About our research interests
The molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie neurodegeneration are the focus of research and in particular, the discovery of molecules that regulate energy metabolism and bioenergetics in the nerve terminal. The group uses a range of computational and experimental techniques to characterize how enzymes control metabolic events inside cells and how new drugs and biotherapeutics may be designed.
The role of mitochondria in controlling brain function is approached by examining:
- Energy metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction.
- Nerve terminal function using mathematical and computational analysis.
- Molecules that control mitochondrial fusion/fission and transport dynamics.
- Production of reactive oxygen species by the Electron Transport Chain.
- New mitochondrially-targetted drugs for use in Parkinson's disease.
Neurodegeneration in a dish:
Using the latest cell reprogramming technologies, induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell lines are generated from fibroblasts extracted from patients with neurodegenerative disorders, and reprogrammed using a mixture of reprogramming factors. Once stable iPS cell lines are generated, they are differentiated into neurons for biochemical analysis of mitochondrial function and dysfunction. These neurons are also used for drug discovery and toxicity screening.
Biotherapeutics Design:
A Systems Biology approach of mathematical and computational modelling of glycosyltransferases and metabolic networks is used to build models of N- and O-linked glycosylation inside CHO cells. Experimental validation of novel control points has allowed us to develop a platform technology for glycotailoring biotherapeutics and making them more human-like and more biologically active.