![Professor Trent Woodruff](/sites/default/files/profiles/614.jpeg)
Overview
Background
Dr Woodruff is a Professor of Pharmacology who leads a research team aiming to find new therapeutic treatments for neurodegenerative disorders. Current therapies for these diseases are vastly inadequate, and so new research is needed to identify novel targets to slow or halt their progression. Prof Woodruff’s specific research revolves around the innate immune system in the brain, and the role of neuroinflammation in propagating disease. A key focus of his current work is testing new drugs developed at the University of Queensland in models of motor neuron disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), Huntington’s disease, and Parkinson's disease, as well as maintaining an active interest in acute inflammatory disorders including sepsis and ischemia-reperfusion injuries. Using a series of potent and orally active complement C5a and NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors developed at UQ, Prof Woodruff's team has demonstrated the therapeutic potential of targeting innate immune-mediated neuroinflammation to reduce neuronal cell death in animal models of these neurodegenerative diseases. His team has recently shown that in addition to their roles in neurodegeneration, innate immune factors also play essential roles in stem and neuronal cell development during embryogenesis, revealing the widespread physiological and pathological roles of this evolutionarily ancient immune system.
Availability
- Professor Trent Woodruff is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Neurodegenerative disease
Studying new treatments to halt disease progression
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Parkinson's disease
Studying new treatments to halt disease progression
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Motor neuron disease
Studying new treatments to halt disease progression
Works
Search Professor Trent Woodruff’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2024
Journal Article
Complement(ing) long-COVID thromboinflammation and pathogenesis
Lee, John D. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2024). Complement(ing) long-COVID thromboinflammation and pathogenesis. Trends in Immunology, 45 (6), 397-399. doi: 10.1016/j.it.2024.04.001
Featured
2024
Journal Article
Inhibiting Eph/ephrin signaling reduces vascular leak and endothelial cell dysfunction in mice with sepsis
Khan, Nemat, Kumar, Vinod, Li, Pengcheng, RAPIDS Study Group, Raman, Sainath (RSG member), Sharp, Natalie (RSG member), Irwin, Adam (RSG member), Phillips, Natalie (RSG member), George, Shane (RSG member), Grimwood, Keith (RSG member), Snelling, Peter (RSG member), Chavan, Arjun (RSG member), Hempenstall, Allison (RSG member), Gibbons, Kristen (RSG member), Le Marsney, Renate (RSG member), Blumenthal, Antje (RSG member), Ganesamoorthy, Devika (RSG member), Coin, Lachlan (RSG member), Schlapbach, Luregn J., Boyd, Andrew W., Coulthard, Mark G. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2024). Inhibiting Eph/ephrin signaling reduces vascular leak and endothelial cell dysfunction in mice with sepsis. Science Translational Medicine, 16 (744) eadg5768, 1-15. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adg5768
Featured
2024
Journal Article
Cell-intrinsic C5a synergizes with Dectin-1 in macrophages to mediate fungal killing
Li, Xaria X., Fung, Jenny N., Clark, Richard J., Lee, John D. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2024). Cell-intrinsic C5a synergizes with Dectin-1 in macrophages to mediate fungal killing. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121 (5) e2314627121, 1-10. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2314627121
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Protocol for cell-based screening assay to measure ERK1/2 phosphorylation as a readout for complement receptor activation
Li, Xaria X. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2023). Protocol for cell-based screening assay to measure ERK1/2 phosphorylation as a readout for complement receptor activation. STAR Protocols, 4 (4) 102758, 102758. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102758
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Complement in human disease: approved and up-and-coming therapeutics
West, Erin E., Woodruff, Trent, Fremeaux-Bacchi, Veronique and Kemper, Claudia (2023). Complement in human disease: approved and up-and-coming therapeutics. The Lancet, 403 (10424), 392-405. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(23)01524-6
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Senolytic therapy alleviates physiological human brain aging and COVID-19 neuropathology
Aguado, Julio, Amarilla, Alberto A., Taherian Fard, Atefeh, Albornoz, Eduardo A., Tyshkovskiy, Alexander, Schwabenland, Marius, Chaggar, Harman K., Modhiran, Naphak, Gómez-Inclán, Cecilia, Javed, Ibrahim, Baradar, Alireza A., Liang, Benjamin, Peng, Lianli, Dharmaratne, Malindrie, Pietrogrande, Giovanni, Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Freney, Morgan E., Parry, Rhys, Sng, Julian D. J., Isaacs, Ariel, Khromykh, Alexander A., Valenzuela Nieto, Guillermo, Rojas-Fernandez, Alejandro, Davis, Thomas P., Prinz, Marco, Bengsch, Bertram, Gladyshev, Vadim N., Woodruff, Trent M., Mar, Jessica C. ... Wolvetang, Ernst J. (2023). Senolytic therapy alleviates physiological human brain aging and COVID-19 neuropathology. Nature Aging, 3 (12), 1561-1575. doi: 10.1038/s43587-023-00519-6
