The Astrocyte: A Crossroads In Cerebral Malaria Pathogenesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$597,598.00
Summary
Malaria is an infectious disease that kills over 1 million people each year. It is prevalent in the Australian region, e.g. PNG and SE Asia. One of its most serious complications is cerebral malaria (CM), which affects the brain and is often fatal. This project will determine whether a very important cell in the brain, the astrocyte, is involved in the disease processes that lead to CM. This is highly relevant to the development of therapies that can be given along with anti-malarial drugs.
Regulating Astrocytosis For Appropriate Defence And Repair Of The Brain After Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$562,742.00
Summary
An inflammatory process, designed to clean up cell debris and maintain tissue integrity following brain insult, also results in an astrocytic scar that biochemically impedes nerve repair. After 8 weeks astrocytes switch to become supportive, however once a scar is formed repair is permanently inhibited. Here, we will test the ability of biomaterials to optimise the timing of the necessary inflammatory phase, to encourage repair by converting astrocytes to their tropic phase more rapidly.
The Role Of LIM Domain Kinase 1 In The Pathogenesis Of Alzheimer’s Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$565,531.00
Summary
Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by progressive loss of cognition. Few Australians have remained untouched by the effects of Alzheimer’s disease in their families or social circles. Unfortunately, there is no cure and current therapies are limited to modest symptomatic relief. This project will explore the role of a protein that regulates the structural integrity of brain cells in disease, and test if targeting this protein could prevent disease progression.
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.
Targeting Early Cellular Damage During Secondary Degeneration Using Nanosphere-based Drug Delivery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$424,407.00
Summary
After brain injury, there are no treatments to stop the spread of damage to intact tissue, a process involving different cell types and biochemical events. Clinical trials have targeted one event and have failed because large therapeutic doses are toxic and because combined treatments are needed to target different events. We will harness nanotechnology to target delivery of small, sustained doses of one or more drugs to specific cell types and biochemical events to stop the spread of damage.
Investigating The Propagation Of Protein Aggregation In Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$406,217.00
Summary
Motor Neurone Disease is a rapidly progressive disease that attacks neurones responsible for controlling voluntary muscles, leading invariably to death. Currently there is no effective treatment. Recent work in humans suggests that degeneration begins focally and spreads through the three dimensional anatomy of the nervous system. This project will address the important question of how the toxicity is spread amongst adjacent neurones by characterising the propagation of protein aggregates.
Astrocytes, Mutant TDP-43 And Non-cell Autonomous Injury Of Motoneurons
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$626,492.00
Summary
Motor neuron disease (MND) leads to death of nerve cells, paralysis and death. There is no cure. Mutations in the protein TDP43 cause MND. In this study we will investigate the underlying mechanisms of which these mutations cause disease. We will also investigate how these mutations affect astrocytes, a cell type that maintains normal function and survival of nerve cells and determine if the mutations affect the important interactions that normally takes place between these cell types.
Role Of IRF8 In Central Nervous System Glial Cell Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$429,437.00
Summary
Glial cells of the brain change their function in response to local threats such as damage and this may contribute to either protection or injury of neurons. How glial cells mount this response is unknown. The goal of this project is to determine the role of the protein IRF8 in controlling the functional response of glial cells. The results will provide a better understanding of how glial cells contribute to neurological and neurodegenerative diseases.