CBRResearch areas and expertise
Assoc Prof Maurice Curtis Anatomy Mechanisms of stem cell proliferation in neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding the regulation of stem/progenitor cell migration in the brain at the molecular and cellular level.Plasticity in the Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s brain.Early origins of neurodegenerative diseases with an emphasis on Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Prof Mike Dragunow Pharmacology Molecular mechanisms of human brain neurodegeneration and repair and development of novel treatments for brain diseases using adult human brain material, tissue microarray, cell culture modelscell lines and primary adult human brain cultures , molecular pharmacology and high content analysis. Understanding causes of human neurodegeneration and testing and development of new treatment strategies.
Prof Richard Faull Anatomy Molecular biological and anatomical studies on the chemical changes in the following major neurodegenerative diseases of the human brain – Huntington’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and Motor Neuron disease. Clinical profile and chemical anatomical pathology and genotype in HD to determine whether variations in clinical symptomatology are reflected by variations in the chemical pathology and HD gene. Molecular mechanisms and patterns of nerve cell death and repair in neurodegenerative diseases focusing on the role of transcription factors and growth factors. Investigations on the potential of various novel methods to treat neurodegenerative diseases.Neurogenesis in the human brain including whether stem cells in the adult human brain and spinal cord have the ability to proliferate and form new neurons in response to brain injury and disease, pathways of neurogenesis in the human brain, mechanisms involved in the induction of neurogenesis, and whether stem cells have the potential to ‘repair’ the injured or diseased adult brain and spinal cord.
Dr Fabiana Kubke AnatomyStudies on aspects of neuronal circuits that are important to process specific aspects of sensory information and to mediate specific behaviours. Combines comparative embryological, anatomical and physiological approaches within the theoretical framework of evolution.
Prof Louise Nicholson AnatomyInvestigating the role of inflammation in neurodegeneration, spinal cord injury and repair, cancer and other diseases. The role of the blood brain barrier and gap junctions in central nervous system injury, inflammation and diseases.Molecular mechanisms of degeneration in neurodegenerative diseases that have a late onset.
Dr Henry Waldvogel Anatomy Chemical neuroanatomy of the human brain and changes that occur in neurodegenerative diseases particularly in Huntington's, Parkinson's, Motor Neuron and Alzheimer's disease; major interest in the inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors GABAA GABAB and glycine receptors and their associated proteins.
Prof Martin WildAnatomyInterest in the anatomical, functional, and comparative organization of the avian brain, with particular reference to all the sensory and motor systems, especially as these relate to species-specific behaviours such as vocalization, respiration, feeding, navigation, and reproduction.
Dr Gerard DeibAnatomyClinically qualified radiologist with an interest in neurological disorders and MRI and PET scan imagining for identification of disease.
Dr Mark Sagar Auckland Bioengineering InstituteCreation of interactive autonomously animated systems which will help define the next generation of human-computer interaction and facial animation. Uses a combination of Bioengineering,Computational and Theoretical Neuroscience,ArtificialIntelligence and Interactive Computer Graphics Research.
Dr Grant Searchfield Audiology Hearing and deafness, Hearing aids, Auditory cognitive processes and training, Mechanisms of tinnitus assessment and management of tinnitus, , Auditory adaptation in response to aging and psychosocial influences . Particular interest in the use of digital technology APPs, multisensory processing, hearing aids and non-invasive brain stimulation for the assessment or management of tinnitus and Neurosensory disorders.
Prof Peter Thorne Audiology Interest in hearing and deafness with a major focus on the mechanisms, treatment and prevention of sensorineural deafness due to cochlear injury, especially after noise exposurenoise induced hearing lossand with age.Interest in the use of imaging to investigate the cochlea and auditory pathways and have developed techniques to assess cochlear injury.Assessing the integrity of the blood labyrinth barrier and development of inflammation in the human inner ear, especially with Meniere’s disease. Interest in the development of cochlear innervation and neurodegenerative changes in the auditory system associated with noise exposure and age and how these may relate to the development of cognitive impairment.Collaborate on human population epidemiological and intervention studies around noiseinduced hearing loss.
