How does timing affect mammalian brain development and evolution? This project aims to generate fundamental knowledge on the origin of diversity in mammalian brain circuits by studying development of marsupials and rodents. The expected outcome is to elucidate how differences in the timing, rate and sequence of development of gene expression, cell differentiation and circuit formation can relate to the origin of key evolutionary innovations in the mammalian brain. The significance of understandi ....How does timing affect mammalian brain development and evolution? This project aims to generate fundamental knowledge on the origin of diversity in mammalian brain circuits by studying development of marsupials and rodents. The expected outcome is to elucidate how differences in the timing, rate and sequence of development of gene expression, cell differentiation and circuit formation can relate to the origin of key evolutionary innovations in the mammalian brain. The significance of understanding the dynamics of developmental systems that shape complex brain traits includes establishing new developmental paradigms in evolutionary theory, generating new tools to investigate and manipulate brain gene expression in vivo, and the potential discovery of the causes of neurodevelopmental dysfunction.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms of memory function involving site-specific tau phosphorylation. This project aims to understand the molecular principles that facilitate encoding, maintenance and retrieval of memories in the brain. To store memories in brain circuits, electrical and chemical signals are crucial. Brain cells can integrate signals into biochemical modifications of intracellular proteins. The nature of the protein modifications that represent memory within brain cells is unknown. This project uses innov ....Mechanisms of memory function involving site-specific tau phosphorylation. This project aims to understand the molecular principles that facilitate encoding, maintenance and retrieval of memories in the brain. To store memories in brain circuits, electrical and chemical signals are crucial. Brain cells can integrate signals into biochemical modifications of intracellular proteins. The nature of the protein modifications that represent memory within brain cells is unknown. This project uses innovative genome editing, mathematical modelling and proteomic approaches, to study how biochemical modifications of a key protein called tau help encode and retrieve memories. These molecular insights will make a significant advance in the current understanding of a brain function that is essential to all human activities.Read moreRead less
Molecular control of memory traces. This project aims to understand how particular molecules help encode memories in the brain for future retrieval. Individual memories are encoded in brain cells through an unknown physical process. This project uses innovative approaches to manipulate memory-containing cells and will provide a new detailed explanation of memory. Outcomes of this work will significantly advance the current understanding of how memories are physically generated and maintained, wh ....Molecular control of memory traces. This project aims to understand how particular molecules help encode memories in the brain for future retrieval. Individual memories are encoded in brain cells through an unknown physical process. This project uses innovative approaches to manipulate memory-containing cells and will provide a new detailed explanation of memory. Outcomes of this work will significantly advance the current understanding of how memories are physically generated and maintained, which is an essential component of human and animal life. This research provides significant benefits in understanding the biology behind memory and in maintaining memory capacity in ageing.
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Proteomic analysis of central nervous system inflammation in multiple sclerosis. This project aims to identify new therapeutic targets and diagnostics for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) the most common neurological disease in young adults. The estimated economic burden of this disease in Australia is around $2 billion per annum. There is also a large social cost to take into account. In spite of a great deal of research, current therapies are limited. We expect that this this research will: lead to n ....Proteomic analysis of central nervous system inflammation in multiple sclerosis. This project aims to identify new therapeutic targets and diagnostics for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) the most common neurological disease in young adults. The estimated economic burden of this disease in Australia is around $2 billion per annum. There is also a large social cost to take into account. In spite of a great deal of research, current therapies are limited. We expect that this this research will: lead to new therapies and better diagnostics, which will reduce the financial and human cost of this disease; generate IP with subsequent economic benefits and; expand proteomics technologies which will have flow on effects including economic benefits and benefits to a wide range of basic research. Read moreRead less