Sialyltransferase In The Bipolar And Schizophrenic Brain: Examining The Role Of A Novel Generalised Susceptibility Gene
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$512,627.00
Summary
Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are two major psychiatric conditions affecting over 800,000 Australians. We have identified a new gene which contributes to increased risk to developing both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. We will investigate the function of this gene in normal brain development, and how this function is disrupted in individuals with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Understanding the biological cause will help us define better treatments for these severe mental illnesse ....Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are two major psychiatric conditions affecting over 800,000 Australians. We have identified a new gene which contributes to increased risk to developing both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. We will investigate the function of this gene in normal brain development, and how this function is disrupted in individuals with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Understanding the biological cause will help us define better treatments for these severe mental illnesses.Read moreRead less
Decoding Mechanisms Of Brain-intestinal Communication
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$640,210.00
Summary
Obesity is a worldwide concern to human health. Research into how fat is regulated in the body may provide new therapeutic options. It is not well understood how signals from the brain control fat storage. We have recently identified a gene that is important for the communication between the brain and the intestine in the control of fat levels. As such, our work will enable us to better understand this phenomenon.
Predictors Of Response To Antidepressants: Utility Of Behavioural, Neuroimaging And Genetics Data
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$310,071.00
Summary
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is projected to cause the second greatest global burden of disease by 2020, highlighting the urgent need for valid predictors of effective treatment response. Currently, there are no accurate predictors of response to antidepressants in MDD, and successful treatment relies greatly on 'trial and error'. This process is demanding on health resources, and may be a factor in the high suicide rates in depressed patients. Previous research on treatment response has been ....Major depressive disorder (MDD) is projected to cause the second greatest global burden of disease by 2020, highlighting the urgent need for valid predictors of effective treatment response. Currently, there are no accurate predictors of response to antidepressants in MDD, and successful treatment relies greatly on 'trial and error'. This process is demanding on health resources, and may be a factor in the high suicide rates in depressed patients. Previous research on treatment response has been limited by recruitment of small, heterogeneous patient samples, lack of placebo control, and a failure to examine task related activity in brain imaging studies. Perhaps one of the more troubling aspects of research that aims to predict treatment response to antidepressant medications is the use of commonly used outcome measures such as the Hamilton Rating Depression Scale (HAM-D), which were developed long before current classification systems of depression came into use. The US Federal Drug Administration has recently identified what they call a translational gap such that behavioural and biological measures are the most robust for detection of disorders such as depression, yet these measures remain to be translated into clinical tools that can be used to evaluate treatment. The aim of the current study therefore is to determine whether genetic variability is related to treatment outcome as defined by a more objective outcome measure (facial expression perception) using a randomised controlled design. The study will also determine whether brain measures (fMRI, EEG) enhance the prediction of SSRI response to both clinical and behavioural measures, over and above the genetic contribution.Read moreRead less
Investigation Of The Functional Role Of Parkin And PArkin Co-Regulated Gene (PACRG) In Neurodegenerative Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$82,421.00
Summary
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder affecting greater than 1% of the population at 65 years of age. Current treatment regimes treat the motor-associated symptoms of disease - tremor and muscle rigidity. There is no cure, or effective treatment to reverse or halt disease progression. Understanding the role of dysregulated proteins in the progression of PD will identify new targets for treatment of the motor and cognitive deficits observed in PD-affected individuals.
Reprogramming Of Ataxia Telangiectasia Fibroblasts To Generate IPS Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$601,386.00
Summary
Ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) is a human genetic disorder characterised by immunodeficiency, cancer predisposition and neurodegeneration. The aim of this project is to generate adult stem cells from A-T patient as a model system to investigate the nature of the nervous system defect in this disorder. These adult stem cells will be employed to produce neuronal cells which will be a resource for screening for therapeutic compounds to treat A-T patients.
Haplotype Variation At The Dopamine Transporter Gene (SLC6A3): Effects On Function, Endo-phenotypes, Cognition And ADHD
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$585,894.00
Summary
We will investigate variation in the dopamine transporter gene. Variation in this gene will be characterised to a deeper level than has been previously possible using the latest sequencing technology, its biological function will be investigated using biochemical and neuroimaging methods directly in human subjects, and its effects on a clinically important cognitive measure and a common psychiatric condition (attention deficit/hyperactive disorder) will we determined.
Investigation Of Dysfunction Of OPRS1, A Novel Gene Implicated In Neurodegeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$535,471.00
Summary
A new gene has recently been discovered to play an important role in various brain and nerve degeneration disorders, including frontotemporal dementia and motor neuron disease. The aim of this project is to discover what biological processes are involved when this gene malfunctions, as this will provide knowledge important for development of new treatments for the many people worldwide affected with these disorders.
The role of synapse development in cognitive disorder. In humans, intellectual disability occurs when nerve cells in the brain fail to connect. The project examines fundamental molecular processes involved in synapse development of neurons. The use of insect models provides a generalised biological template to understand how synaptic molecules contribute to behaviours that underlie cognitive disorder.
Cloning And Characterisation Of A Bipolar Disorder Susceptibility Gene On Chromosome 15q
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$347,621.00
Summary
Bipolar disorder is a severe mood disorder, characterised by aberrant mood swings resulting in periods of mania and depression. We need to define more clearly the biological basis of bipolar disorder to improve diagnosis and treatment. Bipolar disorder is highly heritabile allowing the use of genetics to identify the predisposing genes. Our aim is to identify a bipolar susceptibility gene on chromosome 15 and to understand how this gene contributes to the risk of developing bipolar disorder.
Neurological cell replacement therapies: improving outcomes by matching developmental profiles of transplanted cells with the damaged brain area. Stem cell transplantation offers a way to replace nerve cells lost due to acute CNS injury or chronic degenerative conditions such as Parkinson's Disease. However, to date, results have been disappointing because of poor differentiation, survival and integration of stem cells confounded by ethical issues associated with the use of embryos as the source ....Neurological cell replacement therapies: improving outcomes by matching developmental profiles of transplanted cells with the damaged brain area. Stem cell transplantation offers a way to replace nerve cells lost due to acute CNS injury or chronic degenerative conditions such as Parkinson's Disease. However, to date, results have been disappointing because of poor differentiation, survival and integration of stem cells confounded by ethical issues associated with the use of embryos as the source of stem cells. The experiments conducted in this study will provide strategies to improve the efficacy of stem cell transplantation into the damaged CNS as well as developing the use of autologous bone marrow stem cells for repair. Outcomes will be improved transplant methodologies and expertise for the bio-technology industry. Read moreRead less