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
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Melbourne
Research interests
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Funding
Current funding
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
-
Doctor Philosophy
The role of post-translational modification of TDP-43 in disease pathology
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Adekunle Bademosi
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Doctor Philosophy
Molecular pathway elucidation of TDP-43 pathology
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Massimo Hilliard
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Doctor Philosophy
TDP-43 and protein clearance in the pathogenesis and treatment of ALS and FTD
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Rebecca San Gil
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Doctor Philosophy
The Role of NFI Genes in Maintaining Astrocyte Differentiation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Rebecca San Gil
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Doctor Philosophy
The role of perineuronal nets in motor neuron disease: matrix barriers to local inflammation.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Mark Bellingham, Associate Professor Peter Noakes
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Doctor Philosophy
Targeting metabolic flexibility as a therapeutic approach for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (METALS)
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Frederik Steyn, Associate Professor Shyuan Ngo
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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