Queensland Brain Institute 2011 Annual Report

Queensland Brain Institute 2011 Annual Report Editors Denise Cullen Annita Nugent Rowan Tweedale Graphic Designer Dee McGrath Photographers Yan Chan Hemma Kearny Dee McGrath

Cover Image: Computational neuron. This image represents a single neuron (orange) surrounded by synaptic connections (spheres) of unlabelled and subsequently invisible neurons. Image: Luke Hammond, Refik Kanjhan and Matt Fogarty. Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Table of Contents

Vice-Chancellor’s Report ...... 2 Eyles Laboratory...... 32 Students...... 58 Director’s Report...... 3 Goodhill Laboratory...... 33 Hilliard Laboratory...... 34 Community...... 62 Discovery...... 4 Jiang Laboratory...... 35 Events...... 64 Lynch Laboratory...... 36 Regulating the formation of fear extinction Conferences...... 66 Marshall Laboratory...... 37 memory...... 6 Community Outreach...... 68 Mattingley Laboratory...... 38 Researchers probe nervous system repair...... 8 Australian Brain Bee Challenge...... 69 McGrath Laboratory...... 39 Research holds out hope for stroke patients..10 Meunier Laboratory...... 40 Study brings secrets of brain cell Recognition...... 70 Mowry Laboratory...... 41 communication closer...... 12 Fellowships and Awards...... 72 Osborne Laboratory...... 42 Study reveals fresh insights into genetics of Commercialisation ...... 74 Piper Laboratory...... 43 schizophrenia...... 14 Publications...... 75 Reinhard Laboratory...... 44 Research illuminates birds’ use of optic flow Grants ...... 82 Reutens Laboratory...... 45 cues to guide flight...... 16 Neuroscience Seminars...... 84 Richards Laboratory...... 46 Increasing our understanding of how the Professional Services...... 86 Sah Laboratory...... 47 neocortex operates...... 18 Editorial Boards...... 87 Srinivasan Laboratory...... 48 UQ Appointments...... 88 van Swinderen Laboratory...... 49 Research...... 20 Staff ...... 89 Visscher Laboratory...... 50 In Appreciation ...... 92 Bartlett Laboratory...... 22 Wallace Laboratory...... 51 Bellgrove Laboratory...... 23 Williams Laboratory...... 52 Bredy Laboratory...... 24 Wray Laboratory...... 53 Burne Laboratory...... 25 Joint Sino-Australian Neurogenetics Cheung Laboratory...... 26 Laboratory...... 54 Claudianos Laboratory...... 27 Joint Laboratory of Neuroscience and Colvin Laboratory ...... 28 Cognition...... 55 Cooper Laboratory...... 29 Science of Learning Centre...... 56 Coulson Laboratory...... 30 Centre for Ageing Dementia Research...... 57 Cunnington Laboratory...... 31

QBI ANNUAL REPORT 1 Vice-Chancellor’s Report

An earlier review of the Institute’s performance, chaired by Dr Peter Riddles, noted that QBI had delivered outstanding outcomes to Queensland. These include scientific discoveries, the attraction of an internationally competitive faculty, establishment of cutting-edge experimental facilities, the mentorship and training of postgraduate students and postdoctoral scientists, engagement with the biotechnology and engineering industries, the generation of substantial economic returns on the Queensland Government’s investment and strategic contributions to the development of the state through a knowledge-based society and economy. Since its inception in 2003, the Queensland As the major centre for neuroscience at The Univer- Brain Institute (QBI) has emerged as one of The sity of Queensland, QBI also helped the University University of Queensland’s flagship research to secure the top rating of five in neurosciences facilities. With a growing team of almost 300 in the recent Excellence in Research for Australia dedicated neuroscientists undertaking research (ERA) assessment. under the guidance of 33 laboratory heads, the Institute covers a broad base of neuroscience over This strong research base is supported by a wealth seven major themes. Their efforts are expected of international collaborations, including the Joint to yield multiple discoveries in the near future Sino-Australian Neurogenetics Laboratory in and thus pave the way for the development of Shanghai and Joint Laboratory of Neuroscience new therapies and diagnostics to facilitate the and Cognition in Beijing. QBI also features a busy treatment and management of mental and neuro- outreach program including the annual Australian logical disorders. Brain Bee Challenge (ABBC), a competition for high school students designed to stimulate, encourage This optimistic outlook has been fully supported and support their interest in neuroscience. by independent reviews of the Institute’s performance. The most recent, chaired by Professor All in all, it has been another successful and produc- Richard Faull, Director of the Centre for Brain tive year for QBI. I congratulate Perry and all staff Research with the University of Auckland’s Faculty and students on their efforts and accomplishments of Medical and Health Sciences, was the Septennial of the year and look forward with anticipation to an Review of QBI, required of all Institutes and Schools even brighter future. at UQ by the Academic Board. Among other things, it commended QBI for its quality, quantity and breadth of ongoing research, and for its number of noteworthy initiatives, including the Science of Learning Centre, the Centre for Advanced Imaging Professor Deborah Terry and the Centre for Ageing Dementia Research. Vice-Chancellor

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Director’s Report

therapeutic approaches to tackle anxiety, phobias to translate our increasing scientific knowledge All of this has, of course, occurred in a year that and post-traumatic stress disorders. Associate about how the brain learns into practical protocols commenced with the Brisbane River at St Lucia Professor Stephen Williams’ work is unlocking that can be used to promote better education in our breaking its banks and enveloping our campus – the fundamental mechanisms by which synaptic schools, universities and the workplace. an event which, fortunately, had minimal impact connections between neurons in different parts on QBI. I wish to thank the many staff who worked This year we built on our strong scientific interactions of the brain form the basis for complex behaviour, tirelessly throughout the crisis, in particular Jake with China by establishing the Joint Sino-Australian findings that have ramifications in all aspects of Carroll, Dave Wheeldon and Ross Dixon, and their Neurogenetics Laboratory with the Second Military health and disease. Associate Professor Frederic respective teams. Though several staff members’ Medical University (SMMU) in Shanghai. The joint Meunier’s team has uncovered how lipids regulate homes and possessions sustained significant laboratory was opened by the then Minister for the release of neurotransmitters, a finding that will damage from floodwaters, the Institute provided Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and have application in promoting improved neuronal assistance with relocation and rental costs. Research, Senator Kim Carr. During the ceremony, I function in a number of disease processes. was delighted and honoured to receive an Honorary In conclusion, I would like to express my appreciation Also, the detailed study of human disease is leading Professorship at the SMMU. This, along with the to everyone – our Faculty, postdoctoral fellows, to more fundamental understanding of the neural Joint Laboratory of Neuroscience and Cognition research assistants, students and support staff. I As the founding Director of the Queensland mechanisms involved: Professor Bryan Mowry’s with the Institute of Biophysics in Beijing, provides am particularly grateful to my Deputy Directors Brain Institute (QBI), my vision was to create an laboratory has been part of the largest genome-wide us with enormous collaborative opportunities in for Research, Professor Pankaj Sah, and Operations, environment in which leading neuroscientists association study of schizophrenia ever undertaken, China. Mr John Kelly, for their support and ongoing working across a range of sub-disciplines and and is leading to a deeper understanding of the commitment to the success of the Institute. I animal models could interact and collaborate During 2011, we welcomed several leading mechanisms underlying schizophrenia predispo- would also like to acknowledge Vice-Chancellors to discover the fundamental mechanisms researchers who established new laboratories within sition. Professor Jason Mattingley’s studies into Professor Paul Greenfield and Debbie Terry, Senior regulating brain function in health and disease. QBI. These included Dr Allen Cheung, Associate mechanisms that promote brain plasticity in stroke Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Keniger My raison d’être for this was the belief that deeper Professor Naomi Wray, Professor Peter Visscher patients have direct implications to effective re- and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor understanding of these mechanisms would provide and Professor Tianzi Jiang. We also bade farewell habilitation. In addition to applications in disease, Max Lu, for their continuing support, guidance the insight required to develop novel therapeutic to Associate Professor Mark Bellgrove, who left to studies from Professor Mandyam Srinivasan’s team and friendship. Last, but by no means least, I am approaches to address the growing burden of establish a centre that will further expand Australia’s revealing how birds regulate flight by optic flow has extremely indebted to our donors and supporters neurological and mental illness in our community. capabilities in the area of cognitive neuroscience in relevance in a range of areas, including biorobotics. and wish to express our gratitude for their his new role as Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience I am delighted to report this approach is bearing contribution to the work of the Institute. I am delighted, also, that significant progress at Monash University. fruit as you will discover in reading the Annual has been made in establishing two research Report. Among the highlights is the discovery of Following a change of focus and subsequent re- centres within QBI that bring increased focus molecules regulating repair of nerve injury in the structuring, I wish to thank the members of QBI’s and resources to important areas. The Centre for nematode, C. elegans, by Dr Massimo Hilliard’s Development Board, Commissioner Bob Atkinson, Ageing Dementia Research, the long-term goal of team. This discovery has taken us a few steps closer Dr Sallyanne Atkinson, Mr Milton Dick, Mr Mark Gray, which is to develop new therapeutic approaches to understanding how we may be able to promote Mr John Lyons, Mr Jeff Maclean, and ably chaired to treat ageing dementia, has been established Professor Perry Bartlett FAA nervous system repair in humans. Meanwhile, by Dr David Merson, for their service and support, and we have recruited an outstanding scientist to Director Dr Tim Bredy’s laboratory has discovered a since the first meeting in 2006. We have dissolved be its inaugural director, Professor Jürgen Götz. previously unrecognised layer of gene regulation this Board and formed a new Development Board The Science of Learning Centre is an exciting new modulating fear extinction in mice, providing fresh which will focus on fundraising. I am delighted that venture which brings together researchers with understanding of how fear-related memories are Mr Jeff Maclean has agreed to chair this vital group. expertise in neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, formed, updated and extinguished at the molecular psychology, advanced brain imaging and education level. This new insight provides the basis for new

QBI ANNUAL REPORT 3 Discovery

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Discovery The Queensland Brain Institute continues to maintain its status as one of the world’s leading neuroscience institutes.

Improvements to the lives of everyday Australians are being made by our leading researchers; hand-picked from around the globe. Together with our high calibre students, these researchers create an environment of discovery that will ultimately lead to the development of much needed therapeutic treatments for neurological disorders and neurotrauma.

Even in culture, neurons create extremely complicated networks of neurites to connect with other cells. These connections are necessary for communication between the cells and are useful models to study what is occurring in the brain. Image Calista Harper.

DISCOVERY 5 Discovery "Contrary to popular belief, fear-related memories are not set in stone"

Groundbreaking experiments in the Psychiatric Epigenomics Laboratory have revealed that microRNAs are key regulators of neural plasticity and cognition.

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Regulating the formation of fear extinction memory

“This is the first demonstration of how small It seems to do this by disrupting the stability of non-coding RNAs contribute to the formation of several plasticity-related target genes including fear extinction memory, and highlights the adaptive one called regulator of calmodulin signalling (RCS), significance of activity-dependent microRNA which is important for dopamine signalling in the expression in the adult brain,” Dr Bredy said. brain. Non-coding RNAs are believed to function by “This research explains how fear extinction proceeds directing the epigenome to activate or silence despite competition with the original fear memory genes although the genome itself remains the for control over behaviour, where we have evidence same. to suggest that the brain specific microRNA miR-128b is essential for tipping the scale in favour Small non-coding RNAs, such as the microRNAs of fear extinction memory rather than restabilisa- studied here, can regulate gene function by com- tion of the original fear,” Dr Bredy said. plementary binding to the 3’ untranslated end of their protein-coding target genes, resulting in tran- “These findings represent significant advance in scriptional silencing. our understanding of the neural mechanisms of memory updating and the processes by which Dr Bredy said that the extinction of fear-related fear memories can be inhibited through extinction memories occurred in the face of a competing learning.” memory process called reconsolidation, which saw memories potentially undergo modification every Dr Bredy’s laboratory is interested in elucidating QBI neuroscientists have discovered a previously time they were retrieved. how the genome is connected to the environment, unrecognised layer of gene regulation associated and how this relationship shapes brain and “Contrary to popular belief, fear-related memories with fear extinction. behaviour across the lifespan. are not set in stone,” Dr Bredy said. This is an inhibitory learning process thought to be Embedded within the chromatin landscape, directly “Extinction learning involves retrieval and critical for controlling fear-related behaviour when at the interface between intracellular signalling expression of the original fear memory, which the fear response is no longer required. and genomic DNA, epigenetic mechanisms naturally permits either the restabilisation of the including histone modifications, DNA methylation Lead researcher Dr Timothy Bredy said the original trace, or new extinction learning.” findings shed new light on the processes involved and non-coding RNAs represent an attractive in loosening the grip of fear-related memories, “And in order for new memories to be firmly foundation for experience-dependent, long-lasting particularly those implicated in conditions such as established, the genes associated with the original changes in gene expression, cellular function and phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder. fear memory trace must be transiently inhibited, so behaviour. that the fear extinction process can proceed.” Published in Nature Neuroscience, the study In contrast to the information conveyed by a static explores how fear-related memories are formed, QBI neuroscientists probed how fear memories genome, the epigenome is very dynamic and updated, and extinguished at the molecular level. could be strengthened or shaken loose by can be modified by exposure to a variety of envi- intervening during extinction training. ronmental stimuli including fear-related learning, It also provides fresh understanding of the actual exposure to drugs of abuse, environmental toxins, function of genes expressed at the time of retrieval “These findings indicate that activity of this brain- dietary factors, and social interaction. of fear memories, and how they are regulated to specific non-coding RNA is necessary for the facilitate fear extinction. formation of fear extinction memory,” Dr Bredy said. Above: A Ph.D. Candidate in the Psychiatric Epigenomics Laboratory, Mr Virkam Ratnu, employs nucleotide mass spectrometry to analyze activity- dependent changes in DNA methylation levels in cortical neurons.

DISCOVERY 7 Discovery

"We do not know yet if something similar occurs in humans, but if it is not in place it doesn’t mean we can’t make it happen"

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Researchers probe nervous system repair

“Though damaged nerves reconnect in a number of The research was carried out in collaboration with different ways, the underlying mechanisms remain Professor David Hall of the Albert Einstein College poorly understood,” said Dr Brent Neumann, the of Medicine in New York, and Associate Professor postdoctoral fellow who carried out the work in the Adela Ben-Yakar of the University of Texas at Austin. laboratory of Dr Massimo Hilliard. Other research undertaken by the Hilliard laboratory The research, published in Developmental during the year probed the molecular mechanisms Dynamics, examined a process called axonal fusion, which prompt the development of dendrites in which has been observed in crayfish, earthworms, C. elegans. leeches and now in the roundworm Caenorhabditis Dendrites are the branch-like structures in nerve elegans (C. elegans). cells, which receive electrochemical signals from C. elegans is a nematode which, when fully grown, other nerve cells or sensory inputs from the is less than a millimetre long. external environment. The QBI study offers a fundamentally different Together with axons, dendrites are crucial to mechanism for regeneration of axons (long nervous system function but their development structures that look like cables and conduct has been poorly understood to date. electrical impulses between neurons) from those The QBI team has discovered that a ligand called traditionally proposed. LIN-44 and a receptor called LIN-17 work together Using fluorescent imaging, it showed that axonal to coax certain neurons in C. elegans to extend fusion is a highly effective way to restore neuronal dendrites towards their targets. connections with the target tissue. “This is the first study to demonstrate, in vivo, that Dr Neumann noted that transected (severed) axons the initial outgrowth of a dendrite is controlled can restore their trajectories by bridging just the by these ligands and receptors,” says Ms Leonie damaged site instead of regrowing their entire Kirszenblat, the research assistant who carried out length beyond an injury site. the study in Dr Hilliard’s lab. “In the worm, this process happens automati- Understanding these fundamental mechanisms of cally a certain percentage of the time,” Dr Hilliard neuronal development may have practical, as well In humans, regeneration of the peripheral explained. as theoretical implications, says Dr Hilliard. nervous system after injury is variable, and brain “As C. elegans are highly accessible for genetic “Having the ability to control dendritic growth may and spinal cord damage usually results in lifelong analyses, future research will focus on the cellular be important for growing neurons from stem cells, disabilities. and molecular mechanisms regulating the process which could be useful in a range of neurological However, by studying nerve injury in roundworms, – and how to make it happen when it doesn’t do so conditions, including spinal injury,” he said. QBI researchers have revealed a different modality naturally.” The findings were published in PLoS Biology. by which regeneration can occur – one that “We do not know yet if something similar occurs in promises to shine light on how to promote repair humans, but if it is not in place it doesn’t mean we in the nervous system. can’t make it happen.”

Left: Researchers in the Hilliard Lab. Above: A red fluorescent protein expressed at the synapses (presynaptic sites) of C.elegans motor neurons (DD and VD classes). Image Justin Chaplin.

DISCOVERY 9 "We know that attention is a potent modulator

Discovery of brain plasticity after damage"

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Research holds out hope for stroke patients

“What makes this condition particularly difficult to When this volley of nerve activity from the hand manage is that people have no insight into their is timed to arrive in the motor cortex at the same own difficulties,” says Professor Jason Mattingley. time as a pulse of TMS is delivered there, a form of local brain plasticity is induced, which can last for “It’s very hard to develop interventions to help a several minutes. person who doesn’t know they have a problem.” “It’s well established that the more often neurons But current research being undertaken by the activate at the same time, the more likely they Mattingley laboratory, which is exploring patterns are to communicate efficiently in the future. This of electrical activity in the brains of healthy volun- is how the brain learns,” Professor Mattingley teers, may ultimately change this outlook. explains. “We know that attention is a potent modulator of “We’re exploiting that general principle in this brain plasticity after damage,” explains Professor research.” Mattingley. But what the researchers have found is that the “What we’re trying to do is explore what effect effects of stimulation on a brain’s plasticity are attention has on this process, and how it might be dependent on where a person’s attention was used in neurorehabilitation.” focussed. Volunteers first undergo a magnetic resonance “When we ask people to pay attention to small imaging (MRI) scan, which provides researchers flashing lights located near to the left thumb, we with a three-dimensional picture of the brain. observe very strongly enhanced brain plasticity,” “In terms of their structure, brains are like finger- Professor Mattingley explains. People with a curious condition called ‘uni- prints – no two are exactly the same, even though “But when people are paying attention to the same lateral spatial neglect’ are a subset of stroke superficially they seem very similar,” Professor flashing lights positioned near to the right thumb, patients who tend to have the worst outcomes Mattingley explains. plasticity effects for the ignored left hand are in relation to regaining function in affected The MRI scan allows researchers to guide a tran- diminished. parts of their bodies. scranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) coil into So, in other words, people who aren’t paying Typically caused by strokes on the right hand side position on a volunteer’s scalp. attention to the side of their body that is being of the brain, spatial neglect manifests in patients The device induces a small electrical current in stimulated tend not to show any alterations in ignoring the left side of their body and, in severe the underlying brain tissue, causing it to become brain plasticity, and we suspect something similar cases, behaving as though the left side of their more active. is what’s happening in cases of spatial neglect.” world does not exist. The researchers specifically target a part of the Their brains just aren’t learning any more. For example, affected people may ignore food on motor cortex that controls the thumb muscle in While practical applications remain several steps the left hand side of their plate or, if asked to draw the left hand. a clock, might squash all 12 numbers into the right away, this knowledge may ultimately help us side of the clock face, leaving the other side blank. Experimenters also place a small electrode on the develop more effective strategies for physical wrist to activate a nerve bundle that sends signals therapy after stroke.” Patients will also fail to shave or to put make-up on from the hand back to the brain. the left hand side of their faces.

