Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180101075
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,058.00
Summary
Novel immune cell subsets in the centre nervous system and supporting tissues. This project aims to identify and characterise novel resident immune cell subsets within the brain and retina, and their close supporting tissues. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of neuroimmunology and ocular immunology by using molecular and cellular techniques to examine the diversity of immune cells within the brain and retina. It is expected that the project will advance our understandin ....Novel immune cell subsets in the centre nervous system and supporting tissues. This project aims to identify and characterise novel resident immune cell subsets within the brain and retina, and their close supporting tissues. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of neuroimmunology and ocular immunology by using molecular and cellular techniques to examine the diversity of immune cells within the brain and retina. It is expected that the project will advance our understanding of the biological mechanisms that protect the central nervous system from harmful inflammation and thus improve our knowledge of the immunobiology of the brain and eye.Read moreRead less
Motivational drive and reward are survival processes that underpin the maintenance of homeostasis. In humans, dysregulation of these brain circuits manifests in disorders such as depression and addictions. Our projects is focused on a key subgroup of neurons in the hypothalamus that modulates reward and motivation. We aim to understand how potent reward experience (e.g. drugs) or stress modifies these circuits and to identify potential entry points for therapeutic interventions.
Functional Assessment Of CD40 In The Development Of Multiple Sclerosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$521,910.00
Summary
Many of the genes which affect susceptibility to Multiple Sclerosis (MS) have recently been identified. Two of these genes were first discovered in an Australian study published in Nature Genetics in 2009. One of these is CD40, which controls immune cell activation. In this project we aim to establish how the genetic variant identified affects the function of the CD40 gene in MS. CD40 may prove to be a good therapeutic target, with agents available to modulate CD40 available already.
The amygdala is a part of the brain that processes and lays down emotional memories. Dysfunction in the amygdala is responsible for anxiety related disorders such post-traumatic stress disorder. I will study the neural circuits in the amygdala using innovative recordings and stimulation techniques. These studies will provide insight into the circuits that underpin anxiety related neurological disorders and provide targets for development of novel anxiolytic agents.
Validating Novel Biomarkers Relevant To Major Depression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$515,550.00
Summary
Depression prevention and treatment are public health priorities; therefore, it is critical to improve and personalise treatments, which can only be achieved by advancing knowledge of its underlying biology. This research project will contribute to validating potentially relevant genes for MDD risk or antidepressant response and to provide the scientific foundation for future strategies to test their products as MDD biomarkers in the clinical setting.
THE EFFECT OF STRESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT ON DISEASE PROGRESSION IN MESIAL TEMPORAL LOBE EPILEPSY
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$578,201.00
Summary
Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, the most common form of drug-resistant epilepsy in adults, is a progressive neurodegenerative condition for which there is currently no effective disease modifying treatment. This proposal will explore whether co-morbid stress accelerates disease progression in MTLE, and whether targeting stress pathways by medical and environmental manipulations can mitigate against this.
Optimising And Applying Ocular Vestibulat Evoked Myogenic Potentials (oVEMPs)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$228,931.00
Summary
This project seeks to optimise techniques for a new method of assessing the balance organs (vestibular organs) and then apply these techniques. Three conditions will be studied: vestibular neuritis - a condition causing acute and severe dizziness; Parkinson's disease, in which disorders of balance are common and superior canal dehiscence (SCD) in which there is a hole in the bone overlying one of the semicircular canals, leading to sensitivity to sound.
Investigating Mechanisms Of Axonal Pathology Following Oligodendrocyte Apoptosis: Avenues For Neuroprotection In Early MS
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$678,138.00
Summary
Recent research suggests that Multiple Sclerosis could first be triggered by the death of a type of brain cell called an oligodendrocyte. These cells insulate nerve cells in the brain which help them function normally. We will test the idea that death of oligodendrocytes impairs nerve cell function by causing inflammation and by depriving nerve cells of energy. We will determine whether preventing inflammation and feeding the nerve cells an alternative source of energy can restore normal functio ....Recent research suggests that Multiple Sclerosis could first be triggered by the death of a type of brain cell called an oligodendrocyte. These cells insulate nerve cells in the brain which help them function normally. We will test the idea that death of oligodendrocytes impairs nerve cell function by causing inflammation and by depriving nerve cells of energy. We will determine whether preventing inflammation and feeding the nerve cells an alternative source of energy can restore normal function.Read moreRead less
Transcriptional control of neural stem cell differentiation during development and disease. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that control how neural stem cells differentiate is critical to provide potential therapeutic treatment for neurodegenerative diseases and for brain cancer. This project will aim to discover, using an animal model system, the genes and molecules regulating these key biological processes.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100074
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$520,000.00
Summary
Facilities for automated high-throughput slide scanning and stereology. The equipment requested will facilitate the work of the Australian Mouse Brain Mapping Consortium, a consortium of Australian research groups collaborating to provide the only mouse model brain mapping capability in the country. The consortium brings together laboratory, neuroimaging and computational expertise in a comprehensive framework for imaging the mouse brain. This will help researchers to study mouse models of genet ....Facilities for automated high-throughput slide scanning and stereology. The equipment requested will facilitate the work of the Australian Mouse Brain Mapping Consortium, a consortium of Australian research groups collaborating to provide the only mouse model brain mapping capability in the country. The consortium brings together laboratory, neuroimaging and computational expertise in a comprehensive framework for imaging the mouse brain. This will help researchers to study mouse models of genetic and acquired disorders across the life-span. Remote viewing and analysis capabilities will help overcome the 'tyranny of distance', increasing national access to the facility. Repositories of digitised images will increase the availability of valuable research material to other Australian and international researchers.Read moreRead less