Prof Margaret Brimble ChemistryWith specialist interests in asymmetric synthesis, heterocyclic chemistry and organocatalysis, the research group use their extensive expertise to synthesise complex bioactive natural products. Synthesis of novel peptide hormones and proteins especially peptides derived from neurotrophins. Construction of peptide-based drugs engineered to improve pharmaceutical performance. Synthesis of complex bioactive natural products using asymmetric synthesis, heterocyclic chemistry and organocatalysis.Peptide chemistry, with two peptide-based drug candidates now in clinical trials. Synthesis of complex glycopeptides, lipopeptides, labelled peptides, peptidomimetics and long peptides. Rigorous structure determination using nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry and X-ray crystallography.Synthesis and screening compounds from natural product library using Biobank tissues.
Dr Burkhard WuenscheComputer ScienceResearch areas related to Computer Graphics including Game Technology, Computer Art, Biomedical Imaging & Visualization, Physically-based modelling, and cognitive psychology.
Assoc Prof Ralph BuckDance StudiesDance education curriculum, dance pedagogy and community dance, with an interest in dance therapy for neurological disorders.
Assoc Prof Stephen Buetow General PracticeInterests:Primary care neurology, Person-centred medicine, Theory and philosophy in medicine, Qualitative research, Quality and safety in general practice, Clinician-patient relationship, Role of evidence in professional practice, Access to health care, Health policy, including Pay-for-Performance.
Prof Ngaire Kerse General Practice Maximising health for older people by studying the pathway from impairment to dependence with a particular interest in the very old and those with dementia in all settings. The LILACS NZ cohort study examines predictors of successful advanced ageing in Māori and non-Māori. A mix of clinical, health services and public health research aims to improve care and outcomes for older people.
Dr Jian Guan Liggins Institute Biological function of insulin-like growth factor-1 and its metabolites in preventing and improving the recovery from acute injuries and in chronic neurological conditions in neonatal, infant, young adult and aging brains. Effects of nutrition on brain development, premature aging and cognitive function; vascular degeneration and remodelling in neurological conditions and recovery.
Prof John Montgomery Marine ScienceConducts field and laboratory studies to understanding the natural history and behaviour of fish and neurophysiology to investigate the underlying neural and sensory basis of behaviours including the mechanosensory hearing and lateral line systems, and in some fishes, a system to detect weak electric fields. Examining hindbrain processing of electrosensory information, which allows rays to distinguish between their own electric fields and the fields of their prey.
Prof Alan Barber Medicine Clinical neurology, stroke specialist. Research interests include the use of advanced neurophysiology and MRI techniques in stroke.The research group aims to take discoveries made in the lab and translate them into therapies for people living with the devastating effects of neurological illness. The major focus is on stroke, reflecting the current research interests of the team. This extends from epidemiology of stroke and transient ischemic attack, to new risk factors and acute therapies for stroke and new rehabilitation techniques.
Assoc Prof Cathy Stinear Medicine Neuro-rehabilitation, human neurophysiology and neural plasticity focused on translating neuroscience discoveries into clinical practice. Using neurophysiology and neuroimaging tools to accurately predict the potential for motor recovery after stroke for individual patients and testing a range of neuromodulation techniques including TMS for promoting neural plasticity and enhancing the effects of neuro-rehabilitation. l
Dr Clare WallNutritionThe main research focus is the interrelationship between the determinants ofmicronutrient status and health outcomes in the paediatric population. Research involves measuring the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies in various paediatric populations and looking at the relationship between nutritional status, dietary intake and health.
Prof Andrew Shelling Obstetrics and GynacologyPrimarily interested in understanding the molecular changes that occur during the development of genetic disorders in order to improve the early detection of disease, and to target more effective treatment.
Dr Ben Thompson Optometry& Vision Science Plasticity in the visual areas of the human brain and how this plasticity can be harnessed to develop treatments for brain-based visual disorders using a variety of techniques to investigate human brain plasticity and visual cortex function including psychophysics, functional magnetic resonance imagingfMRI , electroencephalographyEEG, transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS)and transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS).Ben is now at the University of Waterloo, Canada.
