Speaker: Professor Xin-Fu Zhou, Research Chair in Neuroscience, University of South Australia
Title: 75ECD is a novel drug candidate for Alzheimer’s disease
Chair: Dr Lorraine Mackenzie, Centre Manager, Therapeutics Research Centre, University of South Australia and Basil Hetzel Institute, TQEH
Speaker biography: Our laboratory has a long standing interest in neurotrophins and their receptors in neural development and neurological disorders. In recent years, we are interested in how neurotrophins and their receptors signal in the neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer’s disease. BDNF is one of the most studied neurotrophins which is critical for brain functions such as learning and memory. Its precursor has a different role to that of mature BDNF. We have been investigating its role in spinal cord injury, in pain and in nerve development. Neurotrophins can be potential drugs for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases or nerve injuries including spinal cord injury and stroke.
We are also interested in developing methods to treat neurological diseases. We use a variety of techniques including biochemical, immunological, molecular and histological approaches in our research projects. The research activities are funded by NHMRC, ARC, UniSA and other funding agencies.