Exciting QBI MND Research News

We recently spoke with Ross Maclean Senior Research Fellow and Head, Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Dr Adam Walker, and Post Doctoral Fellow, Dr Wei Luan (Leon) from the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) at the University of Queensland (UQ) about their exciting research project which could bring us a step closer to viable MND treatments.

In late April Adam’s team at QBI published their research findings in international journals 'Molecular Psychiatry' and 'Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences’. Their study on animal models focussed on a protein called TDP-43 which is found in every cell of the body but plays an important role in the health of motor neurons.

When asked about their initial objectives from the research project Leon said ‘We were interested with firstly how the TDP-43 protein abnormal change induced the cell stress pathway because that's a key pathway we assume that could cause the neuron death and we wanted to see exactly what genes, or biochemical targets were being changed in the neurons that are being affected by TDP-43 changes.’

They ran two research projects looking at how the TDP-43 proteins become dysfunctional in motor neurons. Their study found that diseased versions of the TDP-43 protein can damage healthy versions of the protein which then creates a cycle of protein dysfunction and degeneration over time. They also found that the biochemical pathways which control neuron death are triggered early, even before MND symptoms begin.

This major outcome in learning more about the cause of MND will hopefully allow more research and trials to be conducted on more effective drugs and treatments to slow the progression of MND or even cure it! Dr Walker said that ‘to change the course of the disease we need pharmaceutical drugs that can prevent neuron death and this TDP43 protein dysfunction.’

Adam told us ‘I think the most exciting thing about the project is that we found some changes that happen in the nerves very early on in the disease. So before the mice are developing, any signs of MND - but we know that they will in the future - we can see in the brain and spinal cord of these animals that there are particular biochemical pathways that are activated and that that's what is driving those neurons to then degenerate in the disease. What Leon found is that these particular genes are activated very early in the disease. If we can target some of those with new drugs, then it should be protective. We tried one drug and it didn't actually work. So that was disappointing for us, but also good to know because now we know what not to try. So now we have some other targets that we're following up with after that as well.’

When asked about the future direction of the project Adam told us ‘We're using the knowledge that we have gained to test new drugs targeting the similar biochemical pathways. So we're hopeful that some of those will lead to potential drugs that could in future go into clinical trials.’

Dr Walker’s team consists of 12 team members. He has been researching MND for over 15 years and has a PhD in the biochemistry of MND. Dr Luan has been working with Dr Walker for the last three years and comes from a background of working in the field of psychiatric, and cognitive and behavioural change.

Now that Leon’s paper has been published the team are hopeful that their findings will inform further MND research projects globally. Adam said ‘We've had good feedback from people, not just in Australia, but overseas as well, who are interested in the findings and are using that for their own research now. So it's informing further research from other groups, not just from ours.’

The University of Queensland have more MND researchers than any other university in Australia. With all of the exciting MND research projects and over 100 people working in different labs around UQ it was interesting to hear about the UQ Collective. The Collective of UQ researchers comes together regularly to share information on their projects and collaborate.

This news gives us hope that perhaps the key to unlocking the mystery of MND and possibly even a cure, or at least more effecitive treatments, could be found right here in Queensland.

Pictured (L-R): Dr Wei Luan and Dr Adam Walker at QBI