The Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, (AKA @WalkerNeuroLab), studies the molecular mechanisms of age-related neurodegenerative diseases, with a focus on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/motor neuron disease (MND) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
We opened in the Queensland Brain Institute at the University of Queensland in April 2018, with the support of the Ross Maclean Fellowship for MND Research and the Brazil Family Program for Neurology. From November 2024, we are building a new group within the Sydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health at The University of Sydney, led by Professor Adam Walker in the role of Chair of Pharmacological Sciences.
Projects
Our on-going research projects involve the use of cell and mouse models of disease, with additional studies of human brain and spinal cord samples, to identify the underlying biochemical changes that lead to disease and to test potential therapeutics in proof-of-concept pre-clinical studies.
We investigate how sub-cellular organelle disruptions, cellular stress mechanisms, protein aggregation and neuronal and glial alterations contribute to disease pathogenesis, using cutting-edge tools and techniques including CRISPR gene editing, adeno-associated viruses and advanced microscopy.
All our work is aimed towards finding new ways to treat neurodegenerative diseases.