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Using Reward-based Biomarkers To Improve The Early Detection Of Bipolar Disorder In Individuals Seeking Treatment For Depression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$366,252.00
Summary
Bipolar disorder is often misdiagnosed as unipolar major depression, which can have disastrous clinical consequences. Emerging evidence indicates that individuals with bipolar disorder show particular dysfunctions within brain regions involved in processing reward. This research will use cutting-edge neuroscience methodologies to investigate reward processing in these two disorders, with the objective of identifying biological markers that help distinguish bipolar from unipolar depression.
Interactions Between Developmental NMDA Receptor Dysfunction, Genetic Vulnerability And Early-life Stress In Schizophrenia: Studies Of Dysbindin Mutant Mice And Living Individuals At High Risk Of Schizophrenia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$347,457.00
Summary
This project will investigate two key pathways implicated in schizophrenia: glutamatergic (excitatory) neurotransmission and stress signalling. We will study how glutamatergic deficits emerge across postnatal development, in the presence or absence of early-life stress, in a schizophrenia-relevant mouse model, and investigate the interactions between stress and glutamatergic deficits in neuroepithelial cells from living individuals at high risk of schizophrenia.
The Role Of Stargazin And TARP Phosphorylation In Synaptic Plasticity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$423,305.00
Summary
A constant change in the strength of synaptic communication between neurons is critical for higher brain functions such as learning and memory. Synaptic strength is determined in part by the number of receptor ion channels at the synapse. This project will characterise how key interacting proteins regulate the synaptic targeting of these receptors in vivo. This research aims to understand the mechanisms of synaptic plasticity that may ultimately lead to new therapies for various brain disorders.
Investigation Of Novel Therapeutic Targets For The Treatment Of Drug Addiction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$294,892.00
Summary
Drug abuse remains one of the world’s leading health care problems and the current drugs available to treat drug addiction are largely ineffective. This project aims to investigate the potential of a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of drug addiction with has the capacity for substantially reduced off-target effects.
Positive Allosteric Modulation Of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5; A Novel Approach For The Treatment Of Schizophrenia And Cognitive Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$348,428.00
Summary
The metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5) has emerged as an exciting new target for the treatment of schizophrenia and cognitive disorders. We will investigate novel drug-binding sites on these receptors with the aim to discover new therapeutics. These studies also aim to definitively characterize mGluR5 activity following treatment with novel compounds to improve our understanding of the normal function of these important receptors.