Left: Professor Jason Mattingely monitors an FMRi in progress. Above: Example screen of the FMRi's taken by the Mattingley lab.

DISCOVERY 11 "Dyngo-4a™ Discovery significantly delayed the onset of paralysis, botulism’s most lethal symptom, by more than 30%"

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Study brings secrets of brain cell communication closer

dramatic effect on the way these cells communi- from entering nerve cells,” Associate Professor cate with each other in the brain,” he said. Meunier explained. “We found that the lipid phosphatidylinositol(4,5) “Dyngo-4a™ works by blocking the action of a bisphosphate orchestrates the mobilisation and protein called dynamin which plays a key role in "Dyngo-4a™ movement of secretory vesicles towards the controlling how most molecules can enter nerve plasma membrane of neurosecretory cells.” cells.” According to Associate Professor Meunier, a better Botulism is a rare but potentially fatal condition significantly delayed understanding of the mechanism underpin- that involves progressive weakness. ning neurotransmitter release will aid scientists’ It is caused by botulinum toxin, which is made ongoing fight against the plethora of diseases by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium found the onset of paralysis, affecting neuronal communication in the brain. naturally in soil, sediments, raw foods (including “Changes in lipid composition have already been seafood) and honey. shown to be a factor contributing to the develop- As terrorists have also attempted to use botulinum botulism’s most lethal ment of dementia in Alzheimer’s disease,” he says. toxin as a bioweapon, development of more “We hope that developing novel compounds tar- effective treatments to counter this type of health symptom, by more getting the fat lipid composition of biological threat is a high priority for countries such as the membranes could ultimately help in the treatment United States. of such brain disorders.” “The toxin that causes botulism is one of the than 30%" The study was carried out in conjunction with most deadly agents known” Associate Professor colleagues from The University of Queensland’s Meunier said. School of Biomedical Sciences, Flinders University Currently, the only known treatment for botulism in South Australia, the Centre for Cell Signalling is antibodies that bind some of the toxin before it within the Institute of Cancer in London, the Aus- reaches nerve cells. Researchers in the Meunier laboratory this year tralian Centre for Blood Diseases in Melbourne’s took a significant step towards unravelling the Monash University and the Max Planck Institute of “Dyngo-4a™ significantly delayed the onset of mechanism by which communication between Biochemistry in Germany. paralysis, botulism’s most lethal symptom, by brain cells occurs. more than 30 per cent” Associate Professor During 2011, the Meunier laboratory was also part Meunier explained. Findings from a study published in Nature Com- of a team which discovered a new way to block munications revealed that the lipid (fat) from the the action of botulinum toxin – a finding which “This is significant because it may provide extra membranes of brain cells controls the movement promises to pave the way for more effective treat- time for antibodies to take effect and minimise of vesicles containing chemical messengers called ments of the life-threatening disease botulism. symptoms.” neurotransmitters. The team, comprising scientists from QBI, the Uni- “Our research is the first to identify the protein QBI’s Associate Professor Frederic Meunier, who versity of Newcastle and the Children’s Medical dynamin as a suitable drug target for preventing led the study, said these findings were made Research Institute, have found a novel way of botulinum toxin entering nerve cells throughout possible through experimentation with very blocking the uptake of the toxin using a new class the body.” selective compounds affecting the membrane. of drug called dynamin inhibitors. The research was published in the Journal of Bio- “Our findings explain how minute changes in “We have designed and tested a new molecule logical Chemistry. Left: A mouse hippocampal neuron labeled with the heavy chain of botulinum neurotoxin type-A (BoNT-A, the lipid composition of our neurons can have a called Dyngo-4a™ which prevents botulinum toxin white) and VAMP2 (red), a synaptic vesicle marker. Above: Dr Sally Martin in the Meunier laboratory.

DISCOVERY 13 14

QBI ANNUALQBI REPORT Discovery "The study also confirmed confirmed also study "The genetic overlap between bipolar disorder and and disorder bipolar schizophrenia" Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Study reveals fresh insights into genetics of schizophrenia

Researchers are a step closer to unravelling However, this new study has pinpointed novel GWAS such as this one are aimed at discovering the genetic underpinnings of schizophrenia regions of the human genome significantly asso- genetic variations associated with disease, par- following the largest genome-wide association ciated with disease, and confirmed other recently ticularly common diseases such as asthma, cancer, study (GWAS) of the disorder ever undertaken. reported genomic regions that may harbour dis- diabetes, heart disease and mental illnesses. ease-causing genetic variation. An international consortium of 190 researchers These studies involve rapidly screening hundreds from 135 institutions, including QBI, found signifi- According to Professor Bryan Mowry, who initiated of thousands of DNA markers (single nucleotide cant associations with schizophrenia for five new and coordinated the Australian contribution to this polymorphisms, or SNPs) of known location on and two previously implicated locations on the study, these findings were made possible because the human genome across thousands of DNA human genome. of the unprecedented size of the study, which samples of people with a particular disease and involved more than 50,000 participants. thousands of healthy people (controls). It has long been recognised that schizophrenia is highly heritable. “It provides a solid foundation for beginning to SNPs are relatively evenly spaced across the understand the mechanisms underlying the sub- human genome (approximately one every 80 stantial genetic predisposition to schizophrenia,” bases) and are strategically selected to comprise Professor Mowry said. a dense panel of markers of genetic variation for use in GWAS. The research was published in Nature Genetics. If certain SNPs are associated with disease – that Schizophrenia affects 1 in 100 people and its onset is, if they are significantly more frequent in disease typically occurs in adolescence or early adulthood. cases than controls – they highlight a region of Psychosis (comprising hallucinations and the genome where disease-causing variants may delusions) is the hallmark of schizophrenia, but be located. other symptoms such as personal neglect and The strongest genome-wide association finding in amotivation are common, as is an increased risk the current study was to SNPs in a region contain- of suicide. ing numerous immune-related genes, suggesting Professor Mowry says that gaining a better under- that schizophrenia may be triggered by autoim- standing of the genetic architecture of schizophre- mune responses or infection. nia will ultimately aid the earlier diagnosis and Another SNP in a region linked to neuronal devel- management of the disorder. opment was also implicated, suggesting a novel “If your genetic profile suggests you have a predis- mechanism underlying schizophrenia. position towards developing schizophrenia, it will The study also confirmed genetic overlap between be particularly important for you to avoid known bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, suggest- environmental risk factors – such as smoking ing that these disorders have shared rather than cannabis,” he says. separate roots. “We also expect that understanding the biological mechanisms underlying the disorder will lead to more robust therapeutics in future.”

Opposite: Heather Smith at work in the Mowry Laboratory. Above: White-matter images acquired using Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) as part of ongoing study into endophenotypes of schizophrenia.

DISCOVERY 15 Discovery

"QBI researchers have unlocked the secrets of how birds avoid collisions"

This page: Abstract rendition of a sequence of images illustrating the flight of a budgerigar through a tunnel in which the walls are decorated with various visual patterns, in experiments designed to investigate visual guidance of bird flight. Image: Dr. Ingo Schiffner. Opposite: Professor Mandyam Srinivasan

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Research illuminates birds’ use of optic flow cues to guide flight

The grace of birds in even cluttered environments cues, whereas vertical stripes (perpendicular is all a function of their perception of something to the direction of flight) would provide strong called optic flow, according to lead researcher motion cues. Dr Partha Bhagavatula. While similar flight behaviours have previously “Our findings show, for the first time, that birds been demonstrated in honeybees, bumblebees regulate their speed and negotiate narrow gaps and flies, this is the first time the use of optic-flow safely by balancing the speed of image motion, signals has been demonstrated in birds. or optic flow, experienced by the two eyes,” said “The findings suggest that some of the principles Dr Bhagavatula. that underlie visually guided flight may be shared In order to undertake the study, researchers by all diurnal flying animals,” says Professor trained budgerigars to fly through a seven-metre Mandyam Srinivasan, head of the laboratory. corridor. According to Professor Srinivasan, these findings Researchers then lined the corridor with different also have important implications for robotics. combinations of thick black horizontal and vertical Specifically, the speed, agility and accuracy with stripes and filmed the birds’ flight trajectories. which birds fly through a thicket of branches They found that the budgerigars flew down the will teach scientists a lot about designing vision centre of the corridor when optic flow cues were systems for guiding autonomous aerial vehicles balanced (with identical, vertical stripes on either through densely cluttered environments. side of the corridor) but more closely towards one The research was published in Current Biology. wall or another when these cues were unbalanced (such as when one wall was lined with horizontal During the year, the Biorobotics Laboratory within stripes and the other with vertical stripes). Professor Srinivasan’s group has been able to use the results of the group’s work on birds and The birds flew faster when the tunnels were lined honeybees to devise biologically inspired algo- with horizontal stripes (rather than vertical stripes), rithms for the visual guidance of aircraft that indicating that they were using optic flow cues to enable automated execution of a range of extreme regulate their flight speed. The beauty and majesty of birds in flight has aerobatic manoeuvres, as well as automated long captured the attention of artists and pho- Dr Bhagavatula explains that because the birds landing. tographers. naturally flew in a horizontal direction within the This work was highlighted in ABC’s science show tunnel, horizontal stripes (parallel to the direction Now QBI researchers have unlocked the secrets of Catalyst and in New Scientist magazine. how birds avoid collisions as they soar, swoop, dive, of flight) would provide only weak motion glide and engage in other aeronautic manoeuvres.

DISCOVERY 17 Discovery

"such findings may shed light on how the brain works so efficiently to compute enormous amounts of information"

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Increasing our understanding of how the neocortex operates

This is an area of neuroscience that Associate laborators at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor Stephen Williams is attempting to shed in the USA aim to probe and map these little- some light on, as he turns new optical and elec- understood connections. trophysiological recording techniques to the task “This work will significantly increase our knowledge of probing the neuronal and circuit computations of the operation of the neocortex, by linking the that underlie sensory-motor behaviour in rodents. integrative operations of pyramidal neurons to “We know that the neocortex is divided into spe- behaviour,” he explains. cialised areas, which manage functions such “Moreover, our collaborative work links the elec- as vision, motor control and somatosensation,” trical operation of the dendrites of neurons with Associate Professor Williams explains. animal behaviour.” “However, there’s also a rich reciprocal connectiv- “As individual neurons are believed to perform ity between different areas.” independent integrative steps in their complex “This connectivity may underlie multi-modal dendritic arbors, such findings may shed light sensory processing and contribute to directed on how the brain works so efficiently to compute attention, and so is thought to play a decisive role enormous amounts of information and integrate in the control of animal behaviour.” across a number of modalities.” Rodents, for example, employ vibrissal (whisker) Associate Professor Williams has pioneered the tactile discrimination as a primary sensory investigation of dendritic excitability in central modality. neurons and his laboratory is one of only three to four groups in the world who are working in this It’s believed that the primary vibrissal motor highly specialised field. neocortex is reciprocally connected, by long- range intercortical pathways, with the primary During the year, the work of its members has vibrissal somatosensory neocortex. been published in a range of influential journals, Deep within the grooves and wrinkles of including the Journal of Neuroscience and Nature the neocortex lies humans’ ability to read “This strongly suggests that the two systems Communications. maps, appreciate artworks, pen poems, recall operate in concert,” Associate Professor Williams memories and undertake a range of other explains. higher order tasks. Through undertaking experiments involving a Yet despite a century of experimental and theoret- range of techniques, including in vivo recording ical work, the neural computations that underpin techniques from animals exploring their environ- behaviour remain poorly understood. ments, Associate Professor Williams and his col-

Left: Associate Professor Steven Williams. Above: Synaptically connected layer 1 inhibitory interneuron and layer 2/3 pyramidal neuron.

DISCOVERY 19 Research

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Research Unlike other research organisations which focus on particular diseases or conditions, QBI is structured to study the brain's fundamental molecular and physiological mechanisms. Research is conducted across the seven key themes of cognition and behaviour, computation and neuronal circuits, neurogenesis and neuronal survival, genetics and epigenetics, neuronal development and connectivity, sensory systems and synaptic function.

QBI neuroscientists use the world’s most advanced in- vestigative technologies for their research, including flow cytometry and mass spectrometry equipment. They use human volunteers in their research and also study a range of animal models including the mouse, honeybee, fruit fly, frog, zebrafish and flatworm.

Image Luke Hammond.

QBI ANNUAL REPORT 21 Laboratory Head Professor Perry Bartlett

2011 Laboratory Members L-R: Perry Bartlett, Daniel Blackmore, Lavinia Codd, Dhanisha Jhaveri, Jing Lu, Cornel Mirciov, Estella Newcombe, Boris Prosper, Gregory Robinson, Mark Spanevello, Chanel Taylor, Sophie Tajouri, Jana Vukovic. Background: A differentiated neurosphere, Image Dan Blackmore.

Regulating precursor cell activity and neurogenesis in the brain

Professor Perry Bartlett’s laboratory previously continued to be a focal point of research in the population of neural precursor cells is retained identified that, although the production of new Bartlett laboratory in 2011. in the hippocampus of a mouse model of neurons declines progressively with age, a latent Huntington’s disease. This raises the possibility The group has recently reported that signalling of neural precursor cell population remains in the that if the dormant precursor and stem cells the cytokine Oncostatin M is important for neural adult brain throughout life. Work in the Bartlett could be activated to produce new cells, thereby precursor cell homeostasis. More specifically, laboratory has since focussed on the triggers replacing the degenerating neurons, the motor, Oncostatin M was found to directly inhibit pro- and mechanisms controlling the activation and psychiatric and cognitive deficits that are char- liferation of neural precursor cells in the subven- production of new nerve cells from this latent acteristic of Huntington’s disease could be tricular zone and hippocampus both in vitro and cell population in the two key neurogenic areas ameliorated. Once a more detailed understand- in vivo. Prior to this finding, no role had been of the adult brain, the hippocampus, which is ing of the mechanism is established, it may be established for Oncostatin M in neurogenesis. critical for some forms of learning and memory, possible to use this method to repair other areas and the subventricular zone. Further, during 2011, the Bartlett laboratory of neuronal cell loss. reported that whereas hippocampal precursor Understanding the regulation and activity of cells decline with age in wild type mice, a latent neural precursor cells in the adult brain has Coronal section of a transgenic mouse brain showing Thy1 positive neurons. Image Sophie Tajouri.

22 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Laboratory Head Assoc. Professor Mark Bellgrove

2011 Laboratory Members L-R: Mark Bellgrove, Jessica Barnes, Tarrant Cummins, Angela Dean, Jack Goodrich, Teresa Hall, Ziarih Hawi, Inga Laube, Natasha Matthews, Daniel Stjepanovic. Absent: Mykolas Byrne, Lara Campbell, Kelly Garner, Sanjay Nandam, Daniel Newman, Joe Wagner. Background: Highlighted in red, brain areas become more active when volunteers attempt to complete a difficult task of paying attention to important parts of a complex visual display while ignoring others. Image Daniel Stjepanovic

The genetics and pharmacology of human cognition

Work in the Bellgrove laboratory is investigat- behaviour is examined. A major goal of the insight and awareness and fundamental deficits ing the biological mechanisms underpinning work within the laboratory is to map suscepti- in dopamine D2 signalling. human cognition. The laboratory has a multi- bility pathways for psychiatric disorders. Thus Other work in the laboratory has, in collabora- disciplinary focus with staff and students trained the identification of ‘genes for attention’ in tion with a number of other centres, identified in molecular genetics, pharmacology, psychiatry healthy populations can provide vital clues to DNA variants in the SNAP-25 gene as a sus- and cognitive neuroscience. The laboratory the genetics of heritable disorders of attention, ceptibility mechanism for ADHD. Further, conducts basic human experimental work that such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder by studying expression of the gene in the attempts to link DNA variation in chemical (ADHD). Major discoveries include the iden- post-mortem brain, the group has shown that signalling genes to our abilities to behave and tification of polymorphisms of the dopamine variants of the SNAP-25 gene that confer risk to think flexibly in an ever-changing social world. D2 receptor gene that predict the degree to ADHD have altered expression in the key regions which individuals are aware of errors in their Relative expression level of SNAP25 in non The search for candidate genes is informed by of the frontal cortex that are known to be dys- performance. These results also have important pathological samples; A and B showing pharmacological challenge studies in which the functional in individuals with ADHD. implications for disorders such as schizophre- decreased expression with ADHD associ- impact of pharmacological agents on brain and ated alleles; C shows the level of expression nia and drug addiction where there is a loss of relative to ADHD risk haplotypes. Image Ziarih Hawi

Associate Professor Mark Bellgrove holds a joint appointment with the School of Psychology. RESEARCH 23 Laboratory Head Dr Timothy Bredy

2011 Laboratory Members L-R: Timothy Bredy, Danay Baker-Andresen, Kevin Dudley, Xiang Li , Wei Wei, Vikram Ratnu. Absent: Paola Spadaro. Background: Protein antibody microarray is used to determine the epigenetic regulatory proteins associated with fear extinction learning.

