Proprioception is how we sense the position of our joints, the movements of our joints, and the forces generated by our muscles. Disturbances of proprioception can cause major disruption of all movements and postures. We will undertake novel studies of how signals generated in the brain which command our movements contribute to all key aspects of proprioception. Finally we will unravel how the brain builds up the overall 'scheme' of our body which we need to make any accurate movement.
The Role Of The Complement System In Neurodegeneration And The Therapeutic Potential Of Complement Inhibition
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$380,558.00
Summary
This project aims to identify the role of immune and inflammatory components in the pathology of neurodegenerative disease. Additionally, this research will determine whether a new class of novel anti-inflammatory drugs can alter the neurodegenerative process. This will allow for an increased understanding of the biology of neurodegenerative disease, and also may lead to the development of new treatments for conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and motor neuron disease.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive disease of motor neurons that leads to death within 5 years of first symptoms. The only proven causes of ALS are gene mutations. But known ALS genes only account for 2% of cases. We aim to investigate a newly identified gene that encodes a protein (TDP-43) that misfolds in the motor neurons of ALS cases. We have found TDP-43 mutations in ALS patients. This exciting finding offers a unique opportunity to understand how TDP-43 causes ALS