Axonal Regeneration And Degeneration: Cellular And Molecular Mechanisms
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$622,655.00
Summary
Understanding how to repair of nerve damage following a traumatic injury, a vascular accident, or a degenerative condition, is essential to develop novel effective treatments. We have identified, in a simple genetic model system, the molecular mechanisms that allow a transected nerve to be repaired by reattachment of its two separated fragments. This 'axonal fusion' process is a highly promising innovative approach that can be exploited to restore the original neuronal circuit.
Molecular And Cellular Mechanisms Of Vertebrate Brain Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$586,428.00
Summary
The essential steps in forming a normal functioning brain occur during life as an embryo. If these processes go haywire, there can be serious repercussions for life after birth. This project seeks to understand how the brain forms during embryonic stages so that better treatments and procedures can be developed to deal with developmental problems.
Membrane Fusion In Axonal Regeneration: Molecules And Mechanisms
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$461,597.00
Summary
Limited nerve regeneration is the main obstacle for recovery from spinal cord and brain injuries. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying axonal regeneration is an essential step toward the development of novel effective therapies to enhance this process. In this proposal, we use the powerful molecular and genetic tools available for the small nematode worm C. elegans to identify and study axonal regeneration and discover the key molecules involved.
A Comparative Study Between The Effects Of C-terminally Truncated A-synuclein Metabolites And Full Length A-synuclein In Aged Rat Hippocampal Neurons
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$231,284.00
Summary
I am a neurologist from Xi�an Jiaotong University, China. My major research interest is in neurodegenerative diseases, especially Parkinson and Alzheimer�s disease. I enter this field because I know ageing population will have an enormous impact on the world�s economy. I started collaboration with Dr. Weiping Gai in Flinders University. We are interested in the toxic effects of both a-synuclein and its metabolites, their mechanisms and ways to block them.
Stroke Induced Disturbances In Glymphatic Clearance: Implications For Brain Repair?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$491,688.00
Summary
We have made a remarkable discovery that the ability of the brain to clear waste proteins is significantly impaired after stroke. This may have important implications for development of dementia and milder changes in thinking late after stroke. We already have some clues regarding potential mechanisms. In this project we will further investigate these mechanisms and their effects on the brain and develop our understanding of potential ways to reverse the clearance problem to develop treatments.
Understanding Axonal Fusion: An Alternative Mechanism To Repair Injured Axons.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$648,447.00
Summary
Being able to repair an injured nerve by stitching the two damages sections back together is an incredible challenge in neurosurgery, and a highly desired outcome for the surgeon as well as for the patient suffering a spinal cord or peripheral injury. We have discovered molecules that mediate nerve repair by favouring the reconnection of the two separated fragments. We will study how they function, and if they can be applied to repair injured mammalian neurons.
Microglial Paralysis In Post-stroke Neurodegeneration: Help Or Hindrance?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$512,351.00
Summary
Dementia and cognitive decline may occur months or years after a stroke, associated with delayed loss of brain cells in different brain regions. We recently discovered that the cells responsible for protection and repair of brain, called microglia, become paralysed in these regions. We will use a live-imaging microscope to determine whether the microglial paralysis causes brain cell death. We will also determine if a commonly used stroke prevention drug can worsen the microglial paralysis.
Sulfonadyn-based Dynamin I-specific Inhibitors And Epilepsy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$835,291.00
Summary
Epilepsy affects 1% of people, yet 30% do not respond to anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). Traditional drug discovery fails to improve this situation. Our team discovered dynamin as a new target for better AED design and our lead sulphonadyns reduces seizures in animals. We will design better sulfonadyns that can ultimately be used for clinical trials by designing the drugs away from its actions outside of neurons. If successful, this will accelerate new AED development with less side-effects.
Targeting Post-synaptic Tau To Treat Alzheimer's Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,686,311.00
Summary
We have previously identified post-synaptic tau as being critical in mediating toxicity in Alzheimer's disease brains. This project aims at understanding the exact underlying molecular mechanisms and, more importantly, developing novel drugs to block early toxicity that initiates cascades that eventually lead to brain atrophy and dementia. To achieve this aim, this project will generate and utilize models of Alzheimer's disease in combination with a broad range of latest analytical tools.