Overview
Background
Dr. Richard Gordon leads a multi-disciplinary, industry-partnered research program in Translational Neuroscience which integrates immunology, drug development, pharmacology, metabolomics and microbial metagenomics. His group aims to understand and therapeutically target key pathological mechanisms which drive the onset and progression of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Their work combines target validation studies in human patients with mechanistic insights from disease models to develop and test novel therapeutic strategies that can be translated towards clinical trials.
Key research themes within this program include:
- Understanding how chronic immune and inflammasome activation contribute to neurodegeneration in the CNS
- The role of gut dysbiosis and gastrointestinal dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease pathophysiology
- Therapeutic targeting of the gut-brain axis for neuroprotection
- Drug discovery, development and repositioning for novel therapeutic targets
- Discovery and validation of clinical biomarkers for PD and ALS
- Clinical trials for disease-modifying therapeutic strategies
Availability
- Dr Richard Gordon is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Iowa
- Australasian Society of Clinical & Experimental Pharmacologists & Toxicologists, Australasian Society of Clinical & Experimental Pharmacologists & Toxicologists
Research interests
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Understanding and targeting the gut-brain axis in neurodegeneration
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Targeting immune and inflammatory mechanisms for neuroprotection
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Novel therapeutic approaches for regeneration of the central nervous system
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Clinical bio-markers for early detection of Parkinson's disease
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In silico approaches for therapeutic development
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Drug repositioning to accelerate new treatments for progressive neurodegenerative disorders
Research impacts
Dr. Gordon’s research has contributed to ground-breaking advances in the field of neuroinflammation and Parkinson’s disease, including discovery of a novel signalling paradigm for prokineticin signalling during neurodegeneration, and inflammasome activation as a driver of synuclein pathology and disease progression in PD. He established the Queensland Drug Repurposing Initiative (QDRI) which aims to accelerate new treatments for neurological diseases through drug repositioning. He is the Research Lead for the COMBO-PD clinical trial at UQ which is evaluating the therapeutic potential of restoring beneficial gut microbiota which are depleted in people with PD.
Dr. Gordon is a Board-certified toxicologist with the American Board of Toxicology (DABT) and has served as a member of the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee for the Australian Federal Government. He is also a Science Ambassador for the World Parkinson Coalition (WPC) for Australia and the Asia Pacific Region.
Works
Search Professor Richard Gordon’s works on UQ eSpace
2018
Journal Article
An overview of sleep and circadian dysfunction in Parkinson's disease
Mantovani, Susanna, Smith, Simon S., Gordon, Richard and O'Sullivan, John D. (2018). An overview of sleep and circadian dysfunction in Parkinson's disease. Journal of Sleep Research, 27 (3) e12673, e12673. doi: 10.1111/jsr.12673
2018
Journal Article
Chronic helminth infection perturbs the gut-brain axis, promotes neuropathology and alters behaviour
Giacomin, Paul R., Kraeuter, Ann Katrin, Albornoz, Eduardo A., Jin, Shuting, Bengtsson, Mia, Gordon, Richard, Woodruff, Trent M., Urich, Tim, Sarnyai, Zoltán and Soares Magalhães, Ricardo J. (2018). Chronic helminth infection perturbs the gut-brain axis, promotes neuropathology and alters behaviour. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 218 (9), 1511-1516. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiy092
2018
Conference Publication
C5aR1 is required for a-synuclein mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation
Gordon, Richard, Albornoz, Eduardo, Kanthasamy, Anumantha and Woodruff, Trent (2018). C5aR1 is required for a-synuclein mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation. 27th International Complement Workshop (ICW), Santa Fe, NM, United States, Sep 16-20, 2018. Kidlington, Oxford, United Kingdom: Pergamon Press. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2018.06.247
2018
Book Chapter
Inflammasomes in CNS diseases
Albornoz, Eduardo A., Woodruff, Trent M. and Gordon, Richard (2018). Inflammasomes in CNS diseases. Inflammasomes: clinical and therapeutic implications. (pp. 41-60) edited by Mario D. Cordero and Elisabet Alcocer-Gómez. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-89390-7_3
2017
Journal Article
The ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate does not inhibit synuclein mediated inflammasome activation in microglia
Deora, Vandana, Albornoz, Eduardo A., Zhu, Kevin, Woodruff, Trent M. and Gordon, Richard (2017). The ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate does not inhibit synuclein mediated inflammasome activation in microglia. Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, 12 (4), 1-7. doi: 10.1007/s11481-017-9754-5
2017
Book Chapter
Neuroinflammation as a therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases
Gordon, Richard and Woodruff, Trent M. (2017). Neuroinflammation as a therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases. Disease-modifying targets in neurodegenerative disorders: paving the way for disease-modifying therapies. (pp. 49-80) edited by Veerle Baekelandt and Evy Lobbestael. London, United Kingdom: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-805120-7.00003-8
2017
Conference Publication
Motor neuron disease proteins activate complement and generate C5a
Deora, Vandana, Mantovani, Susanna, Yerbury, Justin, Clark, Richard, Atkin, Julie, Lee, John, Gordon, Richard and Woodruff, Trent M. (2017). Motor neuron disease proteins activate complement and generate C5a. 16th European Meeting on Complement in Human Disease (EMCHD), Copenhagen, Denmark, 8-12 September 2017. Kidlington, Oxford, United Kingdom: Pergamon Press. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2017.06.144
2017
Book Chapter
Neuroinflammation as a therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases
Gordon, Richard and Woodruff, Trent M. (2017). Neuroinflammation as a therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases. Disease-modifying targets in neurodegenerative disorders. (pp. 43-64) edited by Veerle Baekelandt and Evy Lobbestael. Boston, MA, United States: Academic Press (Elsevier Press).
