Raphael Ricci

My research aims to understand how cellular and molecular mechanisms that build, maintain and support the nervous system influence brain function and contribute to neurological disease. I am particularly interested in how neural progenitor cells, oligodendrocytes and their interactions with neurons shape brain development, neural circuit function and myelination, and how disruption of these processes can increase neuronal vulnerability and contribute to disease. This work spans neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, multiple sclerosis, motor neuron disease and related neurological conditions.

My research has contributed to understanding the cellular mechanisms that regulate the development, maintenance and resilience of the nervous system. During my PhD, I identified an important role for the voltage-gated calcium channel CaV1.2 in the survival of adult oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, providing new insight into how these cells are regulated in the mature brain. Building on this work, my research on the glutamate receptor subunit GluK4 (Grik4) identified a previously unrecognised role for this receptor in oligodendrocyte biology and demonstrated that its loss can protect against demyelination, highlighting Grik4 signalling as a potential target for modulating myelin vulnerability in neurological disease. At the Queensland Brain Institute, I investigated how altered cellular signalling influences neural progenitor proliferation, neurogenesis, neuronal migration and cortical development, providing insights relevant to neurodevelopmental disorders. Together, these research programs have established a broader focus on how cellular signalling and interactions between neural cell populations influence brain development, myelin biology and vulnerability to neurological disease, with potential opportunities for therapeutic intervention.

The longer-term impact of this research is to bridge fundamental neuroscience and therapeutic discovery by identifying cellular mechanisms that make neural circuits vulnerable to disease, determining which pathways can be therapeutically targeted, and generating preclinical evidence to support the development of new treatments. My research is ultimately directed towards translating discoveries in cellular and molecular neuroscience into better approaches to prevent, treat or modify neurological disorders. Alongside research, I am committed to education, mentorship and scientific communication, sharing biomedical knowledge and technical expertise with students, researchers and broader audiences. Through this combination of discovery, translation and education, I aim to contribute to improved understanding and treatment of neurological disease while developing the next generation of biomedical scientists.