Associate Professor

Peter Noakes

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 51780
Phone: 
+61 7 336 51640

Availability

Associate Professor Peter Noakes is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Biological Sciences Immunology Neurosciences

Research interests

  • RESEARCH AREA 1:

    The cell and molecular mechanisms that underlie developmental motoneuron cell death. This involves examining a number of genetically modified mice that we and our colleagues have created. In each of these mice we have inactivated the genes that encode for synaptic signalling molecules, such as agrin and laminins, or molecules that are needed to cluster ion channels in the postsynaptic membranes of muscles and/or neurones, such as rapsyn and gephyrin.

  • RESEARCH AREA 2:

    The molecular mechanisms that underpin synapse formation and plasticity. This involves exploring the signal transduction mechanisms that are activated when signalling molecules such as neuregulin-1 (ARIA, beta-heregulin 1), or agrin active ErbB or MuSK receptors in the membrane of muscle respectively.

  • RESEARCH AREA 3:

    The biological role of P2X1, 2, 4 and 7 in the living animal. This is big project and involves making tissue inducible gene knockouts of these ion channels. At present we are well on the way to making such mice. However, before we can gain a proper understanding of their role in mice that are missing these ion channel subunits, we need to know their developmental expression profile in the developing mouse. In particular when and where they are expressed in the developing nervous system.

  • RESEARCH AREA 4:

    The biological role of TGFbeta 2 at adult synapses. This will involve looking at mice we are making where we the gene for TGFbeta is knockout out in adult muscle and/or in the adult spinal cord (a tissue inducible knockout out of TGFbeta 2). The mice should be ready sometime next year but no firm dates for this one.

  • RESEARCH AREA 5:

    The Control of synaptic gene expression. This project in the first part is simply a promoter and 3' UTR analysis of some 30 genes that appear at the same time in the postsynaptic region of skeletal muscle. It is aimed at looking for common regulatory elements and or spacing patterns of such elements (enhancers and repressors). It is high risk and involves some biological and mathematical knowledge. The biological part of this project will involve making transgenic mice with test non-coding DNA linked to reporter constructs such as green fluorescent protein (GFP). The aim here is to see if such elements can drive synapse expression of reporter genes (eg GFP)

  • RESEARCH AREA 6:

    The roles of insulin-like growth factors 1 and 2 (IGF-1, IGF-2), as well as insulin. in the proliferation and differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells. This is not a neurobiology-based project, but is early developmental biology one. It will also have links through our USA collaborators to understanding the role of such growth factors in the proliferation tumor cells within the brain (U87 a nasty brain tumor). In particular, this project is aimed at looking at the signalling pathways that are activated when these growth factors activate their receptors, which are on these stem and tumor cells. We also want to know if these signalling pathways activate proliferation and differentiation. And if so what are the down stream target genes involved.

Search Professor Peter Noakes’s works on UQ eSpace

170 works between 1983 and 2024
All (170) Journal Article (106) Book Chapter (1) Conference Publication (63)

41 - 60 of 170 works

2016

Journal Article

Tick holocyclotoxins trigger host paralysis by presynaptic inhibition

Chand, Kirat K., Lee, Kah Meng, Lavidis, Nickolas A., Rodriguez-Valle, Manuel, Ijaz, Hina, Koehbach, Johannes, Clark, Richard J., Lew-Tabor, Ala and Noakes, Peter G. (2016). Tick holocyclotoxins trigger host paralysis by presynaptic inhibition. Scientific Reports, 6 (1) 29446, 29446. doi: 10.1038/srep29446

Tick holocyclotoxins trigger host paralysis by presynaptic inhibition

2016

Journal Article

Glycinergic neurotransmission: A potent regulator of embryonic motor neuron dendritic morphology and synaptic plasticity

Fogarty, Matthew J., Kanjhan, Refik, Bellingham, Mark C. and Noakes, Peter G. (2016). Glycinergic neurotransmission: A potent regulator of embryonic motor neuron dendritic morphology and synaptic plasticity. Journal of Neuroscience, 36 (1), 80-87. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1576-15.2016

Glycinergic neurotransmission: A potent regulator of embryonic motor neuron dendritic morphology and synaptic plasticity

2016

Journal Article

Emerging roles of filopodia and dendritic spines in motoneuron plasticity during development and disease

Kanjhan, Refik, Noakes, Peter G. and Bellingham, Mark C. (2016). Emerging roles of filopodia and dendritic spines in motoneuron plasticity during development and disease. Neural Plasticity, 2016 3423267, 3423267.1-3423267.31. doi: 10.1155/2016/3423267

Emerging roles of filopodia and dendritic spines in motoneuron plasticity during development and disease

2016

Conference Publication

Neuroinflammation drives the neuronal degenerative phenotype in a rat model of Ataxia-telangiectasia

