Neuroscience Research Programme
Research Themes
- Neural circuitry underlying stress-related disorders
- Neurogastroenterology
- Development
- Neurodegeneration
- Regeneration Neuroprotection and Therapeutics
- Neural basis of behaviour
- New Technologies
The Neuroscience research programme comprises coherently linked projects in the fields of Development, Neural plasticity, Repair, Degeneration, Regeneration, Behaviour, Disease pathogenesis and progression.
It ranges from fundamental studies of the nervous system in health and disease, to development of strategies for neuroprotection, neuroregeneration and restoration of function of damaged tissue in disorders such as
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Parkinson’s Disease (PD)
- Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)
- Huntington’s Disease (HD)
- Spinocerebellar ataxias and Epilepsy.
All of these areas will be energetically developed over the forthcoming 5 years, specifically as defined below.
The experimental programme encompasses genetic, molecular, cellular tissue system and behavioural levels. It entails integrated studies involving in vitro and in vivo experimentation, proteomic and genomic expression analyses, in vivo tracing and transplantation, as well as behavioural testing.
The range of techniques and expertise available is broad and is particularly strong in relation to post-genomic and cellular studies, whereby molecular events are analysed and are located with high precision in cells and tissues, in order to understand the complex interplay of events.
Most of the programme is integrated and multidisciplinary, encompassing genetic, molecular, cellular and tissue elements, and there is extensive collaboration between the groups. Planned programmes will further develop these collaborations.
National and international collaborations are extensive, and the current and future mutual collaboration will greatly facilitate expansion of these.
