Epigenetic and neurobehavioural changes in a new mouse model of foetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Foetal alcohol syndrome involves changes in growth, skull structure, central nervous system defects and intellectual disabilities. This project will use a mouse model to study the underlying causes of this disorder, focussing on brain structure and function, and aim to identify markers that can be used for early diagnosis and treatment.
Understanding the mechanisms of GABA type-A receptor activation and drug modulation. There is currently little understanding of how sedative and anxiolytic drugs, including valium, interact with their receptors in the brain. This project will dramatically increase our understanding of how these receptors work and how drugs affect their activity. This will provide new insights into drug discovery and design.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120101743
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Estrogens and schizophrenia: animal studies. The female hormone, estrogen, plays a role on the reproductive system but is also involved in neurological and psychiatric disorders. Estrogen has been shown to be protective against schizophrenia, but the mechanism underlying this effect is unknown. This project aims to elucidate the brain mechanisms by which estrogens exert their action.
Structural-functional connectivity in the brain. This project aims to develop magnetic resonance imaging analysis methods to non-invasively study brain connectivity. Recent advances in imaging can comprehensively describe the brain’s complex network of functional and structural connections (the brain ‘connectome’). This project will simultaneously investigate structural and functional connectivity, and characterise the dynamic properties of the connectome using graph-theoretic approaches. This p ....Structural-functional connectivity in the brain. This project aims to develop magnetic resonance imaging analysis methods to non-invasively study brain connectivity. Recent advances in imaging can comprehensively describe the brain’s complex network of functional and structural connections (the brain ‘connectome’). This project will simultaneously investigate structural and functional connectivity, and characterise the dynamic properties of the connectome using graph-theoretic approaches. This project should give neuroscientists computational tools to comprehensively map the network architecture of the human brain.Read moreRead less
Determining the role of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits in the development of addictive behaviours. The economic and health burden of substance abuse in Australia exceeds $31.5 billion and there are currently few treatment options. Nicotinic receptors (nAChRs) are a common target for the interaction of alcohol and nicotine in the brain. This project aims to determine the role of nAChRs in the development of addiction to alcohol and nicotine.
Engineered extrasynaptic GABAA receptors: Towards novel analgesics. Engineered extrasynaptic GABAA receptors: Towards novel analgesics. This project intends to alleviate neuropathic pain by developing drugs and good tool molecules targeting GABA-A receptors. About 20% of Australian adults suffer from neuropathic pain. Delta-containing GABA-A receptors represent attractive and novel targets for developing non-opioid analgesics. However, no drugs or good tool molecules target these receptors. This ....Engineered extrasynaptic GABAA receptors: Towards novel analgesics. Engineered extrasynaptic GABAA receptors: Towards novel analgesics. This project intends to alleviate neuropathic pain by developing drugs and good tool molecules targeting GABA-A receptors. About 20% of Australian adults suffer from neuropathic pain. Delta-containing GABA-A receptors represent attractive and novel targets for developing non-opioid analgesics. However, no drugs or good tool molecules target these receptors. This project intends to develop the needed enabling technologies, including screening assays, tool molecules and radioligands; and perform brain slice electrophysiology to confirm activity in neuronal cells. This project is expected to benefit the research community and future rational drug-discovery endeavours for drugs that modulate delta-containing receptors.Read moreRead less
Mapping and manipulating fear prediction errors. This project plans to use Pavlovian conditioning to map and then manipulate the brain architecture of fear prediction errors. It asks fundamental questions about how Pavlovian conditioning and associative learning enable us to learn to fear, to reduce fear, and to respond appropriately to danger. It aims to answer these questions with behavioural sophistication and previously unobtainable cell-type, temporal, and circuit-level precision. It aims t ....Mapping and manipulating fear prediction errors. This project plans to use Pavlovian conditioning to map and then manipulate the brain architecture of fear prediction errors. It asks fundamental questions about how Pavlovian conditioning and associative learning enable us to learn to fear, to reduce fear, and to respond appropriately to danger. It aims to answer these questions with behavioural sophistication and previously unobtainable cell-type, temporal, and circuit-level precision. It aims to provide new insights into the mechanisms of Pavlovian conditioning, associative learning, and emotion: insights that are necessary to shape the next generation of theoretical accounts and practical applications.Read moreRead less
How the brain parses danger signals. This project aims to use Pavlovian conditioning to map and manipulate the brain circuitry for attentional selection of danger signals. It will investigate how we attend to and learn about sources of danger in the world with behavioural sophistication and previously unobtainable cell-type, temporal and circuit level precision. It aims to provide insights into the mechanisms of Pavlovian conditioning, associative learning, and emotion: insights that are necessa ....How the brain parses danger signals. This project aims to use Pavlovian conditioning to map and manipulate the brain circuitry for attentional selection of danger signals. It will investigate how we attend to and learn about sources of danger in the world with behavioural sophistication and previously unobtainable cell-type, temporal and circuit level precision. It aims to provide insights into the mechanisms of Pavlovian conditioning, associative learning, and emotion: insights that are necessary to shape the next generation of theoretical accounts and practical applications.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120100110
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Extinction of drug-seeking in adolescent rats. To investigate the ontogeny of drug abuse and its treatment, acquisition and treatment of drug-seeking behaviour will be examined in adolescent rats. I expect that adolescent rats will fail to inhibit drug-seeking behaviour, and show immaturity in cortical brain areas. Increasing cortical activity may rescue their ability to inhibit drug-seeking.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140100588
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$395,220.00
Summary
Gene-environment interactions in the regulation of neuroplasticity and cognitive function . This project will study the effects of different housing conditions on neuroplasticity-related cognitive function by combining an innovative operant conditioning behavioural test (computerised touch-screen technology) and new molecular approaches. Potential gene-environment interactions will be revealed using genetically targeted mice which have never been assessed in that context (mutants with altered gl ....Gene-environment interactions in the regulation of neuroplasticity and cognitive function . This project will study the effects of different housing conditions on neuroplasticity-related cognitive function by combining an innovative operant conditioning behavioural test (computerised touch-screen technology) and new molecular approaches. Potential gene-environment interactions will be revealed using genetically targeted mice which have never been assessed in that context (mutants with altered glucocorticoid and serotonin signalling). This project will study whether specific stages of the neuroplasticity process are differentially modulated through gene-environment interactions, ultimately resulting in changes to behaviour and cognitive functions. This will lead to a better understanding of the potential approaches that could be used to improve cognitive function.Read moreRead less