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Associate Professor Adam Walker
Associate Professor

Adam Walker

Email: 

Overview

Background

Dr Adam Walker received his BSc(Hons) in Biochemistry from the University of Tasmania, and PhD in Neuroscience from the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health at the University of Melbourne, focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms of motor neuron disease (MND). He undertook a postdoctoral fellowship with Professor Virginia Lee at the Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania (2011-2015), developing new transgenic TDP-43 mouse models of disease. Dr Walker was previously an NHMRC CJ Martin Overseas Biomedical Research Fellow and was awarded an NHMRC RD Wright Career Development Fellowship (2018-2022), to continue his research on neurodegenerative diseases. His research has been supported by fellowships and project grants from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, the Australian National Foundation for Medical Research and Innovation, Dementia Australia, Motor Neuron Disease Research Institute of Australia, MonSTaR Foundation and the Cure for MND Foundation.

Availability

Associate Professor Adam Walker is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Melbourne

Research interests

  • Motor neuron disease (MND)/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

    Molecular mechanisms of disease and pre-clinical studies in model systems.

Works

Search Professor Adam Walker’s works on UQ eSpace

50 works between 2007 and 2024

1 - 20 of 50 works

Featured

2023

Journal Article

Early activation of cellular stress and death pathways caused by cytoplasmic TDP-43 in the rNLS8 mouse model of ALS and FTD

Luan, Wei, Wright, Amanda L., Brown-Wright, Heledd, Le, Sheng, San Gil, Rebecca, Madrid San Martin, Lidia, Ling, Karen, Jafar-Nejad, Paymaan, Rigo, Frank and Walker, Adam K. (2023). Early activation of cellular stress and death pathways caused by cytoplasmic TDP-43 in the rNLS8 mouse model of ALS and FTD. Molecular Psychiatry, 28 (6), 2445-2461. doi: 10.1038/s41380-023-02036-9

Early activation of cellular stress and death pathways caused by cytoplasmic TDP-43 in the rNLS8 mouse model of ALS and FTD

Featured

2023

Journal Article

Aggregation-prone TDP-43 sequesters and drives pathological transitions of free nuclear TDP-43

Keating, Sean S., Bademosi, Adekunle T., San Gil, Rebecca and Walker, Adam K. (2023). Aggregation-prone TDP-43 sequesters and drives pathological transitions of free nuclear TDP-43. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 80 (4) 95, 1-23. doi: 10.1007/s00018-023-04739-2

Aggregation-prone TDP-43 sequesters and drives pathological transitions of free nuclear TDP-43

Featured

2022

Journal Article

TDP-43 pathology: from noxious assembly to therapeutic removal

Keating, Sean S., San Gil, Rebecca, Swanson, Molly E.V., Scotter, Emma L. and Walker, Adam K. (2022). TDP-43 pathology: from noxious assembly to therapeutic removal. Progress in Neurobiology, 211 102229, 102229. doi: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2022.102229

TDP-43 pathology: from noxious assembly to therapeutic removal

2024

Journal Article

Exercise training induces mild skeletal muscle adaptations without altering disease progression in a TDP-43 mouse model

Tsitkanou, Stavroula, Lindsay, Angus, Abbott, Gavin, Foletta, Victoria, Walker, Adam K., Russell, Aaron P. and Della Gatta, Paul A. (2024). Exercise training induces mild skeletal muscle adaptations without altering disease progression in a TDP-43 mouse model. Journal of Applied Physiology, 137 (3), 728-745. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00192.2023

Exercise training induces mild skeletal muscle adaptations without altering disease progression in a TDP-43 mouse model

2024

Journal Article

A transient protein folding response targets aggregation in the early phase of TDP-43-mediated neurodegeneration

San Gil, Rebecca, Pascovici, Dana, Venturato, Juliana, Brown-Wright, Heledd, Mehta, Prachi, Madrid San Martin, Lidia, Wu, Jemma, Luan, Wei, Chui, Yi Kit, Bademosi, Adekunle T., Swaminathan, Shilpa, Naidoo, Serey, Berning, Britt A., Wright, Amanda L., Keating, Sean S., Curtis, Maurice A., Faull, Richard L. M., Lee, John D., Ngo, Shyuan T., Lee, Albert, Morsch, Marco, Chung, Roger S., Scotter, Emma, Lisowski, Leszek, Mirzaei, Mehdi and Walker, Adam K. (2024). A transient protein folding response targets aggregation in the early phase of TDP-43-mediated neurodegeneration. Nature Communications, 15 (1) 1508, 1508. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-45646-9

