Understanding The Origins Of Neurogenic Hypertension
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$668,914.00
Summary
Brain cells that control the cardiovascular system are thought to have stopped dividing by adulthood. We recently discovered that this is not the case. Our initial findings suggest that these nascent cells might be important for maintaining normal blood pressure. This work will allow us to elucidate the function of these nascent cells and how they integrate into the circuit that controls the cardiovascular system. Our findings will be fundamental for understanding diseases such as hypertension.
Identifying The Pathological Mechanism Of PCDH19-Girls Clustering Epilepsy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$523,988.00
Summary
Changes in the PCDH19 gene are a relatively common cause of epilepsy. To better understand the basis of this disorder, we have developed unique mouse models that mimic the genetic changes and symptoms of this condition. We will perform careful analysis of brain development in these models to determine the primary cause of this condition. These experiments will create greater understanding of how changes in PCDH19 cause epilepsy in girls and facilitate the development of new treatments.