A Novel Mechanism For Therapeutically Modulating Neurotransmitter-activated Ion Channels
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$667,529.00
Summary
This project aims to elucidate the mechanisms by which macrocyclic lactones bind to brain ion channel receptors. This will reveal fundamental new insights into the operation of these receptors and will have important implications for the design of novel treatments for a variety of central nervous system disorders.
Developing Novel Selective Glycine Receptor Potentiators As A Means To Control Pain.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$552,647.00
Summary
It has been estimated that >3M Australians suffer from pain at a cost to the economy of >$34B, with chronic pain (persisting beyond 1-6 mths) accounting for ~half this burden. There is an urgent and compelling social and economic case for the development of safer and more effective pain therapeutics. This project takes inspiration from a new class of Australian marine natural products that selectively regulate a key pain pathway, and will optimize and develop these as a new class of pain d ....It has been estimated that >3M Australians suffer from pain at a cost to the economy of >$34B, with chronic pain (persisting beyond 1-6 mths) accounting for ~half this burden. There is an urgent and compelling social and economic case for the development of safer and more effective pain therapeutics. This project takes inspiration from a new class of Australian marine natural products that selectively regulate a key pain pathway, and will optimize and develop these as a new class of pain drug.Read moreRead less
We are able to identify and discriminate objects in the world because of exquisitely detailed and rapid processing of sensory information by neurons in the cortex of the brain. In this project we will examine these operations in neurons in the cortex that receive input from the large face whiskers of the rat. These whiskers are used for fine-grain discrimination and for gauging distance. They are deflected by being actively moved, under muscle control, over objects (active touch) or by being pas ....We are able to identify and discriminate objects in the world because of exquisitely detailed and rapid processing of sensory information by neurons in the cortex of the brain. In this project we will examine these operations in neurons in the cortex that receive input from the large face whiskers of the rat. These whiskers are used for fine-grain discrimination and for gauging distance. They are deflected by being actively moved, under muscle control, over objects (active touch) or by being passively deflected by objects. Deflection results in inputs to the brain that are processed to form the neural basis for very finely detailed perceptual behaviour. In rats, with impoverished visual and auditory senses, the whiskers are the major sensory system for interacting with the world, and are used in navigating the environment and in finding and distinguishing foods. Thus they contribute strongly to the remarkable success of this species. This elegant sensory system has a number of advantages that make it a very good model for the study of brain mechanisms responsible for active fine-grain sensory function. We plan to take advantage of the unique features of this system to define the information processing that occurs in the cortex in this elegantly complex system. This will address an issue relevant to all sensory systems - namely the neural basis of complex fine grain perceptual behaviour. Understanding the mechanisms underlying active tactile perception also has relevance to clinical conditions involving deficits in active touch e.g., in diabetic polyneuropathy (which eventually affects ~50% of diabetics), in leprosy (in which an early sign is damage to active touch). Knowledge of the core brain processes in active touch gained in this study could eventually underpin the ameliorative technologies for such deficits.Read moreRead less
Investigation Of Neuregulin Precessing By Beta-site APP Cleaving Enzyme And Gamma Secretase In Schizophrenia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$46,715.00
Summary
Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a complex psychiatric disorder that appears in male and female around adulthood. To date there is no clear pathological symptoms to identify SCZ individuals and place them in a specific group. Some proteins are genetically associated with this disease. I will investigate how some of these proteins disturb the function of the brain in human. My recent published data shows decrease of one of the proteins in the brain of SCZ group. My project may help develop novel and more s ....Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a complex psychiatric disorder that appears in male and female around adulthood. To date there is no clear pathological symptoms to identify SCZ individuals and place them in a specific group. Some proteins are genetically associated with this disease. I will investigate how some of these proteins disturb the function of the brain in human. My recent published data shows decrease of one of the proteins in the brain of SCZ group. My project may help develop novel and more selective therapies with less side-effects.Read moreRead less
The Role Of A Presenilin 2 Truncation (PS2V) In Alzheimer's Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$552,741.00
Summary
The Presenilin and APP proteins are centrally important in inherited, early onset Alzheimer's disease. We have discovered that a shortened form of Presenilin protein, "PS2V", appears to increase specifically the rate at which the APP protein is cleaved to produce the "Amyloid beta" protein fragment that is found in Alzheimer's disease brains. This occurs when brain cells are under oxidative stress. Understanding this process will facilitate development of appropriate therapeutic strategies for t ....The Presenilin and APP proteins are centrally important in inherited, early onset Alzheimer's disease. We have discovered that a shortened form of Presenilin protein, "PS2V", appears to increase specifically the rate at which the APP protein is cleaved to produce the "Amyloid beta" protein fragment that is found in Alzheimer's disease brains. This occurs when brain cells are under oxidative stress. Understanding this process will facilitate development of appropriate therapeutic strategies for the disease.Read moreRead less
Delineating The Mechanism Of Amyloid Beta Toxicity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$565,242.00
Summary
Alzheimer’s disease and beta amyloid toxicity: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and is characterized by progressive memory loss, confusion, and cognitive deficits. In 2011, an estimated 269,000 Australians are currently living with dementia and without a significant medical breakthrough soon, it is anticipated that this will rise to about 981,000 by 2050
Neurodevelopmental Role Of Susceptibility Genes For Autism Spectrum Disorders: From Genes To Behaviour
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$482,968.00
Summary
Autism is a developmental neuropsychiatric syndrome characterised by impairments in three principal domains: social interaction, language and behavioural inflexibility. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a group of neurodevelopmental syndromes with the common feature of dysfunctional reciprocal social interaction. In this project we will investigate the role of genes that increase the risk of ASD in the development of behaviours using an animal model. This work will lead to a better unders ....Autism is a developmental neuropsychiatric syndrome characterised by impairments in three principal domains: social interaction, language and behavioural inflexibility. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a group of neurodevelopmental syndromes with the common feature of dysfunctional reciprocal social interaction. In this project we will investigate the role of genes that increase the risk of ASD in the development of behaviours using an animal model. This work will lead to a better understanding of the genetic basis of ASD.Read moreRead less
Control Of Prosthetic Limbs From Decoded Brain Signals
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$895,832.00
Summary
This research will restore mobility to patients who suffer from paralysis. We aim to create a device, known as a brain-machine interface, which is an artificial communication path from the brain that bypasses an injury, such as a damaged spinal cord or stroke. The interface will decode a user’s intent and act upon it. Decoders will use physiological principals and state-of-the-art machine learning methods. We will test a user’s ability to control an artificial limb using decoded brain activity.