Epigenetic mechanisms regulating the formation & maintenance of memory

The extinction of conditioned fear, the reduction how this relationship shapes behaviour across role of epigenetic mechanisms in fear extinction. in responding to a feared cue when the cue the lifespan. The group is particularly interested The first of these, which appeared in the Journal is repeatedly presented without any adverse in how epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA of Neuroscience, demonstrated that inhibition consequence, is an important model for the methylation, histone modification and the of the histone acetyltransferase p300 enhances treatment of anxiety disorders. Like other forms of activity of small non-coding RNAs, regulate the memory for fear extinction. The second, learning, long-lasting memory for fear extinction formation and maintenance of memories such as published in Nature Neuroscience, revealed the depends on coordinated gene expression and those associated with fear extinction. important role of a brain-specific microRNA, the synthesis of new synaptic proteins. This 2011 was a highly productive year for the miR-128b, in regulating fear extinction memory. process involves a tightly controlled interplay laboratory, which published two review articles These findings have significant implications between transcriptional machinery and enzymes in the journals Neurobiology of Learning and for the development of novel therapeutic that regulate chromatin structure. Research Memory and Neuroscience and Biobehavioural approaches for the treatment of fear-related in the Bredy laboratory is elucidating how the Reviews, as well as two major discoveries on the anxiety disorders. genome is connected to the environment, and MicroRNAs in the cytoplasm regulate the translation of proteins related to synaptic plasticity.

24 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Laboratory Head Dr Thomas Burne

2011 Laboratory Members L-R: Thomas Burne, Suzanne Alexander, Claire Foldi, Pauline Ko, Natalie Groves, Lauren Harms, Karly Turner. Background: Section from Painting by Glenn Brady, Cold day at Lutwyche, 1996, Acrylic on canvas. Image thanks to QCMHR Gallery.

Exploring brain development and behaviour in animal models

Research in the Burne laboratory is focused on built on its previous research showing that low goal now is to investigate the neurobiology of investigating the underlying biological basis prenatal vitamin D (the ‘sunshine hormone’) is altered cognition in animal models, by looking for schizophrenia, with the goal of finding associated with alterations in behaviour, brain at selected cognitive domains – sensorimotor public health interventions that will alleviate neurochemistry and receptor profile in animal gating, working memory, attention and speed of the burden of this disease. The group has been models. Now the collaboration is investigat- processing, learning and memory, and problem exploring the impact of developmental vitamin ing the impact of DVD deficiency on social and solving – that are known to be disrupted in D (DVD) deficiency on brain development, the cognitive behaviours. Research into the impact schizophrenia. In collaboration with other neu- impact of adult vitamin D deficiency on brain of adult vitamin D deficiency on brain function roscientists at QBI, they have also begun to use function and behaviour and, more recently, the has also started. other species, such as zebrafish and fruit flies, to neurobiological effects of having an older father. capitalise on the advantages of the ‘small brain’ The Burne group has also expanded its research for such research, work which was featured on In 2011 the Burne group, in collaboration with tools, with a suite of cognitive behavioural tasks the cover of Molecular Psychiatry. QBI’s Dr Darryl Eyles and Professor John McGrath, to assess attentional processing in rodents. The Section from Front panel of Schizophrenia/ Internal Symmetry,Craig Finn. Collage Acylic on polycarbonate corrugated surface. Image thanks to QCMHR Gallery.

Dr Thomas Burne (Queensland Health) holds a conjoint appointment with QBI. RESEARCH 25 Laboratory Head Dr Allen Cheung

2011 Laboratory Member Above: Allen Cheung. Background: Seeing is believing – a tethered honeybee in a virtual tunnel displayed by computer monitors. Image Chen Wu.

Explaining neurocomputational theory of spatial navigation

The core research of Dr Cheung’s laboratory is to yield an approximate vector between the rat acquired a map-like representation of the aimed at understanding the fundamental brain starting location and current location. Recently, arena boundary, which is combined with path computations required for spatial navigation. the laboratory proved mathematically that there integration in an optimal probabilistic manner. Spatial navigation is one of the oldest and are key computational constraints governing There are important implications for the neural most widespread brain functions in the animal all neural circuitry involved in path integration, networks involved in such a system. kingdom. The cells, circuits and computations irrespective of species differences. In collaboration with experimentalists, a virtual required for animals to search for resources, However, even an ideal path integration circuit reality system has also been developed which return home, and go back to those resources later, cannot work effectively if an animal doesn’t is capable of initiating and maintaining flight are subjects of intense research worldwide. see, smell or detect external landmarks. Yet, behaviour in tethered honeybees. An unexpected Thinking about path integration – large Path integration is one strategy used by in experiments, rats have neurons (place cells visually driven ‘streamlining’ response has been and small brains are capable of adding vertebrates and invertebrates alike, and may well and grid cells) which consistently ‘know’ where discovered. In the future, it may be possible to up displacements through space, leading to an internal estimate of position. Errors be the common ‘scaffold’ required for spatial they are in total darkness. In collaboration with record from the neural circuits of this superb impact on path integration in vastly differ- navigation generally. It is the process whereby computer scientists and roboticists, the group invertebrate navigator, while flying in a virtual ent but predictable ways, depending on estimated self-motion is integrated over time recently showed that this can be explained if the world. the computations performed by the brain circuits involved.

26 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Laboratory Head Dr Charles Claudianos

2011 Laboratory Members L-R: Charles Claudianos, Partha Bhagavatula, Alex Cristino, Nivetha Gunasekaran , Aoife Larkin, Yuelin Liu. Absent: Joon An, Mathew Brugioni. Background: Network analyses used to abstract a molecular basis for cognitive disorder.

Molecular mechanisms of senses and synapses

The major aim of the Claudianos laboratory is to examines the role of these molecules and their small brain can be a useful tool for researching characterise key molecular processes involved fundamental biological relevance to healthy neuropsychiatric disorders. They use the in synapse development that provide detailed brain function. They then go back to the human Drosophila fly and the honeybee to examine insight into the aetiology and diagnosis of and use genome network analyses to identify the biological role of synaptic molecules with cognitive disorder. Many data now show that a the molecular processes and pathways in which regard to healthy brain functions. Biochemical loss of synapses or aberrant synaptic connection these and other candidate ASD, schizophrenia, interaction, gene expression and targeted- between neurons will affect brain function. attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) disruption of these molecules are examined in Molecules involved in synapse development and X-linked mental retardation (XLMR) genes context to learning and memory and sensory such as neurexin and neuroligin now head a are involved. This systems approach highlights response. The approach is helping unravel list of causative molecular associations in the the central role that synaptic molecules play how key neurological molecules contribute pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders within a novel in silico profile of human cognitive to behaviours that underlie cognitive disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia. disorder. endophenotypes. This work was published in Molecular Psychiatry. Using tractable insect genetic and behavioural The Claudianos group, in collaboration with models, the fly and the honeybee, the laboratory QBI colleagues, has demonstrated that the Experimental honeybees live in a natural environment, the hive.

RESEARCH 27 Laboratory Head Dr Robert Colvin

2011 Laboratory Members: Above: Robert Colvin. Absent: Belinda Craig Background: Students in a classroom.

Using neuroscience to optimise delivery of learning

Education and learning research has discovered with professional educators and education and attention constraints. The models are used literally hundreds of effective teaching researchers on classroom-based studies in to elucidate the connection between behaviour techniques that assist learning, ranging from which teaching techniques are modified, within and brain function, and relate phenomena from modifications to the timing of lessons and the complex constraints of a real classroom, to the classroom to biology. assessment, to the use of visual aids, and make effective use of our brain’s mechanisms for In 2011, the laboratory developed the underlying providing examples and practice. Dr Colvin’s strengthening memories. mathematical framework in which behavioural laboratory, within QBI’s Science of Learning Underlying the research on memory concepts such as performance on an exam Centre is addressing the question of what optimisation are computational models can be related to the activity of regions in the combination of those techniques, and in what which integrate at a high level of abstraction brain, and in collaboration with a Brisbane state proportion, will make the most effective lesson. the biological components of learning. This school, we began an investigation of the effects The Colvin group tackles this problem from a research stream uses classical (or Pavlovian) of attention training on struggling readers. biological perspective, with a particular focus conditioning as the basic paradigm by which The motor network of the human brain on how attention modulates our ability to store memories (associations) are formed, and is active when we plan voluntary actions, and recall memories. The laboratory works extends the models with notions of real-time imagine movements, and even when we observe others performing actions. Image: Cunnington Lab.

28 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Laboratory Head Assoc. Professor Helen Cooper

2011 Laboratory Members L-R: Helen Cooper, Min Chen, Jayani Hewage, Casey Holding, Conor O’Leary, Murugesh Sheekar, Amanda White. Absent: Charlotte Clark, Haley Cox, Cathrin Nourse, Melissa de Vries. Background: Cytoskeletal scaffolding (actin, green; tubulin, red) within epithelial cells. Image Cooper lab.

Understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating the birth of new neurons

The early vertebrate embryo comprises a highly entiation by relaying local environmental infor- Alzheimer's or Huntington's disease. This project organised neural stem cell population which mation to the newborn neuron, ensuring that aims to develop a novel class of nanoparticles gives rise to all neurons in the central nervous it takes up the correct fate. Recent studies also as an effective drug delivery system for the system. The Cooper laboratory is working to show that Neogenin controls the birth of new treatment of neurodegenerative disease. This understand how the local environment of the neurons in the adult brain. Understanding these collaborative project between the Cooper labo- stem cell influences the decision to generate fundamental processes is of major importance, ratory, Professor Perry Bartlett, Professor Max Lu new neurons. The group has now identified as aberrant division and subsequent failure in and Dr Zhi Ping Xu of the Australian Institute for two cell surface receptors that control the birth neurogenesis is linked to debilitating conditions Bioengineering and Nanotechnology has dem- of new neurons in the embryonic cortex. The such as epilepsy, schizophrenia, and autism. onstrated for the first time that these nanoparti- Neogenin receptor controls the initial events that cles can efficiently deliver small interfering RNAs The Cooper laboratory is also heavily involved in designate one daughter cell as a neuron during to neurons in the adult mouse brain, indicating The NanoNeuro Project. Presently, there are no stem cell division, whereas the Wnt receptor, that they may have great clinical potential. effective therapies to combat conditions such as Ryk, controls the next phase of neuronal differ- Loss of the cell surface receptor Neogenin results in severe disruption to the developing zebrafish brain (section through forebrain). Image Cooper lab.

RESEARCH 29 Laboratory Head Assoc. Professor Elizabeth Coulson

2011 Laboratory Members L-R: Elizabeth Coulson, Fabienne Alfonsi, Earlene Ashton, Zoran Boskovic , Sophie Hill, Nicola Marks, Dusan Matusica, Linda May, Nick Palstra, Aanchal Sharma, Sune Skeldal. Absent: Georg Kerbler, Mei-Fong Ho, Mirela Wagner. Background: MRI image of the connections between the basal forebrain and the hippocampus. Image Georg Kerbler.

Promoting neuron survival in Alzheimer's disease with neurotrophic factors

The Coulson group aims to understand the degeneration that underpins cognitive decline age. The group hypothesises that dysregulation factors which promote the survival of nerve associated with the condition, the aetiology of of these neurotrophic factors may be a major cells throughout the life of the organism. By un- disease in the 90 per cent of people who develop trigger of dysfunction of neurons that reside derstanding the molecular and environmental it sporadically is unknown, with age alone being in the cortex and hippocampus - the seats of factors that control neuronal survival, their goal the greatest risk factor. memory and executive thinking - resulting in is to develop molecules that can mimic naturally increased production of Aß and hence neuro- The Coulson laboratory has delineated a occurring mechanisms to treat neurodegenera- degeneration. They have recently devised a key molecular pathway by which Aß causes tive diseases. novel magnetic resonance imaging method of neuronal death. This has led to the identifica- assessing the extent of neuronal degeneration The prevailing theory of Alzheimer's disease, the tion of two molecules, the p75 neurotrophin in a specific brain region (the basal forebrain) most common form of ageing dementia, is that receptor and a potassium channel Kir3, which in people with suspected Alzheimer’s disease an endogenous amyloid-ß peptide (Aß) is either if disabled, can prevent neuronal death. They which, together with animal models of the overproduced or poorly cleared from the brain, have also demonstrated that this pathway is condition, is being used to test this theory. Phase contrast micrograph of neuronal resulting in neurotoxicity. Although high levels normally regulated by neurotrophic factors, the PC12 cells showing extensive neurite of Aß may be the proximal cause of the neuro- production of which declines in humans as they growth following treatment with a p75- derived peptide. Image Dusan Matusica.

30 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Laboratory Head Assoc. Professor Ross Cunnington

2011 Laboratory Members L-R: Ross Cunnington, Katharine Baker, Veronika Halász, Kian Ng, Vinh Nguyen, Simmy Poonian. Absent: Megan Campbell, Luis Sebastian Contreras Huerta, Shashenka Milston, Aaron Warren. Background: Setting up for a functional MRI brain imaging experiment on the UQ 3 Tesla MRI scanner.

Decoding brain activity during action planning and perception

Research in the Cunnington laboratory focuses of people’s actions. This seems to be a highly Using new technology for brain imaging, the on the brain processes involved in planning and automatic process, mediated by specialised areas group is also combining electroencephalogra- preparing for voluntary actions, and for perceiv- of the brain, through the “mirroring” or simula- phy and functional magnetic resonance imaging ing and understanding the actions of others. tion of others’ actions in our own brain states. (fMRI) to examine the temporal dynamics of Whenever we plan, imagine, or observe others human brain activity, and using machine-learn- The Cunnington group is discovering how neural performing actions, representations of those ing computational methods to decode brain predictions of others’ actions and goals can actions are encoded in the motor areas of the activity in real time. Using ultra-high resolu- influence the way we perceive those actions, and brain. tion human fMRI they are now able to see brain how other events that occur at the time of the activity in small regions of deep brain areas, such Research from the Cunnington laboratory has action – sudden sights or sounds – get bound "The basal ganglia in detail." - With ultra- as the basal ganglia and thalamus that are crucial high resolution fMRI, function can be revealed how, when we observe others’ actions, together in the brain so that we often perceive to motor control, with never before achieved probed within specific parts of the basal specialised regions of the brain appear to be those events as being caused by the action. They detail. These methods are crucial for understand- ganglia as people perform simple finger important for decoding the intention or goal are also examining how such “mirroring” for ing clinical disorders affecting the deep brain movements inside the MRI scanner. This of the person’s action. As humans, we are very action understanding is influenced by social rela- shows activity within the striatum - the circuits, such as Parkinson’s disease. quick to understand the intentions or goals tionships such as team-membership and race. area of the brain most affected by Parkin- son's disease. Image Cunnington lab.

Associate Professor Ross Cunnington holds a joint appointment with the School of Psychology. RESEARCH 31 Laboratory Head Assoc. Professor Darryl Eyles

2011 Laboratory Members L-R: Darryl Eyles, Suzanne Alexander, Xiaoying Cui, Claire Foldi, Isabella Formella, Pauline Ko, David Kvaskoff, Pei-Yun Ashley Liu, Henry Simila. Background: Research assistant Henry Simila assaying archived dried blood spots for 25 hydroxy-vitamin D levels. Low levels of vitamin D at birth have been correlated with increased risk of developmental psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia.

Understanding brain development and psychiatric illness

Adverse events in utero increase risk for serious been directed to its role in cellular differentia- Schizophrenia is also closely associated with psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. tion and brain development. In 2005 we mapped abnormalities in dopamine transmission. The Research in the Eyles laboratory focuses on how the distribution of the vitamin D receptor in group’s work in DVD-deficient animals confirms known risk-factors for schizophrenia, including human brain, and showed the close anatomical this. They have now fast-tracked some of their developmental vitamin D (DVD) deficiency, relationship between vitamin D signalling and discoveries in rodent models into other model change the way the brain develops. The Eyles metabolism in both rodent and human brain. Over systems more amenable to high-throughput group has developed an extremely sensitive LC/ the past 12 years the Eyles lab has been exploring neuroscience such as the fruit fly and zebrafish. MS/MS assay for vitamin D species in blood spot what role vitamin D plays in the developing brain Using these model species the team has cards. This assay allowed the landmark study in and how the maternal absence of this vitamin established models of restricted early transient Morpholino-induced knock-down of 2010 implicating maternal levels of vitamin D as a may affect brain function and behaviour. impairments in dopaminergic development tyrosine hydroxylase-expressing neurons in a 12 day old zebrafish larva. Compare risk factor for schizophrenia to be conducted. which they predict may be of aetiological They have recently discovered a mechanism of control (A) with the morphant (B). Altering relevance to what is happening in the developing Vitamin D has long been known to be important post-translational modification of the vitamin D tyrosine hydroxylase expression (rate human brain in schizophrenia. for calcium absorption and bone health, but receptor that may profoundly affect vitamin D limiting enzyme in dopamine synthesis) early in zebrafish brain development has it is only relatively recently that attention has signalling selectively in the developing brain. been shown to alter anxiety-like behaviour in the adults.

32 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Assoc. Professor Darryl Eyles (Queensland Health) holds a conjoint appointment with QBI. Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Laboratory Head Professor Geoffrey Goodhill

2011 Laboratory Members L-R: Geoffrey Goodhill, Lilach Avitan, Maria Caldeira, Richard Faville, Clare Giacomantonio, Jonathan Hunt, Elizabeth Kita, Zac Pujic, Hugh Simpson, Jiajia Yuan. Absent: Clement Bonini, Elizabeth Forbes, Andrew Thompson. Background: Axons growing from the eye to the brain in the head of a larval zebrafish. Image Hugh Simpson

Using mathematical models to understand neural wiring development

For the brain to function properly, its neurons recently developed a theoretical model to Further, the Goodhill laboratory is studying visual must be connected correctly. Research in the understand quantitatively how levels of calcium system development, particularly maps in the Goodhill laboratory uses a unique combination and cAMP in axons determine whether they are primary visual processing centres of the brain. of experiments and theoretical modelling to attracted or repelled by guidance cues. This may Through a combination of theoretical modelling understand how the nervous system becomes help to explain the behaviour of developing and and timelapse imaging of real axons growing in wired up during development. The laboratory’s regenerating axons in vivo. The Goodhill group is the zebrafish brain, the laboratory has been in- guiding philosophy is that building mathematical also investigating the shape of growth cones, the vestigating the mechanisms that lead to precise models allows a much more precise understand- structures at the tip of developing axons. Sophis- ing of the underlying phenomena than relying on ticated mathematical techniques for characteris- targeting of retinal axons in the brain. Theoretical purely qualitative reasoning. ing shape in general are currently being adapted predictions suggest that the precision of these to develop a more quantitative understanding of connections may vary with the distribution One area of focus for the Goodhill laboratory is the role growth cone shape plays in effective axon of underlying molecular guidance cues; this how nerve fibres (axons) are guided by molecular guidance. prediction is now being tested experimentally. Neuronal growth cone in culture. gradients to find appropriate targets in the Stained for TrkA receptors (green) and F-actin (phalloidin). 100X confocal image. developing nervous system. The laboratory Imgage Zac Pujic.

