Associate Professor Shyuan Ngo
Associate Professor

Shyuan Ngo

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 31133

Background

I completed my PhD in Neuroscience at UQ in 2009. After this, I undertook postdoctoral training in motor neuron disease/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (MND/ALS) under the mentorship of neurologists at Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital. In 2012, I received a MND Research Australia Bill Gole Fellowship to develop a research focus to study metabolic dysfunction in MND/ALS. I started my independent research group at UQ in 2015, after receiving the Scott Sullivan MND Research Fellowship to lead a translational program to define the contribution of altered metabolic homeostasis to MND/ALS pathophysiology. In 2017, I relocated my laboratory to the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology to introduce the use of human stem cells for disease modelling into my reserach program. In 2020, I was awarded a FightMND Mid-Career Research Fellowship to transition into clinical trials.

My current research integrates studies in MND/ALS patients with studies in human-derived cell models (stem cell-derived neurons, human primary myosatellite cells, human myotubes) and mouse models of MND/ALS. I have served as lead investigator or co-investigator on several projects aimed at defining the mechanisms that drive MND/ALS and identifying therapeutic strategies for the disease. Projects have led to the expediting of clinical trials (NCT03506425; NCT04788745, NCT05959850). In 2021, I established the MND at UQ Collective to enhance national and international collaboration, and to facilitate community consultation to drive scientific and clinical discoveries in ALS and FTD (www.uq.edu.au/mnd-collective).

I have received invitations to contribute to high impact review articles (i.e., Brain, Nat Rev Neurol), and have received >20 invitations to speak at conferences including: 33rd International ALS/MND Symposium (2022, Plenary), 64th Japanese Society of Neurology Meeting (2023, Tokyo; Plenary), 3rd International Pan-Asian Consortium for Treatment and Research in ALS (PACTALS) Congress (2023, Kuala Lumpur), 18th International Congress on Neuromuscular Diseases (2024, Perth).

Availability

Associate Professor Shyuan Ngo is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Biological Sciences Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Cell metabolism Neurosciences

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Metabolic Dysfunction in Motor Neuron Disease/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

  • Biomarkers in Motor Neuron Disease/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

  • Neuromuscular Junction Formation, Maintenance and Stability

Search Professor Shyuan Ngo’s works on UQ eSpace

126 works between 2000 and 2025
All (126) Journal Article (85) Book Chapter (4) Conference Publication (34) Other Outputs (3)

41 - 60 of 126 works

2021

Journal Article

CNS glucose metabolism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a therapeutic target?

Tefera, Tesfaye Wolde, Steyn, Frederik J., Ngo, Shyuan T. and Borges, Karin (2021). CNS glucose metabolism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a therapeutic target?. Cell & Bioscience, 11 (1) 14, 14. doi: 10.1186/s13578-020-00511-2

CNS glucose metabolism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a therapeutic target?

2020

Journal Article

Increased lipid metabolism impairs NK cell function and mediates adaptation to the lymphoma environment

Kobayashi, Takumi, Lam, Pui Yeng, Jiang, Hui, Bednarska, Karolina, Gloury, Renee Elyse, Murigneux, Valentine, Tay, Joshua, Jacquelot, Nicolas, Li, Rui, Tuong, Zewen Kelvin, Leggatt, Graham, Gandhi, Maher K., Hill, Michelle M, Belz, Gabrielle T., Ngo, Shyuan, Kallies, Axel and Mattarollo, Stephen R. (2020). Increased lipid metabolism impairs NK cell function and mediates adaptation to the lymphoma environment. Blood, 136 (26), 3004-3017. doi: 10.1182/blood.2020005602

Increased lipid metabolism impairs NK cell function and mediates adaptation to the lymphoma environment

2020

Journal Article

Disorders of sleep and wakefulness in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): a systematic review

Lucia, Diana, McCombe, Pamela A., Henderson, Robert D. and Ngo, Shyuan T. (2020). Disorders of sleep and wakefulness in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): a systematic review. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, 22 (3-4), 1-9. doi: 10.1080/21678421.2020.1844755

Disorders of sleep and wakefulness in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): a systematic review

2020

Journal Article

Sphingolipids metabolism alteration in the central nervous system: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases

Bouscary, Alexandra, Quessada, Cyril, René, Frédérique, Spedding, Michael, Turner, Bradley J., Henriques, Alexandre, Ngo, Shyuan T. and Loeffler, Jean-Philippe (2020). Sphingolipids metabolism alteration in the central nervous system: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology, 112, 82-91. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2020.10.008