Prof Steven DakinOptometry & Vision Science Basic research in my lab focuses on understanding integration - how the brain turns a patchwork of neural activity into coherent percepts of useful global image structure. We also conduct applied research looking at how disorders of the eye and brain impact on vision. In particular we study visual function in people with neuropsychiatic (e.g. schizophrenia) neurodegenerative (e.g. Alzheimers) and neurodevelopmental (e.g. Autism Spectrum Disorder) conditions. We are currently focusing on how we can use the movements of people’s eyes (particularly children) to measure visual function. We also continue to make use of psychophysics, functional brain imaging and computational modeling to uncover how people see (both in and out of the clinic).
Dr Monica AcostaOptometry& Vision ScienceExploring retinal function and development in the normal and diseased retina.Interested in characterising the mechanisms of cell loss in the retina to aid the understanding of conditions that lead to blindness, particularly age related macular degeneration. The strategy of the research is to characterise the retina to advance clinical consideration of ocular diseases.We are also looking at the role of the retina as an “extension of the central nervous system” to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of brain conditions. Can the retina be a diagnostic tissue for a range of diseases?
Assoc Prof Bronwen ConnorPharmacology Gene therapy for Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease; development of stem cell replacement therapy for Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and stroke; identification of novel agents for the treatment of depression. Biological function and role of neural stem cells in the adult brain, and the response of neural stem cells to brain injury or disease. Somatic cell reprogramming of adult human fibroblasts to produce neural precursor cells for disease modelling, drug screening and cell replacement strategies.
Assoc Prof Michelle Glass PharmacologyFocus of research is predominantly on the signalling interactions of G-protein coupled receptors, and their potential role in neurodegenerative disease. Particular interest in cannabinoid CB1 receptors, their signalling interactions with other GPCRs and their contribution to neuroprotection or neurodegeneration in diseases such as Huntington's disease.Work focuses on using cell models to understand receptor signalling and cross talk, as well as utilising cells to model disease processes such as those that occur in Huntington's disease.
Dr Scott Graham PharmacologyInteractions occurring between the brain and immune system, including events that may exacerbate brain injury. Interested in events that culminate in influencing the viability and function of the brain’s resident immune cells (e.g. the microglia, astrocytes and endothelial cells). The health of these cells is critical to neuronal function and neurotransmission. A particular interest is the cannabinoid system and the potential of the CB2 receptor as an anti-inflammatory target for neurological diseases. Investigating the expression and function of the CB2 receptor in the human brain and influence it has over immune cells bearing CB2 in humans.
Assoc Prof Debbie Young Pharmacology Use of adeno-associated viralAAVvector for gene therapy and generation of rodent models of Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and Alzheimer’s disease, stroke and epilepsy.Development of new gene regulation, cell targeting and gene editing tools for gene therapy. Development of antibodybased cognitive enhancers and therapies using immunisation and passive antibody transfer methods and behavioural testing in rats. Role of brain autoantibodies from human patients in disease pathogenesis and behaviour.Development of novel recombinant proteins for generation of therapeutic antibodies.
Dr Ailsa McGregor PharmacyResearch in neurodegenerative diseases, neuroprotection and regeneration, in particular the development of disease models with clinically relevant endpoints as a basis for investigation of potential therapies. Active projects targeting Huntington’s Disease (HD) and stroke. A particular interest is in cholinergic transmission, alterations in neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity in transgenic models of HD. Stroke research aims to improve our understanding of the sub-acute phase of disease pathology and investigate potential neurorestorative and neuroregenerative strategies.
Dr Bruce Russell PharmacyInterests revolve around the acute and long term effects of recreational drug use on brain function and their metabolism using both in vivo models and human subjects. In the past I have also spent time examining the long-term effects of MDMA (Ecstasy), in addition to a number of other amphetamine analogues. Uses neurocognitive tests and EEG in addition to Magnetic Resonance Imaging.FuntionalMRI used to determine the acute effects of the active constituents of Party Pill drugs (BZP and TFMPP) in comparison to dexamphetamine.