Professor Geoffrey Goodhill holds a joint appointment with the School of Mathematics and Physics. RESEARCH 33 Laboratory Head Dr Massimo Hilliard

2011 Laboratory Members L-R: Massimo Hilliard, Justin Chaplin, Paula Mugno, Annika Nichols, Sean Coakley, Leonie Kirszenblat, Casey Linton, Rhianna Knable, Brent Neumann, Rosina Giordano-Santini, Nicholas Valmas. Background: Different developmental stages of the PQR oxygen sensory neuron, with the dendrite (right) and axon (left) extending progressively. Image Hilliard lab.

Discovering the molecular mechanisms of axonal development & regeneration

Determining how individual neurons develop is cal and functional domains. Using a C. elegans neurons spontaneously degenerate. Molecular crucial for understanding how highly complex oxygen sensory neuron as a model system, the identification of one of these genes has revealed neuronal structures, such as the brain and Hilliard group has identified two Wnt ligands and a high level of conservation across animal phyla, spinal cord, are formed. The Hilliard laboratory two Frizzled receptors that regulate dendrite including humans. is interested in understanding how axons (nerve development in vivo. The team has discovered Using a laser-based technology to axotomize fibres conducting impulses from the neuron) and that Wnt ligands can function as attractant cues single neurons in living C. elegans animals, the dendrites (nerve processes conducting impulses for the developing dendrite. team has also characterised neuronal regeneration to the neuron) develop and how they are guided The axon is the neuron’s longest process, but in different classes of sensory neurons. They to their targets. The group also investigates how the mechanisms that allow it to maintain its have shown that axonal regeneration can occur axonal structure is maintained over time and how structural integrity and its regeneration capacity by a mechanism of axonal fusion, whereby the it can be reconstituted after injury. following injury are still poorly understood. The two separated axonal fragments can specifically Neurons are highly polarised cells, the dendrites Hilliard group has identified mutant animals in re-attach and restore the original axonal tract. and axons of which form distinct morphologi- which the axons of C. elegans mechanosensory The axon of the ALM mechanosensory neuron has regenerated bridging the injury site and restoring the original axonal tract. Image Hilliard lab.

34 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Laboratory Head Professor Tianzi Jiang

2011 Laboratory Members, top - bottom: Tianzi Jiang, Yonghui Li. Background: People with DISC1 risky allele have less global efficiency of brain networks based on diffusion MRI. Image Jiang lab.

Mapping human and animal brain networks with neuroimaging

Convergent evidence has shown that brain of these involves the Brainnetome of age-related of neurodevelopment disorders, such as functions can manifest on brain networks on brain disorders, such as mild cognitive schizophrenia and autism. One such study is different scales, and that the brain malfunctions impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. They have focussed on how the Disrupted-in-Schizophre- associated with most psychiatric disorders are found that Alzheimer’s disease patients have nia-1 (DISC1) gene modulates brain anatomical the result of faulty brain networks. “Brainnetome” decreased long distance functional connectivity network properties based on diffusion magnetic (www.brainnetome.org) is an emerging avenue specifically between the default network regions. resonance imaging (dMRI). The group has found to integrate the multi-level network features Moreover, the team has shown that the longer that in healthy young adults, A-allele carriers obtained with various functional and anatomical the distance, the more significant the alteration show significantly lower global efficiency of their brain imaging technologies on different scales. in functional connectivity, and the more severe the illness, the lower the connection strength brain network compared with TT homozygotes. On a macroscale, Brainnetome can The Jiang laboratory is studying basic theory, and global efficiency in the patient group. These This indicates that less efficient information be studied from at least four aspects: methodologies and algorithms underpinning networks based on illness special region results provide direct support for the idea that transfer may be associated with the high-risk the Brainnetome platform, and their applications of interest, networks related to special Alzheimer’s disease is a disconnection syndrome. genotype of DISC1. cognitive function, whole brain networks, in neurological and psychiatric diseases. In 2011, and performance of networks. their research has followed two streams. The first Another research stream is the Brainnetome Image Jiang lab

Professor Tianzi Jiang holds a joint appointment with the Centre for Advanced Imaging. RESEARCH 35 Laboratory Head Professor Joe Lynch

K24’

R19’

M1 M3 M2

R0’ 2011 Laboratory Members L-R: Joe Lynch, Anna Bode, Christine Dixon, Justine Haddrill, Angelo Keramidas, Han Lu, Sahil Talwar, Qian Wang, Yang Zhe. Background: View of the ion pore of the glycine receptor showingM4 amino acids that give rise to fluctuations in single channel current when they bind and unbind protons.

Inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors as therapeutic targets

The major research interest of the Lynch Recent research in the laboratory has led to the This process involves conformational changes laboratory concerns the molecular structure development of an improved ‘neuronal silencing that close the channel despite continued

and function of the glycine and GABAA receptor receptor’ for inhibiting electrical activity in agonist binding. Despite the physiological and chloride channels that mediate inhibitory neuro- defined populations of neurons in behaving pathological importance of desensitisation,

transmission in the brain. The GABAA receptor animals. This technology holds promise for little is known about the molecular basis of this is an important therapeutic target for sedative treating human neurological disorders that are process in any Cys-loop ion channel receptor. and anxiolytic drugs and the glycine receptor4 pAcaused by excessive levels of neuronal activity, The Lynch group has recently discovered has recently emerged as a therapeutic target for including motor neuron disease, Parkinson’s how this process occurs. This has important pain, spasticity, epilepsy and tinnitus. The Lynch disease, addiction, anxiety and epilepsy. consequences for understanding how these group is attempting to identify the locations 100 ms receptors work and will help in designing new Most synaptic receptors in the brain exhibit ‘de- of drug binding sites on these receptors. They drugs that modulate these receptors in specific sensitisation’, which is the progressive fading are also discovering new drugs active at these ways. View of the ionof pore ionic current of the in the glycine prolonged receptorpresence of showing amino acids that give rise receptors which could lead not only to improved agonist. therapies but also to betterto uctuationstools for basic in single channel current when they bind and unbind protons Location of a critical ivermectin binding research. determinant on the inhibitory glycine receptor.

36 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Laboratory Head Professor Justin Marshall

2011 Laboratory Members L-R: Justin Marshall, Tsyr-Huei Chiou, Wen-Sung Chung, Angela Dean, Alan Goldizen, Martin How, Anna Kleine. Absent: Andy Dunstan, Adrian Flynn, Genevieve Phillips, Chris Talbot, Hanne Thoen. Background: The stomatopod crustacean Odontodactylys cyllarus catches prey in less than 50 milliseconds. The visual system of these crustaceans is one of our current research themes.

Vision and visual communication in marine organisms

The Marshall laboratory is interested in “neuroscience program that communicates science industry partners and a pair of 600m capable ecology”, the study of neuroscience in the outside direct to the public. Deep-Worker submersibles that will be available world. The group specialises in visual systems for use in early 2012. Highlights for 2011 include 15 publications from and their animal models include stomatopods the team, all in top-tier journals, including Stomatopod visual systems are now providing (a marine crustacean), cephalopods (octopus, Current Biology and a theme issue of The Philo- bio-inspiration for the nanofabrication of optical squid, cuttlefish and Nautilus), fish (mostly the sophical Transactions of the Royal Society of data storage devices and one new theme for colourful assemblage of reef fish), turtles and which Professor Marshall was edition co-editor 2012 will be to further explore this area with occasionally birds. The environments they with long-term US collaborator Tom Cronin. funding from the US Airforce and American work in are largely marine (although birds and The group has made significant discoveries in colleagues. Our aim is to capitalise upon the The coastal squid Sepioteuthis lessoniana forests have also recently featured) and go from polarisation vision and colour vision with col- power of evolutionary design to enhance the is one of the marine animals whose The Great Barrier Reef to the icy depths of the laborators in the USA and UK. The Deep-Aus- opto-electrical engineering of camera systems visual system is being investigated in the deep-sea. They also have an environmental Marshall laboratory. Neuroscience originally tralia project received fresh input with two new and other optical devices. wing, CoralWatch, an award winning citizen used cephalopods and crustaceans as models systems to discover basic neural function and we are following this lead to discover more about their sensory systems.

RESEARCH 37 Laboratory Head Professor Jason Mattingley

2011 Laboratory Members L-R: Jason Mattingley, Oliver Baumann, Luca Cocchi, Oscar Jacoby, Marc Kamke, David Lloyd, David Painter, Martin Sale, Susie Travis. Absent: Michael Dwyer, Jill Harris, Will Harrison. Background: Neuroimaging and a virtual navigation task (behind) to isolate differences in the neural activity underlying the formation of navigation- based metric and categorical spatial representations. Brain images show neural activity as participants learn their way around a new environment.

Understanding selective attention in health and disease

Attentional processes are crucial for most a “head start” in updating it’s current picture of such as looking for a set of car keys on a messy cognitive functions in humans, including learning the visual world. desk. Their work has shown that the brain uses and memory. How does the brain select just a predictable elements within visual scenes to In related work, Dr Michael Dwyer (MPhil) and Mr few important inputs from the myriad of data improve search efficiency. David Painter (PhD) have used brain recording entering our senses? The cerebellum has an important and well- methods to investigate changes in the brain Post-doctoral fellows Dr Marc Kamke, Dr Martin known role in the control and coordination In 2011, Mattingley lab researchers made several that occur when people lose part of their vision Sale and Dr Luca Cocchi have used non-invasive of movements. Here neuroimaging was breakthroughs in understanding how attention due to macular degeneration. Their findings brain stimulation to examine how attention and used to investigate the role of the human operates in health and disease. Mr Will Harrison have led to a better understanding of how the training influence neural plasticity. They have cerebellum in the regulation of emotions. (PhD) is investigating what happens to visual brain reorganizes itself when the senses are also used brain imaging combined with novel Participants were shown emotion-evoking attention when we move our eyes. Mr Harrison’s compromised due to ageing or disease. analytic methods to uncover changes in the pictures (see examples top and middle) work has shown that the brain effectively brain’s functional networks after local stimulation while undergoing fMRI measurements of Mr Oscar Jacoby (PhD) and Ms Susie Travis anticipates each eye movement a fraction of a of the motor cortex. This work has important their neural acitvity. The bottom image (PhD) have examined the processes that enable second before it occurs, giving the visual system implications for people who lose limb mobility displays emotion-related activity in the the human visual system to search rapidly and cerebellum for five primal emotions after a stroke. efficiently through cluttered visual environments, (Happiness=Red; Anger=Green; Fear=Blue; Sadness=Yellow; Disgust=Purple).

38 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Professor Jason Mattingley holds a joint appointment with the School of Psychology. Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Laboratory Head Professor John McGrath

2011 Laboratory Members L-R: John McGrath, Suzanne Alexander, Trudi Flatscher-Bader, Pauline Ko, Pei-Yun Ashley Liu, Henry Simila. Background: Painting by Glenn Brady, The Schizophrenic, the bipolar and the manic-depressive, acrylic on canvas. Image thanks to QCMHR Gallery.

Modifiable risk factors for schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a poorly understood group vitamin D levels at birth double the risk of later mutations in genes linked to autism and schizo- of brain disorders that affects about one in a developing schizophrenia. phrenia. Age of parenthood is increasing in many hundred Australians. The aim of the McGrath societies and it is feasible that paternal-age The group has also found that the offspring of group is to explore risk factors that are linked related genetic mutations will increase in the older fathers have an increased risk of schizo- to schizophrenia. In particular, they focus on years ahead. phrenia. In 2011 they published findings of a nongenetic factors that are potentially modifiable. mouse model of advanced paternal age. In col- This research raises the tantalizing prospect of In recent years the team has been examining the laboration with Professor Emma Whitelaw at the primary prevention of schizophrenia. It is impact of low vitamin D (the sunshine hormone) the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, feasible that the use of vitamin D supplementa- during early brain development. In collaboration Dr Trudi Flatscher-Bader from the McGrath team tion in at-risk groups could reduce the incidence with Dr Darryl Eyles and Dr Tom Burne, they reported that the offspring of older males have of schizophrenia, in a manner comparable to have developed animal models that examine a significantly increased risk of a type of genetic folate supplementation and the prevention of the impact of low vitamin D during gestation mutations (copy number variants). This study spina bifida. on brain development. Recently the group and also found that paternal age was associated with The McGrath laboratory investigates the their Danish collaborators have found that low genetic risk factors associated with paternal age. Image Garrison Photography.

Professor John McGrath (Queensland Health) holds a conjoint appointment with QBI. RESEARCH 39 Laboratory Head Assoc. Professor Frederic Meunier

2011 Laboratory Members L-R: Frederic Meunier, Rachel Gormal, Callista Harper, Pei C Low, Nancy Malintan, Sally Martin, Tam Hong Nguyen, Shona Osborne, Andreas Papadopulos, Vanesa Tomatis. Absent: Peter Wen. Background: Even in culture, neurons create extremely complicated networks of neurites to connect with other cells. These connections are necessary for communication between the cells and are useful models to study what is occurring in the brain. Image Callista Harper.

Deciphering the mechanism underpinning neuronal communication

In 2011, the Meunier laboratory has focused on how minute variations in the lipid composition has demonstrated that botulinum neurotoxin the major role played by vesicular trafficking in of our neurons can have dramatic effects on the type-A exploits synaptic vesicle recycling and health and disease. way in which these vital cells communicate with endosomes to gain access to neurons, leading each other in the brain, with changes in lipid to intractable flaccid paralysis. This process In a paper published in the international composition already being shown by others to requires the activity of dynamin-1. In collabora- journal Nature Communications, the group be a contributing factor to the development tion with the groups of Phil Robinson (University has demonstrated that the lipid (fat) from the of dementia in Alzheimer’s disease. The of Sydney) and Adam McCluskey (University membranes of brain cells controls the movement A cultured neuron treated with two toxins team therefore hopes that developing novel of Newcastle), who provided a highly effective of vesicles containing chemical messengers (red and green) that are used to study compounds targeting the fat lipid composition dynamin inhibitor, the team has demonstrated called neurotransmitters. Their results show that trafficking pathways. The blue staining of biological membranes could ultimately help that such drugs could be used to prevent toxins the lipid phosphatidylinositol(4,5)bisphosphate (VAMP2) shows where the neuron connects in the treatment of such brain disorders. such as botulinum neurotoxin from entering our with other cells, which is often where orchestrates the mobilisation and movement neurons. endocytosis occurs. Despite the majority of secretory vesicles towards the plasma In another study published in the Journal of of both toxins being taken up in the same membrane of the cell. These findings explain Biological Chemistry, the Meunier laboratory regions of the cellular membrane, they follow very different pathways within the neuron. Image Callista Harper.

40 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Laboratory Head Professor Bryan Mowry

2011 Laboratory Members L-R: Bryan Mowry, Cheryl Filippich, Jake Gratten, Chikako Ragan, Vasilis Mantzioris, Kalpana Patel, Lauren Simpson, Heather Smith, Xi Yao. Absent: Andrew Martin, Duncan McLean. Background: Researcher Kalpana Patel loading a microtitre plate on to a real time PCR machine.

Psychiatric genomics

The Mowry group aims to identify and functionally Australian Schizophrenia Research Bank. brain samples; targeted resequencing of a schizo- characterise susceptibility genes for schizophre- phrenia linkage region) development of a neuro- During the year, the group made a substantial nia and related disorders. The group achieves immunology of schizophrenia project involving contribution to the landmark Psychiatric this by combining genome-wide association new group member, Dr Vasilis (Bill) Mantzioris, Genetics Consortium schizophrenia GWAS, studies (GWAS), DNA sequencing and transcrip- and a collaborative induced pluripotent stem reported in the September issue of Nature tome profiling with neuropsychological testing cell study involving samples from people with Genetics. They contributed approximately 950 and neuroimaging in people with schizophre- schizophrenia and healthy controls. The group individuals (multiplex schizophrenia families, nia. Ongoing studies include (i) the recruitment includes four PhD students: Chikako Ragan (small affected sibling pair pedigrees and unrelated of a large Indian case-control cohort in collabo- non-coding RNAs in schizophrenia); Andrew cases) in the discovery phase, and coordinated ration with Dr Thara, Schizophrenia Research Martin (neuropsychological and neuroimaging the Australian component (558 schizophrenia Foundation, Chennai, India (ii) neuroimaging endophenotypes in schizophrenia); Xi Yao cases; 957 controls) of the replication phase. and neuropsychological phenotyping of schiz- (statistical analysis of rare genetic variants in Other highlights included two applications of ophrenia patients with major copy number schizophrenia), and Duncan McLean (Analysing White-matter images acquired using next-generation sequencing technology (a pilot Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) as part of variations, (iii) GWAS in homogeneous Indian and the expression of psychotic disorders in ethnically RNA-Seq study of post-mortem schizophrenia ongoing study into endophenotypes of Sarawak populations, and (iv) involvement in the different populations). schizophrenia.

Professor Bryan Mowry (Queensland Health) holds a conjoint appointment with QBI. RESEARCH 41 Laboratory Head Mr Geoffrey Osborne

2011 Laboratory Members, top - bottom: Geoffrey Osborne, Anne-Sophie Bedin, Virginia Nink. Absent: John Wilson. Background: Researcher Anne-Sophie Bedin using the BD Influx cell sorter.

Laying the groundwork for brain tumour therapies

Mr Geoffrey Osborne is unique among QBI felt that flow cytometry is, or could become, published work focused on the detection and researchers, in that he combines his work as a an important technology. As in previous years, flow cytometric separation of cells that are newly neuroscientist with a facility management role. investigations continued in the area of charac- committed to differentiating down a neuronal As Director of Flow Cytometry for both QBI and terisation of cells from brain tumours. These lineage. These cells have potential use for assay the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and studies focus on the heterogeneity of cell development or transplantation. Given that the Nanotechnology, Mr Osborne leads a team that surface receptors present on tumour cells, as first clinical trials for transplanted cells for the provides crucial cell sorting and analysis services these important receptors regulate interactions treatment of spinal injury have recently been to researchers both within QBI and across the that occur between the cell and its immediate approved, this approach may prove important broader university. The laboratory specialises in environment. This year saw the publication of in the future. the analysis and separation of cells derived from work showing that even within heterogeneous Other collaborative projects to develop specific a variety of sources such as solid tissue, blood populations of cells, identifiable sub-populations antibodies for neural stem cells and ion channel and cultured cell lines. have different tumour-forming potentials, which targets are ongoing, with putatively clones Studies utilising antibody phage display goes some way to explaining tumour resistance The research focus of the laboratory encompasses developed and undergoing testing for specificity. libraries are performed to identify specific to current treatment approaches. Other related fragments of antibodies that can bind a wide range of neuroscience areas where it is specifically to ion channels of interest in the neurosciences. Image Osborne lab.

