Overview
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
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Metabolic Dysfunction in Motor Neuron Disease/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
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Biomarkers in Motor Neuron Disease/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
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Neuromuscular Junction Formation, Maintenance and Stability
Works
Search Professor Shyuan Ngo’s works on UQ eSpace
2017
Journal Article
17α-estradiol acts through hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin expressing neurons to reduce feeding behavior
Steyn, Frederik J., Ngo, Shyuan T., Chen, Vicky Ping, Bailey-Downs, Lora C., Xie, Teresa Y., Ghadami, Martin, Brimijoin, Stephen, Freeman, Willard M., Rubinstein, Marcelo, Low, Malcolm J. and Stout, Michael B. (2017). 17α-estradiol acts through hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin expressing neurons to reduce feeding behavior. Aging Cell, 17 (1) e12703, 1-6. doi: 10.1111/acel.12703
2017
Journal Article
Endocrine rhythms of growth hormone release: insights from animal studies
Steyn, Frederik J. and Ngo, Shyuan T. (2017). Endocrine rhythms of growth hormone release: insights from animal studies. Best Practice and Research: Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 31 (6), 521-533. doi: 10.1016/j.beem.2017.10.009
2017
Journal Article
Cross-ethnic meta-analysis identifies association of the GPX3-TNIP1 locus with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Benyamin, Beben, He, Ji, Zhao, Qiongyi, Gratten, Jacob, Garton, Fleur, Leo, Paul J., Liu, Zhijun, Mangelsdorf, Marie, Al-Chalabi, Ammar, Anderson, Lisa, Butler, Timothy J., Chen, Lu, Chen, Xiang-Ding, Cremin, Katie, Deng, Hong-Weng, Devine, Matthew, Edson, Janette, Fifita, Jennifer A., Furlong, Sarah, Han, Ying-Ying, Harris, Jessica, Henders, Anjali K., Jeffree, Rosalind L., Jin, Zi-Bing, Li, Zhongshan, Li, Ting, Li, Mengmeng, Lin, Yong, Liu, Xiaolu ... Fan, Dongsheng (2017). Cross-ethnic meta-analysis identifies association of the GPX3-TNIP1 locus with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Nature Communications, 8 (1) 611, 611. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-00471-1
2017
Journal Article
Exploring targets and therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: current insights into dietary interventions
Ngo, Shyuan T., Mi, Jia D., Henderson, Robert D., McCombe, Pamela A. and Steyn, Frederik J. (2017). Exploring targets and therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: current insights into dietary interventions. Degenerative Neurological and Neuromuscular Disease, 7, 95-108. doi: 10.2147/DNND.S120607
2017
Journal Article
Predictions of resting energy expenditure in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are greatly impacted by reductions in fat free mass
Ioannides, Z. A., Steyn, F. J., Henderson, R. D., McCombe, P. A. and Ngo, S. T. (2017). Predictions of resting energy expenditure in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are greatly impacted by reductions in fat free mass. Cogent Medicine, 4 (1), 1343000. doi: 10.1080/2331205X.2017.1343000
2017
Journal Article
Anthropometric measures are not accurate predictors of fat mass in ALS
Ioannides, Zara A., Steyn, Frederik J., Henderson, Robert D., Mccombe, Pamela A. and Ngo, Shyuan T. (2017). Anthropometric measures are not accurate predictors of fat mass in ALS. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, 18 (7-8), 486-491. doi: 10.1080/21678421.2017.1317811
2017
Conference Publication
Comparison of Faecal Microbe Diversity Between Motor Neurone Disease (Mnd) and Control Participants
Steyn, Frederik J., Restuadi, Restuadi, Ioannides, Zara, Ngo, Shyuan T., McRae, Allan, Wray, Naomi R., Henderson, Robert and McCombe, Pamela (2017). Comparison of Faecal Microbe Diversity Between Motor Neurone Disease (Mnd) and Control Participants. Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian-and-New-Zealand-Association-of-Neurologists (ANZAN), Gold Coast, Australia, 9-12 May 2017. London, United Kingdom: BMJ. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2017-316074.81
2017
Conference Publication
Hypermetabolism in Motor Neurone Disease Is Associated with a Greater Functional Decline But Not Weight Loss
Ioannides, Zara A., Ngo, Shyuan T., Henderson, Robert D., McCombe, Pamela A. and Steyn, Frederik J. (2017). Hypermetabolism in Motor Neurone Disease Is Associated with a Greater Functional Decline But Not Weight Loss. Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian-and-New-Zealand-Association-of-Neurologists (ANZAN), Gold Coast, Australia, May 09-12, 2017. LONDON: BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2017-316074.18
2017
Conference Publication
The risk of overestimating fatness in motor neurone disease: longitudinal assessments of body composition
Ioannides, Zara A., Steyn, Frederik J., Henderson, Robert D., McCombe, Pamela A. and Ngo, Shyuan T. (2017). The risk of overestimating fatness in motor neurone disease: longitudinal assessments of body composition. Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian-and-New-Zealand-Association-of-Neurologists (ANZAN), Gold Coast, Australia, 9-12 May 2017. London, United Kingdom: B M J Group. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2017-316074.35
2016
Journal Article
