Innovative And Multi-disciplinary Treatment Strategies For Secondary Degeneration Following Neurotrauma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$455,452.00
Summary
Following injury to the central nervous system the damage spreads into nearby areas, leading to worse outcomes for the patient. The research conducted during this Fellowship will ensure that promising treatment strategies to prevent spreading damage are used in the best way, and will determine the mechanism of action of these treatments.
Cutting Through Complexity: The Promise Of Biomarkers To Discover, Diagnose, And Treat Antibody-associated Demyelination
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$438,768.00
Summary
Patients with damage to myelin, the sheath around nerve cells in the brain, have “demyelinating disorders” which can result in severe disability including blindness and paralysis. In some patients, their immune system mistakenly targets certain proteins in the brain. This research project will identify new targets in currently undiagnosed patients, increase our understanding of underlying disease processes, and evaluate optimal treatment strategies in these patients to improve their outcomes.
Investigating Mechanisms Of Axonal Pathology Following Oligodendrocyte Apoptosis: Avenues For Neuroprotection In Early MS
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$678,138.00
Summary
Recent research suggests that Multiple Sclerosis could first be triggered by the death of a type of brain cell called an oligodendrocyte. These cells insulate nerve cells in the brain which help them function normally. We will test the idea that death of oligodendrocytes impairs nerve cell function by causing inflammation and by depriving nerve cells of energy. We will determine whether preventing inflammation and feeding the nerve cells an alternative source of energy can restore normal functio ....Recent research suggests that Multiple Sclerosis could first be triggered by the death of a type of brain cell called an oligodendrocyte. These cells insulate nerve cells in the brain which help them function normally. We will test the idea that death of oligodendrocytes impairs nerve cell function by causing inflammation and by depriving nerve cells of energy. We will determine whether preventing inflammation and feeding the nerve cells an alternative source of energy can restore normal function.Read moreRead less
Using Non-invasive Magnetic Stimulation To Promote Remyelination
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$664,869.00
Summary
In patients with multiple sclerosis, brain insulation is lost from nerves. This leads to permanent and progressive disability. We have identified a non-invasive method of magnetic stimulation, and have shown that it increases the number of new insulating cells added to the brain. In this study we will determine whether this new treatment can promote insulation repair in a model of multiple sclerosis.
Erythrocyte Membrane Fatty Acid Concentrations And Myelin Integrity In Young People At Ultra-High Risk Of Psychosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$406,831.00
Summary
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play an important role in many physiological processes in all organisms. Myelination is the process by which a fatty layer, called myelin, accumulates around nerve cells enabling nerve cells to transmit information faster. PUFAs are essential for myelination, and there is evidence documenting decreased PUFA concentrations and brain white matter (myelin) pathology in people with schizophrenia. The mechanisms underlying these abnormalities are not understood.
Defining The Basis Of Autoimmune Attacks Against Myelin To Better Target Treatment Of Demyelinating Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$913,216.00
Summary
Brain autoimmunity is a common and costly cause of neurological and psychiatric disability in children and adults. Exploring the autoimmune response that targets the brain is essential for accurate diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. This project grant will identify and study the earliest autoimmune responses against the brain in children and adults. This will allow early and directed treatments that will not only prevent disability, but will also be life-saving.