PROJECT COLLAB
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pROjECT COllaB The Project Collab aim is to foster research collaboration. In this section, we highlight the research work of our Scientific Malaysian members.
NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH UNIvERSITY PUTRA MALAYSIA
Neuroscience is one of the escalating and most fascinating endeavours of biology research today. Neuroscience research has advanced knowledge on how a brain functions, how a neurone behaves and how damaged neuronal networks may lead to of the priority niche areas. Besides, steps have been taken to gather both the scientists and clinicians practicing knowledge sharing. Our research group, known as NeuroBiology and Genetics Group (NBGG), is interested in unraveling the role of genetic factors and molecular networks that regulate the development and function of the mammalian brain. Our group place a great emphasis in three main areas of research; (1) neurological disorders, (2) non-coding RNA roles in brain development and function and (3) technology transfer and development on gene delivery platform. NBGG is involved in deciphering the genetic landscape leading to disrupted molecular pathways and processes responsible for Down syndrome pathology (trisomy 21) and associated disorders (defective neurogenesis and intellectual disability). With limited access to Down syndrome patient tissues and the lack of comprehensive investigations at the molecular Down syndrome to facilitate genetic dissection of the learning, behavioural and neurological abnormalities in Down syndrome. In collaboration with Professor
regions of the Down syndrome brain at different stages of development. Spatiotemporal comparisons of gene syndrome brains provide a great genetic overview that may provide clues on what has gone wrong in the Down syndrome brain. In addition to the brain development, our interest also extends to identifying the molecular mechanism responsible for hypotonia (decrease in muscle tone), a cardinal feature, in Down syndrome. Our group plans to generate a comprehensive catalogue of molecular and cellular properties that affect locomotor functions and vesicle recycling mechanism at the neuromuscular junction research is to determine the effect of the additional gene dosage in the trisomic model. In the long term, NBGG aims to develop molecular therapies that may improve the quality of life among Down syndrome patients. A different branch of NBGG research is to understand the role of non-coding RNAs in regulating the development of the mammalian brain. Our group has a special interest in characterising the molecular role of a few novel microRNAs (miRNAs), that are found to be expressed throughout embryonic development especially in the brain. miRNAs are short RNA
lefT Cultured hippocampal neurones (in green) from the mouse. riGHT A cross section of a developing mouse brain. ISSUE 4 / 2012