Sphingolipids metabolism alteration in the central nervous system: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases

2020

Journal Article

Drug repositioning in neurodegeneration: an overview of the use of ambroxol in neurodegenerative diseases

Bouscary, Alexandra, Quessada, Cyril, René, Frédérique, Spedding, Michael, Henriques, Alexandre, Ngo, Shyuan and Loeffler, Jean-Philippe (2020). Drug repositioning in neurodegeneration: an overview of the use of ambroxol in neurodegenerative diseases. European Journal of Pharmacology, 884 173446, 173446. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173446

Drug repositioning in neurodegeneration: an overview of the use of ambroxol in neurodegenerative diseases

2020

Journal Article

Genome-wide meta-analysis finds the ACSL5-ZDHHC6 locus is associated with ALS and links weight loss to the disease genetics

Iacoangeli, Alfredo, Lin, Tian, Al Khleifat, Ahmad, Jones, Ashley R., Opie-Martin, Sarah, Coleman, Jonathan R.I., Shatunov, Aleksey, Sproviero, William, Williams, Kelly L., Garton, Fleur, Restuadi, Restuadi, Henders, Anjali K., Mather, Karen A., Needham, Merilee, Mathers, Susan, Nicholson, Garth A., Rowe, Dominic B., Henderson, Robert, McCombe, Pamela A., Pamphlett, Roger, Blair, Ian P., Schultz, David, Sachdev, Perminder S., Newhouse, Stephen J., Proitsi, Petroula, Fogh, Isabella, Ngo, Shyuan T., Dobson, Richard J.B., Wray, Naomi R. ... Al-Chalabi, Ammar (2020). Genome-wide meta-analysis finds the ACSL5-ZDHHC6 locus is associated with ALS and links weight loss to the disease genetics. Cell Reports, 33 (4) 108323, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108323

Genome-wide meta-analysis finds the ACSL5-ZDHHC6 locus is associated with ALS and links weight loss to the disease genetics

2020

Journal Article

Altered skeletal muscle glucose-fatty acid flux in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Steyn, Frederik J., Li, Rui, Kirk, Siobhan E., Tefera, Tesfaye W, Xie, Teresa Y., Tracey, Timothy J., Kelk, Dean, Wimberger, Elyse, Garton, Fleur C., Roberts, Llion, Chapman, Sarah E., Coombes, Jeff S., Leevy, W. Matthew, Ferri, Alberto, Valle, Cristiana, René, Frédérique, Loeffler, Jean-Philippe, McCombe, Pamela A., Henderson, Robert D. and Ngo, Shyuan T. (2020). Altered skeletal muscle glucose-fatty acid flux in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Brain Communications, 2 (2) fcaa154, fcaa154. doi: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaa154

Altered skeletal muscle glucose-fatty acid flux in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

2020

Journal Article

The role of lipids in the central nervous system and their pathological implications in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Tracey, T. J., Kirk, S. E., Steyn, F. J. and Ngo, S. T. (2020). The role of lipids in the central nervous system and their pathological implications in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology, 112, 69-81. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2020.08.012

The role of lipids in the central nervous system and their pathological implications in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

2020

Journal Article

Prognostic value of weight loss in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Steyn, Frederik J and Ngo, Shyuan T (2020). Prognostic value of weight loss in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 91 (8), 813-813. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2020-323440

Prognostic value of weight loss in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

2020

Journal Article

Skeletal-Muscle Metabolic Reprogramming in ALS-SOD1G93A Mice Predates Disease Onset and Is A Promising Therapeutic Target

Scaricamazza, Silvia, Salvatori, Illari, Giacovazzo, Giacomo, Loeffler, Jean Philippe, Renè, Frederique, Rosina, Marco, Quessada, Cyril, Proietti, Daisy, Heil, Constantin, Rossi, Simona, Battistini, Stefania, Giannini, Fabio, Volpi, Nila, Steyn, Frederik J., Ngo, Shyuan T., Ferraro, Elisabetta, Madaro, Luca, Coccurello, Roberto, Valle, Cristiana and Ferri, Alberto (2020). Skeletal-Muscle Metabolic Reprogramming in ALS-SOD1G93A Mice Predates Disease Onset and Is A Promising Therapeutic Target. iScience, 23 (5) 101087, 101087. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101087