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Molecular basis of anaphylatoxin binding, activation, and signaling bias at complement receptors
Yadav, Manish K., Maharana, Jagannath, Yadav, Ravi, Saha, Shirsha, Sarma, Parishmita, Soni, Chahat, Singh, Vinay, Saha, Sayantan, Ganguly, Manisankar, Li, Xaria X., Mohapatra, Samanwita, Mishra, Sudha, Khant, Htet A., Chami, Mohamed, Woodruff, Trent M., Banerjee, Ramanuj, Shukla, Arun K. and Gati, Cornelius (2023). Molecular basis of anaphylatoxin binding, activation, and signaling bias at complement receptors. Cell, 186 (22), 4956-4973.e21. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.09.020
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Improving radiotherapy in immunosuppressive microenvironments by targeting complement receptor C5aR1
Beach, Callum, MacLean, David, Majorova, Dominika, Melemenidis, Stavros, Nambiar, Dhanya K., Kim, Ryan K., Valbuena, Gabriel N., Guglietta, Silvia, Krieg, Carsten, Darvish-Damavandi, Mahnaz, Suwa, Tatsuya, Easton, Alistair, Hillson, Lily V.S., McCulloch, Ashley K., McMahon, Ross K., Pennel, Kathryn, Edwards, Joanne, O’Cathail, Sean M., Roxburgh, Campbell S., Domingo, Enric, Moon, Eui Jung, Jiang, Dadi, Jiang, Yanyan, Zhang, Qingyang, Koong, Albert C., Woodruff, Trent M., Graves, Edward E., Maughan, Tim, Buczacki, Simon J.A. ... Olcina, Monica M. (2023). Improving radiotherapy in immunosuppressive microenvironments by targeting complement receptor C5aR1. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 133 (23) e168277, 1-19. doi: 10.1172/jci168277
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Response to comment on “Inflammasome inhibition prevents α-synuclein pathology and dopaminergic neurodegeneration in mice”
Albornoz, Eduardo A., Gordon, Richard, Kumar, Vinod, Robertson, Avril A. B., Schroder, Kate and Woodruff, Trent M. (2023). Response to comment on “Inflammasome inhibition prevents α-synuclein pathology and dopaminergic neurodegeneration in mice”. Science Translational Medicine, 15 (696) adh0604, 1-4. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adh0604
Featured
2023
Journal Article
SARS-CoV-2 drives NLRP3 inflammasome activation in human microglia through spike protein
Albornoz, Eduardo A., Amarilla, Alberto A., Modhiran, Naphak, Parker, Sandra, Li, Xaria X., Wijesundara, Danushka K., Aguado, Julio, Zamora, Adriana Pliego, McMillan, Christopher L. D., Liang, Benjamin, Peng, Nias Y. G., Sng, Julian D. J., Saima, Fatema Tuj, Fung, Jenny N., Lee, John D., Paramitha, Devina, Parry, Rhys, Avumegah, Michael S., Isaacs, Ariel, Lo, Martin W., Miranda-Chacon, Zaray, Bradshaw, Daniella, Salinas-Rebolledo, Constanza, Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Wolvetang, Ernst J., Munro, Trent P., Rojas-Fernandez, Alejandro, Young, Paul R., Stacey, Katryn J. ... Woodruff, Trent M. (2023). SARS-CoV-2 drives NLRP3 inflammasome activation in human microglia through spike protein. Molecular Psychiatry, 28 (7), 2878-2893. doi: 10.1038/s41380-022-01831-0
2022
Journal Article
SARS-CoV-2 triggers complement activation through interactions with heparan sulfate
Lo, Martin W., Amarilla, Alberto A., Lee, John D., Albornoz, Eduardo A., Modhiran, Naphak, Clark, Richard J., Ferro, Vito, Chhabra, Mohit, Khromykh, Alexander A., Watterson, Daniel and Woodruff, Trent M. (2022). SARS-CoV-2 triggers complement activation through interactions with heparan sulfate. Clinical and Translational Immunology, 11 (8) e1413, e1413. doi: 10.1002/cti2.1413
Featured
2022
Journal Article
Complement drives circuit modulation in the adult brain
Parker, Sandra E., Bellingham, Mark C. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2022). Complement drives circuit modulation in the adult brain. Progress in Neurobiology, 214 102282, 102282. doi: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2022.102282
Featured
2021
Journal Article
Mitochondrial C5aR1 activity in macrophages controls IL-1β production underlying sterile inflammation
Niyonzima, Nathalie, Rahman, Jubayer, Kunz, Natalia, West, Erin E., Freiwald, Tilo, Desai, Jigar V., Merle, Nicolas S., Gidon, Alexandre, Sporsheim, Bjørnar, Lionakis, Michail S., Evensen, Kristin, Lindberg, Beate, Skagen, Karolina, Skjelland, Mona, Singh, Parul, Haug, Markus, Ruseva, Marieta M., Kolev, Martin, Bibby, Jack, Marshall, Olivia, O’Brien, Brett, Deeks, Nigel, Afzali, Behdad, Clark, Richard J., Woodruff, Trent M., Pryor, Milton, Yang, Zhi-Hong, Remaley, Alan T., Mollnes, Tom E. ... Kemper, Claudia (2021). Mitochondrial C5aR1 activity in macrophages controls IL-1β production underlying sterile inflammation. Science Immunology, 6 (66) eabf2489, eabf2489. doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abf2489
Featured
2021
Journal Article
In vivo pharmacodynamic method to assess complement C5a receptor antagonist efficacy
Cui, Cedric S., Kumar, Vinod, Gorman, Declan M., Clark, Richard J., Lee, John D. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2021). In vivo pharmacodynamic method to assess complement C5a receptor antagonist efficacy. ACS Pharmacology and Translational Science, 5 (1) acsptsci.1c00227, 41-51. doi: 10.1021/acsptsci.1c00227
Featured
2021
Journal Article
Intrinsic bias at non-canonical, β-arrestin-coupled seven transmembrane receptors
