Fields of Research

Central nervous system
Cellular nervous system
Neurology and neuromuscular diseases
Neurogenetics
Autonomic nervous system
Biochemistry and cell biology
Neurosciences
Animal physiology - systems
Medical genetics (excl. cancer genetics)
Gene and molecular therapy
Public health
Ophthalmology
Cell development, proliferation and death
Epigenetics (incl. genome methylation and epigenomics)
Regenerative medicine (incl. stem cells)
Cell metabolism
Gene expression (incl. microarray and other genome-wide approaches)
Gene mapping

Research Objectives

Clinical health
Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences
Expanding knowledge in the biomedical and clinical sciences
Expanding knowledge in the health sciences
Treatment of human diseases and conditions
Expanding knowledge in psychology
Diagnosis of human diseases and conditions
Efficacy of medications
Specific population health (excl. Indigenous health)
Prevention of human diseases and conditions

Career Best Publications

Low-intensity transcranial magnetic stimulation promotes the survival and maturation of newborn oligodendrocytes in the adult mouse brain; Glia
NG2-glia as multipotent neural stem cells: Fact or fantasy?; Neuron
Oligodendrocyte dynamics in the healthy adult CNS: evidence for myelin remodeling; Neuron
p75 Neurotrophin receptor expression defines a population of BDNF-responsive neurogenic precursor cells; Journal of Neuroscience
PDGFRA/NG2 glia generate myelinating oligodendrocytes and piriform projection neurons in adult mice; Nature Neuroscience
Periaxonal and nodal plasticities modulate action potential conduction in the adult mouse brain; Cell Reports
Properties and Fate of Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells in the Corpus Callosum, Motor Cortex, and Piriform Cortex of the Mouse; Journal of Neuroscience
Subventricular zone stem cells are heterogeneous with respect to their embryonic origins and neurogenic fates in the adult olfactory bulb; Journal of Neuroscience
The voltage-gated calcium channel CaV1.2 promotes adult oligodendrocyte progenitor cell survival in the mouse corpus callosum but not motor cortex; Glia
White matter plasticity in adulthood; Neuroscience: An International Journal

