We will use genetically engineered mice to study brain circuitry in an effort to understand the anatomical basis of Huntington's disease and a number of other more common degenerative brain diseases similar to Parkinson's disease. We will look at the brain in detail to decipher how the injured brain repais itself by making new connections and by producing new cells. We will also study supporting cells in the brain to determine if they play a beneficial role in this injury repair process.
Motor Neurone Disease - Pathophysiological Insights Into The Site Of Origin And Patterns Of Neurodegeneration.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$309,361.00
Summary
Motor neurone disease (MND) kills one Australian per day and is characterised by progressive loss of the corticospinal tract, that controls all voluntary movements. The present project will investigate where MND begins and document how the loss of nerves within the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves evolves. In addition to providing information about prognosis, new quantifiable measures will be developed to objectively monitor patients in future treatment and prevention trials.