2017
Conference Publication
Gut microbiome changes induced by experimental trichuris muris infection are associated with decreased cognitive function in mice
Magalhaes, Ricardo J. Soares, Giacomin, Paul, Sarnyay, Zoltan, Kraeuter, Ann, Urich, Tim, Bengtsson, Mia, Jin, Shuting, Albornoz, Eduardo A., Gordon, Richard and Woodruff, Trent (2017). Gut microbiome changes induced by experimental trichuris muris infection are associated with decreased cognitive function in mice. 65th Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Tropical-Medicine-and-Hygiene (ASTMH), Atlanta, GA, United States, 13-16 November 2016. Deerfield, United States: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
2016
Journal Article
p73 gene in dopaminergic neurons is highly susceptible to manganese neurotoxicity
Kim, Dong-Suk, Jin, Huajun, Anantharam, Vellareddy, Gordon, Richard, Kanthasamy, Arthi and Kanthasamy, Anumantha G. (2016). p73 gene in dopaminergic neurons is highly susceptible to manganese neurotoxicity. NeuroToxicology, 59, 231-239. doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2016.04.012
2016
Conference Publication
Complement C5a activates microglial NLRP3 inflammasomes and drives neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease through C5aR1
Gordon, Richard, Albornoz, Eduardo A., Kumar, Vinod, Zhou, Kiane, Garin-Michaud, Ashoka, Mantavani, Susanna, Kanthasamy, Anumantha G. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2016). Complement C5a activates microglial NLRP3 inflammasomes and drives neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease through C5aR1. The XXVI International Complement Workshop (ICW), Kanazawa, Japan, 4-8 September 2016. Muenchen, Germany: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.imbio.2016.06.146
2016
Conference Publication
The complement C5a receptor, C5aR2 contributes to motor deficits in mouse models of Huntington's and Parkinson's disease
Li, R., Levin, S., Lee, J., Gordon, R. and Woodruff, T. (2016). The complement C5a receptor, C5aR2 contributes to motor deficits in mouse models of Huntington's and Parkinson's disease. International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Melbourne, Australia, 21-26 August 2016. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley - VCH. doi: 10.1002/eji.201670200
2016
Conference Publication
A pathogenic role for the C5a receptor, C5aR2, in mouse models of Huntington's and Parkinson's disease
Li, Rui, Lee, John D., Levin, Samantha, Gordon, Richard and Woodruff, Trent M. (2016). A pathogenic role for the C5a receptor, C5aR2, in mouse models of Huntington's and Parkinson's disease. The XXVI International Complement Workshop (ICW), Kanazawa, Japan, 4-8 September 2016. Muenchen, Germany: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.imbio.2016.06.186
2015
Journal Article
Fyn kinase regulates microglial neuroinflammatory responses in cell culture and animal models of parkinson’s disease
Panicker, Nikhil, Saminathan, Hariharan, Jin, Huajun, Neal, Matthew, Harischandra, Dilshan S., Gordon, Richard, Kanthasamy, Kavin, Lawana, Vivek, Sarkar, Souvarish, Luo, Jie, Anantharam, Vellareddy, Kanthasamy, Anumantha G. and Kanthasamy, Arthi (2015). Fyn kinase regulates microglial neuroinflammatory responses in cell culture and animal models of parkinson’s disease. Journal of Neuroscience, 35 (27), 10058-10077. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0302-15.2015
2015
Journal Article
Antiallodynic effects of alpha lipoic acid in an optimized RR-EAE mouse model of MS-neuropathic pain are accompanied by attenuation of upregulated BDNF-TrkB-ERK signalling in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord
Khan, Nemat, Gordon, Richard, Woodruff, Trent M. and Smith, Maree T. (2015). Antiallodynic effects of alpha lipoic acid in an optimized RR-EAE mouse model of MS-neuropathic pain are accompanied by attenuation of upregulated BDNF-TrkB-ERK signalling in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Pharmacology Research and Perspectives, 3 (3) e00137, 1-16. doi: 10.1002/prp2.137
2015
Conference Publication
Peripheral immune complement activation in neurodegenerative disease
Mantovani, S., Gordon, R., Ngo, S., Pfluger, C., O'Sullivan, J., Noakes, P., Henderson, R., McCombe, P. and Woodruff, T. (2015). Peripheral immune complement activation in neurodegenerative disease. 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. doi: 10.1111/jnc.13188
2015
Conference Publication
Paraquat activates the NLRP3 Inflammasome in microglia via the NADPH oxidase pathway
Albornoz, E., Deora, V., Robertson, B. A., Cooper, M. A., Schroder, K., Woodruff, T. M. and Gordon, R. (2015). Paraquat activates the NLRP3 Inflammasome in microglia via the NADPH oxidase pathway. International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Melbourne, Australia, Aug 21-26, 2016. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley-Blackwell.