Research Publications

β-Amyloid precursor protein: function in stem cell development and Alzheimer's disease brain; Neurodegenerative Diseases
Kif3a deletion prevents primary cilia assembly on oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, reduces oligodendrogenesis and impairs fine motor function; Glia
A direct interaction of Aβ with anionic cellular lipids mediates binding to neurons (Poster); 12th International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases
Activity-dependent calcium signalling in oligodendrocyte generation; International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Adult myelination: wrapping up neuronal plasticity; Neural Regeneration Research
Amyloid β precursor protein regulates neuron survival and maturation in the adult mouse brain; Molecular and Cellular Neurosciences
Amyloidosis is associated with thicker myelin and increased oligodendrogenesis in the adult mouse brain; Journal of Neuroscience Research
An Fgfr3-iCreER(T2) Transgenic Mouse Line for Studies of Neural Stem Cells and Astrocytes; Glia
APP regulates neural stem or progenitor cell differentiation through neurogenin 2 expresssion; Federation of European Neuroscience Societies
APP stimulates neural stem/progenitor cell proliferation by increasing cystatin C secretion. (Poster); 33rd Annual Meeting Australian Neuroscience Society
Calretinin and Neuropeptide Y interneurons are differentially altered in the motor cortex of the SOD1^G93A mouse model of ALS; Scientific Reports
Can thyroid hormone analogues be used to overcome hypomyelination and demyelination of the central nervous system?; EBioMedicine
Cell cycle dynamics of NG2 cells in the postnatal and ageing brain; Neuron Glia Biology
CNS-Resident Glial Progenitor/Stem Cells Produce Schwann Cells as well as Oligodendrocytes during Repair of CNS Demyelination; Cell Stem Cell
Comparison of CRISPR/Cas endonucleases for in vivo retinal gene editing; Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
Corticosterone administration alters white matter tract structure and reduces gliosis in the sub-acute phase of experimental stroke; International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Cystatin C regulates neural stem or progenitor cell proliferation (Poster); 34th Annual Meeting Australasian Neuroscience Society
Evaluating Tissue-Specific Recombination in a Pdgfrα-CreER^T2 Transgenic Mouse Line; PLoS One
Generation and characterisation of four multiple sclerosis iPSC lines from a single family; Stem Cell Research
Generation of MNZTASi001-A, a human pluripotent stem cell line from a person with primary progressive multiple sclerosis; Stem Cell Research
Glial Commitment of Mesencephalic Neural Precursor Cells Expanded as Neurospheres Precludes Their Engagement in Niche-Dependent Dopaminergic Neurogenesis; Stem Cells and Development
How do cells of the oligodendrocyte lineage affect neuronal circuits to influence motor function, memory and mood?; Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
How does calcium interact with the cytoskeleton to regulate growth cone motility during axon pathfinding?; Molecular and Cellular Neurosciences
How does neurovascular unit dysfunction contribute to multiple sclerosis?; Neurobiology of Disease
How does transcranial magnetic stimulation influence glial cells in the central nervous system?; Frontiers in Neural Circuits
Low density lipoprotein receptor related proteins as regulators of neural stem and progenitor cell function; Stem Cells International
Low density lipoprotein-receptor related protein 1 is differentially expressed by neuronal and glial populations in the developing and mature mouse central nervous system; PLoS One
Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) is a negative regulator of oligodendrocyte progenitor cell differentiation in the adult mouse brain; Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
Low-intensity transcranial magnetic stimulation promotes the survival and maturation of newborn oligodendrocytes in the adult mouse brain; Glia
Mild traumatic brain injury leads to decreased inhibition and a differential response of calretinin positive interneurons in the injured cortex; Journal of Neurotrauma
Neural progenitor number is regulated by nuclear factor-kappa B p65 and p50 subunit-dependent proliferation rather than cell survival; Journal of Neuroscience Research
Neural Stem and Progenitor Cells in Nervous System Function and Therapy; Stem Cells International
Neurogenin 2 mediates amyloid-β precursor protein-stimulated neurogenesis; Journal of Biological Chemistry
NG2 Glia Generate New Oligodendrocytes But Few Astrocytes in a Murine Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Model of Demyelinating Disease ; Journal of Neuroscience
NG2-glia as multipotent neural stem cells: Fact or fantasy?; Neuron
Oligodendrocyte dynamics in the healthy adult CNS: evidence for myelin remodeling; Neuron
Oligodendrogenesis and myelination regulate cortical development, plasticity and circuit function; Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology
Oligodendrogenesis increases in hippocampal grey and white matter prior to locomotor or memory impairment in an adult mouse model of tauopathy; European Journal of Neuroscience
p75 Neurotrophin receptor expression defines a population of BDNF-responsive neurogenic precursor cells; Journal of Neuroscience
PDGFRA/NG2 glia generate myelinating oligodendrocytes and piriform projection neurons in adult mice; Nature Neuroscience
Periaxonal and nodal plasticities modulate action potential conduction in the adult mouse brain; Cell Reports
Properties and Fate of Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells in the Corpus Callosum, Motor Cortex, and Piriform Cortex of the Mouse; Journal of Neuroscience
Protocadherin 15 suppresses oligodendrocyte progenitor cell proliferation and promotes motility through distinct signalling pathways; Communications Biology
Role of cystatin C in amyloid precursor protein-induced proliferation of neural stem/progenitor cells; Journal of Biological Chemistry
Safety of low-intensity repetitive transcranial magneTic brAin stimUlation foR people living with mUltiple Sclerosis (TAURUS): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial; Trials
SOCS3 negatively regulates LIF signaling in neural precursor cells; Molecular and Cellular Neurosciences
STIM1 is required for remodeling of the endoplasmic reticulum and microtubule cytoskeleton in steering growth cones; Journal of Neuroscience
Subventricular zone stem cells are heterogeneous with respect to their embryonic origins and neurogenic fates in the adult olfactory bulb; Journal of Neuroscience
Synapse dysfunction of layer V pyramidal neurons precedes neurodegeneration in a mouse model of TDP-43 proteinopathies; Cerebral Cortex
The microtubule-stabilizing drug Epothilone D increases axonal sprouting following transection injury in vitro; Molecular and Cellular Neurosciences
The N-terminal fragment of the β-amyloid precursor protein of Alzheimer's disease (N-APP) binds to phosphoinositide-rich domains on the surface of hippocampal neurons; Journal of Neuroscience Research
The regulation of the homeostasis and regeneration of peripheral nerve is distinct from the CNS and independent of a stem cell population; Development
The role of Neurogenin2 in APP-stimulated neural stem or progenitor cell differentiation; 34th Annual Meeting Australasian Neuroscience Society
The voltage-gated calcium channel CaV1.2 promotes adult oligodendrocyte progenitor cell survival in the mouse corpus callosum but not motor cortex; Glia
Treating Alzheimer’s disease with stem cells: how far have we come?; Cell and Gene Therapy Insights
Using MS induced pluripotent stem cells to investigate MS aetiology; Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders
White matter plasticity in adulthood; Neuroscience: An International Journal

