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Latest research grant round -2020A $ 1.83m THE TOTAL AWARDED IN THE 2020A PROJECTS, SMALL PROJECTS AND FELLOWSHIPS ROUND IS $1,831,428. 10 Headlines Project grants Charting new neuronal survival pathways in Parkinson's disease Dr Indranil Basak, University of Otago $228,622 Parkinson’s disease is an incurable brain disease where dopaminergic neurons die, but interestingly, cortical neurons initially resist death. Two major contributors of dopaminergic neuronal death are toxic protein aggregation and impaired metal balance. Loss of a metal transporter, ATP13A2, in dopaminergic neurons causes abnormal protein aggregation resulting in neuronal death. However, loss of ATP13A2 in cortical neurons shows similar protein accumulation, but the cells survive. Dr Indranil Basak's project hypothesises that cortical neurons possess protective mechanisms to tackle toxic protein accumulation and metal imbalance. Investigating these protective mechanisms in cortical neurons will identify novel targets that could treat vulnerable dopaminergic neurons. Genetic causes of syndromic neurodevelopmental disorders in New Zealand families Dr Louise Bicknell, University of Otago $277,934 Studying the genetic causes of neurological disorders has tremendous power to connect disrupted genes with altered brain development. Dr Louise Bicknell proposes to study individuals impaired by disrupted neurodevelopment, using the latest DNA sequencing technology to pinpoint possible disease genes. She will utilise both patient cells and a new neural stem cell resource to generate evidence confirming disruption of these genes alters cell functioning and underlies disease, while also gaining insight into these genes in brain development. The overarching goal for this project is to directly help families affected by neurodevelopmental disorders using both genetics and molecular biology research. Identifying superheroes in neurodegenerative disease Associate Professor Stephanie Hughes, University of Otago $200,755 Brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, are uncurable. The recently described “superhero gene” concept provides a new way to understand and treat these diseases. Superheroes are individuals who have the genetic mutations that would usually guarantee severe disease, but never develop the disease because a variant in a second “superhero gene” compensates in some way. Identifying superheroes on a population-wide basis requires sequencing of millions of individuals. Instead, Associate Professor Stephanie Hughes will screen for superhero genes in a novel human neuronal model. This work has the potential to generate new targets for therapies for a range of brain diseases. Role of ryanodine receptors in Alzheimer’s disease Associate Professor Peter Jones, University of Otago $97,633 Part of a larger study funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a major concern for New Zealand’s aging population. Treatment is limited due to inadequate knowledge of the cellular changes occurring during AD. Studies show that inappropriate leak of calcium, through a protein (RyR2), can cause AD. However, why this