Overview
Background
Dr Odette Leiter is a neuroscientist at the Queensland Brain Institute whose research focuses on understanding the molecular and systemic mechanisms that regulate adult hippocampal neurogenesis during exercise, brain ageing and cognitive decline. Her work has advanced understanding of how blood-borne factors influence brain plasticity and cognitive function across the lifespan, with particular expertise in blood-brain communication during exercise and ageing.
She has made significant contributions to the discovery and characterisation of platelet-derived exerkines, circulating factors released in response to exercise that promote neurogenesis and improve cognitive function. Her research has also helped establish the trace element selenium as an important mediator of exercise-induced neurogenesis, cognitive recovery following stroke, and ferroptosis-related mechanisms associated with brain ageing.
As an ARC DECRA Fellow, Dr Leiter leads an independent research program investigating systemic regulators of brain ageing and cognitive resilience. Her current research examines how age-related alterations in peripheral and molecular signalling influence adult neural stem cell function, brain plasticity and cognitive ageing, with the goal of identifying novel strategies to maitain brain health throughout life.
Availability
- Dr Odette Leiter is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Technische Universität Dresden
Research interests
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Regulation of adult hippocampal neural stem cells by systemic factors
Research impacts
While primarily discovery-driven, Dr Leiter's work has translational potential through the identification of biological pathways that can be leveraged to promote healthy cognitive ageing and brain repair. By uncovering mechanisms that regulate neural plasticity and cognitive resilience, her work identifies potential targets for interventions aimed at preserving cognitive function and reducing the burden of age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disorders.
Works
Search Professor Odette Leiter’s works on UQ eSpace
2026
Journal Article
Ferroptosis susceptibility in hippocampal neural precursor cells influences neurogenesis and memory across aging
Zhang, Zhenyu, Carlisle, Alison K., Carter, Hamish P., Lowe, Joshua R., Mutlu-Smith, Menekse, Lee, Wendy, Leiter, Odette, Zhang, Shilong, Harding, Annie, Syed, Muhammed, Brici, David, Overall, Rupert W., Rund, Nicole, Steinhauer, Christina, Blackmore, Daniel G., Ayton, Scott, Bush, Ashley I., Chen, Ming, Kempermann, Gerd, Hou, Sheng-Tao and Walker, Tara L. (2026). Ferroptosis susceptibility in hippocampal neural precursor cells influences neurogenesis and memory across aging. Cell Stem Cell, 33 (6), 1031-1046.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2026.04.017
2024
Conference Publication
Exerkines and brain rejuvenation
Leiter, Odette, Lowe, Joshua, Brici, David and Walker, Tara L. (2024). Exerkines and brain rejuvenation. Alzheimer’s Association International Conference AAIC 2024, Philadelphia, PA United States, 28 July –1 August 2024. Hoboken, NJ United States: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/alz.083404
2024
Journal Article
Lrp8 knockout mice fed a selenium-replete diet display subtle deficits in their spatial learning and memory function
Leiter, Odette, Brici, David, Aththanayake Mudiyan, Imesh, Choo, Fang Ming, Winkler, Anna and Walker, Tara L. (2024). Lrp8 knockout mice fed a selenium-replete diet display subtle deficits in their spatial learning and memory function. Behavioral Neuroscience, 138 (2), 125-141. doi: 10.1037/bne0000585
2023
Journal Article
Platelet-derived exerkine CXCL4/platelet factor 4 rejuvenates hippocampal neurogenesis and restores cognitive function in aged mice
Leiter, Odette, Brici, David, Fletcher, Stephen J., Yong, Xuan Ling Hilary, Widagdo, Jocelyn, Matigian, Nicholas, Schroer, Adam B., Bieri, Gregor, Blackmore, Daniel G., Bartlett, Perry F., Anggono, Victor, Villeda, Saul A. and Walker, Tara L. (2023). Platelet-derived exerkine CXCL4/platelet factor 4 rejuvenates hippocampal neurogenesis and restores cognitive function in aged mice. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 4375, 1-20. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-39873-9
2023
Journal Article
Erratum: Selenium mediates exercise-induced adult neurogenesis and reverses learning deficits induced by hippocampal injury and aging (Cell Metabolism (2022) 34(3) (408–423.e8), (S1550413122000055), (10.1016/j.cmet.2022.01.005))
Leiter, Odette, Zhuo, Zhan, Rust, Ruslan, Wasielewska, Joanna M., Grönnert, Lisa, Kowal, Susann, Overall, Rupert W., Adusumilli, Vijay S., Blackmore, Daniel G., Southon, Adam, Ganio, Katherine, McDevitt, Christopher A., Rund, Nicole, Brici, David, Mudiyan, Imesh Aththanayake, Sykes, Alexander M., Rünker, Annette E., Zocher, Sara, Ayton, Scott, Bush, Ashley I., Bartlett, Perry F., Hou, Sheng-Tao, Kempermann, Gerd and Walker, Tara L. (2023). Erratum: Selenium mediates exercise-induced adult neurogenesis and reverses learning deficits induced by hippocampal injury and aging (Cell Metabolism (2022) 34(3) (408–423.e8), (S1550413122000055), (10.1016/j.cmet.2022.01.005)). Cell Metabolism, 35 (6), 1085-1085. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2023.04.019
2022
Journal Article
Selenium mediates exercise-induced adult neurogenesis and reverses learning deficits induced by hippocampal injury and aging
