Modulation Of BMP Signaling For Enhanced Myelin Repair
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$656,623.00
Summary
Multiple Sclerosis is the most common neurodegenerative disease affecting young adults. It is a disease that kills myelin cells, which are necessary support cells for neurons and are critical for their function. This research investigates the role that the signal transduction of bone morphogenic protein plays in myelin cell production and myelin repair. Our aim is to identify regenerative therapeutics for Multiple Sclerosis.
The Role Of BMP Signalling During Chronic Demyelination And Myelin Repair
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$67,381.00
Summary
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common neurodegenerative disease affecting young adults. It is a disease that kills myelin cells, which are important support cells for neurons and critical for neuronal function. This research investigates the role of a specific signaling pathway with respect to myelin cell production and repair with the ultimate aim of identifying regenerative therapeutics for MS.
Role Of Chemokines And Interferons In Neural Progenitor Cell Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$521,178.00
Summary
Regeneration of the central nervous system following disease or injury is extremely limited and frequently results in substantial impairment. A potential therapy to replace damaged or killed nervous system cells is the use of neural stem cells. Neural stem cells are present in the central nervous system and frequently attempt, but fail to repair nervous system damage. This project aims to examine factors that regulate neural stem cell function including factors that may regulate their ability to ....Regeneration of the central nervous system following disease or injury is extremely limited and frequently results in substantial impairment. A potential therapy to replace damaged or killed nervous system cells is the use of neural stem cells. Neural stem cells are present in the central nervous system and frequently attempt, but fail to repair nervous system damage. This project aims to examine factors that regulate neural stem cell function including factors that may regulate their ability to migrate or become appropriate neural cell types. Of particular interest are factors known as chemokines that regulate cell migration as well as have a variety of other effects. In addition, interferons, which are inflammatory molecules present in the damaged nervous system and that we have shown affect neural stem cell function, may interact with chemokines and will also be examined. In addition to examining the effects of these factors on neural stem cells, the signalling pathways they use in these cells will also be determined.Read moreRead less
Signalling Mechanisms Regulating Neurogenesis And Neurite Outgrowth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$486,000.00
Summary
Injury and diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), such as traumatic injury, stroke, Parkinson's, Huntington's and Alzheimer's disease, affect a substantial number of Australians each year and often have long-term consequences for sufferers and their families. This is primarily due to a lack of robust repair of the damage and a paucity of therapeutic strategies available for treatment. However, although many hurdles are yet to be faced, there is a substantial body of evidence that has emer ....Injury and diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), such as traumatic injury, stroke, Parkinson's, Huntington's and Alzheimer's disease, affect a substantial number of Australians each year and often have long-term consequences for sufferers and their families. This is primarily due to a lack of robust repair of the damage and a paucity of therapeutic strategies available for treatment. However, although many hurdles are yet to be faced, there is a substantial body of evidence that has emerged in recent years, that has led to the view that repair of the central nervous system following injury of disease may indeed be a possibility. Effective neural repair is likely to require a multi-factorial approach, including blockage of neuronal death, replacement of lost neurons by neural stem cells, and regulation of appropriate subsequent neurite outgrowth and formation of correct connections. We have shown that a regulator of cytokine signaling, SOCS2, promotes neuronal differentiation and neurite outgrowth. This project aims to continue our investigations of the role of SOCS2 and interacting factors in regulating neuronal differentiation as well as substantially expanding our investigations into the role of SOCS2 in regulating neurite outgrowth, using both in vitro and in vivo models. An understanding of the mechanisms involved in these processes may allow us to derive therapies for the repair of the nervous system after injury or disease.Read moreRead less
Repair Of The Nigrostriatal Pathway By Phenotype Shift Of Dopamine Neurones
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$561,558.00
Summary
Repairing the injured brain will depend on developing new cells that can form the correct cell type, make the right connections and be incorporated into normal brain circuitry. We have found that dopamine cells, which are lost in Parkinson's Disease, are being renewed in the adult rodent brain. This study is directed at finding factors that control this process and to exploit these factors therapeutically. We provide evidence that this can be used to treat Parkinson's Disease.