Promoting Intestinal Stem-cell Mediated Regeneration Following Damage: A Critical Role For Neuregulin 1
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$648,447.00
Summary
Diseases, infections and pathologies are common clinical problems of the intestine in humans that can lead to loss of intestinal tissue. Individuals with these conditions can experience nutritional problems and severe cases result in death. Promoting regeneration of the damaged tissue is critical to re-establish intestinal function. In this study, we will examine the regenerative potential of a growth factor called Neuregulin1 in the intestine with the aim of facilitating tissue regeneration.
Investigation Of Neuregulin Precessing By Beta-site APP Cleaving Enzyme And Gamma Secretase In Schizophrenia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$46,715.00
Summary
Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a complex psychiatric disorder that appears in male and female around adulthood. To date there is no clear pathological symptoms to identify SCZ individuals and place them in a specific group. Some proteins are genetically associated with this disease. I will investigate how some of these proteins disturb the function of the brain in human. My recent published data shows decrease of one of the proteins in the brain of SCZ group. My project may help develop novel and more s ....Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a complex psychiatric disorder that appears in male and female around adulthood. To date there is no clear pathological symptoms to identify SCZ individuals and place them in a specific group. Some proteins are genetically associated with this disease. I will investigate how some of these proteins disturb the function of the brain in human. My recent published data shows decrease of one of the proteins in the brain of SCZ group. My project may help develop novel and more selective therapies with less side-effects.Read moreRead less
Neuregulin Dependent Neuronal Migration And Schizophrenia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$297,128.00
Summary
Schizophrenia effects 1-100 Australians and is responsible for $2.2 billion in health costs, disables thought and emotion and is devastating to the individual, the family and the community. We need to develop drugs able to reverse the root cause of schizophrenia. We know that schizophrenia is caused by risk genes and environments and impacts brain maturation. We will test how one such gene, neuregulin, acts to derail the normal development of the human cerebral cortex in patients who suffer.
Characterisation Of Neuregulin-2 Function In The Nervous System.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$183,250.00
Summary
The Neuregulins (NRG's) are a family of four structurally related growth factors expressed in the developing and adult brain. NRG-1 is essential for life and has been implicated in the development and maintenance of both neurons and glial cells, as well as being essential for normal heart formation. NRG-2 was identified by us and others as being closely related to NRG-1 and, like NRG-1, it is also expressed predominantly in neuronal populations of the brain. One striking feature of NRG-2 express ....The Neuregulins (NRG's) are a family of four structurally related growth factors expressed in the developing and adult brain. NRG-1 is essential for life and has been implicated in the development and maintenance of both neurons and glial cells, as well as being essential for normal heart formation. NRG-2 was identified by us and others as being closely related to NRG-1 and, like NRG-1, it is also expressed predominantly in neuronal populations of the brain. One striking feature of NRG-2 expression in the adult brain is its localisation to regions associated with neurogenesis (renewal of neurons from stem cell precursors). Outside the nervous system Neuregulin-2 can stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of epithelial cells. However, little is known about the activity of Neuregulin-2 in the brain. This grant proposal aims to study the biological functions of Neuregulin-2 in the developing and adult central nervous system. The experimental design is based on characterisation of mice that do not contain the Neuregulin-2 gene. We will also look specifically at the action of Neuregulin-2 on discrete populations of neuronal cells, grown in tissue culture. We expect that these studies will provide valuable insight into the role of NRG-2 in the brain and that they will be the basis for defining the mechanisms by which NRG-2 activity differs to that of the NRG family members. By studying factors that are involved in the development of the nervous system it is hoped that valuable insights will be made regarding repair and regeneration in the adult brain.Read moreRead less
The Effects Of Phencyclidine On The NMDA Receptor-neuregulin1 Signalling Complex: Implications For Schizophrenia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$433,872.00
Summary
Phencyclidine is the best known pharmacological agent that can induce schizophrenia-like symptoms in humans and animals. Recent research has strongly suggested that neuregulin1 and ErbB4 signalling are involved in schizophrenia pathology. This study will be the first to determine whether neuregulin1 is altered by phencyclidine, which will further our knowledge by re-evaluating the causal role of neuregulin1 in schizophrenia.