Dr Suresh MuthukumaraswamyPharmacyMain research interests are in understanding how drugs alter brain activity and in developing methodologies to measure these changes in both healthy individuals and patient groups. Research uses a wide-range of neuroimaging techniques including magnetoencephalography, electroencephalography, functional MRI and MR spectroscopy. Studies have involved a range of compounds including hallucinogens (ketamine, LSD, psilocybin), anaesthetics (propofol, dexmedetomidine), anti-epileptics (vigabatrin, perampanel, tiagabine) and GABA-enhancers (zolpidem, gaboxadol).
Prof Alistair Gunn and Prof Laura BennetPhysiologyWe are a multidisciplinary systems physiology team, working on key physiological and pathophysiological questions in the foetus and new-born and on translational research. Current interests are focused on the cerebrovascular and cardiovascular adaptation to asphyxia in utero and the mechanisms and treatment of post-asphyxial encephalopathy
Dr Justin Dean PhysiologyAims to characterize the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the impairments in white matter and cortical maturation that occur following preterm birth. Current focus includes: Astrogliosis as an inhibitory environment for cell plasticity, Oligodendrocyte cell biology and responses to injury, physiological and pathophysiological roles of the extracellular matrix glycosaminoglycan hyaluronic acid in oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) proliferation and maturation, impact of prenatal insults on cortical development and neuronal maturation, glial/axonal signalling, use of high-field strength MRI for imaging of brain injury. Overall goal is to develop therapeutic strategies targeted to overcome oligodendrocyte injury and myelination deficits, and impaired cortical maturation, which occur following infection or cerebral hypoxia-ischemia in the developing brain.
Prof Janusz Lipski Physiology Cellular and molecular mechanisms of neuronal damage in models of Parkinson’s disease and stroke.Physiology and pathophysiology of dopaminergic neurons in the Substantia Nigra, and pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus. Cellular effects of neurotoxins, L-DOPA, psychostimulants and TRP channel activation. Neuroprotective role of glutamate transporters and antioxidants.
Assoc Prof Johanna Montgomery Physiology Molecular mechanisms that underlie the physiology of excitatory synapses in the brain combining electrophysiology, molecular biology and imaging techniques to investigate how changes in synapse function could underlie developmental disorders such as Autism, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Huntington's Disease and hearing changes.
Assoc Prof Kathy Mountjoy PhysiologyResearch foci include the physiological responses to pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides, the melanocortin peptides derived from POMC which are ligands for a family of 5 G-protein coupled receptors known as melanocortin receptors 1-5. Active projects include genetically modified mouse models to understand melanocortin peptides and obesity and melanocortin receptor signal transduction to understand melanocortin peptide biased agonism. Additionally,identifying genes and gene interactions which may be fundamental to the large lean body size phenotype of NZG/Kgm mice.
Assoc Prof Srdjan Vlajkovic Physiology Cellular and molecular basis of cochlear homeostasis, and mechanisms of sensorineural hearing loss. Oxidative stress and inflammation in the development of noise induced and age related hearing loss. PurinesATP and adenosineinvolvement in cochlear physiology and the development of cochlear injury.
Prof Rob Kydd Psychological Medicine The use of biomarkers to predict response to pharmacological treatment in a psychiatric conditions including schizophrenia, depression and the addictions.Methods include genetics, neurocognitive testing, EEG and MRI technologiesVBM, DTI, fMRI and spectroscopy .The effect of psychotropic drugs on neuroplasticity and neurogenesis.The use of cognitive enhancers in older people.
Assoc Prof Trecia WouldesPsychological MedicineDevelopment of children born to mothers who have used drugs during pregnancy
Assoc Prof Donna Rose Addis Psychology Combining neuroimaging, behavioural and neuropsychological methods to investigate how the brain remembers past experiences, how we use memory to simulate future events and construct a sense of identity, and how these abilities change in healthy ageing and dementia. The role of the hippocampus in memory, and research with populations with hippocampal dysfunction, including Alzheimer’s disease, temporal lobe epilepsy and depression.