Regulation of neuronal cell death signalling for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases (2011-2014)

This research project will characterise the regulators of a neuronal cell death-signalling pathway, which may underpin neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. motor neuron disease and Alzheimer's disease). Previously, we discovered a novel cell death-signalling pathway and identified a candidate target molecule, FC29, which inhibits cell death in vivo. This proposal aims to (i) provide proof-of-principle evidence that FC29 limits cell death in anomal models of neurodegenerative, (ii) determine the mechanism by which FC29 promotes neuronal survival, and (iii) identify alternative means to mimic FC29. This work may lead to the development of novel therapeutics that inhibit neuronal cell death, and thus prevent or delay neurodegeneration.