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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.
Dopamine-2 Receptor Antibody In Movement And Psychiatric Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,783.00
Summary
Autoimmune movement and psychiatric disorders are a common cause of neurological disability young adults and adolescents. We have identified a subgroup of patients whose disease is associated with an autoimmune reaction. Our study will identify the earliest immune responses against the brain in children with autoimmune movement and psychiatric disorders. Identifying these early immune responses will allow early and directed treatments to prevent disability and death in the future.
Identification And Early Treatment Of Autoimmune Brain Disease In Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$406,491.00
Summary
Acquired brain injury affects 2% of Australians, particularly young people, and can result in permanent disability. Most acquired brain injury is not reversible, however ‘autoimmune brain disease' is due to an overactive immune system and is treatable with modulation of the immune system. By measuring antibodies in the blood, this fellowship will result in early identification and treatment of autoimmune brain disease, and improve outcomes.
Inflammatory lipids are involved in neurotrauma. They are key players in regulating the brain, spinal cord and immune responses to injury and thus in modulating the outcome of central nervous system (CNS) damage. We will investigate how bioactive inflammatory lipids, released during trauma, modulate neural response to injury and regeneration, by assessing their roles on central nervous system responses to injury.
Establishing The Clinical Spectrum And Pathogenicity Of Antibodies Against Dopamine Receptors In Autoimmune Movement And Psychiatric Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$172,126.00
Summary
Dopamine plays a pivotal role in neurotransmission and the control of movement and behaviour. This project aims to define the clinical spectrum and pathogenicity of anti-dopamine receptor antibody mediated diseases. The identification of these antibodies in atypical presentations of common movement disorders would have widespread diagnostic and therapeutic implications, and suggests that selected patients might be amenable to targeted immunomodulatory therapy, thus improving their outcome.
Exploring Scanning Ultrasound (SUS), A Novel Method To Treat And Prevent Neurodegenerative Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$765,708.00
Summary
We developed a novel scanning ultrasound (SUS) protocol that clears toxic protein aggregates and restores memory function in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD), without the need for therapeutic agents. Here we aim to determine whether SUS has preventative potential, whether there are synergistic effects, and whether a therapeutic antibody combined with SUS leads to an enhanced therapeutic outcome. Together this will guide the development of an ultrasound therapy in AD patients.