Research Projects

Identifying the missing link between myelin loss and neurodegeneration [UNDER EMBARGO]; Multiple Sclerosis Australia (MSA)
A family-based approach to studying neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis; University of Tasmania (UTAS)
Acquisition of a VS200 Research Slide Scanner for the College of Health and Medicine; Ian Potter Foundation (IPF)
Adding new cells to the mature central nervous system - their role in plasticity, maintenance and repair (Level 2); National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Adopting a translational research paradigm to prevent or halt neurodegeneration in MS; Multiple Sclerosis Australia (MSA)
Clinical safety assessment of rTMS application for the treatment of MS; Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation (RHHRF)
Defining the unifying mechanisms of oxidative damage to oligodendrocyte DNA in neurotrauma, neurodegenerative and demyelinating disease; National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Do therapeutically targetable deficits in neuroplasticity drive Frontotemporal Dementia?; Dementia Australia Research Foundation Ltd (DARF)
Does a familial gene variant drive neurodegeneration in Multiple Sclerosis?; Brain Foundation (BrainF)
Enhancing activity to drive myelin repair in preclinical models of multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis Australia (MSA)
Equipment: Spinning Disk Confocal Microscope; The Marian and EH Flack Trust (Flack)
Establishing a state-of-the-art 'Live Cell Recording and Imaging Facility' at Menzies Research Institute Tasmania; Rebecca L Cooper Medical Research Foundation (RLCMRF)
Functional Neurogenesis in the injured Neocortex of the Nonhuman Primate; National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
How do myelinating cells alter brain circuits to facilitate learning?; Australian Research Council (ARC)
How do rare genetic variants cause multiple sclerosis? ; Menzies Institute for Medical Research (MIMR)
How does myelin loss impact dendritic spines? A possible mechanism for cognitive deficits in MS.; Multiple Sclerosis Australia (MSA)
Identifying pathological pathways and putative therapeutics for the treatment of nervous system pathology in people with Multiple Sclerosis; Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation (RHHRF)
Inhibitory dysfunction in the cortex: Tackling MND from the top down; Motor Neurone Disease Research Australia (MNDRA)
Investigating ferroptosis as a novel mechanism of oligodendrocyte death.; Brain Foundation (BrainF)
Investigating glutamate transporters in the brain?; University of Tasmania (UTAS)
Is the neurovascular niche the initiation point for multiple sclerosis?; Multiple Sclerosis Australia (MSA)
Multiple Sclerosis - Pathways to Protecting and Repairing the Central Nervous System ; Multiple Sclerosis Australia (MSA)
Myelin remodelling: a novel form of neural plasticity ; National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Neuron to glia signalling: learning how synaptic signalling can promote CNS remyelination; National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
New projection neurons are added to the brain throughout life - identifying their source and function; National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Old brain cells perform new tricks to allow life-long learning; Australian Research Council (ARC)
Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells - A new target for Alzheimer's Disease Treatment; Bupa Foundation/Alzheimer's Society (BUPA/ALZSOC)
Preclinical trial of rTMS in Multiple Sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis Australia (MSA)
Targeted delivery of the NgR-Fc protein to enhance neurorepair in a model of multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis Australia (MSA)
The Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Foundations Equipment Grant - Multi-User Electrophysiology Facility; Clive & Vera Ramaciotti Foundation (CVRF)
The Many Paths to Inhibitory Dysfunction and Excitotoxicity in ALS: Glial cells, not just innocent bystanders?; Motor Neurone Disease Research Australia (MNDRA)
The Menzies Multiple Sclerosis Flagship Program; Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)
The pathological effects of Alzheimer's disease on axons; Dementia Australia Research Foundation Ltd (DARF)
Understanding oligodendrocyte turnover: the key to functional remyelination; Multiple Sclerosis Australia (MSA)
Using non-invasive magnetic stimulation to promote remyelination; National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC)

Research Candidate Supervision

Deciphering the Role of Store Operated Calcium Entry in Neuronal Development in Vivo
Identifying Key Regulators of Myelination in the Central Nervous System
Impaired adipose tissue blood flow in obesity and the development of hypoxia
Interneurons and Traumatic Brain Injury
The Role of Interneurons in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Understanding the Mechanisms that Cause Alzheimer's Disease