Research Supervisor Connect
This project aims to discover and validate new molecular mechanisms of how synaptic plasticity, which underlies learning and memory, is regulated by protein interactions and phosphorylation-based signalling. Models of Hebbian and homeostatic plasticity are being screened by proteomics and phosphoproteomics. Functional validation is being done by electrophysiology and glutamate sensors in combination with genetic tools.
Westmead - Childrens Medical Research Institute
PHD
Discovering the signalling pathways that make memories
The Synapse Proteomics group uses cutting edge proteomics and bioinformatics analysis to understand both normal and perturbed brain function. Many aspects of how brains adapt to stimuli at the cellular and molecular level are unknown. We study phosphorylation-based cellular signalling. Phospho-signalling is the earliest marker of proteins and pathways that are involved in neuronal activity. Signalling is discovered using phosphoproteomics in deep screens that result in data sets of tens of thousands of phosphorylation sites. This data is simplified using bioinformatics tools that are being developed in collaboration. The screens are followed functional assays to verify new mechanisms that can potentially be exploited to develop therapeutics for diseases. These functional analyses may use genetic tools such as CRIPSR-Cas9, viral vectors or knock out animal models in combination with electrophysiology and microscopy.
The opportunity ID for this research opportunity is 2099