Identifying genes that influence clinical course and susceptibility in multiple sclerosis. This project aims to identify the genetic basis of multiple sclerosis (MS), the most common neurologic disease in young Australian adults. MS urgently needs research to identify predisposition, aid early diagnosis and provide bona fide molecular targets for new therapies. This will benefit people with MS and those susceptible to it. Crucial new knowledge identified will benefit other major areas of MS rese ....Identifying genes that influence clinical course and susceptibility in multiple sclerosis. This project aims to identify the genetic basis of multiple sclerosis (MS), the most common neurologic disease in young Australian adults. MS urgently needs research to identify predisposition, aid early diagnosis and provide bona fide molecular targets for new therapies. This will benefit people with MS and those susceptible to it. Crucial new knowledge identified will benefit other major areas of MS research including epidemiology, immunology and neurobiology. Collaboration of 8 major Australian institutions is also important for this project and future studies. The team will have access to a new national MS GeneBank (platform) with samples from 2240 patients that should generate findings important to world-wide MS genetic knowledge.Read moreRead less
NEU-HORIZONS: The Neuroprotection And Therapeutic Use Of Riluzole For The Prevention Of Oxaliplatin Neurotoxicity Study.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$382,402.00
Summary
Colorectal cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, with more than 13500 cases recorded annually. Oxaliplatin is an effective chemotherapy for the treatment of colorectal cancer. The major side-effect of oxaliplatin is the development of nerve damage that leads to loss of feeling in the hands and feet and significant disability. The aim of this study is to conduct a trial of a new treatment for oxaliplatin-induced nerve damage.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102961
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
The role of the unfolded protein response in tau neurobiology and pathology. The main role of the protein tau is the stabilisation of the scaffolding of cells. In a group of dementias, tau forms abnormal clumps within the cells of the brain causing them to die. This project will investigate the cellular processes involved in normally preventing tau proteins from clumping and their role in the development of the abnormal tau clumps.
Molecular dissection of the functional regions of genes that encode actinins (ACTN2 and ACTN3) and their contribution to normal variation in skeletal muscle function. The project has discovered a common genetic variant that affects skeletal muscle structure, function and metabolism and influences athletic ability, and response to diet and exercise. The project will study how this gene influences muscle bulk and strength, the metabolic efficiency of muscle and the risk of obesity in the general ....Molecular dissection of the functional regions of genes that encode actinins (ACTN2 and ACTN3) and their contribution to normal variation in skeletal muscle function. The project has discovered a common genetic variant that affects skeletal muscle structure, function and metabolism and influences athletic ability, and response to diet and exercise. The project will study how this gene influences muscle bulk and strength, the metabolic efficiency of muscle and the risk of obesity in the general population.Read moreRead less
Encephalitis lethargica in the 1920s (and afterwards): the forgotten epidemic. An unusually aggressive encephalitis epidemic swept the globe between 1915 and 1925. Two-thirds of victims survived the initial phase, but most developed severe neurological syndromes, especially parkinsonism, which crippled them for the remainder of their lives. The cause of this catastrophe, largely forgotten despite huge costs in both human and economic terms, has never been established, and its return cannot be ex ....Encephalitis lethargica in the 1920s (and afterwards): the forgotten epidemic. An unusually aggressive encephalitis epidemic swept the globe between 1915 and 1925. Two-thirds of victims survived the initial phase, but most developed severe neurological syndromes, especially parkinsonism, which crippled them for the remainder of their lives. The cause of this catastrophe, largely forgotten despite huge costs in both human and economic terms, has never been established, and its return cannot be excluded. Medicohistorical techniques, current neurological awareness and social analysis will be employed to produce the first history of the epidemic, whereby insights into both its nature and into parkinsonism, one of the most frequent neurological disorders in our ageing population, are expected.Read moreRead less
Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease: Dissecting synaptosomal dysfunction in transgenic animal models. There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease (AD). This project will dissect pathogenic mechanisms, identify new drug targets, and develop treatment strategies, all of which will be patented and eventually lead to a decrease in health costs in Australia. This research clearly falls under the national research priority of promoting and maintaining good health. Our findings are expected to benefit pat ....Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease: Dissecting synaptosomal dysfunction in transgenic animal models. There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease (AD). This project will dissect pathogenic mechanisms, identify new drug targets, and develop treatment strategies, all of which will be patented and eventually lead to a decrease in health costs in Australia. This research clearly falls under the national research priority of promoting and maintaining good health. Our findings are expected to benefit patients in addition to those suffering from AD, as pathocascades and pathogenic mechanisms are shared between a range of neurodegenerative disorders. Read moreRead less
Prediction of tissue fate and functional outcome in acute ischemic stroke with advanced imaging analysis - experimental validation and translational studies. Stroke is predominantly a disease of ageing and the commonest cause of adult disability. In Australia, 55,000 people have a stroke each year (>80% are over age 65). The total number of strokes per year worldwide will rise 60% within the next two decades as the proportion of elderly in our population increases. This research will improve bra ....Prediction of tissue fate and functional outcome in acute ischemic stroke with advanced imaging analysis - experimental validation and translational studies. Stroke is predominantly a disease of ageing and the commonest cause of adult disability. In Australia, 55,000 people have a stroke each year (>80% are over age 65). The total number of strokes per year worldwide will rise 60% within the next two decades as the proportion of elderly in our population increases. This research will improve brain imaging selection for acute stroke therapies in clinical trials and practice. Better acute stroke therapies limit the size of brain damage from stroke and reduce long-term disability. Thus, this research will directly translate into allowing our population to 'age well and productively'.Read moreRead less
Roles of the kynurenine pathway in physiological and pathological brain function. This project will aim to study the metabolism of the essential amino acid tryptophan in the brain and its involvement in diseases including multiple sclerosis and brain tumours.
Empathy, Attention and Reasoning: The role of automatic and controlled processing in emotion recognition following traumatic brain injury. Traumatically brain injured adults have difficulty identifying emotional facial expressions but little is known regarding their psychophysiological reactions to emotional expression, the efficacy of their visual search patterns of facial features or the extent to which they engage conscious processing and problem solving to assist interpretation. Nor is anyth ....Empathy, Attention and Reasoning: The role of automatic and controlled processing in emotion recognition following traumatic brain injury. Traumatically brain injured adults have difficulty identifying emotional facial expressions but little is known regarding their psychophysiological reactions to emotional expression, the efficacy of their visual search patterns of facial features or the extent to which they engage conscious processing and problem solving to assist interpretation. Nor is anything known about their ability to recognise dynamic emotional displays compared to photographs. This project examines each of these facets using static and dynamic portrayals. The project will inform neuropsychological theories of facial processing, test the ecological validity of previous research and improve understanding of psychosocial deficits after TBI and their treatment.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102840
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Are Proteostasis defects responsible for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis? Currently the cause of motor neurone disease (MND) is a mystery. There is, however, a growing group of unrelated genes associated with inherited MND. This project aims to show that this group of apparently diverse genes all contribute to a single cellular function called protein homeostasis and that mutations in these genes cause homeostasis disruptions.