The Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) invites you to participate in a short survey about your
interaction with the ARDC and use of our national research infrastructure and services. The survey will take
approximately 5 minutes and is anonymous. It’s open to anyone who uses our digital research infrastructure
services including Reasearch Link Australia.
We will use the information you provide to improve the national research infrastructure and services we
deliver and to report on user satisfaction to the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research
Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) program.
Please take a few minutes to provide your input. The survey closes COB Friday 29 May 2026.
Complete the 5 min survey now by clicking on the link below.
Cyclic Nucleotide Induced Degeneration In The Vertebrate Retina
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$196,527.00
Summary
Retinitis Pigmentosa is a leading cause of human blindness that is currently untreatable. Elevated cyclic nucleotide levels have been shown to have a causal link with the degenerative process. This proposal will develop animal models of retinal degeneration as well as use a genetic mutant showing elevated cyclic nucleotides to identify the mechanism for retinal degeneration. In addition, potential therapeutic options will be investigated using currently available drugs.
Understanding the biological mechanisms of nerve degeneration is an essential step toward the development of novel therapies for human neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Huntington's diseases, and for spinal cord injuries. The studies presented in this proposal, using the powerful molecular and genetic tools available for the small nematode worm C. elegans, will provide new insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for nerve degeneration.
Parkinson's Disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders. Its incidence increases steadily with age affecting approximately 1% of the population at age 65 and up to 5% by the age of 85. At the time of diagnosis, patients suffer from a range of motor impairments that worsen over time. Pathologically these patients are characterised by the accumulation of a protein known as alpha-synuclein in specific types of nerve cells in their brain. However, the function of this protein ....Parkinson's Disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders. Its incidence increases steadily with age affecting approximately 1% of the population at age 65 and up to 5% by the age of 85. At the time of diagnosis, patients suffer from a range of motor impairments that worsen over time. Pathologically these patients are characterised by the accumulation of a protein known as alpha-synuclein in specific types of nerve cells in their brain. However, the function of this protein is unknown. This proposal will clarify the role of alpha-synuclein in PD and normal CNS function and provide new potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of PD and other neurodegenerative disorders in which oxidative stress, excitotoxicity and central nervous system trauma have been implicated.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms By Which Aging Induces Constipation In The Elderly
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$369,717.00
Summary
Chronic constipation is one of the most common reasons why the elderly community seek medical attention. There is now strong evidence to suggest that the high prevalence of constipation in the elderly is likely due to a dramatic loss of specific nerves that lie in the wall of the colon. This project will use latest imaging technologies to identify the mechanisms by which these nerves are impaired with age that lead to constipation in the elderly.
Cell-based Neurotrophin Delivery With Cochlear Implantation For Long-term Rescue Of Auditory Neurones Following Deafness
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$437,212.00
Summary
This project aims to develop safe and effective techniques for long-term delivery of drugs to the ear by genetically modifying cells so they release the theraputic agents over extended periods of time, and then to use encapsulation techniques to safely deliver these cells to the inner ear in combination with a cochlear implant.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis causes the progressive death of motor nerves. 70% of ALS patients die within 2-5 years of the onset of symptoms. The only proven causes of ALS are gene mutations. However, known ALS genes only account for about 2% of cases. The aim of this project is to gain a better understanding of ALS through identification of genes that cause the disease among the remaining familial cases. We propose to use genetic screening strategies in ALS families to locate new ALS genes.
Delayed Neuronal Death After Peripheral Nerve And Spinal Cord Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$457,267.00
Summary
After injury to the nervous system, even under optimal conditions for regeneration of broken nerve processes (axons), there is little chance of normal function being restored because few regrowing axons will find appropriate cells to connect with. The time taken for many regrowing axons to reach their targets can be so long that both the axons and their targets lose the ability to recognize each other. Equally importantly, some damaged nerve cells die over the months that follow an injury. This ....After injury to the nervous system, even under optimal conditions for regeneration of broken nerve processes (axons), there is little chance of normal function being restored because few regrowing axons will find appropriate cells to connect with. The time taken for many regrowing axons to reach their targets can be so long that both the axons and their targets lose the ability to recognize each other. Equally importantly, some damaged nerve cells die over the months that follow an injury. This slow loss of nerve cells can lead to progressive and ongoing deterioration. Given recent advances in our understanding of how to improve axon regeneration, the degree of functional recovery could be disappointing unless we know more about how to prevent these neurones from dying. This project will use rats as experimental animals to try to understand which types of nerve cells are likely to die or survive after injury to peripheral nerve trunks or to the spinal cord. We will investigate two regions of the nervous system that are commonly involved in injuries in people. After injuries to limb nerves, people lose sensation and movement and can unpredictably develop chronic conditions such as neuropathic pain (unrelated to the damage and often occurring spontaneously) as well as poor blood flow and wound healing in the hands-feet. After most injuries to the spinal cord, the lower part of the cord beyond the injury (in particular the lumbosacral cord controlling hindlimb movement and sensation and the function of bladder, bowel and sexual organs) is often disconnected from the brain leading to paralysis and disrupted control of pelvic organ function. We will identify and study specific populations of nerve cells with sensory (mainly pain-sensing) functions and four identified groups of nerve cells in the lumbosacral cord that project to the brain. Once we know which nerve cells do not survive, we will search for the likely causes of their death and ways to prevent it.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Glutamate Receptor Mediated Excititoxicity In Neurodegeneration And Huntington's Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$467,310.00
Summary
Glutamate, the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, acts on three subtypes of ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs), AMPA, kainate and NMDA receptors. Evidence suggests that aberrant NMDA receptor mediated calcium influx into neurons leads to excitotoxic cell death. Calcium influx through AMPA and kainate receptors has also been implicated in excitotoxic neurodegeneration. It is widely thought that excitotoxicity contributes to chronic neurodegenerative disease. We will test thi ....Glutamate, the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, acts on three subtypes of ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs), AMPA, kainate and NMDA receptors. Evidence suggests that aberrant NMDA receptor mediated calcium influx into neurons leads to excitotoxic cell death. Calcium influx through AMPA and kainate receptors has also been implicated in excitotoxic neurodegeneration. It is widely thought that excitotoxicity contributes to chronic neurodegenerative disease. We will test this hypothesis by investigating degeneration in mutant mice with altered iGluR mediated calcium flux alone and combined with mutant genes known to cause Huntington s disease by: knocking-out the NMDA receptor in select brain regions of mice and determining if that protects against neurodegenerative pathology in those brain regions. generating mutant mice with kainate or AMPA-Rs that flux abnormally high amounts of calcium and determine if that predisposes the mouse brains to neurodegenerative pathology. These experiments will provide valuable animal models enabling a deeper understanding of neurodegenerative processes. The models will also provide invaluable resources for developing therapies to protect against neurodegeneration.Read moreRead less
Development Of A New Method Of Motor Unit Number Estimation For Use In Motor Neurone Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$480,127.00
Summary
This project aims to help understand motor neurone disease, which is a severe disease that leads to paralysis and death. In motor neurone disease there is of death of the nerve cells that maks muscles move. We have developed a new method of measuring the number of motor nerve cells. We will use this to study the different types of motor neurone disease.
The Role Of Purines In Photoreceptor Death During Retinal Degeneration.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$458,729.00
Summary
Abnormalities in cells at the back of the eye called photoreceptors are associated with at least 50% of all cases of blindness in this country.This project will determine whether substances released from dying photoreceptors cause the death of neighbouring cells. In addition we will examine whether treatments that block the actions of these released substances can prevent the death of photoreceptors, thereby providing a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of devastating eye diseases.