42 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Mr Geoffrey Osborne holds a joint appointment with The Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology. Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Laboratory Head Dr Michael Piper

2011 Laboratory Members L-R: Michael Piper, Kathleen Cato, Evelyn Heng, Kynan McInnes. Absent: Chantelle Reid. Background: Expression of the glial marker, GFAP (green), and the transcription factor NFIA (red), in the subventricular zone of the adult mouse brain. The subventricular zone is one of the few places in the adult brain that makes new neurons throughout life.

Neural stem cell differentiation

The regulation of cellular proliferation and dif- in order to deepen our understanding of brain the genes that act to regulate the expression of ferentiation is critical during both development development and function, as well as to reveal the Nfi genes during development. They have and disease. For instance, controlling the the underlying deficits in brain cancers such as also shown that these transcription factors are balance between the proliferation of neural glioma. To do this they are investigating the vital for neurogenesis in the adult brain, and that progenitor cells and their subsequent differen- role of a suite of transcription factors called the they are misregulated in brain cancers including tiation into neurons or glia during development Nuclear Factor One (Nfi) family, and investigat- glioma. Recently, the team has also begun to is central to the formation of the brain. Moreover, ing how they drive the differentiation of neural discover the transcriptional targets of the Nfi when proliferative cells in the adult brain fail to progenitor cells. In 2011 in collaboration with proteins, work that aims to reveal the genetic differentiate correctly, brain cancers such as QBI’s Professor Linda Richards, the group has heirarchy that controls neural progenitor cell dif- glioma can arise. The Piper laboratory is inves- shown that Nfi members are required for the ferentiation. tigating the molecular mechanisms underlying formation of the cerebellum, a part of the brain Glial supporting cells in the hippocam- progenitor cell self-renewal and differentiation crucial for movement, and elucidated some of pus of an embryonic mouse brain show in white. The hippocampus is a part of the brain that is crucial for learning and memory.

Dr Michael Piper holds a joint appointment with the School of Biomedical Sciences. RESEARCH 43 Laboratory Head Dr Judith Reinhard

2011 Laboratory Members L-R: Judith Reinhard, Nicole van der Burg, Alexandre Cristino, Nivetha Gunasekaran, Shao-chang Huang, Homayoun Kheyri, Amanda Robinson. Absent: Shanzhi Yan. Background: Nicole van der Burg preparing a mixure of selected odorants to test human scent perception.

Uncovering mechanisms underlying scent perception in humans

Researchers in the Reinhard laboratory hundreds of different odorants. The Reinhard scents, thereby enhancing processing speed and investigate how the brain processes sensory laboratory had previously demonstrated capacity. information from the environment and that honeybees encode such natural scents The study also revealed that the environment in translates it into behavioural activity, thus via a selection of key odorants. In 2011, they which we live significantly affects key odorant linking brain function to behaviour. A particular investigated how the human sense of smell signatures. People who had lived in Australia focus is the sense of smell and its effect on recognises complex natural scents. A large-scale for several years all had similar key odorant memory, social behaviour, and cognitive behavioural study revealed that humans also signatures, irrespective of their gender, age, or performance. The laboratory uses insect model use the key odorant strategy of scent processing. genetic background. This exciting new discovery systems such as the honeybee and the fruit That is, our brains filter out the majority of suggests that our sense of smell is not hard-wired, fly in combination with human research, and olfactory information from an aroma and we but highly plastic, adapting throughout life to integrates behavioural studies with physiologi- only learn a specific key odorant signature for the scent environment surrounding us. cal and molecular approaches. each complex scent. This simple reductionist strategy helps the brain to manage the massive Honeybee tongue in a drop of scented Natural scents such as floral bouquets or food amount of information contained in natural sugar water during olfactory aromas are complex mixtures, composed of conditioning of the bee.

44 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Laboratory Head Professor David Reutens

2011 Laboratory Member, above: David Reutens. Background: Zones of a Zebra fish brain.

Creating images to explore living organisms

The emergence of powerful new imaging One aspect of the Reutens group research is the correlating imaging changes with spike seizure techniques such as magnetic resonance creation of in vivo mouse brain atlases using MR frequency and with histological changes in imaging (MRI), electroencephalogram (EEG), microscopy. These atlases make it possible to mouse models. These biomarkers may be used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and study and compare in vivo changes over time to test novel antiepileptogenic therapies. positron emission technology (PET) has sig- of diseased and healthy brains. The group is Meanwhile, another group of researchers in the nificantly driven advances in neuroscience in also examining new ways of mapping neuronal laboratory is working on new ways of detecting recent times. The Reutens laboratory takes full activation with MRI using diffusion and ultra-low brain hypoxia using novel MRI contrast agents advantage of these advances in technology to field imaging techniques. This year the group and susceptibility imaging techniques, resulting study functions such as memory in the healthy has commenced another project to create a in two Journal of Chemical Crystallography brain, the mechanisms behind diseases such as zebrafish MRI library. papers in 2011. epilepsy and stroke and how the brain responds The Reutens laboratory continues the to overcome injury. development of biomarkers of epileptogenesis,

3-D models of the hippocampus.

Professor David Reutens (Centre for Advanced Imaging) holds an affiliate appointment with QBI. RESEARCH 45 Laboratory Head Professor Linda Richards

2011 Laboratory Members L-R: Linda Richards, John Baisden, Jens Bunt, Ilse Buttiens, Maria Caldeira, Lauren Crumlish, Amelia Douglass, Tess Evans, Ilan Gobius, Katelin Haynes, Samantha Liu, Yolanda Liu, Rodrigo Suárez. Absent: Tim Edwards, Justin Jin, Gayeshika Leanage, Sharon Mason, Laura Morcom, Wachizya Nyirenda, Jeffrey Thompson, David Yap. Background: Glial cells (green) in an embryonic mouse brain shown in horizontal section.

Wiring the brain for function

Prior to birth, nerve cells form long processes resulted in two publications this year, one in the Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Rodrigo is called axons that connect to other neurons Journal of Comparative Neurology and another pioneering our efforts to understand callosal creating functional circuits in the brain. in the Proceedings of the National Academy axon targeting in the contralateral hemisphere. Researchers in the Richards laboratory are of Sciences in collaboration with Dr Shubha Jens is beginning our efforts to understand the studying how the brain forms these connections Tole, Tata Institute, Mumbai. Imaging work led array of genes regulated by the nuclear factor during embryonic and foetal development. This by postdoctoral scientist Dr Randal Moldrich one family of transcription factors in brain year marked a new phase in the laboratory with resulted in one paper in Developmental development and disease. Both Rodrigo and the departure of a number of students and Dynamics, as a collaborative effort with Tomoko Jens are bringing exciting new approaches to the postdoctoral fellows and the recruitment of new Iwata’s laboratory in Scotland. laboratory and we look forward to reporting their scientists to join the team. Of special note was progress next year. Finally Amber-Lee Donahoo Two new postdoctoral scientists joined the the departure of Dr Michael Piper who became successfully completed her PhD and graduated laboratory this year: Dr Rodrigo Suárez from a group leader in the School of Biomedical this year, and Amelia Douglass completed her the University of Chile, Santiago, Chile and Dr Sciences, UQ and QBI. Ongoing projects include honours degree in the Bachelor of Biomedical Jens Bunt from the Academic Medical Centre, Pyramidal neurons (green) in the our work on the nuclear factor one genes and Sciences program. somatosensory cortex of the

mouse labeled with green fluorescent protein. Image Rodrigo Suárez.

46 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Laboratory Head Professor Pankaj Sah

A A. Neural activity recorded from an awake person in theatre undergoing surgery for deep brain stimulation.

B B. Units shown in A have been sorted into distinct cells using principal component analysis. The three units identi ed are shown in the right panel.

2011 Laboratory Members L-R: Pankaj Sah, Peter Curby, Christine Dixon, Helen Gooch, Roger Marek, John Morris, Cornelia Strobel, Robert Sullivan, Fabrice Turpin, Francois Windels, Li Xu. Absent: Sepideh Keshavarzi, Chris Nolan, Jay Spampanato, John Power, Petra Sedlak, Peter Stratton. Background: Recording of neural activity from the human subthalamic nucleus. This area of the brain is stimulated to relieve the symptoms of Parkinsons disease.

Exploring learning and memory formation

The Sah laboratory aims to understand the focus on a part of the brain called the amygdala. amygdala and how activity in this circuitry leads circuits that mediate learning and memory The amygdala is an almond shaped structure to learning and memory formation. formation in the mammalian brain using a variety in the mid temporal lobe that is responsible for One major advance in 2011 was the discovery that of experimental techniques. assigning emotional salience to sensory stimuli. synaptic inputs to interneurons in the amygdala In particular it is involved in a simple learning One of the major goals in neuroscience express different types of receptors, but only paradigm – fear conditioning - that involves the today is to understand the mechanisms that one of these has the potential to change with rapid and long lasting acquisition of ‘emotional’ underlie learning and memory formation. This experience. memories. Understanding the mechanisms that Multi photon imaging shows partial information is a prerequisite not only for under- underlie fear-related learning is therefore most The team has also established collaboration with backpropagation of action potentials in an standing the biology of mind but also for the likely to yield a mechanistic understanding of the Professor Peter Silburn (UQ Centre for Clinical intercalated neuron. Panel shows neuron discovery of therapies that can alleviate disorders biology of learning and memory storage. The Research) to analyse recordings from brain regions with recording pipette attached that has such as anxiety, depression and stress. The group uses a combination of electrophysiological in humans. These recordings are revealing how been filled with a calcium indicator. The Sah laboratory studies the physiological and recording, calcium imaging, molecular analysis, the human brain processes information and how numbers measure distance from the soma molecular mechanisms that underlie learning and in microns. An action potential evoked at anatomical reconstruction and behavioural it changes in disease. memory formation. To achieve these goals they the cell body raises calcium in the proximal studies to understand the circuitry of the dendrite but not at distances > 60 µm

RESEARCH 47 Laboratory Head Professor Mandyam Srinivasan

2011 Laboratory Members L-R: Mandyam Srinivasan, Partha Bhagavatula, Brenda Campbell, Julia Groening, Michael Knight, Nikolai Liebsch, Laura McLeod, Ingo Schiffner, Dean Soccol, Saul Thurrowgood, Tien Luu. Absent: Daniel Bland, Natalie Bland, William Warhurst. Background: Experimental honey bees live in natural hive environments. Image UQ Photography.

From flying insects and birds to aircraft autopilots

Flying insects display remarkable visual agility, image of the environment, and are examining when they choose routes through a complex despite their diminutive brains. The Srinivasan how the brain combines these signals to achieve environment. Mathematical modelling reveals laboratory is using honeybees and budgerigars optimal streamlining. that this behaviour can expedite the passage of as models to understand how vision guides flight a flock of birds through a cluttered environment. Aggressive honeybees are very adept at and enables navigation. They are also using these This study is the first to report lateralisation in detecting and pursuing intruders. The group’s insights to design novel, biologically inspired bird flight, and to postulate a function for it. experiments are revealing that moving targets strategies for the guidance of aircraft. are best detected when they are darker than In the area of robotics, other members of the Honeybees are highly efficient flying machines, the background – regardless of the colour of group have developed and successfully tested requiring barely an ounce of honey to circum- the target or the background. This research is a vision system that enables fully automated navigate the world. Recently the Srinivasan helping them to understand how visual systems aircraft landings, using principles gleaned from team discovered that honeybees streamline their detect moving targets in natural environments. their earlier study of landing bees. This system flight by raising their abdomens at higher speeds. is computationally simpler, lighter, and cheaper How do birds fly rapidly and safely through They now find that this response is driven by the than conventional landing systems. dense foliage? Members of the Srinivasan team Researcher Saul Thurrowgood working in airflow on the body, as well as the motion of the have found that birds display characteristics the robotics area of the Srinivasan laboratory.

48 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Professor Mandyam Srinivasan holds a joint appointment with the School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering. Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Laboratory Head Assoc. Professor Bruno van Swinderen

2011 Laboratory Members L-R: Bruno van Swinderen, Ben Calcagno, Wendy Imlach, Leonie Kirszenblat , Ben Kottler, Angelique Paulk, Jacqui Stacey, Bart van Alphen, Oressia Zalucki. Absent: Rebecca Morley, Melvyn Yap. Background: The honeybee controls the movement of the green bar by manipulating the Styrofoam ball. These experiments highlight the bees' ability to adapt to novel situations, their attention capabilities, and can be extended for use with electrophysiological tools.

Drosophila behaviour and cognition laboratory

The van Swinderen laboratory uses the fruit fly In order to efficiently screen Drosophila genetic population of neurons in the fly’s central brain model Drosophila melanogaster to investigate variants for visual phenotypes, the laboratory thought to be involved in sleep regulation as perception and cognition. By combining has designed a unique system in which well as learning and memory. Convergence of powerful molecular genetic tools with high- populations of flies display visual choices while behavioural effects stemming from activity throughput behavioural assays and electro- navigating a maze, and these are then automati- of these central neurons is being studied by Green fluorescent protein expresses in a select set of neurons in the central nervous physiology, they are able to study the underpin- cally scored for visual responsiveness levels. This behavioural genetics and electrophysiology. nings of complex phenomena such as selective efficient system, first used to fully characterise system of a Drosophila fly mutant. By In addition to Drosophila work, the laboratory turning on and off the activity of this attention, memory, general anaesthesia, and visual behaviour in a learning and memory also studies the honeybee in order to gain subset of neurons in mutants, we can sleep in the more simple fly brain. To pay mutant called dunce, will be crucial for screening insight on neural activity associated with begin to understand how individual attention, learn, and sleep a brain must be mutants in the van Swinderen laboratory and visual attention and learning. The honeybee neurons contribute to attention, sensory able to suppress parts of the outside world in that of our collaborators at the Institute of offers valuable behavioural repertoires and a processing, and sleep. The magenta effectively. Understanding how this suppression Biophysics in Beijing. larger brain to complement similar questions staining denotes synapses in the central mechanism works is a central question of the nervous system. Also in collaboration with colleagues in Beijing addressed in the fruit fly. laboratory, with a focus on visual systems. Image: Angelique Paulk. and the USA, the laboratory is focusing on a

RESEARCH 49 Laboratory Head Professor Peter Visscher

2011 Laboratory Members L-R: Peter Visscher, Beben Benyamin, Marie-Jo Brion, Guo-Bo Chen, Hong Lee, Anna Vinkhuyzen. Background: Using data from genome-wide association studies, the Visscher laboratory showed the genes involved in synaptic plasticity are enriched for risk variants for schizophrenia.

Understanding genetic variation for complex traits in human populations

The Visscher laboratory specialises in common diseases and traits such as height, methods and software to estimate the effects quantitative and statistical genetics, population body-mass-index and cognitive ability, are of genes, chromosomes and the whole genome genetics, human genetics and bioinformatics, caused by the cumulative effect of hundreds of on disease susceptibility. Using data on 3,500 with the ultimate aim of trying to understand genes. individuals from Scotland and England for whom the genetic basis of differences in risk to disease they had measures of DNA variation on 500,000 The group has also contributed analysis expertise and other phenotypes, such as cognitive ability, genetic markers and outcomes of psychometric to a large number of international research between individuals. They use theoretical tests, they showed that adult intelligence is consortia that have found genes affecting en- derivations, simulation studies, development of highly heritable and caused by the cumulative of dometriosis, schizophrenia, asthma, circulating new analytical methods and software tools and hundreds if not thousands of genes. This work is lipid levels, rheumatoid arthritis and stature. The the application of advanced statistical analysis the continuation of a long-standing collaboration Visscher laboratory continues to lead the analysis methods to genetic and phenotypic data. with Professor Ian Deary from the University of efforts of a number of international research In a long-standing collaboration with Edinburgh. In collaboration with researchers from In 2011, the group continued to demonstrate, consortia. Professor Ian Deary (University of QIMR, Professor Visscher has also established the using innovative statistical methods, that Edinburgh), the Visscher laboratory showed They have developed widely used statistical Brisbane Systems Genetics Study. that human cognition and cognitive ageing complex traits in human populations, including is partly genetic and due to many genes of small effects.

50 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Professor Peter Visscher holds a joint appointment with the UQ Diamantina Institute. Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Laboratory Head Dr Robyn Wallace

2011 Laboratory Members, top - bottom: Robyn Wallace, Tim Butler, Marie Mangelsdorf, Ramesh Narayanan. Background: A single nucleotide deletion was discovered in a family with myoclonic astatic epilepsy.

Genetics of neurological disorders

The main focus of the Wallace laboratory is the In 2011 the Wallace laboratory secured funding to Hilliard laboratory using a nematode (C. elegans) genetics of neurological disorders such as motor study the role of a newly discovered MND gene, model of MND. Potential outcomes of this neuron disease (MND) and epilepsy. MND is a TDP-43. TDP-43 is a protein involved in gene project include crucial insights to understanding rare, incurable disorder with late onset. Although regulation. However, the function of TDP-43 in how motor neurons degenerate in MND and the most MND cases are not familial, a small the nervous system is currently unknown and identification of novel therapeutic targets. percentage are due to genetic mutations. The its role in the pathogenesis of MND remains The Wallace laboratory has also been studying group is using advanced genomic techniques to unclear. The team has identified gene targets of families with inherited forms of epilepsy. Using understand how these genes cause MND and to TDP-43 using a mouse model of the disease and high throughput “next generation” sequencing test potential treatments. Epilepsy is a common, are now examining these genes in MND patients. technology, they have recently identified two complex disorder with a strong genetic Out results suggest that TDP-43 is involved in novel epilepsy-causing genes. The discovery of component. The laboratory has successfully maintaining the cell machinery that controls these genes has increased our understanding identified several human epilepsy genes and communication between motor neurons and of the mechanisms that contribute to seizure is continuing to characterise the functional their target muscle cells, a hypothesis that is activity in patients with myoclonic epilepsy. Representation of genes regulated by the consequences of the mutations. now being investigated in collaboration with the MND-causing TDP-43 gene. Image Ramesh Narayanan.

