Alzheimer’s disease (AD), is the most common form of dementia, accounting for between 50-70% of all cases. There is general agreement that current treatments for AD/dementia are inadequate so new treatment strategies are desperately needed. I am addressing these challenges by developing new technologies to generate next generation treatments for AD.
Neuronal Membranes And Connections In Dementia: Targets For Intervention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$720,144.00
Summary
This research aims to understand why some people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) progress to dementia, whilst others do not. The fact that some people’s cognitive abilities can improve provides an opportunity to study the mechanisms that protect their brain cells from the degeneration associated with dementia. Understanding the cellular changes will lead to therapies that can be tested in the lab for individuals.
Towards Targeting The Endosome In Neurodegenerative Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$601,959.00
Summary
Mutations and dysregulation of the SNX27-retromer protein platform are strongly linked to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). This research program will determine how SNX27-retromer interacts with key molecules associated with AD and PD, the outcomes of which be significantly improved understanding of how mutations in these proteins cause disease, and a necessary molecular framework for future therapeutic targeting.
Dementia is the third leading cause of death in Australia and the single greatest cause of disability in the elderly. Current therapies for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, are inadequate and fundamentally new treatment approaches are required. The aim of this proposal is to develop novel drug candidates for the treatment and prevention of AD and other neurodegenerative disorders by targeting a class of cell-surface receptors called G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).