Pandey, Shubhi, Kumari, Punita, Baidya, Mithu, Kise, Ryoji, Cao, Yubo, Dwivedi-Agnihotri, Hemlata, Banerjee, Ramanuj, Li, Xaria X., Cui, Cedric S., Lee, John D., Kawakami, Kouki, Maharana, Jagannath, Ranjan, Ashutosh, Chaturvedi, Madhu, Jhingan, Gagan Deep, Laporte, Stéphane A., Woodruff, Trent M., Inoue, Asuka and Shukla, Arun K. (2021). Intrinsic bias at non-canonical, β-arrestin-coupled seven transmembrane receptors. Molecular Cell, 81 (22), 4605-4621.e11. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.09.007
Featured
2021
Journal Article
Processed foods drive intestinal barrier permeability and microvascular diseases
Snelson, Matthew, Tan, Sih Min, Clarke, Rachel E., De Pasquale, Cassandra, Thallas-Bonke, Vicki, Nguyen, Tuong-Vi, Penfold, Sally A., Harcourt, Brooke E., Sourris, Karly C., Lindblom, Runa S., Ziemann, Mark, Steer, David, El-Osta, Assam, Davies, Michael J., Donnellan, Leigh, Deo, Permal, Kellow, Nicole J., Cooper, Mark E., Woodruff, Trent M., Mackay, Charles R., Forbes, Josephine M. and Coughlan, Melinda T. (2021). Processed foods drive intestinal barrier permeability and microvascular diseases. Science Advances, 7 (14) eabe4841, 1-16. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abe4841
Featured
2020
Journal Article
Absence of the C5a receptor C5aR2 worsens ischemic tissue injury by increasing C5aR1-mediated neutrophil infiltration
Wu, Mike C. L., Lee, John D., Ruitenberg, Marc J. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2020). Absence of the C5a receptor C5aR2 worsens ischemic tissue injury by increasing C5aR1-mediated neutrophil infiltration. The Journal of Immunology, 205 (10), 1-6. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2000778
Featured
2020
Journal Article
Acetate protects against intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury independent of its cognate free fatty acid 2 receptor
Schofield, Zoe, Wu, Mike C. L., Hansbro, Philip M., Cooper, Matthew A. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2020). Acetate protects against intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury independent of its cognate free fatty acid 2 receptor. The FASEB Journal, 34 (8), 10418-10430. doi: 10.1096/fj.202000960R
Featured
2020
Journal Article
Pharmacological characterisation of small molecule C5aR1 inhibitors in human cells reveals biased activities for signalling and function
Li, Xaria X., Lee, John D., Massey, Nicholas L., Guan, Carolyn, Robertson, Avril A. B., Clark, Richard J. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2020). Pharmacological characterisation of small molecule C5aR1 inhibitors in human cells reveals biased activities for signalling and function. Biochemical Pharmacology, 180 114156, 114156. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114156
Featured
2020
Journal Article
C5aR2 activation broadly modulates the signaling and function of primary human macrophages
Li, Xaria X., Clark, Richard J. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2020). C5aR2 activation broadly modulates the signaling and function of primary human macrophages. Journal of Immunology, 205 (4), 1-11. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2000407
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Trent Woodruff is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Role of immune and inflammatory pathways in the progression of neurodegenerative disease
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Therapeutic blockade of neuroinflammation for the treatment of Huntington's disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr John Lee, Dr Eduardo Albornoz Balmaceda
-
Doctor Philosophy
Preclinical evaluation of complement receptor targeted drugs for neurological disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Richard Clark, Dr John Lee, Dr Vinod Kumar
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Doctor Philosophy
Elucidating the Role of Neuronal C5aR1
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Mark Bellingham
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Doctor Philosophy
The role of neuronal complement activation in Motor Neuron Disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jenny Fung, Dr John Lee
-
Doctor Philosophy
The role of C5a and ß-1 adrenergic receptors on cardiovascular function in cats
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Wally Thomas, Professor Paul Mills
-
Doctor Philosophy
The potential role of CXCR2 activation in motor neuron disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Pamela McCombe, Dr Jenny Fung, Dr John Lee
-
Doctor Philosophy
Design and development of peptide ligands targeting the complement system
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Richard Clark
-
Doctor Philosophy
A novel treatment for chronic pain
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Maree Smith, Dr Andy Kuo, Dr Felicity Han
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Doctor Philosophy
Unravelling the Role of Astrocytes in Motor Neuron Disease to discover new therapeutic targets
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jenny Fung, Dr John Lee
-
Doctor Philosophy
The role of terminal complement pathway in neurodevelopment
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr John Lee, Dr Jenny Fung
-
Doctor Philosophy
Complement in subarachnoid haemorrhage
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr John Lee, Dr Liam Coulthard
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Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Neutrophils in Motor Neuron Disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Pamela McCombe, Dr Jenny Fung, Dr John Lee, Dr Cedric Cui