2014
Journal Article
Elevation of the terminal complement activation products C5a and C5b-9 in ALS patient blood
Mantovani, S., Gordon, R., Macmaw, J. K., Plfluger, C. M., Henderson, R. D., Noakes, P. G., McCombe, P. A. and Woodruff, T. M. (2014). Elevation of the terminal complement activation products C5a and C5b-9 in ALS patient blood. Journal of Neuroimmunology, 276 (1-2), 213-218. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2014.09.005
2013
Conference Publication
Behavioural and pathological phenotyping of the C57BL/6J BACHD transgenic mouse model of Huntington’s disease
Mantovani, S., Li, R., Gordon, R., Kumar, V., Taylor, S. and Woodruff, T. M. (2013). Behavioural and pathological phenotyping of the C57BL/6J BACHD transgenic mouse model of Huntington’s disease. World Congress on Huntington’s disease, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 15-18 September 2013. Amsterdam, Netherlands: I O S Press.
2012
Journal Article
Proteolytic activation of proapoptotic kinase protein kinase Cδ by tumor necrosis factor α death receptor signaling in dopaminergic neurons during neuroinflammation
Gordon, Richard, Anantharam, Vellareddy, Kanthasamy, Anumantha G. and Kanthasamy, Arthi (2012). Proteolytic activation of proapoptotic kinase protein kinase Cδ by tumor necrosis factor α death receptor signaling in dopaminergic neurons during neuroinflammation. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 9 (1) 82. doi: 10.1186/1742-2094-9-82
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Richard Gordon is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Novel therapeutic strategies targeting the microbiota and gut-brain axis in Parkinson's disease
Gastrointestinal pathology and alterations in the gut microbiota are often early pathogenic changes seen in Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurological disorders. Clinical studies suggest that gastrointestinal deficits in people with PD, can often precede cardinal motor symptoms, based on which clinical diagnosis is confirmed. Emerging evidence suggests that specific alternations in the gut microbiota and gastrointestinal deficits are associated with neuronal dysfunction, chronic immune activation and progressive neurodegeneration seen in PD. Our translational research program on the gut-brain axis combines innovative preclinical mechanistic studies in model systems, with powerful big-data analytics on our clinical cohorts to understand the role of gut dysbiosis and gastrointestinal dysfunction in PD, with a focus on therapeutically tractable mechanisms that are involved. We use these insights to develop and test novel and clinically relevant neuroprotective strategies by which to slow, stop or even reverse neurodegeneration in PD.
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Pharmacological targeting of immune and inflammatory mechanisms for neuroprotection
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Clinical biomarkers for Parkinson's disease
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Novel therapeutic approaches for regeneration of the central nervous system
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AI-based approaches for therapeutic development and drug repositioning
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Drug discovery, development and repurposing to accelerate therapies for neurodegeneration
Supervision history
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Novel disease-modifying therapeutic targets for neuroinflammation and progressive neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease and motor neuron disease.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Trent Woodruff
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Unravelling the role of Parkinson's disease pathology in sleep and circadian disruption
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Oliver Rawashdeh
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
The role of GPR43 in neuroinflammation and the hSOD1G93A mouse model of motor neuron disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr John Lee, Professor Trent Woodruff
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Pharmacological targeting of the inflammasome: towards novel therapeutics for Parkinson's disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Avril Robertson, Professor Trent Woodruff
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Contribution of innate immune signalling to microglial activation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Noakes, Professor Trent Woodruff
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of the C5a Receptor, C5aR2, in Neurodegenerative Disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Trent Woodruff
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Richard Gordon directly for media enquiries about:
- Drug Repurposing
- Neuroinflamamtion
- Parkinson's disease
- Risk Assessments
- Toxicology
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