Quek, H., Luff, J., Cheung, K., Kozlov, S., Gatei, M., Lee, C. S., Bellingham, M., Noakes, P., Lim, Y. C., Barnett, N., Dingwall, S., Wolvetang, E., Mashimo, T., Roberts, T. and Lavin, M. (2016). Neuroinflammation drives the neuronal degenerative phenotype in a rat model of Ataxia-telangiectasia. International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Melbourne, Australia, Aug 21-26, 2016. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley - V C H Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. doi: 10.1002/eji.201670200

Neuroinflammation drives the neuronal degenerative phenotype in a rat model of Ataxia-telangiectasia

2015

Journal Article

Developmental changes in the morphology of mouse hypoglossal motor neurons

Kanjhan, Refik, Fogarty, Matthew J., Noakes, Peter G. and Bellingham, Mark C. (2015). Developmental changes in the morphology of mouse hypoglossal motor neurons. Brain Structure and Function, 221 (7), 1-32. doi: 10.1007/s00429-015-1130-8

Developmental changes in the morphology of mouse hypoglossal motor neurons

2015

Journal Article

Structural and functional characterization of dendritic arbors and GABaergic synaptic inputs on interneurons and principal cells in the rat basolateral amygdala

Klenowski, Paul M., Fogarty, Matthew J., Belmer, Arnauld, Noakes, Peter G., Bellingham, Mark C. and Bartlett, Selena E. (2015). Structural and functional characterization of dendritic arbors and GABaergic synaptic inputs on interneurons and principal cells in the rat basolateral amygdala. Journal of Neurophysiology, 114 (2), 942-957. doi: 10.1152/jn.00824.2014

Structural and functional characterization of dendritic arbors and GABaergic synaptic inputs on interneurons and principal cells in the rat basolateral amygdala

2015

Journal Article

Absence of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) extends survival in the hSOD1<sup>G93A</sup> mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Lee, Jia Y., Lee, John D., Phipps, Simon, Noakes, Peter G. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2015). Absence of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) extends survival in the hSOD1G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 12 (1) 90, 90. doi: 10.1186/s12974-015-0310-z

Absence of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) extends survival in the hSOD1<sup>G93A</sup> mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

2015

Journal Article

Motor cortex layer V pyramidal neurons exhibit dendritic regression, spine loss, and increased synaptic excitation in the presymptomatic hSOD1G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Fogarty, Matthew J., Noakes, Peter G. and Bellingham, Mark C. (2015). Motor cortex layer V pyramidal neurons exhibit dendritic regression, spine loss, and increased synaptic excitation in the presymptomatic hSOD1G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Journal of Neuroscience, 35 (2), 643-647. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3483-14.2015

Motor cortex layer V pyramidal neurons exhibit dendritic regression, spine loss, and increased synaptic excitation in the presymptomatic hSOD1G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

2015

Journal Article

Genetic absence of the vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter differentially regulates respiratory and locomotor motor neuron development

Fogarty, Matthew J., Yanagawa, Yuchio, Obata, Kunihiko, Bellingham, Mark C. and Noakes, Peter G. (2015). Genetic absence of the vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter differentially regulates respiratory and locomotor motor neuron development. Brain Structure and Function, 220 (1), 525-540. doi: 10.1007/s00429-013-0673-9

Genetic absence of the vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter differentially regulates respiratory and locomotor motor neuron development

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

Peripheral immune complement activation in neurodegenerative disease

2015

Journal Article

Loss of β2-laminin alters calcium sensitivity and voltage gated calcium channel maturation of neurotransmission at the neuromuscular junction

Chand, Kirat K., Lee, Kah Meng, Schenning, Mitja P., Lavidis, Nickolas A. and Noakes, Peter G. (2015). Loss of β2-laminin alters calcium sensitivity and voltage gated calcium channel maturation of neurotransmission at the neuromuscular junction. Journal of Physiology, 593 (1), 245-265. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2014.284133

Loss of β2-laminin alters calcium sensitivity and voltage gated calcium channel maturation of neurotransmission at the neuromuscular junction

2015

Conference Publication

Blood brain barrier impairment alters the pharmacokinetic properties of the complement C5aR1 antagonist PMX205 in mouse models of neurodegeneration

Kumar, Vinod, Lee, John, Noakes, Peter and Woodruff, Trent (2015). Blood brain barrier impairment alters the pharmacokinetic properties of the complement C5aR1 antagonist PMX205 in mouse models of neurodegeneration. 8th International Conference on Complement Therapeutics, Chania, Crete, Greece, 1-6 January 2015.

