How the brain regulates blood pressure. This project will test whether a group of nerve cells in the rostral ventrolateral medulla generate sympathetic activity in blood vessels. The brain regulates blood pressure through several pathways, including nerves in the sympathetic nervous system that constrict blood vessels and increase the heart rate. Activity of these sympathetic nerves regulates blood pressure, but it is unknown which nerve cells in the brain cause this activity. This information i ....How the brain regulates blood pressure. This project will test whether a group of nerve cells in the rostral ventrolateral medulla generate sympathetic activity in blood vessels. The brain regulates blood pressure through several pathways, including nerves in the sympathetic nervous system that constrict blood vessels and increase the heart rate. Activity of these sympathetic nerves regulates blood pressure, but it is unknown which nerve cells in the brain cause this activity. This information is essential to understand how blood pressure is controlled under healthy conditions.Read moreRead less
Neural migration: Which cells advance and which stay behind? This project aims to examine the neural crest cells that colonise the developing gut and to identify why some cells advance while others stay behind to populate a region. Directed cell migration is essential for normal development, including for the nervous system. In most of the migratory cell populations that have been analysed to date, all of the cells migrate as a collective from one location to another. However, there are also mi ....Neural migration: Which cells advance and which stay behind? This project aims to examine the neural crest cells that colonise the developing gut and to identify why some cells advance while others stay behind to populate a region. Directed cell migration is essential for normal development, including for the nervous system. In most of the migratory cell populations that have been analysed to date, all of the cells migrate as a collective from one location to another. However, there are also migratory cell populations that must populate the areas through which they migrate, and thus some cells get left behind while others advance. The planned data are likely to be relevant to other cell populations that also populate the areas through which they migrate, including neural crest-derived melanocytes and Schwann cell precursors.Read moreRead less
Electrical activity in early enteric neuron development. Intestinal movements and secretion are critical to the good health and nutrition of both humans and animals. These functions are regulated by a large nervous system contained within the intestinal wall, the enteric nervous system. This project will identify how enteric nerve cells develop and how their behaviour influences the development of other enteric nerve cells. This is will provide an important base for more applied research aime ....Electrical activity in early enteric neuron development. Intestinal movements and secretion are critical to the good health and nutrition of both humans and animals. These functions are regulated by a large nervous system contained within the intestinal wall, the enteric nervous system. This project will identify how enteric nerve cells develop and how their behaviour influences the development of other enteric nerve cells. This is will provide an important base for more applied research aimed at developing treatments for diseases like chronic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome. It will also contribute to the growing knowledge about how epigenetic factors can modify genetically programmed development within the nervous system.Read moreRead less
Cell cycle and enteric neuron and glial differentiation. Enteric neurons arise from a very small starting population of precursor (neural crest) cells, most of which emigrate from the hindbrain, and colonise the developing gut. Over a protracted period of time the precursors proliferate and differentiate into glia and many different types of neurons. Cell cycle exit is a critical event in the development of many neuron types, largely because the time at which cells exit from the cell cycle lim ....Cell cycle and enteric neuron and glial differentiation. Enteric neurons arise from a very small starting population of precursor (neural crest) cells, most of which emigrate from the hindbrain, and colonise the developing gut. Over a protracted period of time the precursors proliferate and differentiate into glia and many different types of neurons. Cell cycle exit is a critical event in the development of many neuron types, largely because the time at which cells exit from the cell cycle limits the number of neurons that will be generated. We will determine whether exit from the cell cycle contributes to the differentiation and specification of enteric neurons and glia.Read moreRead less
The jugular vagal sensory connectome regulating visceral function. Internal body organs have a rich supply of sensory nerve fibres that serve important roles in monitoring the local environment for normal and abnormal sensory stimuli. These nerve fibres have different origins and wire into brain circuits that regulate widely diverse physiological responses. In this study we aim to study the neural circuits and responses mediated by a group of these sensory nerves which has not been investigated ....The jugular vagal sensory connectome regulating visceral function. Internal body organs have a rich supply of sensory nerve fibres that serve important roles in monitoring the local environment for normal and abnormal sensory stimuli. These nerve fibres have different origins and wire into brain circuits that regulate widely diverse physiological responses. In this study we aim to study the neural circuits and responses mediated by a group of these sensory nerves which has not been investigated appreciably in the past. We believe that these sensory neural circuits will reveal important new insights into how internal organs perform their diverse and essential functions to sustain life.Read moreRead less
Wiring the gut's nervous system: formation and maturation of synapses. This project aims to determine how nerve circuits controlling intestinal functions develop; specifically how communication between specific nerve cells is established once they appear in the embryonic gut. It will fill a major hole in existing knowledge of mechanisms regulating the development of normal digestive behaviours.
Understanding brain mechanisms that control autonomic function. This project aims to understand the how the brain regulates sympathetic nerve activity, thereby increasing our understanding of the biology and function of nascent neurons on the adult brain stem. This challenges the current notion that new neurons are only made during development. The project will also determine how brain inflammation impacts blood-brain barrier function and affects sympathetic nerve regulation. The basic fundament ....Understanding brain mechanisms that control autonomic function. This project aims to understand the how the brain regulates sympathetic nerve activity, thereby increasing our understanding of the biology and function of nascent neurons on the adult brain stem. This challenges the current notion that new neurons are only made during development. The project will also determine how brain inflammation impacts blood-brain barrier function and affects sympathetic nerve regulation. The basic fundamental insights and conceptual advances into how autonomic function is controlled by the brain will provide a better understanding of these fundamental processes and will contribute to Australia’s priority research areas to improve health and advance product development.Read moreRead less
Novel computational tools for the analysis of sympathetic nervous system activity. This project will investigate electrical signals from the heart, resulting in novel tools for the assessment of sympathetic nervous system activity. The findings will contribute to advancing Australia's international leading position in health technology and improve community health.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130100537
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Neural regulation of immunity following brain injury. Following a brain injury, the brain tries to protect itself by blocking all inflammation. However, this renders the host with impaired immunity and increased risks to infections. The project aims to delineate the mechanisms behind this response, with the expected outcome of highlighting the important interplay between the nervous and immune system.
Pontine control of adaptive breathing behaviour in health and disease. This project will develop an understanding of the fundamental brain mechanisms associated with adaptive breathing during behaviour such as speech or swallowing. Adaptive breathing is impaired in lung disease, dementia and autism. This project will provide new insight to global brain function and treatment of central respiratory disorder.