New compound protects brain from degeneration after an early-life traumatic injury

Myelin is better preserved in TBI mice following LM22A-4 treatment.
Fletcher et al., (2021) Exp Neurol.

In young children under 5 years of age, there is a high risk of experiencing a traumatic brain injury, which can lead to death and life-long disability. Importantly, paediatric traumatic brain injury can be a life-long disability which often worsens over time into adolescence or adulthood, alongside ongoing brain development - making treatment more challenging.

A study led by Dr Bridgette Semple in the Central Clinical School’s Department of Neuroscience, has demonstrated that treatment with a novel compound was able to protect the brain from degeneration after an early-life brain injury. 

Gene therapy research into prevention of MS myelin damage

PhD student Jie-yu Chung, Department of Immunology, is researching the use of gene therapy to stop MS myelin damage. Jie-Yu won a Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia (MRSA) scholarship a year ago. Working with A/Prof Frank Alderuccio, Jie-yu has successfully introduced genes into immune system B and T stem cells to ensure that they recognised myelin as 'self', and therefore not attack it. The next stage is to identify the particular subset of cells which attack myelin.