Neurogenesis In The Amygdala And Hippocampus: A Role In Learnt Fear?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$780,396.00
Summary
It has long been thought that neurons are only born once and then slowly die. Learning and memory formation is thought to occur by changes in the strength of connections between living neurons. However, the hippocampus is now known to produce new neurons throughout life. We have found that neurons are also born in the adult amygdala. In this project we will study how neurogenesis affects learning and memory formation that involve the hippocampus and amygdala.
The amygdala is a region of the brain involved in assinging emotional salience to our sensory world. Disorders of amygdala function lead to a range of anxiety related disorders. In this grant we aim to understand the neural circuits that are invovled in one form of learning that engages the amygdala - fear conditioning.
Regulation Of Glutamate Receptor Trafficking By The Calcium- And Lipid-binding Protein, Copine-6
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$548,690.00
Summary
Abnormal levels of cell surface receptors in neurons can lead to a variety of debilitating neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. These levels are tightly regulated through the orchestrated movements of receptors from inside the neuron to the cell surface. In this project we will examine how the transport of cell surface receptors is regulated by an intracellular signalling molecule, called copine, which is important in both epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease.
Glial Reactivity During The Post-acute Phase Of Stroke: A Target For Promoting Functional Recovery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$547,307.00
Summary
Recent studies suggest that the development of a type of scar around damaged tissue in the brain following a stroke can limit recovery. Our studies will improve understanding of events leading to scar formation and will test whether modifying these events can improve functional recovery in experimental stroke. The studies have excellent potential to identify targets for treatments that will reduce the long-term debilitating effects of stroke even when administered well after its onset.
Investigating Secondary Effects Of BACE1 Inhibition, A Promising Therapy For Alzheimer's Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$700,672.00
Summary
Synapses transfer information between neurons in the brain. In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), synapse loss results in dementia therefore it is imperative that any potential therapeutic drugs do not inadvertently cause further synapse loss. Drugs aimed at blocking production of toxic protein fragments in AD might have adverse secondary effects on synapse development and function. This research will determine whether this is the case and inform new therapeutic approaches aimed at minimizing side effect ....Synapses transfer information between neurons in the brain. In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), synapse loss results in dementia therefore it is imperative that any potential therapeutic drugs do not inadvertently cause further synapse loss. Drugs aimed at blocking production of toxic protein fragments in AD might have adverse secondary effects on synapse development and function. This research will determine whether this is the case and inform new therapeutic approaches aimed at minimizing side effects.Read moreRead less
Deciphering The Mechanisms Underlying LRP-mediated Axon Guidance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$370,659.00
Summary
Nerve damage can develop post injury or disease and are often very debilitating, slow to heal and cause increased pain. Our work aims to examine a new class of molecules that we show can activate selected fat-receptors on nerve cells to guide the growth of regenerating nerves. We will determine how these receptors function with the aim of developing a novel class of therapeutics directed at healing nerve damage.
How Does Iron Accumulation Affect Parkinson’s Disease And What Controls It?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$545,517.00
Summary
Currently there is no cure for Parkinson's disease, and although we have a number of treatments to manage the disease there is an urgent need for a further understanding of the disease process. This proposal will investigate the critical role that iron plays in the cause of neuronal cell death that results in Parkinson's disease, and will investigate methods for regulating metal levels in the brain.
Selective Modulation Of Neural Network Activity Using Focal Brain Stimulation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$531,496.00
Summary
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been touted as a viable treatment for a range of psychiatric and neurological disorders. However, the extent to which localised TMS influences widespread brain networks remains unknown. To fill this gap, we will combine neuroimaging and TMS in healthy adults. The project will provide a scientific foundation for the use of brain stimulation as an effective tool for improving function in a range of clinical conditions.
A Role For The Pulvinar Nucleus In Visual Cortical Development And Plasticity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$844,435.00
Summary
This project will investigate a part of the brain responsible for processing visual information, the pulvinar. This area has received little attention but has more recently been associated with the capacity for infants to recover vision following injuries such as stroke, as well as in mental health conditions such as schizophrenia. We will take a cell-to-system approach to uncover how this area develops and modulates the processing of visual information.
Schizophrenia affects 1 in 100 people, and yet its causes remain largely unclear. To improve understanding, treatment and management of the disease, the team performing this research will evaluate whether mobile DNA elements found in our genome are activated by stress and thereby alter how brain cells work in individuals affected by schizophrenia. They will also test whether mobile DNA can be blocked by drugs, perhaps revealing new strategies to treat the disease.