A transient protein folding response targets aggregation in the early phase of TDP-43-mediated neurodegeneration

2023

Journal Article

UndERACting ion channels in neurodegeneration

Jacobs, Matisse T., San Gil, Rebecca and Walker, Adam K. (2023). UndERACting ion channels in neurodegeneration. Trends in Neurosciences, 47 (2), 87-89. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.11.002

UndERACting ion channels in neurodegeneration

2023

Conference Publication

Applying novel human iPSC-derived neuronal models to investigate modulators of TDP-43 pathology

Jacobs, Matisse, Gil, Rebecca San and Walker, Adam K. (2023). Applying novel human iPSC-derived neuronal models to investigate modulators of TDP-43 pathology. HOBOKEN: WILEY.

Applying novel human iPSC-derived neuronal models to investigate modulators of TDP-43 pathology

2023

Conference Publication

Moving Past the BBB - Screening for the Most Functional CNS-Tropic AAV

Merjane, Jessica, Brown-Wright, Heledd, Luu, Luan, Chung, Roger, Walker, Adam and Lisowski, Leszek (2023). Moving Past the BBB - Screening for the Most Functional CNS-Tropic AAV. 26th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy, Los Angeles, CA, United States, 16-20 May 2023. Cambridge, MA, United States: Cell Press. doi: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.04.017

Moving Past the BBB - Screening for the Most Functional CNS-Tropic AAV

2023

Journal Article

Microglial CD68 and L-ferritin upregulation in response to phosphorylated-TDP-43 pathology in the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis brain

Swanson, Molly E.V., Mrkela, Miran, Murray, Helen C., Cao, Maize C., Turner, Clinton, Curtis, Maurice A., Faull, Richard L.M., Walker, Adam K. and Scotter, Emma L. (2023). Microglial CD68 and L-ferritin upregulation in response to phosphorylated-TDP-43 pathology in the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis brain. Acta Neuropathologica Communications, 11 (1) 69, 1-22. doi: 10.1186/s40478-023-01561-6

Microglial CD68 and L-ferritin upregulation in response to phosphorylated-TDP-43 pathology in the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis brain

2023

Book Chapter

Application of WGCNA and PloGO2 in the analysis of complex proteomic data

Wu, Jemma X., Pascovici, Dana, Wu, Yunqi, Walker, Adam K. and Mirzaei, Mehdi (2023). Application of WGCNA and PloGO2 in the analysis of complex proteomic data. Statistical analysis of proteomic data: methods and tools. (pp. 375-390) edited by Thomas Burger. New York, NY, United States: Humana Press. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1967-4_17

Application of WGCNA and PloGO2 in the analysis of complex proteomic data

2022

Journal Article

Cryptic inclusions UNCover losses driving neurodegeneration

Bademosi, Adekunle T. and Walker, Adam K. (2022). Cryptic inclusions UNCover losses driving neurodegeneration. Trends in Genetics, 38 (9), 889-891. doi: 10.1016/j.tig.2022.06.004

Cryptic inclusions UNCover losses driving neurodegeneration

2022

Journal Article

Impaired glymphatic function in the early stages of disease in a TDP-43 mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Zamani, Akram, Walker, Adam K., Rollo, Ben, Ayers, Katie L., Farah, Raysha, O’Brien, Terence J. and Wright, David K. (2022). Impaired glymphatic function in the early stages of disease in a TDP-43 mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Translational Neurodegeneration, 11 (1) 17, 1-11. doi: 10.1186/s40035-022-00291-4

Impaired glymphatic function in the early stages of disease in a TDP-43 mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

2022

Journal Article

Early and progressive dysfunction revealed by in vivo neurite imaging in the rNLS8 TDP-43 mouse model of ALS

Zamani, Akram, Walker, Adam K., Rollo, Ben, Ayers, Katie L., Farah, Raysha, O'Brien, Terence J. and Wright, David K. (2022). Early and progressive dysfunction revealed by in vivo neurite imaging in the rNLS8 TDP-43 mouse model of ALS. NeuroImage: Clinical, 34 103016, 103016. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103016

Early and progressive dysfunction revealed by in vivo neurite imaging in the rNLS8 TDP-43 mouse model of ALS

2022

Journal Article

miR-23a suppression accelerates functional decline in the rNLS8 mouse model of TDP-43 proteinopathy

