Studying The Two Hit Hypothesis Of Psychiatric Illness: Role Of Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,034.00
Summary
Psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia and depression are caused by at least two major disrupting events in development: one during early brain development and one during-after puberty. We will use animal models of schizophrenia, induced by administering stressors such as maternal separation, corticosterone or cannabinoid treatment at different stages of their lives. These animal models will be used to further investigate antipsychotic treatment therapies
A Multi-cohort Investigation Of The Effects Of BDNF Val66Met On Tau, Neurodegeneration And Cognition In Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$325,758.00
Summary
There are currently no disease modifying therapies for Alzheimer’s disease. We will elucidate the role of a genetic polymorphism that has previously been shown to exert neuroprotective effects on memory decline and brain volume loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease. By studying the role of this gene in multiple cohorts of individuals with varying degrees of Alzheimer’s disease risk, this study has high potential to uncover novel disease-modifying strategies for the treatment of the disease.
Novel Strategies To Promote Myelin Repair In The Brain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$597,865.00
Summary
Demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system such as multiple sclerosis have a lifelong impact and devastating impact on quality of life. We have identified that a growth factor, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), plays an important role in promoting myelination during development. We will investigate the potential of translating these findings into effective clinical treatment, by characterising the efficacy of BDNF in promoting CNS remyelination after a demyelinating insult.
Analysis Of Functional Role Of The BDNF Precursor In Sensory Neurons
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$457,267.00
Summary
Neurotrophins, which are generated from their precursors, are essential for the survival and function of the nervous system. One of neurotrophins, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), is made in sensory neurons and transported towards nerve terminals. Mutation of a single amino acid in the precursor of BDNF disrupts this transport. This project will examine whether the precursor of BDNF has any function within sensory nerves. We will examine whether the precursor of BDNF gets into the nerve ....Neurotrophins, which are generated from their precursors, are essential for the survival and function of the nervous system. One of neurotrophins, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), is made in sensory neurons and transported towards nerve terminals. Mutation of a single amino acid in the precursor of BDNF disrupts this transport. This project will examine whether the precursor of BDNF has any function within sensory nerves. We will examine whether the precursor of BDNF gets into the nerve via its receptors and whether it plays any role in the development of pain and maintenance of neuropathic pain after nerve injury. Successful execution of the project will eludicate mechanisms of pain, especially neuropathic pain, and will provide important information to assist in the design of drugs for neurological diseases.Read moreRead less
Roles Of Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor In The Regulation Of Blood Pressure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$299,625.00
Summary
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an extraordinary neurotrophin which acts not only as a classical neurotrophic factor to promote neuronal survival and differentiation but also as a neuromodulator to modulate nerve activity. Recently, we found that injection of exogenous BDNF into brain stem triggers a significant increase in blood pressure. The present proposal is to test the hypothesis that BDNF is a physiological neuromodulator regulating blood pressure. The aim of this study is to ....Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an extraordinary neurotrophin which acts not only as a classical neurotrophic factor to promote neuronal survival and differentiation but also as a neuromodulator to modulate nerve activity. Recently, we found that injection of exogenous BDNF into brain stem triggers a significant increase in blood pressure. The present proposal is to test the hypothesis that BDNF is a physiological neuromodulator regulating blood pressure. The aim of this study is to analyse physiological roles of BDNF in the brains stem and spinal cord in the regulation of nerve activity and blood pressure. The successful execution of the project will significantly enhance our understanding of how blood pressure is controlled by BDNF and nerve activity. The knowledge from this study will form basis for designing new drugs to control high blood pressure.Read moreRead less
Studying The Two Hit Hypothesis Of Psychiatric Illness: Role Of Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$469,553.00
Summary
Early environmental factors may play an important role in the development of psychiatric illnesses, such as schizophrenia and depression. We will study an animal model which combines early developmental stress followed by treatment with a stress hormone or chronic cannabis use in adolescence. We will assess behavioural changes and the role of a growth factor in the brain, BDNF. This wil lead to a better understanding of the role of neurodevelopmental stress in psychiatric disease.
BDNF Genotype And Emotional Memory In Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$108,902.00
Summary
This project addresses the question of why some people develop PTSD following trauma and others don’t. It will assess the influence of genetics (specifically a genotype that influences Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor) on emotional memory processes as distressing emotional memories are a core symptom of PTSD. If we find that people with a particular genetic profile have a greater risk of developing intrusive memories after trauma, this will help us better target treatment for those individuals.
Roles Of Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor In Plasticity Of Injured Sensory Neurons
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$461,443.00
Summary
The fundamental problem of how nerve cells respond to a nerve injury has long been studied by neuroscientists and clinicians. After a nerve injury outside the brain or spinal cord, ie, in the periphery, some sensory nerve cells die, some regenerate to reconnect to their targets, and some sprout to make abnormal connections. Recent evidence from our lab and others indicates that the nerve sprouting is linked to chronic pain experienced by nerve-injury patients. However, how these changes occur st ....The fundamental problem of how nerve cells respond to a nerve injury has long been studied by neuroscientists and clinicians. After a nerve injury outside the brain or spinal cord, ie, in the periphery, some sensory nerve cells die, some regenerate to reconnect to their targets, and some sprout to make abnormal connections. Recent evidence from our lab and others indicates that the nerve sprouting is linked to chronic pain experienced by nerve-injury patients. However, how these changes occur still remains largely unknown. Our recent studies showed that growth factors, particularly brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) which is made by the sensory nerve cells, may play important roles in mediating these changes. This proposed project, directly evolved from our recent exciting findings, aims to further examine roles and action mechanisms of BDNF and its relatives in regulating the responses of sensory nerve cells to a nerve injury. We propose that after an injury, BDNF promotes survival of some nerve cells, enhances sensory nerve regeneration in both periphery and spinal cord, and also mediates abnormal nerve sprouting and is involved in neuropathic pain. With strong expertise and powerful tools in hand, we have designed a series of experiments to investigate the roles and action mechanisms of BDNF and its related molecules in these processes. Results from this project will help us understand mechanisms underlying the responses of nerve cells to a nerve injury, and should provide much needed information which would help in designing new methods for enhancing nerve cell survival and nerve regeneration as well as for inhibiting nerve injury-induced chronic pain in nerve-injury patients.Read moreRead less
Viral-mediated Modulation Of BDNF Expression In Motor Neurons To Promote The Recovery Of Hand/digits Function In A Rat Model Of Spinal Cord Injury That Impairs Normal Grasping Action.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$341,427.00
Summary
This project seeks to lure injured axons towards motor neurons, a process that is essential for the recovery of motor function. BDNF gradients will be created along the injured axons path. Axons will have to elongate to reach the first source of BDNF. They will need to elongate even more to get to the next source of BDNF, hence bringing them each time closer to their lost targets. This gene therapy scenario has the potential to bring gene therapy a step closer for human spinal cord injury.