlying growth and development of an embryo as well as homeostasis in the adult. Following the identification of hundreds of microRNAs within the genome which act to modulate gene expression, the challenge and the goal of these studies, is to identify individual microRNAs which contribute significantly to bone formation in the developing embryo.
Molecular Regulation Of Pluripotency In The Mammalian Germline
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$611,935.00
Summary
Germ cells generate sperm in males or oocytes in females. In males, germ cell numbers are tightly controlled in the embryo, with too few germ cells causing infertility, and unrestrained germ cell numbers leading to testicular cancer. We have discovered a molecular mechanism that regulates germ cells in the embryo, and propose to study in mice how this regulation is accomplished and the consequences of defective regulation, in order to learn more about how infertility and testis cancer arise.