Tsitkanou, Stavroula, Della Gatta, Paul A., Abbott, Gavin, Wallace, Marita A., Lindsay, Angus, Gerlinger-Romero, Frederico, Walker, Adam K., Foletta, Victoria C. and Russell, Aaron P. (2022). miR-23a suppression accelerates functional decline in the rNLS8 mouse model of TDP-43 proteinopathy. Neurobiology of Disease, 162 105559, 105559. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105559

miR-23a suppression accelerates functional decline in the rNLS8 mouse model of TDP-43 proteinopathy

2021

Journal Article

Riluzole does not ameliorate disease caused by cytoplasmic TDP‐43 in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Wright, Amanda L., Della Gatta, Paul A., Le, Sheng, Berning, Britt A., Mehta, Prachi, Jacobs, Kelly R., Gul, Hossai, San Gil, Rebecca, Hedl, Thomas J., Riddell, Winonah R., Watson, Owen, Keating, Sean S., Venturato, Juliana, Chung, Roger S., Atkin, Julie D., Lee, Albert, Shi, Bingyang, Blizzard, Catherine A., Morsch, Marco and Walker, Adam K. (2021). Riluzole does not ameliorate disease caused by cytoplasmic TDP‐43 in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. European Journal of Neuroscience, 54 (6) ejn.15422, 6237-6255. doi: 10.1111/ejn.15422

Riluzole does not ameliorate disease caused by cytoplasmic TDP‐43 in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

2021

Journal Article

Mislocalisation of TDP-43 to the cytoplasm causes cortical hyperexcitability and reduced excitatory neurotransmission in the motor cortex

Dyer, Marcus S., Reale, Laura A., Lewis, Katherine E., Walker, Adam K., Dickson, Tracey C., Woodhouse, Adele and Blizzard, Catherine A. (2021). Mislocalisation of TDP-43 to the cytoplasm causes cortical hyperexcitability and reduced excitatory neurotransmission in the motor cortex. Journal of Neurochemistry, 157 (4), 1300-1315. doi: 10.1111/jnc.15214

Mislocalisation of TDP-43 to the cytoplasm causes cortical hyperexcitability and reduced excitatory neurotransmission in the motor cortex

2021

Journal Article

Unbiased label-free quantitative proteomics of cells expressing Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) mutations in CCNF reveals activation of the apoptosis pathway: a workflow to screen pathogenic gene mutations

Cheng, Flora, De Luca, Alana, Hogan, Alison L., Rayner, Stephanie L., Davidson, Jennilee M., Watchon, Maxinne, Stevens, Claire H., Muñoz, Sonia Sanz, Ooi, Lezanne, Yerbury, Justin J., Don, Emily K., Fifita, Jennifer A., Villalva, Maria D., Suddull, Hannah, Chapman, Tyler R., Hedl, Thomas J., Walker, Adam K., Yang, Shu, Morsch, Marco, Shi, Bingyang, Blair, Ian P., Laird, Angela S., Chung, Roger S. and Lee, Albert (2021). Unbiased label-free quantitative proteomics of cells expressing Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) mutations in CCNF reveals activation of the apoptosis pathway: a workflow to screen pathogenic gene mutations. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 14 627740, 1-18. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.627740

Unbiased label-free quantitative proteomics of cells expressing Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) mutations in CCNF reveals activation of the apoptosis pathway: a workflow to screen pathogenic gene mutations

2020

Journal Article

Impaired NHEJ repair in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is associated with TDP-43 mutations

Konopka, Anna, Whelan, Donna R., Jamali, Md Shafi, Perri, Emma, Shahheydari, Hamideh, Toth, Reka P., Parakh, Sonam, Robinson, Tina, Cheong, Alison, Mehta, Prachi, Vidal, Marta, Ragagnin, Audrey M G, Khizhnyak, Ivan, Jagaraj, Cyril J., Galper, Jasmin, Grima, Natalie, Deva, Anand, Shadfar, Sina, Nicholson, Garth A., Yang, Shu, Cutts, Suzanne M., Horejsi, Zuzana, Bell, Toby D M, Walker, Adam K., Blair, Ian P. and Atkin, Julie D. (2020). Impaired NHEJ repair in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is associated with TDP-43 mutations. Molecular neurodegeneration, 15 (1) 51, 51. doi: 10.1186/s13024-020-00386-4

Impaired NHEJ repair in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is associated with TDP-43 mutations

2020

Journal Article

Neurodegenerative disease-associated protein aggregates are poor inducers of the heat shock response in neuronal cells

Gil, R. San, Cox, D., McAlary, L., Berg, T., Walker, A. K., Yerbury, J. J., Ooi, L. and Ecroyd, H. (2020). Neurodegenerative disease-associated protein aggregates are poor inducers of the heat shock response in neuronal cells. Journal of Cell Science, 133 (15), 1-15. doi: 10.1242/jcs.243709