RESEARCH 51 Laboratory Head Assoc. Professor Stephen Williams

Controls

Cases

2011 Laboratory Members, Top-Bottom: Stephen Williams, Arne Brombas, Ben Sivyer. Background: The figures show voltage recordings from the apical dendritic tree of neocortical pyramidal neurons.

Computation in neocortical neurons and circuits

Researchers in the Williams laboratory The laboratory seeks to understand the rules In the forthcoming year these techniques will are investigating how single neurons and and mechanisms that form and control this rich be established at QBI, allowing the Williams circuits of neurons in the neocortex carry out integrative process and explore the relevance of team and other research groups to explore computations that ultimately control behaviour. dendritic synaptic integration in the regulation the operation of neuronal circuitry underlying They use advanced electrophysiological and of neuronal network function. defined behaviour. This research will enable neu- optical techniques to investigate how neurons roscientists to better understand how networks Through active collaboration with research integrate input signals, termed synaptic of neurons function in the neocortex and how groups at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, potentials, received throughout their tree-like these processes are disturbed in disease. Synapses connect networks of neurons Janelia Farm Research Campus, in the USA, the morphology. Work has shown that synaptic and facilitate information transfer between Williams laboratory is directly investigating how cells. A single neuron in the central nerv- inputs received at defined areas of the dendritic dendritic integration is engaged in the working ous system may receive thousands of tree uniquely control the output of neurons. brain using optical recording techniques. synaptic inputs distributed widely across its dendritic arbor. Neurons must integrate such time-varying input signals to form an output signal, or action potential, which is communicated to other neurons and/or effector systems like muscles.

52 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Laboratory Head Assoc. Professor Naomi Wray

Controls

Cases

Each pie represents a genomic profile of an individual based on 100 risk loci (pie slices). Risk alleles have frequency of 10% in the population. Loci with 0, 1 or 2 risk loci are coloured yellow, blue or black, respectively. On average individuals carry 20 risk loci. Affected individuals carry > 33 risk loci.

2011 Laboratory Members L-R: Above: Naomi Wray, Enda Byrne, Guo-Bo Chen, Hong Lee, Tania Carillo Roa, Anna Vinkhuyzen. Absent: Natalie Mills. Background: The Wray lab uses risk models to investigate genetic risk to disease. This cartoon illustrates the huge heterogeneity in genetic profiles between individuals under a genetic architecture of many variants of small effect. (From Visscher, Derks, Goddard and Wray, 2011 epub Molecular Psychiatry).

Understanding the genetic contribution to psychiatric disorders It has been suggested that synthetic associations can explain associations of The Wray laboratory joined QBI in September of the variance in liability to schizophrenia is to interrogate the shared genetic relationship common variants with disease. A synthetic 2011. Their research focuses on understanding attributed to common genetic variants and that between disorders, and have quantified the association is illustrated in the cartoon of 10 control and 10 case chromosomes. The the genetic contribution to psychiatric disorders. this has important implications for the design shared genetic relationship between schizophre- coloured shapes are DNA polymorphisms The group specialises in the development of of future studies. Psychiatric disorders are char- nia and bipolar disorder. They are also focussing and the hexagonals represent common new analytical methods and the application of acterised by significant heterogeneity within on strategies that define a more homogenous polymorphisms that have been genotyped. advanced statistical methods to the analysis diagnostic classes, as well as significant overlap diagnostic class, for example postnatal The common red locus is more frequent of genetic and phenotypic data of psychiatric of symptoms between disorders. For example, depression or sleep dysregulation in collabora- in cases than controls and so is associated disorders. In 2011 they published the largest the anxiety disorders (panic, generalised tion with researchers at the Queensland Institute with disease. However, the association is genome-wide association study (GWAS) to anxiety, agoraphobia, and social and obsessive of Medical Research. Their theoretical work driven by three much rarer mutations date for major depression and they also play compulsive disorders) commonly co-occur, as focuses on possibilities of prediction of genetic (stars) that are all associated with the red a leading role in the international Psychiatric do anxiety and major depression; more than 50 locus. We argued that, while synthetic as- risk under a genetic architecture of many risk sociations are possible, empirical data does GWAS Consortium (PGC) for Major Depression. per cent of individuals with major depression will variants of small effect and this has led to invited not support a hypothesis that most com- Using GWAS data from the PGC for schizophre- develop anxiety disorders in their lifetime. The plenary presentations about the prospects for mon genetic associations reflect multiple nia they have shown that at least 23 per cent Wray laboratory is developing novel strategies genetic testing in psychiatry. causal variants. Wray et al (PLoS Biology, 2011)

RESEARCH 53 Joint Sino-Australian Neurogenetics Laboratory Professor Huji Xu

? ? ? ? High hanging fruit ?

ARTS1 FTO TCF7L2 IL23R PPARG WF-S1 Low hanging fruit HLA-B27 TCF2

SEMA56 Rotten fruit

2011 Lab Head, top left: Huji Zu. Background: Identifying the casual variants of complex diseases remains an intricate challenge for researchers. Some loci with relatively high odds ratio, like the low hanging fruits of the trees, can be easily discovered. Some loci with moderate odds ratios, like the higher hanging fruits, can be investigated by well organized studies such as GWAS.

New laboratory probes neurogenetics of brain disease

QBI and The University of Queensland Diamantina The goal of the Joint Sino-Australian Neuroge- The research program will facilitate, for the first Institute (UQDI) further strengthened research netics Laboratory, headed by Professor Xu, who time within the Chinese population, genetic ties with China with the 2011 opening in Shanghai holds an appointment with QBI and SMMU, is to studies which have so far been conducted only in The motor neuron diseases (MND) are of a joint laboratory dedicated to exploring how uncover the genes that cause or make individuals patient cohorts of European descent. Studying a group of neurological disorders that genes influence brain development and function. susceptible to certain neurological and mental ethnically remote cohorts has the potential selectively affect motor neurons, the cells illnesses. advantage that differences in ancestral genetic A collaboration with the Second Military Medical that control voluntary muscle activity diversity may enable mapping of genes in Han including speaking, walking, breathing, University (SMMU), the Joint Sino-Australian Researchers will initially focus upon the neu- Chinese that are not easily identified in other swallowing and general movement of the Neurogenetics Laboratory was officially opened rogenetics of motor neuron disease (MND), populations. body. Genetic factors are suspected to be by then Federal Minister for Innovation, Industry, schizophrenia, stroke and epilepsy, but expect important in determining an individual's Science and Research, the Hon Kim Carr, on 2 to extend their investigations to other disorders susceptibility to disease. Several genes August. such as depression and dementia as the such as SOD1, ALS2, NEFH are known to be laboratory develops. linked to ALS. The group is collaborating with Prof Brown’s group in UQDI and Prof Bartlett’s group in QBI as well as Chinese colleagues to identify more risk genes for this disease.

54 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Joint Laboratory of Neuroscience and Cognition

Above: Professor Rongqiao He, from the IPB in Shanghai and Co-Director of the joint laboratory, with students.

Utilising brain plasticity to promote function and ameliorate disease

The Joint Laboratory of Neuroscience and There are currently six key projects underway in stress - Pankaj Sah (QBI) and Jianyuan Sun (IBP). Cognition between QBI and the Chinese this initiative: molecules that encourage repair Academy of Sciences Institute of Biophysics Identifying Screening molecules important in regulating of axon tracts after spinal cord injury - Helen in Beijing, established in 2010, continues to neurogenesis - working towards better un- Cooper (QBI) and Yaobo Liu (IBP). gain momentum. QBI hosted a number of derstanding of dementia - Perry Bartlett (QBI), researchers from IBP in 2011 and several QBI Developing behavioural paradigms that Rongqiao He (IBP) and Ying Liu (IBP). researchers spent time at IBP working on col- measure selective attention - Raymond Chan laborative projects. Working toward understanding visual attention (Institute of Psychology), Jason Mattingley (QBI), and learning using Drosophila genetic tools - Li and David Shum (Griffith University). Liu (IBP) and Bruno van Swinderen (QBI). Investigating bulk endocytosis at the molecular Studying the way painful stimuli lead to level which will lead to a greater understand- emotional outcomes – resulting in a better ing of how neurons “talk” to each other - Fred understanding of how we respond to pain and Meunier (QBI) and Jianyuan Sun (IBP). A neuron in the medial amygdala in an acut brain slice. Image Pankaj Sah.

RESEARCH 55 Science of Learning Centre

A major area of research excitement in ‘Science of Learning’ is an international research coming years will involve exploring how the initiative which aims to foster collaborations latest advances in neuroscience can inform between educators, neuroscientists and psycholo- educational practice. gists.

Could school terms and tests be overhauled to “It’s about using the needs of classroom teachers take advantage of what we know about memory to drive neuroscience research, and designing formation? What implications are there for effective and practical learning techniques and teachers in our burgeoning understanding of tools based on neuroscientists’ growing under- mirror neurons? Can working memory be trained standing of what happens in the brain when to boost problem-solving performance? learning takes place,” Professor Bartlett says.

Researchers are a step closer to answering these Ms Belinda Craig joined the SoLC team in 2011 to and other questions through an ever-expanding conduct memory training experiments which range of projects within the Science of Learning replicate and extend findings from the Universities Centre (SoLC) at QBI. of Michigan and Bern, and found performance on IQ tests could be improved through an unrelated “Advances in technologies such as brain imaging memory training game. have given neuroscientists a new understanding of brain function that has the potential to transform She is continuing to investigate whether these education in the same way biological understand- results extend to improvement in mathematical ing has transformed medicine,” says QBI Director concepts, and hence can be applied in schools. Professor Perry Bartlett. SoLC will also provide a structure through which Such knowledge provides the basis for developing practitioners can explore a range of issues, from new approaches and tools which could revolution- attention in fruit flies, through to the strategies of ise the delivery of learning, both for children in students who find it easy to ‘pay attention’ in class. classrooms and adults in workplaces.

“These developments have the potential to put Australia at the very forefront of innovation and to realise the education revolution,” says Professor Bartlett.

56 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Centre for Ageing Dementia Research

International expert heads new centre “My interest is in understanding the pathogenesis of dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease and QBI has recruited a leading international expert eventually finding a cure,” Professor Götz explains. in the field of neurodegeneration to head its new Centre for Ageing Dementia Research. “I firmly believe that in order to achieve this ambitious goal, it will be necessary not only to Professor Jürgen Götz will be the inaugural understand the pathological function of specific director of the Centre, after several successful disease-related proteins but also to determine years undertaking dementia research at the Brain their physiological roles.” and Mind Research Institute in Sydney. “Taking this a step further we not only want to QBI Director Professor Perry Bartlett says the understand why memory functions are impaired Centre is poised to tackle one of the country’s in dementia but also to discover the molecular most pressing health problems. correlates of memory and how memory ‘works’.” In the absence of significant medical break- Professor Götz said there was no better place to throughs, close to a million people will be dealing undertake this research than QBI, with its many with dementia by 2050, according to a Dementia outstanding experts in neuronal signalling and Across Australia 2011-2050 report prepared memory processing. for Alzheimer’s Australia by Deloitte Access Economics. “I will be in an ideal environment to pursue these research directions, and the funding possibili- Professor Götz has already made multiple ties are there to recruit within QBI and externally discoveries in the area of neurodegenerative to make a major contribution to ageing and disorders and has contributed to lifting Australia’s dementia research,” he says. research profile internationally.

Research has shown that the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease are characterised by amyloid-β plaques and Tau-containing neurofi- brillary tangles.

Professor Götz has played an instrumental role in these and many associated discoveries – for example, he established the first mouse model of Tau pathology and proved the amyloid cascade hypothesis.

Top: Professor Jürgen Götz will be the inaugural director of the Centre for Ageing Dementia Research. Below: Spreading defines Braack stages in Alzheimers Disease. QBI ANNUAL REPORT 57 Students

58 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Students Students play a central role in the cutting-edge research undertaken at the Queensland Brain Institute. Attracted by QBI’s outstanding reputation, local, domestic and international students from as far afield as China, Latin-America and Europe, are a familiar sight in the Institute’s laboratories. Enrolling in either a PhD or QBI’s Masters of Neuroscience program, these students bring a fresh, innovative and international approach to the institute. They represent, in a very real sense, the future of neuroscience research.

QBI ANNUAL REPORT 59 Students

Students form an integral part of life at QBI. related mental illnesses, while Georg Kerbler Students chart course to success Research higher degree students, in particular, (Coulson lab) received an ANZ Trustee PhD help to maintain the smooth running of the Scholarship in Medical Research. Students at QBI enjoy unparalleled opportunities to pursue their research interests, while working Institute’s laboratories and contribute ideas to shoulder-to-shoulder with world-leading neuroscientists. This broad grounding provides a solid QBI also opens its doors to undergraduate the Institute’s work. Accordingly, QBI aims to foundation for stellar career success. students through the annual Summer Research maintain a cohort of around 80 PhD and MPhil program. In 2011/12, the Institute welcomed 25 Dr Dana Bradford Dr Tim Lynagh degree students each year. Summer Researchers, its largest number ever, Dana Bradford joined QBI in 2004 as a casual research The focus of Tim Lynagh’s PhD (2011) was to In 2011, QBI had 70 research higher degree students into the laboratories to undertake a range of assistant during her final undergraduate year, before determine the molecular basis by which the an- enrolled at the Institute, of whom 29 were from projects ranging from computational rules in continuing on to undertake both Honours and a thelminthic drug, ivermectin, activates inhibitory a range of overseas countries, including China, zebrafish development to the resequencing of PhD in Associate Professor Cooper’s laboratory. synaptic glycine receptors. Under the supervision of Vietnam, Taiwan, Austria, Switzerland and Canada. pathogenic copy number variations in schizophre- Dana’s PhD thesis (2011) demonstrated a role for the Professor Joe Lynch, Tim discovered the ivermectin Eleven students commenced their candidature nia. For many students, time spent as a Summer multi-functional receptor, Neogenin, in neuronal binding site, a finding that was subsequently and six PhDs were conferred – to Dana Bradford Researcher paves the way to further study with differentiation in the adult mouse brain. Through verified by the publication by another group of the (Cooper lab), Timothy Lynagh (Lynch lab), Jonathan QBI. successful collaboration with Professor Richard Faull crystal structure of a related receptor with which Hunt (Goodhill lab), Amber-Lee Donahoo (Richards at the Centre for Brain Research at The University ivermectin docks. These results provide a molecular lab), Nicola Watts (Sah lab) and Md Robiul Islam of Auckland, Dana was also able to establish that template for the design of new drugs that target (Lynch lab). These graduates have subsequently human forebrain tissue expresses Neogenin, this important receptor. During the course of this gone on to postdoctoral work or into research ad- suggesting that its function is the same in adult project, Tim also developed an improved ‘neuronal ministration. human brains. In addition to her publications, Dana silencing receptor’ to inhibit electrical activity in The high quality of students at QBI is evidenced by received several awards during her PhD candidature, defined populations of neurons in behaving animals, their success in securing coveted scholarships and most notably a US Society for Neuroscience as well as discovering a means of identifying highly awards. Elizabeth Kita, who commenced work in Travel Award, the Australian Neuroscience Society ivermectin-sensitive receptors that will be useful in the Goodhill laboratory in 2011, received the top Istvan Törk Prize, the Sir Grafton Elliott Prize, and characterising ivermectin resistance mechanisms international scholarship available at UQ, the In- an Australian Society for Medical Research Oral in parasitic nematodes. To date, three first-author ternational Postgraduate Research Scholarship Competition prize. Dana has recently begun papers have been published from this work, two in (IPRS), in conjunction with the UQ Centennial a promising career working with the CSIRO. the Journal of Biological Chemistry and another in Living Allowance and the UQ Advantage Top-up. the International Journal of Parasitology. Tim, who Meanwhile, Oscar Jacoby and Leonie Kirszenblat was the recipient of a Dean’s Award for Research were successful in securing the top domestic Higher Degree Excellence, is now working as a scholarship, the Australian Postgraduate Award postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr Bodo (APA) and UQ Advantage Top Up. Two scholarships Laube at the University of Darmstadt. administered by the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research were awarded to students Chikako Ragan and Xi Yao in the Mowry laboratory, to Above: Award winning scientist, Dana Bradford. facilitate their research into schizophrenia and

60 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Students

Master of Neuroscience

Since its launch in 2010, UQ’s flagship Master of Kylie Cuthbertson, Jeff Thomson, Yin Wan, Aaron Neuroscience program has gone from strength Warren and Megan Campbell. Without exception, to strength, welcoming eight new students in students completing the Master of Neuroscience the first semester of 2011 and a further six in the program say that the experience has whet their second semester. Six international students were research appetites and encouraged them to pursue among the year’s intake. further study opportunities, such as PhDs.

An initiative of QBI’s Professor Perry Bartlett and Compulsory core lecture-based courses in the The University of Queensland’s Vice-Chancellor, Master of Neuroscience program are: Professor Deborah Terry, the program is suited to • Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience both international and domestic students who (NEUR7006) which is concerned with cellular wish to shift their career focus to neuroscience and and molecular biology of the neuron. pursue independent research and teaching careers. A per-semester quota of 12 is imposed to ensure a • Systems Neuroscience: Sensory and Motor quality experience. (NEUR7004) which uses a systems approach to explore the brain with respect to circuits that The program is coordinated by QBI and the Faculty integrate and process information. of Social and Behavioural Science, but also spans • Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience many other exceptionally strong centres for (NEUR7005) which focuses on the elucidation neuroscience research at UQ. Providing research of the neural basis of cognitive and behavioural training and core professional skills, the program phenomena. is a pathway to specialist streams including molecular and cellular neuroscience, neural Together with the three Master of Neuroscience imaging and computational neuroscience, devel- laboratory rotations, which offer 300 hours of opmental neurobiology, cognitive and behavioural supervised practical experience, these courses neuroscience, visual and sensory neuroscience and provide a cohesive introduction to the theoretical epigenetics. The Master of Neuroscience runs for and practical aspects of neuroscience. Rotations three semesters (24 units), though students with can be undertaken in a wide number of par- Honours or equivalent can complete the program ticipating schools, including QBI, UQ’s Schools in two semesters (16 units). of Psychology, Pharmacy, Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Human Movement Studies, Health & In 2011, three students who commenced the 24 Rehabilitation Sciences, Microbial and Molecular unit program in 2010 graduated with Master of Biosciences, Information Technology & Electrical Neuroscience degrees. They were Di Xia, Shanzhi Engineering, the Perinatal Research Centre, Centre Yan and Zoran Boskovic, who subsequently for Clinical Research, the Institute for Molecular accepted an offer to join the Coulson Laboratory as Bioscience, the Centre for Advanced Imaging (CAI) a Research Assistant. There were also five graduates and the Queensland Institute of Medical Research. who commenced the 16 unit program in 2011:

Undergraduate Student, Clara Tang, was a summer student in Professor Panjak Sah's laboratory at QBI.

