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Contribution Of Systemic Inflammatory Response To Brain Injury In Growth Restricted Newborns
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$363,388.00
Summary
Growth restriction during pregnancy can damage the baby’s brain and result in poor outcomes such as learning and attention difficulties and cerebral palsy. Currently there is no treatment available to prevent brain injury in these babies. This study will explore the role of inflammation and brain injury in the growth restricted baby. We will also examine whether a readily available and safe anti-inflammatory treatment can reduce or prevent brain injury following growth restriction.
Supporting A Friend: The Role Of The Molecular Scaffold CoREST Family In Chromatin Regulation And Neuroprotection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$354,802.00
Summary
In diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and motor neuron disease, neurons degenerate and die. One contributing factor to neuronal death is inflammation. The aim of this study is to identify mechanisms that protect neurons from death. This project focuses on the role of a family of proteins (CoREST1-3) that function to reverse gene expression changes in inflammation that lead to neurodegeneration.
Neuroprotection Against Parkinson’s Disease With Remote Photobiomodulation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,818.00
Summary
Treating the head of rodents with low-intensity 670nm light protects against Parkinson’s disease (PD), but the large size of the human skull and brain precludes clinical translation of this treatment. We have discovered that the brain is also protected when light is targeted at peripheral tissues (e.g. a limb), overcoming problems of delivery. This project aims to optimise this treatment and better understand how it works, to lay the scientific basis for a clinical trial.
Retinal Ganglion Cell Bioenergetics With Clinical Translation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$725,913.00
Summary
Glaucoma is an eye disease where elevated pressure within the eye damages the sensitive nerve of sight at the back of the eye. The only current treatment is to lower the pressure in the eye with either drops, laser or surgery. Why the pressure damages the nerve of sight is unclear but there is evidence that it results in a reduced blood flow to the nerve. This starves the nerve of nutrients. We have developed a new treatment that supplies nutrients to the nerve and protects vision.
Boosting Mitochondria- A New Approach For Protecting The Aging Optic Nerve In Glaucoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$391,784.00
Summary
Increasing age is a major risk factor for neurodegeneration. We have recently shown that subjecting mice to intermittent periods of fasting improves mitochondrial function in the retina and reverses age-related decline in optic nerve vulnerability to injury. This project now aims to investigate key molecular pathway for restoring mitochondria and from this attempts to find more palatable therapeutic strategies for protecting the optic nerve from injury.
Cannabidiol May Protect The Brain Against The Harmful Effects Of Marijuana
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$974,586.00
Summary
While marijuana holds therapeutic potential, prolonged and heavy use is associated with adverse effects on the brain. However, the key constituents of marijuana (THC and CBD) have been found to have opposing effects on the brain (i.e., harmful vs protective). This project will be the first comprehensive examination of the key question - can CBD protect against marijuana-related brain and psychosocial harms?
New And Improved Treatment Strategies For Neonatal Seizures
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$883,209.00
Summary
Around 10% of neonates in Australia are diagnosed with seizures each year. Seizures worsen neurodevelopmental outcome following hypoxic brain injury. Despite evidence of the limited effectiveness and potential neurotoxicity of current anti-seizure medication, treatment has not changed for many decades. The objective of this study is to optimise treatment of neonatal seizures with a compound that is effective and does not cause harm, or indeed provides neuroprotection for the compromised brain.
Role Of Insulin-regulated Aminopeptidase In Ischemic Stroke Damage
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$499,219.00
Summary
Stroke is a neurovascular disease which is the leading cause of adult disability. A focus of our research group is to investigate the role of a protein called insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP) in ischemic stroke. We have shown a dramatic protection from ischemic brain damage in mice with deletion of the IRAP gene. The aims of this study are to explore the potential use of the newly developed IRAP inhibitors in protecting brain damage following ischemic stroke and to determine the role of I ....Stroke is a neurovascular disease which is the leading cause of adult disability. A focus of our research group is to investigate the role of a protein called insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP) in ischemic stroke. We have shown a dramatic protection from ischemic brain damage in mice with deletion of the IRAP gene. The aims of this study are to explore the potential use of the newly developed IRAP inhibitors in protecting brain damage following ischemic stroke and to determine the role of IRAP in the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia.Read moreRead less
Elucidating The Neuroprotective Region Of The Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) Following Traumatic Brain Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$467,556.00
Summary
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide and to date there is no therapy to ameliorate this injury. There is increased production of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) following TBI and recent studies have found that APP possesses neuroprotective traits. It is the aim of the current studies to delineate the specific active neuroprotective region of APP and develop them as novel therapeutic interventions for use in TBI.
Stem Cell Treatment For Neonatal Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$954,195.00
Summary
Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy occurs when the fetus receives inadequate oxygen in labour and many babies die or have brain damage. Stem cell therapy might save these babies from brain damage but there are many unknowns, such as which stem cells to use and how many. Through our skills in stem cells and measuring the rescued brain following injury, we will determine the necessary details for the most effective stem cell therapy to be ready to immediately test the treatment in a RCT in babies.