Visualisation Of Functionally Activated Circuitry In The Brain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$347,036.00
Summary
We are seeking to develop a method to precisely determine which parts of the brain are involved in the carrying out of different brain functions. The main advantage of our new method will be that we will be able to directly visualise the circuitry involved in a specified brain function. The brain is like a vast computer, with literally billions of connections between different parts, and it is these connections which are used to form functional circuits, which ultimately result in the brain cont ....We are seeking to develop a method to precisely determine which parts of the brain are involved in the carrying out of different brain functions. The main advantage of our new method will be that we will be able to directly visualise the circuitry involved in a specified brain function. The brain is like a vast computer, with literally billions of connections between different parts, and it is these connections which are used to form functional circuits, which ultimately result in the brain control of bodily function. Up until now, there has been no direct way of being able to directly visualise which of those billions of connections are involved in the formation of a circuit for any particular brain function. We plan to use a genetic approach to help to visualise functionally activated brain circuits. We know that some genes are turned on in the nerve cells which are activated during a brain function. We will use this knowledge to generate a new line of genetically engineered mice. In these mice, the genes which are turned on during brain activation will in turn be used to turn on special markers which will light up the activated circuits. This will be of great signficance in our understanding of brain function. It should also help us to understand what happens to these circuits in different diseases of the brain, such as following stroke, in senility, and Alzheimer's disease.Read moreRead less
The brain regulates body temperature by a series of mechanisms, including the control of how much blood flows to the skin to lose or retain heat. The project aims to locate the brain temperature receptors and brain pathways that do this, using an animal model, the rat. At present they are not known.
Investigating The Molecular Signature Of ASD Through Integrative Genomics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$621,128.00
Summary
Autism is the most severe end of a spectrum of neurodevelopmental conditions, autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We have identified a signature of genes dysregulated in the brain of autistic individuals. The proposed project will investigate how the molecular signature of autism is regulated in the brain, and whether genetic variants in regulatory DNA contribute to the genetic architecture of ASD.
The Role Of Liver Fructose-1,6-phosphatase (FBPase) In Body Weight Regulation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$494,718.00
Summary
We have shown that fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase), an enzyme important in producing sugar from the liver and one that is connected to Type 2 diabetes, does not cause an increase in sugar production when there is more of the enzyme in mouse livers. It does, however, lower both body weight and the amount of food the mice consume. We therefore hypothesise that liver FBPase is important in controlling body weight in humans and our project aims to find out exactly how and why this happens.
Contribution Of The Central Nervous System To Peripheral Neural Control In Obesity And Diabetes.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$454,691.00
Summary
Obesity and diabetes are becoming major worldwide public health problems. A characteristic of human obese diabetes is a marked increase in sympathetic nerve activity to the kidneys and to the muscle. The cause of this overactivity is unknown, but undoubtedly involves the central nervous system. Within the brain are a select group of regions that are able to directly influence the activation of the sympathetic nervous system. We suspect these areas to play a critical role in the overactivity of t ....Obesity and diabetes are becoming major worldwide public health problems. A characteristic of human obese diabetes is a marked increase in sympathetic nerve activity to the kidneys and to the muscle. The cause of this overactivity is unknown, but undoubtedly involves the central nervous system. Within the brain are a select group of regions that are able to directly influence the activation of the sympathetic nervous system. We suspect these areas to play a critical role in the overactivity of the sympathetic nerve activity in obese diabetics. Indeed, we believe that there are specific chemical messengers in these select brain areas that are normally finely balanced. In obesity - diabetes, this balance is disturbed. Finally, we hypothesise that exercise, which is known to have beneficial effects for obesity - diabetes, restores the balance of the neurochemicals and this contributes to the positive outcomes of exercise.Read moreRead less
Therapeutic Thermal Regulation In Critical Illness
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$189,384.00
Summary
Patients who are admitted to intensive care units often develop abnormalities of their body temperature as part of their illness. Common illnesses include infections and injuries to the brain from trauma or strokes. Clinicians are unsure of how to react to these changes in temperature. My research is designed to provide high quality evidence on body temperature and the use of treatments, so that clinicians can improve patient outcomes.
BRAIN IMAGING OF CARDIOVASCULAR CONTROL DURING MUSCLE PAIN
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$370,983.00
Summary
One in every five people in Australia suffers chronic pain and a third of these have severe pain associated with severe disability. The incapacitating effects of long-lasting pain are not just psychological, but affect many systems, including the cardiovascular system. We are interested in why pain causes blood pressure to increase in some people but not in others: patients with post-surgical chronic pain have nearly twice the prevalence of clinical hypertension than patients without pain.
Understanding The Contribution Of Iron In Traumatic Brain Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$601,263.00
Summary
Our group has discovered a novel role of amyloid precursor protein (APP) in cellular iron balance similar to another protein called ceruloplasmin (CP). Both, prevalently found in the brain, convert a damaging iron variety into the safer form. Disruption in either protein leads to cell death. We aim to establish how failure in APP and CP response may be detrimental to traumatic brain injury recovery. Understanding the iron role of APP and CP will lead to therapeutics to counter traumatic injury.
Elucidating The Tumour Suppressor Behaviour Of FUBP1 In Glioma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$940,780.00
Summary
Treatment strategies for patients with invasive brain tumours are based on a WHO tumour grading system. This system does not account for differences within tumour types, although these can significantly affect treatment outcomes. This project aims to investigate new drug therapies for specific brain tumour types, and to identify new prognostic markers for these tumours. These studies will lead to more individualised treatments, which is critical to improving patient survival and quality of life.