Neurodegenerative disease-associated protein aggregates are poor inducers of the heat shock response in neuronal cells

2020

Journal Article

Workflow for rapidly extracting biological insights from complex, multicondition proteomics experiments with WGCNA and PloGO2

Wu, Jemma X., Pascovici, Dana, Wu, Yunqi, Walker, Adam K. and Mirzaei, Mehdi (2020). Workflow for rapidly extracting biological insights from complex, multicondition proteomics experiments with WGCNA and PloGO2. Journal of Proteome Research, 19 (7), 2898-2906. doi: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.0c00198

Workflow for rapidly extracting biological insights from complex, multicondition proteomics experiments with WGCNA and PloGO2

Funding

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2026
    Elucidating the role of UNC13A risk variants in sporadic frontotemporal dementia
    Dementia Australia Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2025
    Exploring the therapeutic potential of a key chaperone against TDP-43 proteinopathy in MND
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc Innovator Grant
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2027
    Oligodendrocytes and TDP-43 pathology in MND
    Cure for MND Foundation - Discovery Research Grants
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2025
    Synaptic mechanisms of non-motor dysfunction in MND
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc Innovator Grant
    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
  • 2023 - 2025
    A Collaborative Multivariable Approach to Prevent Network Dysfunction in ALS (University of Tasmania administered MNDRA grant)
    University of Tasmania
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    Clearing TDP-43 pathology for MND therapy
    Cure for MND Foundation - Bill Guest Mid-Career Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Exploiting the neuroprotective effects of the gut microbiome for the treatment of spinocerebellar ataxia-3 and related neurodegenerative diseases (NHMRC Ideas Grant administered by Macquarie Uni).
    Macquarie University
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    NIBR Global Scholars Program Scholars Agreement
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2026
    Understanding the dynamics of TDP-43 aggregation in FTE using advanced imaging tools
    Dementia Australia Research Foundation
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2024
    Identifying proteins controlling post-translational modification of TDP-43
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc Innovator Grant
    Open grant
  • 2023
    High-resolution imaging of protein clumps in frontotemporal dementia and motor neuron disease
    Brain Foundation Research Grant
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2024
    New viral-mediated TDP-43 mouse models of MND
    Cure for MND Foundation - Impact Grants
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2024
    The Glymphatic System: Novel Biomarker of Disease Severity and Therapeutic Target (FightMND Impact Grant administered by Monash University)
    Monash University
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Defining the involvement of ubiquilin-2 in MND
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2021
    Is the brain's waste clearance system impaired in Motor Neurone Disease (Bethlehem Griffiths Research Foundation Grant led by Monash University)
    Monash University
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2024
    Preclinical development of centrally active complement C3a receptor modulators as disease-modifying drugs for motor neuron disease
    Cure for MND Foundation - Drug Development Grants
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Development of a TDP43-targeting gene therapy (FightMND Drug Development Grant administered by Macquarie University)
    Macquarie University
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2021
    New mouse models of TDP-43 pathology
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    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
  • 2020
    Using viruses to target TDP-43 pathology for pre-clinical studies of neurodegenerative disease
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    Genome-wide CRISPR screens to reveal regulators of TDP-43 aggregation and toxicity in motor neuron disease and frontotemporal dementia
    Brain Foundation Research Gift
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Rapid flow cytometry screen for identifying novel ALS drug leads (CDMRP Grant administered by University of Wollongong)
    University of Wollongong
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    Targeting the nucleo-cytoplasmic transport machinery in sporadic and familial ALS (MNDRIA Grant led by Macquarie University)
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Advanced Brightfield and Fluorescent High Speed and Throughput Slide Scanner for biological, medical, materials science, and agricultural applications
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    Pre-Clinical evaluation of novel therapies for clearance of TDP-43 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (NFMRI grant administered by Macquarie University)
    Macquarie University
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2022
    Neurodegenerative disease pathology, mechanisms, models and treatments
    NHMRC Career Development Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    Understanding the early disease mechanisms of motor neuron disease and frontotemporal dementia
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    Calpeptin, and related candidates, for the treatment of Machado Joseph Disease (NHMRC Project Grant led by Macquarie University)
    Macquarie University
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Associate Professor Adam Walker is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Associate Professor Adam Walker directly for media enquiries about:

  • Frontotemporal dementia
  • Motor Neuron Disease
  • Neurodegenerative disease mechanisms
  • Pre-clinical disease research
  • TDP-43

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For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au