QBI ANNUAL REPORT 61 Community

62 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Community Queensland Brain Institute researchers form an integral part of the communities in which they work and live. They regularly discuss the latest research discoveries with community groups, while also engaging with their peers at scientific conferences.

In 2011, QBI hosted a series of high profile lectures and conducted a range of community outreach events. In addition to educating Australians about the latest research findings, staff also expanded their efforts to encourage the next generation to consider careers in neuroscience.

Staffing many of the QBI community events, receptionists Jill Wardropper (left) and Sue Earnshaw (right) are always ready with a smile.

PUBLICATIONS 63 QBI Events

Toshiya Yamada Memorial Lecture Merson Lecture Research and Remembrance The Emotional Brain

RNA binding proteins and neurodegeneration crucial role of the 5-HT “molecule of love” in both The QBI auditorium was filled to capacity when “Much of what is called ‘emotion’ in studies of other were among the topics under the spotlight at insects and mammals. Professor Joseph LeDoux presented the Merson animals is accounted for by the operation of circuits the Toshiya Yamada Memorial Lecture held at Lecture in October, taking audience members on involved in defence, energy and nutrition supplies, QBI Director Professor Perry Bartlett took pleasure QBI in August. a tour through the emotional centre of the brain, fluid balance, thermoregulation and procreation. in welcoming members of the Yamada family to the amygdala. Guest speakers Dr Jane Wu and Dr Yi Rao the lecture, including his widow, Linda Yamada, and “These circuits are highly conserved in mammals, acknowledged their debt to the work of her partner Bruce Moore. According to LeDoux, the study of emotion has including humans.” Dr Yamada, an outstanding mid-career scientist at been hampered by a fixation on feelings. Dr Yamada’s children, Lisa, Kenji and Akira, also The lecture is named in honour of Dr David UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience, who died attended, as did his niece Ai-chan, who had “Rather than imposing concepts based on human Merson, who served for many years as chair of suddenly in 2001. travelled from Japan specially for the occasion. introspective experience to the brains of other QBI’s Development Board, and whose philanthrop- Dr Wu, the Charles Louis Mix Professor of Neurology creatures, we should attempt to understand how ic sponsorship of this lecture indicates growing Dr Yamada’s groundbreaking work forms the basis at Northwestern University Feinberg School of human and animal brains are alike,” said Professor community interest in neuroscience. of modern neurobiology and was instrumental in Medicine in Chicago, spoke on the subject of RNA LeDoux. the resurgence of Australia as a world leader in this Dr Merson, who was the founder of Mincom Ltd, binding proteins and neurodegeneration. field. from which he retired in 2002, has become director She noted that Dr Yamada’s important discoveries of a number of Australian software companies, relating to the molecules and pathways critical for research institutes and charitable bodies. the development and correct wiring of the nervous system “has inspired many people around the world”.

Dr Rao, the Peking University Chair Professor and Dean of the Peking University of Life Sciences in Beijing, then spoke on the molecular biology of social interactions.

He took the packed lecture theatre on an entertaining journey through his research on the social and sexual lives of fruit flies and mice and the

Left: Image from the Merson Lecture Poster. Image Dee McGrath. Right: Professor Perry Bartlett with speaker Professor Joseph LeDoux and sponsor Dr David Merson.

64 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

QBI Events

Peter Goodenough Memorial Lecture Advances in ALS understanding

Professor Christopher Shaw, Professor of “It was especially wonderful to note the attendance bequest for fundamental scientific research. Neurology and Neurogenetics and Director of of two of Peter Goodenough’s four children, These funds have primarily been used to establish, the MRC Centre for Neurodegeneration Research Christine and Alexandre, who travelled from the UK staff and support the Peter Goodenough and within the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College to attend the lecture,” he adds. London, was the guest speaker at QBI's 2011 Peter Wantoks Research Laboratory. “Christine was also accompanied by her two Goodenough Memorial Lecture in December. Completed in November 2007, this laboratory is children, Toby and Marshall.” His address, delivered to a rapt audience, covered home to the Molecular Genetics of Human Disease major advances in scientists’ understanding of This annual lecture is named in honour of the team led by QBI’s Dr Robyn Wallace. amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which places late Mr Peter Goodenough (1936 – 2004), whose ribonucleic acid (RNA) processing centre stage. personal battle with MND led to an inspirational

Professor Shaw has worked on the genetics and pathobiology of ALS for more than 15 years.

His group was the first to discover mutations in the TDP-43 gene in familial and sporadic motor neuron disease (MND) and demonstrated their toxicity in vivo.

Although mutations are rare, they provided a powerful biological tool to discover how TDP-43 is mislocalised and causes motor neuron degeneration.

Professor Shaw's group contributed to the discovery of another ALS gene called FUS, which has very similar function to TDP-43.

QBI’s Director Professor Perry Bartlett said Professor Shaw delivered an engaging and stimulating talk which was interjected with humour while remaining sensitive to the many people who are afflicted with MND.

Right: Members of the Goodenough family and QBI staff listen to researcher Tim Butler explain the Wallace Lab's work.

PUBLICATIONS 65 QBI Conferences

The Australian Science of Learning the NSF Science of Learning Centres Program, Symposium on Attention and Learning designed to engage 20 or more students at a time, meeting who gave an overview of the US system. Other behavioural research examining specific modes speakers included Professor Kenneth Koedinger Educational engagement of attention and performance, and neuroscience Schools ahead from the Pittsburgh Science of Learning Center, The inaugural Symposium on Attention and research investigating neuronal interactions and The program featured keynote addresses delivered and Professor Gary Cottrell from the Temporal Learning held at QBI on 21 July provided more the interactions of brain regions that characterise by local and international experts who outlined Dynamics of Learning Center. than 120 registrants with opportunities to further attentive and inattentive states,” Dr Colvin explained. the latest findings in the field. The US has already established a long-term Science explore concepts and issues raised during the previous day’s Science of Learning meeting. The event marked the entry into Australia of of Learning program with a US$500 million budget “There was particular emphasis on how research what is known internationally as the ‘Science of over 10 years. According to organiser Dr Robert Colvin, attention across these different levels can be integrated to improve delivery of learning in today’s classrooms.” Learning’, an initiative which aims to foster col- QBI’s Science of Learning Centre, launched in 2010, is fundamental to learning because, without it, we laborations between educators and researchers. is one of the first steps towards building similar cannot filter sensory information or focus our con- Speakers included internationally renowned centration appropriately. “With the infrastructure in place to support collab- capabilities locally – but there remains an urgent researchers from Australia and overseas, as well as orations between educators and neuroscientists, need for Australia to increase its investment in this “Educational research emphasises engagement experts in the quantitative analysis of educational and increased investment in understanding the area. and motivation as key factors in student outcomes. fundamental biology and physiology of the brain, “This in turn leads to the very attractive prospect performance at school,” Dr Colvin says. QBI’s Associate Professor Bruno van Swinderen we can look forward to an exciting time in learning that the next generation of Australians will have The symposium brought together researchers took audience members through his investi- discoveries,” says Professor Bartlett. the learning capacity to lead the world in discovery from across the broad spectrum of attention gations into the role of dopamine in attention Many of the speakers flew in from the US to attend, and innovation,” Professor Bartlett says. research as it relates to learning. using a fly model, while Associate Professor Ross including Professor Soo-Siang Lim, Director of Cunnington explained the mirror system and the “They explored such things as classroom strategies perception of actions.

Science of Learning Centre, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia http://qbi.uq.edu.au/solc The Science of Learning Centre The Science of Learning Advisory board Prof Debbie Terry

Vice Chancellor, Prof Geoff Masters The University of Queensland CEO, The Australian Council Prof Perry Bartlett for Education Research Director, Queensland Brain Institute About the Queensland Brain Institute The Queensland Brain Institute is a world-leading research facility focussed on discovering the fundamental mechanisms that regulate brain function. Unlike research institutes that focus on a specific disease or condition, QBI is structured to study the brain’s fundamental molecular and physiological mechanisms. This unique strategic approach, led by QBI’s Director Professor Perry Bartlett 66 FAA,QBI ANNUALis seen as REPORT the most productive way to create an environment of discovery that will lead to the development of innovative strategies for improving learning, as well as much-needed therapeutic treatments for neurological disorders and neurotrauma.

Flyer_SoLC_A5_Oct2011.indd 1

27/02/12 3:50 PM Queensland Brain Institute & Munich Center for Neurosciences

Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Systems QBI Conferences

1st QBI-MCN Symposium

QBI-MCN Joint Symposium on Systems Joint Academies Public Forum Neuroscience Neuroscience Expert insights Systems secrets QBI staff attended a public seminar on 8 November The secrets of stomatopod vision, the dynamics of hosted by the Queensland Chapter of the Australian binaural hearing in mammals and the mysteries Academy of Science, the Queensland Division of 28-30 September 2011 of insect navigation were among the many the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences fascinating topics canvassed at the first QBI-MCN and Engineering and the Queensland Chapter of The University of Queensland Symposium on Systems Neuroscience. the Australian Academy of the Humanities.

Held at QBI in conjunction with the Munich The keynote speaker was Professor Ian Frazer, Center for Neurosciences (MCN) of the Ludwig- Director of Research and Chief Executive Officer , Brisbane, QLD, Australia Maximilians-University from 28-30 September, of the Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, the symposium showcased the work of leading who spoke on the subject of ‘Cancer and how to researchers in sensory, cognitive, cellular and avoid it’. molecular neuroscience. The inaugural symposium on The Australian Academy of Science was represented More than 160 participants registered for a lecture by Professor Mark Blows, Professor ofSystems Evolutionary Neuroscience between program which spanned more than two days Biology and Head of School of Biological Sciences, and featured local and international speakers, UQ, who asked the question "Whythe does evolution Queensland Brain Institute including Professor Mark Hübener from the Max- fail?", and Professor Emma Whitelaw,(QBI) Head ofand the the Munich Center Planck-Institute of Neurobiology in Germany. Epigenetics Laboratory, Queensland Institute of Speakers from MCN include: Medical Research, who discussedfor “Epigenetics Neurosciences (MCN) brings QBI Director Professor Perry Bartlett said MCN was – the new genetics”. Professor Suresh Bhatia, Prof. Benedikt Grothe, Director MCN the pre-eminent centre for neuroscience research ARC Professorial Fellow withintogether the School of their leading researchers in Europe and that the Institute was honoured to Prof. Heiner Deubel Chemical Engineering, UQ, representing the host the inaugural symposium. in sensory, cognitive, cellular Australian Academy of Technological Sciences Prof. Magdalena Götz “This event, and others which are expected to and Engineering, spoke aboutand engineering molecular at the neuroscience to Prof. Mark Hübener follow, provide us with exciting opportunities to nanoscale, and Professor Gillian Whitlock, ARC forge strong interactions with other international Professorial Fellow within sharethe School theirof English, recent ﬁ Prof. Rüdiger Klein leaders in this field,” he says. Media Studies and Art History,the UQ,Australian representing neuroscience Prof. Christian Leibold the Australian Academy of the Humanities, gave ndings with an insight into the importancecommunity. of archival material. Prof. Lutz Wiegrebe

Speakers from QBI include: Prof. Perry Bartlett, Director QBI Opposite. Left: Detail from the SoLC flyer. Right: Detail from the advertising of the Joint Academies Public Prof. Geoff forum. Right: The program flyer for the QBI - MCN Joint Simposium Systems Neuroscience. Goodhill All images Dee McGrath. Prof. Ottmar Lipp Prof. Justin Marshall PUBLICATIONS 67 Prof. Linda Richards Prof. Pankaj Sah

Supported by Community Outreach

QBI’s community outreach program is designed In 2011, QBI’s researchers were involved in more to engage people interested in discovering than 30 outreach events, including: more about neurological disorders. The Professor Perry Bartlett updated the program’s success is proof of the public’s thirst judges of the Queensland Supreme Court on to learn more about the latest developments in the latest research into ageing dementia. this area of research. Dr Dusan Matusica presented a talk at the In addition to regular tours through QBI’s University of the 3rd Age Winter School world-class facilities, the Institute’s researchers about his research into Alzheimer’s disease. frequently conduct lectures and talks and hold discussions that are integral to the outreach Dr Brent Neumann addressed the Logan program. These interactions – in libraries, Village Library at their monthly Tips ‘n Tea bookstores, schools, hospitals and other on his research using C. elegans as a model community settings – have continually proven for understanding the human brain. beneficial for the public and scientists alike. Dr Daniel Blackmore delivered a talk on As the community learns more about the research the affect of exercise on the brain to patrons being conducted at QBI, the lectures provide an of the Green Apple Wellness Centre. unparalleled opportunity for scientists to meet Dr Bill Mantzioris spoke to staff and people who, in many cases, know someone affiliates at the Logan Adult Mental affected by a neurological condition. Engaging Health Service about mental health. with people who will potentially benefit from QBI’s research in the longer term provides an Associate Professor Elizabeth Coulson additional impetus for neuroscientists to advance addressed the members of the Association their work. of Independent Retirees, Gold Coast about her research into Alzheimer’s disease.

Professor Joe Lynch gave a presentation to members of The Faculty of Pain Medicine (a faculty of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists) on his research into ion channel receptor proteins.

Image right: Dr Robyn Wallace gives a tour of the QBI facilities.

68 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Australia New Zealand Brain Bee Challenge

out-smart, out-think, out-last Each year, the Australian Brain Bee Challenge Round 3 is the National Final, in which each State (ABBC) creates a distinctive buzz in the Champion competes to become the Australian laboratories and offices of QBI. Established Brain Bee Champion. The ABBC National Final in 2006, the Challenge aims to encourage is held annually at the Australian Neuroscience high school students to learn about the brain Society (ANS) meeting. and to educate students, teachers and the The Australian Brain Bee Champion for 2010, wider community about the importance of decided at the 2011 ANS meeting in Auckland, was neuroscience research to society. Providing op- Ben Thompson from the ACT. As part of his prize, portunities for students from all over Australia Ben was able to attend the International Brain Bee and New Zealand, including rural areas, to Competition held in Florence in July 2011 during participate in the competition and to consider the International Brain Research Organisation's careers in neuroscience, is another major goal World Congress of Neuroscience. Ben competed of the Challenge. against Brain Bee Champions from all over the The ABBC has three rounds, with Round 1 taking world and came second by just half a point, which place during Brain Awareness Week in March. This was an outstanding result for Australia! round is an online quiz in which students have to With neurological and mental illness accounting demonstrate their knowledge and understand- for almost half of the total disease burden in ing of brain structure, function and anatomy, as Australia, the ABBC is a key vehicle to help students well as neurological disease and disorders. In 2011, become interested in neuroscience research. 5,629 Year 10 students participated in the ABBC, Organisers continue to develop meaningful ways taking the total number of participants over the to engage students, teachers and the community five years since the competition was introduced – and look forward to the ABBC growing bigger in Australia to 18,547. and better in 2012. Round 2 of the ABBC, the State Final, is held in each state at a research institute or elsewhere on a university campus. The Queensland State Final was held on 19 July 2011 at QBI and gave 140 high- achieving Year 10 Queensland students, from as far away as Cairns, the opportunity to tour the facilities at QBI, participate in experiments, and attend lectures where various scientists discussed their discoveries and how they became involved in science research as a career.

Professor Perry Bartlett congratu- lating Teresa Tang from Brisbane State High school, the 2011 Queensland Brain Bee Champion.

PUBLICATIONS 69 Recognition

70 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Recognition The Queensland Brain Institute boasts almost 300 dedicated investigators working to elicit the fundamental mechanisms that regulate brain function. QBI researchers consistently shine in the neuroscience community, representing the Institute on a number of pivotal scientific organisations and serving on prestigious editorial boards.

QBI’s track record in terms of publications, grants and awards further attest to the high standard of research being undertaken with the aim of discovering the fundamental mechanisms regulating brain function.

Dr Cheryll Filippich separating white cells from the blood of a patient with schizophrenia. These cells will be used to extract DNA for genetic studies.

QBI ANNUAL REPORT 71 Fellowships and Awards

Australian Research Council National Health and Medical Awards Research Council Australian Laureate Fellowship UQ Foundation Research Excellence Principal Research Fellowship Award Professor Jason Mattingley was awarded a prestigious Australian Research Council Australian Professor Linda Richards was successful in Dr Timothy Bredy was one of only 11 researchers Laureate Fellowship, one of only 17 awarded from securing a sought-after NHMRC Principal Research to be honoured with a UQ Foundation Research 139 applications. Professor Mattingley’s Australian Fellowship, recognising her longstanding work Excellence Award, for his work, probing the origins, Laureate Fellowship will provide novel insights exploring embryonic and foetal brain development. maintenance and extinction of fear. The UQ into how attentional processes are controlled in Professor Richards is studying the development Foundation Research Excellence Awards recognise the human brain. The project will investigate how of the mammalian cerebral cortex, an area of outstanding performance and leadership potential people use attention to filter sensory information the brain responsible for higher order cognitive among early to mid-career researchers. Dr Bredy’s and how the brain controls attention in health and processes in particular, how connections form award will specifically explore how fear extinction disease. The findings will support new initiatives in between the two cerebral hemispheres, thereby memories, which serve to minimise fear, are a range of fields, from the development of more enabling the brain to coordinate information established and maintained. effective teaching practices to improved rehabili- from the two sides of the body. Malformations of Research Australia Griffith University tation strategies for people with brain injuries. these connections occur in more than 50 different Discovery Award human congenital syndromes, and can result in The funding is for five years, and will support three mental retardation as well as sensory and motor Dr Oliver Baumann was awarded the Research postdoctoral scientists and three PhD students. deficits. Australia Griffith University Discovery Award in Future Fellowships November, acknowledging his research into how Professor Richards is working with paediatric humans use and process visual landmarks to Four QBI researchers have recently taken up neurologists in Australia and the USA to navigate around unfamiliar terrain. This award, Australian Research Council Future Fellowships. develop diagnostic genetic and imaging tools which was established to recognise achievements Associate Professor Stephen Williams will use his to characterise human congenital syndromes in the health and medical research community, fellowship to continue his investigations into the associated with malformations of these highlights the importance of Dr Baumann’s work operation of nerve cell networks in the neocortex. connections. as an early career researcher in human spatial Associate Professor Bruno van Swinderen’s Training Fellowship navigation and cognitive neuroscience. fellowship will support his work probing perceptual suppression mechanisms in the Dr Martin Sale’s research into the effect of prism Drosophila brain. Dr Massimo Hillard’s award will therapy on attention in right-parietal lobe damaged support his research into the regulation of axonal stroke patients with spatial neglect earned him a degeneration and regeneration in C. elegans while 4 year NHMRC Training (Postdoctoral) Fellowship, Dr Charles Claudianos will continue his investi- commencing in 2011. He will use the fellowship gation into the role of synapse development in to identify brain areas critical in restoring normal cognitive disorders. attention, and to investigate whether repeated therapy sessions improve treatment effectiveness.