Skeletal-Muscle Metabolic Reprogramming in ALS-SOD1G93A Mice Predates Disease Onset and Is A Promising Therapeutic Target

2020

Journal Article

Significant out-of-sample classification from methylation profile scoring for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Nabais, Marta F., Lin, Tian, Benyamin, Beben, Williams, Kelly L., Garton, Fleur C., Vinkhuyzen, Anna A. E., Zhang, Futao, Vallerga, Costanza L., Restuadi, Restuadi, Freydenzon, Anna, Zwamborn, Ramona A. J., Hop, Paul J., Robinson, Matthew R., Gratten, Jacob, Visscher, Peter M., Hannon, Eilis, Mill, Jonathan, Brown, Matthew A., Laing, Nigel G., Mather, Karen A., Sachdev, Perminder S., Ngo, Shyuan T., Steyn, Frederik J., Wallace, Leanne, Henders, Anjali K., Needham, Merrilee, Veldink, Jan H., Mathers, Susan, Nicholson, Garth ... Wray, Naomi R. (2020). Significant out-of-sample classification from methylation profile scoring for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. npj Genomic Medicine, 5 (1) 10, 1-9. doi: 10.1038/s41525-020-0118-3

Significant out-of-sample classification from methylation profile scoring for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

2020

Journal Article

Monocytes and neutrophils are associated with clinical features in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

McGill, Raquel B., Steyn, Frederik J., Ngo, Shyuan T., Thorpe, Kathryn A., Heggie, Susan, Ruitenberg, Marc J., Henderson, Robert D., McCombe, Pamela A. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2020). Monocytes and neutrophils are associated with clinical features in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Brain Communications, 2 (1) fcaa013, fcaa013. doi: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaa013

Monocytes and neutrophils are associated with clinical features in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

2020

Journal Article

Progression and survival of patients with motor neuron disease relative to their fecal microbiota

Ngo, Shyuan T., Restuadi, Restuadi, McCrea, Allan F., Van Eijk, Ruben P., Garton, Fleur, Henderson, Robert D., Wray, Naomi R., McCombe, Pamela A. and Steyn, Frederik J. (2020). Progression and survival of patients with motor neuron disease relative to their fecal microbiota. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, 21 (7-8), 1-14. doi: 10.1080/21678421.2020.1772825

Progression and survival of patients with motor neuron disease relative to their fecal microbiota

2019

Journal Article

Loss of appetite is associated with a loss of weight and fat mass in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Ngo, Shyuan T., Van Eijk, Ruben P. A., Chachay, V. , Van Den Berg, Leonard H., Mccombe, Pamela A., Henderson, Robert D. and Steyn, Frederik J. (2019). Loss of appetite is associated with a loss of weight and fat mass in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, 20 (7-8), 1-9. doi: 10.1080/21678421.2019.1621346

Loss of appetite is associated with a loss of weight and fat mass in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

2019

Journal Article

Gut microbiota in ALS: possible role in pathogenesis?

McCombe, Pamela A., Henderson, Robert D., Lee, Aven, Lee, John D., Woodruff, Trent M., Restuadi, Restuadi, McRae, Allan, Wray, Naomi R., Ngo, Shyuan and Steyn, Frederik J. (2019). Gut microbiota in ALS: possible role in pathogenesis?. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 19 (9), 1-21. doi: 10.1080/14737175.2019.1623026

Gut microbiota in ALS: possible role in pathogenesis?

2019

Journal Article

Biomarkers of metabolism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Kirk, Siobhan E., Tracey, Timothy J., Steyn, Frederik J. and Ngo, Shyuan T. (2019). Biomarkers of metabolism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Frontiers in Neurology, 10 191, 191. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00191

Biomarkers of metabolism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

2018

Journal Article

Dysregulation of miRNA biogenesis machinery and miRNA/RNA ratio in skeletal muscle of ALS mice

Russell, Aaron P, Ghobrial, Lobna, Ngo, Shyuan, Yerbury, Justin, Zacharewicz, Evelyn, Chung, Roger and Lamon, Séverine (2018). Dysregulation of miRNA biogenesis machinery and miRNA/RNA ratio in skeletal muscle of ALS mice. Muscle and Nerve, 57 (5), 838-847. doi: 10.1002/mus.26039

Dysregulation of miRNA biogenesis machinery and miRNA/RNA ratio in skeletal muscle of ALS mice

2018

Journal Article

Hypermetabolism in ALS is associated with greater functional decline and shorter survival