Blood brain barrier impairment alters the pharmacokinetic properties of the complement C5aR1 antagonist PMX205 in mouse models of neurodegeneration

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

Elevation of the terminal complement activation products C5a and C5b-9 in ALS patient blood

2014

Journal Article

Role for terminal complement activation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease progression

Woodruff, Trent M., Lee, John D. and Noakes, Peter G. (2014). Role for terminal complement activation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease progression. Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 111 (1), E3-E4. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1321248111

Role for terminal complement activation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease progression

2013

Journal Article

A method for the three-dimensional reconstruction of Neurobiotin(TM)-filled neurons and the location of their synaptic inputs

Fogarty, Matthew J., Hammond, Luke A., Kanjhan, Refik, Bellingham, Mark C. and Noakes, Peter G. (2013). A method for the three-dimensional reconstruction of Neurobiotin(TM)-filled neurons and the location of their synaptic inputs. Frontiers in Neural Circuits, 7 (OCT) 153, 1-18. doi: 10.3389/fncir.2013.00153

A method for the three-dimensional reconstruction of Neurobiotin(TM)-filled neurons and the location of their synaptic inputs

2013

Journal Article

Dysregulation of the complement cascade in the hSOD1(G93A) transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Lee, John D., Kamaruzaman, Nur A., Fung, Jenny N. T., Taylor, Stephen M., Turner, Bradley J., Atkin, Julie D., Woodruff, Trent M. and Noakes, Peter G. (2013). Dysregulation of the complement cascade in the hSOD1(G93A) transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 10 (1) 119, 119. doi: 10.1186/1742-2094-10-119

Dysregulation of the complement cascade in the hSOD1(G93A) transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

2013

Journal Article

Identification of RNA bound to the TDP-43 ribonucleoprotein complex in the adult mouse brain

Narayanan, Ramesh K., Mangelsdorf, Marie, Panwar, Ajay, Butler, Tim J., Noakes, Peter G. and Wallace, Robyn H. (2013). Identification of RNA bound to the TDP-43 ribonucleoprotein complex in the adult mouse brain. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, 14 (4), 252-260. doi: 10.3109/21678421.2012.734520

Identification of RNA bound to the TDP-43 ribonucleoprotein complex in the adult mouse brain

2013

Journal Article

Genetic deficiency of GABA differentially regulates respiratory and non-respiratory motor neuron development

Fogarty, Matthew J., Smallcombe, Karen L., Yanagawa, Yuchio, Obata, Kunihiko, Bellingham, Mark C. and Noakes, Peter G. (2013). Genetic deficiency of GABA differentially regulates respiratory and non-respiratory motor neuron development. PLoS One, 8 (2) e56257, e56257. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056257

Genetic deficiency of GABA differentially regulates respiratory and non-respiratory motor neuron development

2013

Conference Publication

A method for the three-dimensional reconstruction and quantification of dendrites and synaptic inputs in Neurobiotin(TM)-filled glycine- and GABAA receptor clustering deficient neurons post functional assessment

Fogarty, M. J., Hammond, L. A., Kanjhan, R., Bellingham, M. C. and Noakes, P. G. (2013). A method for the three-dimensional reconstruction and quantification of dendrites and synaptic inputs in Neurobiotin(TM)-filled glycine- and GABAA receptor clustering deficient neurons post functional assessment. Neuroscience 2013: 43rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, San Diago, CA, United States, 9-13 November, 2012.

A method for the three-dimensional reconstruction and quantification of dendrites and synaptic inputs in Neurobiotin(TM)-filled glycine- and GABAA receptor clustering deficient neurons post functional assessment

2012

Journal Article

Neuregulin-1 potentiates agrin-induced acetylcholine receptor clustering through muscle-specific kinase phosphorylation

Ngo, Shyuan T., Cole, Rebecca N., Sunn, Nana, Phillips, William D. and Noakes, Peter G. (2012). Neuregulin-1 potentiates agrin-induced acetylcholine receptor clustering through muscle-specific kinase phosphorylation. Journal of Cell Science, 125 (6), 1531-1543. doi: 10.1242/jcs.095109

Neuregulin-1 potentiates agrin-induced acetylcholine receptor clustering through muscle-specific kinase phosphorylation

