The broad interest of our group relate to Parkinson's Disease (PD), Motor Neuron Disease (MND) and the role of dopamine on frontal lobe function. There are four general themes running the research: The pathophysiology of PD and MND, Cell therapies (CT) for PD, the role of dopamine in fore brain function and the use of scaffolds for brain repair.
PD and MND are both characterised by abnormal aggregation of protein in the cell. Our research in these two conditions is travelling parallel paths. In MND the focus is on the role of aberrant proteins in ER stress, the movement of vesicles and other cargo in the cell and secretion of SOD1 and related proteins. In PD, the interest is also on secretion and how abnormal secretion acts as a marker of disease and also points to the locus of pathology. Work related to this aim are detailed below.
Our interest here relates to how the new dopamine cells are recruited into brain circuitry and what factors regulate this. Our interest are in both the well recognised midbrain-striatal circuitry as well as in the pathway form the Sub Ventricular Zone to the Olfactory Bulb.
We have shown that when disabling movement disorders such as dyskinesias occur in PD, the dopamine levels in the striatum are similar to those produced by cocaine. Our hypotheses is that the dyskinesias are produced by the same molecular and structural changes as those that cause addiction. We are examining Cell therapy tools for ameliorating dyskinesias and believe that the insights and strategies gained form studying these movement disorders will be relevant to addiction.
In collaboration with the Materials Engineers at Monash University (John Forsythe), we are examining how to use artificial scaffolds to improve cell survival, axon growth and appropriate cell connectivity. These will be used as improved tissue culture media as well as transplantation devices.
“Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose.”