Steyn, Frederik J., Ioannides, Zara A., van Eijk, Ruben P. A., Heggie, Susan, Thorpe, Kathryn A., Ceslis, Amelia, Heshmat, Saman, Henders, Anjali K., Wray, Naomi R., van den Berg, Leonard H., Henderson, Robert D., McCombe, Pamela A. and Ngo, Shyuan T. (2018). Hypermetabolism in ALS is associated with greater functional decline and shorter survival. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 89 (10), jnnp-2017. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2017-317887

Hypermetabolism in ALS is associated with greater functional decline and shorter survival

2018

Journal Article

Neuronal Lipid Metabolism: Multiple Pathways Driving Functional Outcomes in Health and Disease

Tracey, Timothy J., Steyn, Frederik J., Wolvetang, Ernst J. and Ngo, Shyuan T. (2018). Neuronal Lipid Metabolism: Multiple Pathways Driving Functional Outcomes in Health and Disease. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 11 10, 10. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00010

Neuronal Lipid Metabolism: Multiple Pathways Driving Functional Outcomes in Health and Disease

2018

Journal Article

Patient with ALS with a novel TBK1 mutation, widespread brain involvement, behaviour changes and metabolic dysfunction

McCombe, Pamela A., Ngo, Shyuan T., Guo, Christine Cong, Fazlollahi, Amir, Bollmann, Saskia, Wang, Liting, Hu, Xintao, Barth, Markus, Salvado, Olivier, Davis, Mark, Ceslis, Amelia, Robinson, Gail, Henderson, Robert D. and Steyn, Frederik J. (2018). Patient with ALS with a novel TBK1 mutation, widespread brain involvement, behaviour changes and metabolic dysfunction. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 90 (8), 952-954. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2018-318823

Patient with ALS with a novel TBK1 mutation, widespread brain involvement, behaviour changes and metabolic dysfunction