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Complement Modulation of Peripheral Immunity in Motor Neurone Disease and Huntington's Disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr John Lee, Professor Naomi Wray
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Preclinical development of complement C5aR1 antagonists for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Richard Clark, Dr John Lee, Dr Vinod Kumar, Dr Felicity Han
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the Immunopharmacology of the Complement C5a Receptors, C5aR1 and C5aR2
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Richard Clark, Dr John Lee, Professor Mark Blaskovich
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
The role of GPR43 in neuroinflammation and the hSOD1G93A mouse model of motor neuron disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr John Lee, Dr Richard Gordon
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Pharmacological targeting of the inflammasome: towards novel therapeutics for Parkinson's disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Avril Robertson, Dr Richard Gordon
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Contribution of innate immune signalling to microglial activation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Noakes, Dr Richard Gordon
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the role of C5a-C5aR1 signalling in development through pluripotent stem cell modelling
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ernst Wolvetang, Dr David Simmons
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of the C5a Receptor, C5aR2, in Neurodegenerative Disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Richard Gordon
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Pharmacokinetics of complement C5a receptor 1 antagonists in mice, and their role in protecting CNS barriers during neurodegeneration
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Noakes
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
The Anaphylatoxin Receptors in Neural Progenitor Cell Physiology
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr David Simmons
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
The role of complement anaphylatoxin receptors in mammary tumour growth: identification of new therapeutic targets
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Barbara Rolfe, Dr Wenyi Gu
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of the Complement System in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Noakes
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Role of innate immune complement and toll-like receptor signalling in neurodegeneration.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Noakes
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
The role of complement anaphylatoxin receptors in intestinal ischaemia-reperfusion injury: Pathophysiology and mechanism of action
Principal Advisor
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
The generation and role of complement factor C5a during cerebral brain ischemia/reperfusion.
Principal Advisor
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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.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Richard Gordon
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Design and Development of Peptides Targeting the C5a-C5aR Interaction
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Johan Rosengren, Associate Professor Richard Clark
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Modulating innate immune responses through the putative anti-inflammatory target FFA2
Associate Advisor
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Deciphering the role of innate and adaptive immunity following traumatic spinal cord injury: a route to improved outcomes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Marc Ruitenberg
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Contribution of complement anaphylatoxin receptors to melanoma growth: potential therapeutic targets
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Barbara Rolfe, Dr Wenyi Gu
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Complement Anaphylatoxin Receptors in Experimental Spinal Cord Injury
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Marc Ruitenberg
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
The role of complement in epilepsy: A specific focus on C5ar1 and its role in seizure initiation and disease development
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Karin Borges
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Role of complement in ALS: regulating peripheral immune cells in skeletal muscle of hSOD1G93A mouse model of ALS
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Noakes
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Cellular and molecular insights into multiple sclerosis-induced neuropathic pain
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Maree Smith
-
2013
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of C5a in Pregnancy and Fetal Development
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Leonie Callaway
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Novel receptor-mediated mechanisms and treatment strategies in ischemic stroke therapy
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Trent Woodruff directly for media enquiries about:
- Drug Development
- Huntington's disease
- motor neuron disese
- Neurodegenerative disease
- Parkinson's disease
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