Leiter, Odette, Zhuo, Zhan, Rust, Ruslan, Wasielewska, Joanna M., Grönnert, Lisa, Kowal, Susann, Overall, Rupert W., Adusumilli, Vijay S., Blackmore, Daniel G., Southon, Adam, Ganio, Katherine, McDevitt, Christopher A., Rund, Nicole, Brici, David, Aththanayake Mudiyan, Imesh , Sykes, Alexander M., Rünker, Annette E., Zocher, Sara, Ayton, Scott, Bush, Ashley I., Bartlett, Perry F., Hou, Sheng-Tao, Kempermann, Gerd and Walker, Tara L. (2022). Selenium mediates exercise-induced adult neurogenesis and reverses learning deficits induced by hippocampal injury and aging. Cell Metabolism, 34 (3), 408-423.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2022.01.005
2021
Journal Article
An exercise ‘sweet spot’ reverses cognitive deficits of ageing by growth hormone-induced neurogenesis
Blackmore, Daniel G., Steyn, Frederik J., Carlisle, Alison, O’Keeffe, Imogen, Vien, King-Year, Zhou, Xiaoqing, Leiter, Odette, Jhaveri, Dhanisha, Vukovic, Jana, Waters, Michael J. and Bartlett, Perry F. (2021). An exercise ‘sweet spot’ reverses cognitive deficits of ageing by growth hormone-induced neurogenesis. iScience, 24 (11) 103275, 1-25. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103275
2021
Journal Article
L-lactate exerts a pro-proliferative effect on adult hippocampal precursor cells in vitro
Pötzsch, Alexandra, Zocher, Sara, Bernas, Stefanie N., Leiter, Odette, Rünker, Annette and Kempermann, Gerd (2021). L-lactate exerts a pro-proliferative effect on adult hippocampal precursor cells in vitro. iScience, 24 (2) 102126, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102126
2020
Journal Article
Platelets in Neurodegenerative Conditions—Friend or Foe?
Leiter, Odette and Walker, Tara L. (2020). Platelets in Neurodegenerative Conditions—Friend or Foe?. Frontiers in Immunology, 11 747, 747. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00747
2019
Journal Article
Platelets: the missing link between the blood and brain?
Leiter, Odette and Walker, Tara L. (2019). Platelets: the missing link between the blood and brain?. Progress in Neurobiology, 183 101695, 101695. doi: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2019.101695
2019
Journal Article
The systemic exercise-released chemokine lymphotactin/XCL1 modulates in vitro adult hippocampal precursor cell proliferation and neuronal differentiation
Leiter, Odette, Bernas, Stefanie N., Seidemann, Suse, Overall, Rupert W., Horenburg, Cindy, Kowal, Susann, Kempermann, Gerd and Walker, Tara L. (2019). The systemic exercise-released chemokine lymphotactin/XCL1 modulates in vitro adult hippocampal precursor cell proliferation and neuronal differentiation. Scientific Reports, 9 (1) 11831, 11831. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-48360-5
2019
Journal Article
The antidepressant effect of testosterone: an effect of neuroplasticity?
Walther, Andreas, Wasielewska, Joanna Marta and Leiter, Odette (2019). The antidepressant effect of testosterone: an effect of neuroplasticity?. Neurology, Psychiatry and Brain Research, 32, 104-110. doi: 10.1016/j.npbr.2019.05.004
2019
Journal Article
Exercise-induced activated platelets increase adult hippocampal precursor proliferation and promote neuronal differentiation
Leiter, Odette, Seidemann, Suse, Overall, Rupert W., Ramasz, Beáta, Rund, Nicole, Schallenberg, Sonja, Grinenko, Tatyana, Wielockx, Ben, Kempermann, Gerd and Walker, Tara L. (2019). Exercise-induced activated platelets increase adult hippocampal precursor proliferation and promote neuronal differentiation. Stem Cell Reports, 12 (4), 667-679. doi: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2019.02.009
2017
Journal Article
Isolation, culture and differentiation of adult hippocampal precursor cells
Bernas, Stefanie, Leiter, Odette, Walker, Tara and Kempermann, Gerd (2017). Isolation, culture and differentiation of adult hippocampal precursor cells. Bio-protocol, 7 (21). doi: 10.21769/bioprotoc.2603
2016
Journal Article
A common language: how neuroimmunological cross talk regulates adult hippocampal neurogenesis
Leiter, Odette, Kempermann, Gerd and Walker, Tara L. (2016). A common language: how neuroimmunological cross talk regulates adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Stem Cells International, 2016 (1) 1681590, 1-13. doi: 10.1155/2016/1681590
2013
Journal Article
Delayed and transient increase of adult hippocampal neurogenesis by physical exercise in DBA/2 mice
Overall, Rupert W., Walker, Tara L., Leiter, Odette, Lenke, Sina, Ruhwald, Susann and Kempermann, Gerd (2013). Delayed and transient increase of adult hippocampal neurogenesis by physical exercise in DBA/2 mice. PLoS One, 8 (12) e83797, e83797. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0083797
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Odette Leiter is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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How blood factors regulate adult neurogenesis and memory in mice
To understand the underlying mechanisms of exercise-induced adult neurogenesis to counteract age-related cognitive decline; in particular, how blood-borne factors are involved in this process.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
The effects of lifestyle interventions in adult neurogenesis and cognition
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Tara Walker
Media
Enquiries
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