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2027
    Mechanisms that promote the health of the motor unit in MND
    Cure for MND Foundation - Discovery Research Grants
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Developing treatments for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
    Muscular Dystrophy Association
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2024
    Stabilizing Neuromuscular Signaling in Motor Neuron Disease
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc Innovator Grant
    Open grant
  • 2020
    Molecular analyses of pre-synaptic compartments in diseased human and mouse brains
    Brain Foundation Research Gift
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Fine tuning metabolic flux: Modulating substrate oxidation as a therapeutic strategy in motor neuron disease (MND)
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Towards the treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
    NHMRC Development Grant
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2024
    Understanding neuromuscular synaptic loss in Motor Neuron Disease
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Targeting the molecular basis of muscle weakness in motor neuron disease.
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Targeting neuromuscular stability in motor neuron disease
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Exploiting the opposing actions of complement receptors C3aR and C5aR1 in the treatment of MND
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2016
    A state-of-the-art facility for simulataneous photo-stimulation, high speed imaging and electrophysiological recording of multiple neurons in brain tissue and living organisms
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015
    A state-of-the-art spinning disc confocal microscope for high speed imaging of live cells and super resolution microscopy
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015
    The role of altered neuromuscular activity and mRNA transport in modifying the progression of Motor Neuron Disease
    Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2015
    The role of altered neuromuscular activity and mRNA transport in modifying the progression of Motor Neuron Disease
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2015
    The role of altered neuronal activity and mRNA transport in modifying the progression Motor Neuron Disease (MND)
    Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    The role of altered neuromuscular signaling in ALS: factors that modify the course of MND
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    The role of neuronal hyperactivity and neurotrophic factor signalling in synaptogenesis, dendrogenesis and neuron death in motor neuron disease
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Understanding the role of TDP-43 in motor neuron disease.
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Establishment of Integrated Small Animal Metabolic and Physiology Assessment Facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Building UQ's analytical capacity in biomedical sciences
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010
    Dual channel electrophysiological recordings
    NHMRC Equipment Grant
    Open grant
  • 2010
    Establishment of a digital Scanscope system for virtual microscopy
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010
    In Situ Hybridization Suite for Biomedical Science Researchers
    NHMRC Equipment Grant
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2012
    Development of a new method of motor unit number estimation for use in motor neurone disease
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2012
    Molecular mechanisms that help organise effective synaptic transmission.
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Quantitative Histological Core Facility
    UQ School/Centre Co-Funding
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    The role of neuronal hyper-excitability in an animal model of motor neuron disease
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2009
    The molecular basis of hyper-exactability in corticospinal neurons in a novel mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
    Brain Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2009
    High Speed Fluorescence Imaging coupled with Total Internal Reflection Microscopy and Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching System
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Olympus disk-spinning confocal microscope system capable of simutaneously imaging a ratiometric (UV) non-ratiometric (visible range) dye
    Ramaciotti Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2008
    The molecular and functional basis of motor neuron hyper-excitability in an animal model of motor neuron disease.
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2008
    The role of synaptic laminins in the organisation of pre- and post-synaptic specializations at the neuromuscular synapse
    UQ External Support Enabling Grant
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    Evaluation of orally active anti-inflammatory C5a receptor antagonists in a transgenic rat motor neurone disease model
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2008
    Phenotypic studies of the NaSi-1 transporter knock-out mouse
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2008
    The role of central and peripheral synaptic activity in the developmental death of motoneurons.
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2005
    The effectiveness of C5a receptor antagonists in the treatment of motor neuron disease
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2004
    A transgenic analysis of the physiologic roles of signaling domains in the growth hormone receptor
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2003
    The Role of TGFB2 In Maintaining the Function and Viability of Adult Motor Neurons
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2002
    Cell and molecular mechanisms that maintain and promote motoneuron survival: analysis of MuSK, agrin and rapsyn mutant lines of mice
    Ramaciotti Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2004
    Role of synaptogenesis in development motoneuron cell death
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2000
    High-resolution, high quality digital time-lapse microscopy system
    NHMRC Equipment Grant
    Open grant
  • 1999 - 2001
    A Transgenic Analysis of the Basis for Growth Signalling by the Growth Hormone Receptor
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 1999
    Functional analysis of neuromuscular synapses in mice that carry specific postsynaptic deletions
    Ramaciotti Foundation
    Open grant
  • 1999
    How neurotrophic factors modulate synaptic connections during development
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1999 - 2001
    Molecular Mechanisms Involved in the Formation, Maintenance and Viability of Synapses
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 1999
    Molecular mechanisms of how motor nerve connections are maintained
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 1999
    Network for brain research in mental disorders (Gene Targeting Consortium)
    Monash University
    Open grant
  • 1999
    Network for Brain Research into Mental Disorders (Gene Targeting Consortium)
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant
  • 1998 - 2000
    Synaptic Development in the Absence of á2-laminin, Agrin and Rapsyn
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 1997
    Analysis of mutations affecting the formation and function of neuromuscular synapses
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 1997
    Analysis of synapse formation in S/á2-laminin deficient mice
    University of Queensland New Staff Research Grant
    Open grant
  • 1997
    Neuronal cell death in the rapsyn deficient mouse
    UQ Foundation
    Open grant
  • 1997
    Pre-synaptic differentiation in S/beta2-Laminin deficient mice
    Ramaciotti Foundation
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Peter Noakes is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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