Novel molecules underlying the development of corticopetal and corticofugal pathways

Funded Activity Summary

The mammalian brain consists of many discrete areas which perform specific functions. Each area has specific sets of connections with other brain areas. These sets of connections underlie the ability of the brain to execute functions critical to our daily lives, such as sight, hearing, touch and movement, as well as more complex functions such as memory, motivation and reasoning. We currently know little about how the sets of connections which underlie these functions are formed. The aim of this project is to understand how some of the connections between the cortex and other brain areas are formed during development. To do this the project will combine modern molecular techniques with neuroanatomy to identify molecules that are expressed by specific populations of neurons during critical developmental stages. These molecules will then be misexpressed in order to determine whether they are important for the development of appropriate connectivity in the brain. A knowledge of the molecules that regulate the development of neuronal pathways is critical to understanding brain development. In the long term, it will also lead to the development of therapies for cases when the brain is damaged or does not develop appropriately due to disease or injury.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2004

End Date: 01-01-2006

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $289,250.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Medical virology

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Blindness | Development of connectivity in the cortex | Microarray analysis of developing cortex | Paralysis | Paraplegia | Quadraplegia | Regional gene expression | Somatosensory System | Stroke | Visual system

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