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2028
    Deciphering the role of muscle-derived extracellular vesicles in ALS pathology
    Cure for MND Foundation - Discovery Research Grants
    Open grant
  • 2025 - 2027
    Using the spatiotemporal dynamics signature of molecular pathology to decipher disease heterogeneity in ALS
    Cure for MND Foundation - Impact Grants
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2025
    Investigating alterations in axonal transport of diverse organelles in mouse and human models of MND
    Motor Neurone Disease Association
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2027
    Bio-inspired Nanoparticles for Mechano-Regulation of Stem Cell Fate
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2025
    Determining the dynamic association between mitochondria and the selective vulnerability of motor neurons in MND mice
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc Innovator Grant
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2026
    Targeted wearable robotic exoskeletons to improve movement in patients with ALS (Assistive Technology Grants)
    Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association (ALSA)
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2025
    A blood-based nanotechnology to decipher the extracellular vesicle code in ALS
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc Innovator Grant
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2027
    How does embryonic physiology shape the divergence of brain development?
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2027
    Australian Preclinical Research ALS (APRALS) Network: a roadmap for effective translation of therapeutics for sporadic MND (MNDRA and FightMND grant administered by University of Melbourne)
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Intramuscular allosteric agonism of purinergic P2X7 receptor as a pharmacological approach to enhance skeletal muscle regeneration in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (FightMND administered by IRFMN)
    IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2031
    Scott Sullivan Research Program
    The MND and ME Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    From the nucleus to the powerhouse: investigating how TDP-43-mitochondrial interactions wreak havoc in MND
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2025
    Untangling mechanisms of energy impairment across the ALS-FTD spectrum of disease
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc Innovator Grant
    Open grant
  • 2023
    Spatial Transcriptomics studies on human tissues
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2023
    Preclinical validation of macimorelin, a ghrelin mimetic, as treatment amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc Innovator Grant
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Dr Shyuan Ngo - AQ WRAP
    Advance Queensland Women's Research Assistance Program
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    MND in space and time: deciphering the spatio-temporal landscape of cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous drivers of motor neuron death in MND
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Macimorelin as a treatment for ALS/MND
    Aeterna Zentaris GmbH
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Targeting NAT1 to improve metabolism and slow disease progression in MND
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc Innovator Grant
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    N-acetyltransferase 1, a modifier of disease outcome in patients with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
    Metro North Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2022
    Targeting inflammasome-driven neuropathology and motor neuron death in MND using a clinically approved cancer drug.
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Targeting metabolic flexibility as a therapeutic approach for ALS (METALS)
    Cure for MND Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2021
    Tipping the Scales on MND: Preclinical testing of a compound with multiple actions to slow disease progression in MND
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2021
    Investigating the immunometabolic nature of motor neurone disease (MND): a study linking metabolism, inflammation, and clinical outcomes in MND patients
    Metro North Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2022
    Development of biomarkers for loss of fat free mass and disease progression in patients with Motor Neurone Disease
    Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Fine tuning metabolic flux: Modulating substrate oxidation as a therapeutic strategy in motor neuron disease (MND)
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    Safety and tolerability of Trimetazidine for the treatment of ALS
    Cure for MND Foundation - Drug Development Grants
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    MEND MND - RBWH support
    Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Point of care assessment of venous acid-base balance and creatinine as markers for disease progression in patients with MND
    Cure for MND Foundation - Impact Grants
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Using single cell RNA-sequencing of induced pluripotent stem cell derived neurones to identify novel disease mechanisms
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Investigating endocrine causes and consequence of loss of appetite in MND patients
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    EATT for MND: Exposing mechanisms of impaired appetite regulation in MND
    Wesley Medical Research Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Cell-free DNA and ALS; insight into disease mechanisms and progression
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2021
    Targeting the metabolism of glycosphingolipids as a novel therapeutic strategy for MND (Cure for MND grant administered by the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health)
    The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2020
    Assessment of metabolic health in neurodegeneration: studies in motor neurone disease (MND)
    Wesley Medical Research Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Metabolic exploration in neurodegenerative disease (MEND): synergy between derangements in systemic and muscle metabolism in MND
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2017
    Investigating the synergy between metabolic balance and the gut microbiome in motor neuron disease (MND).
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2016
    A state-of-the-art facility for simulataneous photo-stimulation, high speed imaging and electrophysiological recording of multiple neurons in brain tissue and living organisms
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Bioenergetic deficit in neurodegeneration: studies in motor neuron disease (MND)
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Instrumentation for the analysis of cellular and metabolic phenotypes
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Metabolic and gut dynamics in MND: Identifying novel strategies to meet energy needs in patients
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    In search of novel MND therapeutics: Investigating the role of selective KATP channel activators on cortical hyperexcitability, corticospinal circuit degeneration, and cortical bioenergetics
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2020
    The Scott Sullivan Research Fellowship
    The MND and ME Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Investigating the consequences of increased fat catabolism in motor neurone disease (MND)
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    Investigating the causes and consequences of growth hormone dysfunction in motor neuron disease
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    Investigating the role of fat metabolism in motor neuron disease
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Investigating the mechanisms underlying defective energy metabolism in motor neuron disease (MND)
    AAS - France-Australia Science Innovation Collaboration (FASIC) Program Early Career Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Bill Gole MND Postdoctoral Fellowship: Investigating the mechanisms underlying defective energy metabolism in motor neuron disease
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Shyuan Ngo is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

  • Metabolic dysfunction in Motor Neuron Disease/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

    Motor Neuron Disease/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (MND/ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that is characterised by the degeneration of both upper and lower alpha motor neurons. The irreversible loss of neurons in the brain and spinal cord results in progressive skeletal muscle paralysis and death within 2-5 years of diagnosis. There is no known cure for the disease, and treatments are of limited benefit. In the absence of a cure for MND/ALS, there is a pressing need to lessen the severity of symptoms associated with, and to slow the progression of disease, whilst enhancing quality of life.

    While the fundamental mechanisms that underlie the development of MND/ALS remains unknown, recent studies suggest that defective regulation of energy homeostasis may exacerbate the degenerative process throughout the course of disease. In the last 7 years, our team has made novel observations of metabolic dysfunction and altered metabolic flexibility in mouse models of MND, and paradigm-shifting discoveries that for the first time, highlight the impact of increased energy use (hypermetabolism) in patients with MND on disease progression and prognosis. In this time, our team have also successfully generated induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived motor neurons (including CRISPR-Cas9 TDP-43 iPSCs with isogenic controls), and to our knowledge the only directly reprogrammed motor neurons from MMD patients in Australia.

    All PhD projects fall under a broader research program that investigates how altered glucose and fatty acid metabolism contributes to the progression of MND/ALS. Projects span the clinical and basic research settings, and involve working with patients living with MND, or mouse and human-derived models of MND. Projects focus on identifying the mechanisms that cause metabolic dysfunction in MND, and identifying treatments to alleviate metabolic perturbations.

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Associate Professor Shyuan Ngo directly for media enquiries about:

  • Motor Neuron Disease

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