An online scientific seminar series focused on MND Research. Hear from national experts and emerging leaders in MND research including the latest clinical trials, drug developments, pre-clinical models, discovery research and collaborative platforms. Learn, connect and share with the Australian MND research community.
For enquiries related to the seminar series, please contact: Dr Sarah Bennett [email protected]
TUESDAY, APRIL 23RD 2024, 12PM AEST
Neuroinflammation is thought to be a major driver of neuronal degeneration and disease progression in MND. Work in Dr Yu’s laboratory has uncovered type I interferon (IFN-I) pathways as a major driver of TDP-43 pathology and axonal degeneration, modulating disease progression in vivo. Genetic deletion of IFN-I signalling prevents neuroinflammation and mitigates motor deterioration and neurodegeneration in a transgenic TDP-43 mouse model of MND. Dr Yu will discuss the implications of these findings on our understanding of neuroinflammatory pathways and how these may be therapeutically targeted.
Dr Chien-Hsiung (Alan) Yu is Head of the Neuroinflammation Laboratory at The Florey Institute. Dr Yu’s PhD focussed on the inner workings of the innate immune systems and understanding how it functions against infection at UQ. In 2016, he expanded his research focus to investigate the molecular events behind immune-mediated neurodegenerative pathway in MND, and secured a 5-year WEHI Centenary Fellowship. Dr Yu’s research program has been awarded several prestigious grants as PI/CI, including 3 NHMRC grants and fellowships, as well as MNDRA’s Daniel McLoone MND Research Prize in Australia. In 2022, Dr Yu has been recognised by the Frick Foundation Award for ALS research (Switzerland), and he has been appointed as their first Australian laureate.