Cortical synaptic and dendritic spine abnormalities in a presymptomatic TDP-43 model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Fogarty, Matthew J., Klenowski, Paul M., Lee, John D., Drieberg-Thompson, Joy R., Bartlett, Selena E., Ngo, Shyuan T., Hilliard, Massimo A., Bellingham, Mark C. and Noakes, Peter G. (2016). Cortical synaptic and dendritic spine abnormalities in a presymptomatic TDP-43 model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Scientific Reports, 6 (1) 37968, 37968. doi: 10.1038/srep37968
2016
Journal Article
The deleterious effect of cholesterol and protection by quercetin on mitochondrial bioenergetics of pancreatic β-cells, glycemic control and inflammation: in vitro and in vivo studies
Carrasco-Pozo, Catalina, Tan, Kah Ni, Reyes-Farias, Marjorie, De La Jara, Nicole, Ngo, Shyuan Thieu, Garcia-Diaz, Diego Fernando, Llanos, Paola, Cires, Maria Jose and Borges, Karin (2016). The deleterious effect of cholesterol and protection by quercetin on mitochondrial bioenergetics of pancreatic β-cells, glycemic control and inflammation: in vitro and in vivo studies. Redox Biology, 9, 229-243. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2016.08.007
2016
Journal Article
Altered metabolic homeostasis in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: mechanisms of energy imbalance and contribution to disease progression
Ioannides, Z. A., Ngo, S. T., Henderson, R. D., McCombe, P. A. and Steyn, F. J. (2016). Altered metabolic homeostasis in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: mechanisms of energy imbalance and contribution to disease progression. Neurodegenerative Diseases, 15 (5-6), 382-397. doi: 10.1159/000446502
2016
Journal Article
Triheptanoin protects motor neurons and delays the onset of motor symptoms in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Tefera, Tesfaye W., Wong, Yide, Barkl-Luke, Mallory E., Ngo, Shyuan T., Thomas, Nicola K., McDonald, Tanya S. and Borges, Karin (2016). Triheptanoin protects motor neurons and delays the onset of motor symptoms in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Plos One, 11 (8) e0161816, e0161816. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161816
2016
Conference Publication
Neurodegeneration: an endocrine and metabolic perspective
Ngo, Shyuan (2016). Neurodegeneration: an endocrine and metabolic perspective. Annual Scientific Meeting of the Endocrine Society of Australia, Adelaide, Australia, 23-26 August 2015. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/cen.13010
2016
Journal Article
Development of a high-throughput method for real-time assessment of cellular metabolism in intact long skeletal muscle fibre bundles
Li, Rui, Steyn, Frederik J., Stout, Michael B., Lee, Kevin, Cully, Tanya R., Calderon, Juan C. and Ngo, Shuyan T. (2016). Development of a high-throughput method for real-time assessment of cellular metabolism in intact long skeletal muscle fibre bundles. The Journal of Physiology, 594 (24), 7197-7213. doi: 10.1113/JP272988
2015
Journal Article
Effect of deletion of ghrelin-o-acyltransferase on the pulsatile release of growth hormone in mice
Xie, T. Y., Ngo, S. T., Veldhuis, J. D., Jeffery, P. L., Chopin, L. K., Tschop, M., Waters, M. J., Tolle, V., Epelbaum, J., Chen, C. and Steyn, F. J. (2015). Effect of deletion of ghrelin-o-acyltransferase on the pulsatile release of growth hormone in mice. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 27 (12), 872-886. doi: 10.1111/jne.12327
2015
Journal Article
Altered expression of metabolic proteins and adipokines in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Ngo, S. T., Steyn, F. J., Huang, L., Mantovani, S., Pfluger, C. M. M., Woodruff, T. M., O'Sullivan, J. D., Henderson, R. D. and McCombe, P. A. (2015). Altered expression of metabolic proteins and adipokines in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 357 (1-2), 22-27. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2015.06.053
2015
Journal Article
The interplay between metabolic homeostasis and neurodegeneration: insights into the neurometabolic nature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Ngo, S. T. and Steyn, F. J. (2015). The interplay between metabolic homeostasis and neurodegeneration: insights into the neurometabolic nature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Cell Regeneration, 4 (5) 5, 1-14. doi: 10.1186/s13619-015-0019-6
2015
Journal Article
A metabolic switch toward lipid use in glycolytic muscle is an early pathologic event in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Palamiuc, Lavinia, Schlagowski, Anna, Ngo, Shyuan T., Vernay, Aurelia, Dirrig-Grosch, Sylvie, Henriques, Alexandre, Boutillier, Anne-Laurence, Zoll, Joffrey, Echaniz-Laguna, Andoni, Loeffler, Jean-Philippe and René, Frédérique (2015). A metabolic switch toward lipid use in glycolytic muscle is an early pathologic event in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. EMBO Molecular Medicine, 7 (5), 526-546. doi: 10.15252/emmm.201404433
2015
Conference Publication
Triheptanoin delays symptom onset in the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1G93A) mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Tefera, T., Yide, W., Ni, T. K., Tanya, M., Shyuan, N. and Karin, B. (2015). Triheptanoin delays symptom onset in the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1G93A) mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. 25th Biennial Meeting of the International-Society-for-Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific-Society-for-Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian-Neuroscience-Society, Cairns Australia, 23-27 August 2015. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell .
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Shyuan Ngo is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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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
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Doctor Philosophy
Fine tuning metabolic flux: Modulating substrate oxidation as a therapeutic strategy in motor neuron disease (MND)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Noakes, Associate Professor Frederik Steyn
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Doctor Philosophy
Fine tuning metabolic flux: Modulating substrate oxidation as a therapeutic strategy in motor neuron disease (MND)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Noakes, Associate Professor Frederik Steyn
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Doctor Philosophy
Fine tuning metabolic flux: Modulating substrate oxidation as a therapeutic strategy in motor neuron disease (MND)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Noakes, Associate Professor Frederik Steyn
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Doctor Philosophy
Targeting metabolic flexibility as a therapeutic approach for ALS (METALS)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Robert Henderson, Associate Professor Frederik Steyn
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Doctor Philosophy
Non-traditional biomarkers for motor neuron disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Robert Henderson, Associate Professor Frederik Steyn
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Doctor Philosophy
Bio-inspired Nanoparticles for Mechano-Regulation of Stem Cell Fate
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Noakes, Dr Ruirui Qiao
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Doctor Philosophy
Targeting metabolic flexibility as a therapeutic approach for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (METALS)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Frederik Steyn, Associate Professor Adam Walker
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Doctor Philosophy
Deciphering the spatio-temporal landscape of cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous drivers of motor neuron death in MND
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Quan Nguyen, Associate Professor Frederik Steyn
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Doctor Philosophy
Targeting metabolic flexibility as a therapeutic approach for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (METALS)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Frederik Steyn, Associate Professor Adam Walker
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Doctor Philosophy
Non-traditional biomarkers for motor neuron disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Robert Henderson, Associate Professor Frederik Steyn
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Doctor Philosophy
Redefining digital technology to provide patient centric platform to meet the need of patients with Motor Neuron Disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Rebecca Packer, Associate Professor Taylor Dick, Associate Professor Frederik Steyn
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Doctor Philosophy
Use of bioinformatics to decode disease heterogeneity in motor neuron disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Robert Henderson, Dr Thomas Shaw, Associate Professor Frederik Steyn
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Doctor Philosophy
NAT1 as a regulator of the metabolic response to disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Frederik Steyn
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Doctor Philosophy
MINDE: A patient-centred study on Metabolism, Individualised Nutrition & Daily Eating
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Frederik Steyn
Completed supervision
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Non-traditional biomarkers for motor neuron disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Robert Henderson, Associate Professor Frederik Steyn
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the neurometabolic component of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis through the generation of human cell-derived in vitro models
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ernst Wolvetang
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Stem Cell Derived Models to Investigate Age-Related Diseases
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Giovanni Pietrogrande, Professor Ernst Wolvetang
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Systems biology of motor neurone disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Naomi Wray, Dr Allan McRae
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Energy metabolism in epilepsy: Biochemical changes in glucose metabolism and the effects of metabolic treatments in murine seizure models
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Karin Borges
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Protective effects of medium-chain triglycerides in neurological disorders: epilepsy and ischemic stroke
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Karin Borges
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Energy metabolism in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: characterization of metabolic impairments in the hSOD1G93A mouse model
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Karin Borges
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
The role of the Growth Hormone/Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 axis in Neuromuscular Degeneration in a mouse model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Frederik Steyn
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2017
Master Philosophy
Energy metabolism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Assessment of body composition and energy expenditure
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Robert Henderson, Associate Professor Frederik Steyn, Professor Pamela McCombe
Media
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- Motor Neuron Disease
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