72 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

QBI ANNUAL REPORT 73 Commercialisation

Commercialisation of QBI’s discoveries The development of a treatment for acute spinal continued to be actively pursued during 2011, cord injury is also ongoing. This project had including treatments to prevent neurodegen- been a collaboration with CSL Limited, to whom erative diseases such as dementia and motor the technology was licenced, since 2007. Un- neurone disease (MND), as well as treatments fortunately, due to a change in strategic focus, for spinal cord repair and botulism poisoning. CSL terminated the licence in late 2011. QBI is extremely grateful to CSL for its contribution to QBI researcher Associate Professor Frederic this promising technology, both financially and Meunier, in collaboration with researchers from intellectually. The development of this treatment the University of Newcastle and the Children’s continues to be funded with the support of Medical Research Institute, has identified a novel philanthropy. treatment to prevent the uptake of pathogenic agents such as botulinum toxin. A provisional QBI’s commercialisation activities are supported patent application directed to this research was by UniQuest Pty Limited, the main commerciali- filed in early 2011 and is being pursued by life sation company of The University of Queensland. science business development company Biolink. UniQuest provides commercialisation expertise and resources through a Manager of Innovation NuNerve Pty Limited, a company focused on and Commercial Development, Dr Bronwyn the development of novel technologies for the Battersby, who is based at QBI. treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases, has also continued its support of QBI’s discovery pipeline this year. Projects being supported by NuNerve include screening for compounds which could potentially prevent over- excitation, and subsequent death, of neurons in MND sufferers (Professors Joe Lynch and Pankaj Sah), and development of a molecule which has been shown to block apoptotic neuron cell death in a dementia model and is currently being tested in an MND model (Associate Professor Elizabeth Coulson and Dr Robyn Wallace).

Right: Meunier Lab - Cellular staining of cytoskeletal proteins that are thought to be required for endocytosis.

74 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

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Refereed Journal Articles nuclear proteome. Bioinformatics 27: i7-i14 Big ideas for small brains: what can psychiatry Cristino AS, Tanaka ED, Rubio M, Piulachs M-D, learn from worms, flies, bees and fish? Molecular Belles X (2011) Deep sequencing of organ- and Adelman JP, Maylie J, Sah P (2011) Small-conductance Baumann O, Skilleter AJ, Mattingley JB (2011) Psychiatry 16: 7–16 [Appeared as epub in 2010] stage-specific microRNAs in the evolutionar- Ca²+-activated K+ channels: form and function. Short-term memory maintenance of object locations ily basal insect Blattella germanica (L.) (Dictyoptera, Annual Review of Physiology 74:245–269 during active navigation: which working memory Carter A, Ambermoon P, Hall WD (2011) Drug-induced Blattellidae). PLoS ONE 6: e19350 subsystem is essential? PLoS ONE 6: e19707 impulse control disorders: a prospectus for neuroethical Agerbo E, Mortensen PB, Wiuf C, Pedersen MS, McGrath analysis. Neuroethics 4: 91-102 [Appeared as epub in 2010] Cronin TW, Marshall J (2011) Patterns and properties J, Hollegaard MV, Nørgaard-Pedersen B, Hougaard DM, Beatus P, Jhaveri DJ, Walker TL, Lucas PG, Rietze RL, of polarized light in air and water. Philosophical Mors O, Pedersen CB (2011) Modelling the contribution Cooper HM, Morikawa Y, Bartlett PF (2011) Oncostatin Carter A, Bell E, Racine E, Hall W (2011) Ethical Transactions of the Royal Society B 366: 619-626 of family history and variation in single nucleotide M regulates neural precursor activity in the adult issues raised by proposals to treat addiction polymorphisms to risk of schizophrenia: a Danish national brain. Developmental Neurobiology 71: 619–633 using deep brain stimulation. Neuroethics Cummins TD, Hawi Z, Hocking J, Strudwick M, Hester R, birth cohort-based study. Schizophrenia Research 4: 129-142 [Appeared as epub in 2010] Garavan H, Wagner J, Chambers CD, Bellgrove MA (2011) Benosman R, Ieng S-H, Clercq C, Bartolozzi published online doi:10.1016/j.schres.2011.10.025 Dopamine transporter genotype predicts behavioural C, Srinivasan M (2011) Asynchronous frameless Chai RJ, Vukovic J, Dunlop S, Grounds MD, Shavlakadze and neural measures of response inhibition. Molecular Ambermoon P, Carter A, Hall W, Dissanayaka N, O’Sullivan event-based optical flow. Neural Networks 27: 32-37 T (2011) Striking denervation of neuromuscular Psychiatry published online doi:10.1038/mp.2011.104 J. (2011) Compulsive use of dopamine replacement junctions without lumbar motoneuron loss in Bhagavatula PS, Claudianos C, Ibbotson therapy: a model for stimulant drug addiction? Addiction geriatric mouse muscle. PLoS ONE 6: e28090 Daly NL, Callaghan B, Clark RJ, Nevin ST, Adams DJ, MR, Srinivasan MV (2011) Optic flow cues guide published online doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2011.03511.x Craik DJ (2011) Structure and activity of α-conotoxin flight in birds. Current Biology 21: 1794-1799 Chiou T-H, Marshall NJ, Caldwell RL, Cronin TW (2011) PeIA at nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes and Azari H, Osborne GW, Yasuda T, Golmohammadi Changes in light-reflecting properties of signalling Blomster LV, Vukovic J, Hendrickx DA, Jung S, GABA receptor-coupled N-type calcium channels. MG, Rahman M, Deleyrolle LP, Esfandiari E, Adams appendages alter mate choice behaviour in a B Harvey AR, Filgueira L, Ruitenberg MJ (2011) CX CR1 Journal of Biological Chemistry 286: 10233-10237 DJ, Scheffler B, Steindler DA,Reynolds BA (2011) 3 stomatopod crustacean Haptosquilla trispinosa. Marine deficiency exacerbates neuronal loss and impairs early Purification of immature neuronal cells from and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology 44: 1-11 Dave RK, Ellis T, Toumpas MC, Robson JP, Julian regenerative responses in the target-ablated olfactory neural stem cell progeny. PLoS ONE 6: e20941 E, Adolphe C, Bartlett PF, Cooper HM, Reynolds epithelium. Molecular Cell Neuroscience 48: 236-245 Cho S-C, Kim B-N, Cummins TDR, Kim J-W, Bellgrove BA, Wainwright BJ (2011) Sonic hedgehog and notch Badrick AC, Jones CE (2011) Reorganizing metals: the MA (2011) Norepinephrine transporter -3081(A/T) and Bortoletto M, Mattingley JB, Cunnington R (2011) signaling can cooperate to regulate neurogenic divisions use of chelating compounds as potential therapies alpha-2A-adrenergic receptor MspI polymorphisms are Action intentions modulate visual processing during of neocortical progenitors. PLoS ONE 6: e14680 for metal-related neurodegenerative disease. Current associated with cardiovascular side effects of OROS- action perception. Neuropsychologia 49: 2097-2104 Topics in Medicinal Chemistry 11: 543-552 methylphenidate treatment. Journal of Psychopharma- Day BW, Stringer BW, Spanevello MD, Charmsaz Bortoletto M, Lemonis MJ, Cunnington R (2011) cology published online doi:10.1177/0269881111405356 S, Jamieson PR, Ensbey KS, Carter JC, Cox JM, Ellis Baizabal J-M, Cano-Martinez A, Valencia C, Santa-Olalla The role of arousal in the preparation for voluntary VJ, Brown CL, Walker DG, Inglis PL, Allan S, Reynolds J, Young KM, Rietze RL, Bartlett PF, Covarrubias Cloete S, Wallis G (2011) Visuomotor control movement. Biological Psychology 87: 372-378 BA, Lickliter JD, Boyd AW (2011) ELK4 neutralization L (2011) Glial commitment of mesencephalic neural of steering: the artefact of the matter. sensitizes glioblastoma to apoptosis through down- precursor cells expanded as neurospheres precludes Braet W, Johnson KA, Tobin CT, Acheson R, McDonnell Experimental Brain Research 208: 475-489 regulation of the anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1. Neuro- their engagement in niche-dependent dopaminergic C, Hawi Z, Barry E, Mulligan A, Gill M, Bellgrove MA, Cocchi L, Zalesky A, Toepel U, Whitford TJ, De-Lucia Oncology published online doi:10.1093/neuonc/nor119 neurogenesis. Stem Cells and Development Robertson IH, Garavan H (2011) fMRI activation during M, Murray MM, Carter O (2011) Dynamic changes published online doi:10.1089/scd.2011.0241 response inhibition and error processing: the role of the de Araujo AD, Callaghan B, Nevin ST, Daly NL, Craik DJ, in brain functional connectivity during concurrent DAT1 gene in typically developing adolescents and those Moretta M, Hopping G, Christie MJ, Adams DJ, Alewood Baker KS, Mattingley JB, Chambers CD, dual-task performance. PLoS ONE 6: e28301 diagnosed with ADHD. Neuropsychologia 49: 1641-1650 PF (2011) Total synthesis of the analgesic conotoxin MrVIB Cunnington R (2011) Attention and the readiness Colvin RJ, Hayes IJ (2011) Structural operational semantics through selenocysteine-assisted folding. Angewandte for action. Neuropsychologia 49: 3303-3313 Bredy TW, Lin Q, Wei W, Baker-Andresen D, Mattick through context-dependent behaviour. Journal of Chemie International Edition 50: 6527-6529 JS (2011) MicroRNA regulation of neural plasticity and Barnes JJM, Dean AJ, Nandam LS, O’Connell Logic and Algebraic Programming 80: 392-426 memory. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory 96: 89-94 Dean AJ, Bellgrove MA, Hall T, Phan WMJ, Eyles RG, Bellgrove MA (2011) The molecular genetics Cowin GJ, Butler TJ, Kurniawan ND, Watson C, DW, Kvaskoff D, McGrath JJ (2011) Effects of vitamin of executive function: role of monoamine system Brown AS, McGrath JJ (2011) The Prevention Wallace RH (2011) Magnetic resonance microimaging D supplementation on cognitive and emotional genes. Biological Psychiatry 69: e127-e143 of Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin 37: of the spinal cord in the SOD1 mouse model of functioning in young adults - a randomised 257-261 [Appeared as epub in 2010] Bauer DC, Willadsen K, Buske FA, Lê Cao K-A, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis detects motor nerve controlled trial. PLoS ONE 6: e25966 Bailey TL, Dellaire G, Bodén M (2011) Sorting the Burne T, Scott E, van Swinderen B, Hilliard M, root degeneration. NeuroImage 58: 69-74 Reinhard J, Claudianos C, Eyles D, McGrath J (2011)

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Delaney AJ, Power JM, Sah P (2011) Ifenprodil reduces in the layer 5 excitatory neural network of the visual Gleiss AC, Jorgensen SJ, Liebsch N, Sala JE, Norman Waghorn G (2011) Reliability and validity of a measure of excitatory synaptic transmission by blocking presynaptic cortex. Journal of Neuroscience 31: 9526-9537 B, Hays GC, Quintana F, Grundy E, Campagna role functioning among people with psychiatric disabilities. P/Q type calcium channels. Journal of Neurophysiol- C, Trites AW, Block BA, Wilson RP (2011) Convergent Australian Occupational Therapy Journal 58: 203-208 Evans O, Paulk AC, van Swinderen B (2011) ogy published online doi:10.1152/jn.01066.2011 evolution in locomotory patterns of flying and An automated paradigm for Drosophila visual Hill MJ, Kenny E, Roche S, Morris DW, Corvin A, swimming animals. Nature Communications 2: 352 Deleyrolle LP, Ericksson G, Morrison BJ, Lopez psychophysics. PLoS ONE 6: e21619 Hawi Z, Gill M, Anney RJ (2011) Allelic expression JA, Burrage K, Burrage P, Vescovi A, Rietze RL, Goldshmit Y, Spanevello MD, Tajouri S, Li L, imbalance of the schizophrenia susceptibility gene Eyles D, Burne T, McGrath J (2011) Vitamin D Reynolds BA (2011) Determination of somatic and Rogers F, Pearse M, Galea M, Bartlett PF, Boyd AW, CHI3L1: evidence of cis-acting variation and tissue in fetal brain development. Seminars in Cell cancer stem cell self-renewing symmetric division Turnley AM (2011) EphA4 blockers promote axonal specific regulation. Psychiatric Genetics 21: 281-286 & Developmental Biology 22: 629-636 rate using sphere assays. PLoS ONE 6: e15844 regeneration and functional recovery following Hu SH, Christie MP, Saez NJ, Latham CF, Jarrott Fan Y, Abrahamsen G, McGrath JJ, Mackay-Sim spinal cord injury in mice. PLoS ONE 6: e24636 Deleyrolle LP, Harding A, Cato K, Siebzehnrubl FA, Rahman R, Lua LH, Collins BM, Martin JL (2011) Possible roles A (2011) Altered cell cycle dynamics in schizo- M, Azari H, Olson S, Gabrielli B, Osborne G, Vescovi A, Halai R, Callaghan B, Daly NL, Clark RJ, Adams DJ, Craik for Munc18-1 domain 3a and Syntaxin1 N-peptide phrenia. Biological Psychiatry published online Reynolds BA (2011) Evidence for label-retaining tumour- DJ (2011) Effects of cyclization on stability, structure, and C-terminal anchor in SNARE complex formation. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2011.10.004 initiating cells in human glioblastoma. Brain 134: 1331–1343 and activity of α-conotoxin RgIA at the α9α10 Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of Flatscher-Bader T, Foldi CJ, Chong S, Whitelaw nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and GABA receptor. the USA 108: 1040-1045 [Appeared as epub in 2010] Dudley KJ, Li X, Kobor MS, Kippin TE, Bredy TW B E, Moser RJ, Burne THJ, Eyles DW, McGrath JJ (2011) Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 54: 6984-6992 (2011) Epigenetic mechanisms mediating vulner- Hunt JJ, Bosking WH, Goodhill GJ (2011) Statistical Increased de novo copy number variants in the offspring ability and resilience to psychiatric disorders. Hall W, Gartner C (2011) Ethical and policy issues in structure of lateral connections in the primary of older males. Translational Psychiatry 1: e34 Neuroscience Biobehavioral Reviews 35: 1544-1551 using vaccines to treat and prevent cocaine and nicotine visual cortex. Neural Systems & Circuits 1: 3 Foldi CJ, Eyles DW, Flatscher-Bader T, McGrath dependence. Current Opinion in Psychiatry 24: 191-196 Dunstan A, Bradshaw CJA, Marshall J (2011) Nautilus Islam R, Lynch JW (2011) Mechanism of action of the JJ, Burne THJ (2011) New perspectives on rodent at risk - estimating population size and demography Hall W, Carter A (2011) Is deep brain stimulation a insecticides, lindane and fipronil, on glycine receptor models of advanced paternal age: relevance to of Nautilus pompilius. PLoS ONE 6: e16716 prospective “cure” for addiction? chloride channels. British Journal of Pharmacology autism. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 5: 32 F1000 Medicine Reports 3: 1 published online doi:10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01722.x. Dunstan AJ, Ward PD, Marshall NJ (2011) Nautilus Foldi CJ, Eyles DW, McGrath JJ, Burne THJ (2011) pompilius life history and demographics at the Osprey Halsey LG, Jones TT, Jones DR, Liebsch N, Booth DT (2011) Jacoby O, Visser TAW, Hart BC, Cunnington The effects of breeding protocol in C57BL/6J mice on Reef Seamount, Coral Sea, Australia. PLoS ONE 6: e16312 Measuring energy expenditure in sub-adult and hatchling R, Mattingley JB (2011) No evidence for early adult offspring behaviour. PLoS ONE 6: e18152 sea turtles via accelerometry. PLoS ONE 6: e22311 modulation of evoked responses in primary visual Dunstan AJ, Ward PD, Marshall NJ (2011) Forbes EM, Hunt JJ, Goodhill GJ (2011) The combinatorics of cortex to irrelevant probe stimuli presented during Vertical distribution and migration patterns of Han GA, Malintan NT, Saw NMN, Li L, Han L, neurite self-avoidance. Neural Computation 23: 2746-2769 the attentional blink. PLoS ONE 6: e24255 Nautilus pompilius. PLoS ONE 6: e16311 Meunier FA, Collins BM, Sugita S (2011) Munc18-1 Fornito A, Zalesky A, Bassett DS, Meunier D, Ellison-Wright domain-1 controls vesicle docking and secretion by Johnsen S, Marshall NJ, Widder EA (2011) Dyer AG, Paulk AC, Reser DH (2011) Colour processing I, Yücel M, Wood SJ, Shaw K, O’Connor J, Nertney D, Mowry interacting with syntaxin-1 and chaperoning it to the Polarization sensitivity as a contrast enhancer in in complex environments: insights from the BJ, Pantelis C, Bullmore ET (2011) Genetic influences on plasma membrane. Molecular and Cellular Biology pelagic predators: lessons from in situ polarization visual system of bees. Proceedings of the Royal cost-efficient organization of human cortical functional published online doi:10.1091/mbc.E11-02-0135 imaging of transparent zooplankton. Philosophical Society B - Biological Sciences 278: 952-959 networks. Journal of Neuroscience 31: 3261-3270 Transactions of the Royal Society B 366: 655-670 Harms LR, Burne THJ, Eyles DW, McGrath JJ (2011) Edwards JN, Blackmore DG, Gilbert DF, Murphy RM, Frans EM, McGrath JJ, Sandin S, Lichtenstein P, Vitamin D and the brain. Best Practice & Research Kaplan G (2011) Pointing gesture in a bird- Launikonis BS (2011) Store-operated calcium entry remains Reichenberg A, Långström N, Hultman CM (2011) Advanced Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 25: 657-669 merely instrumental or a cognitively complex fully functional in aged mouse skeletal muscle despite a paternal and grandpaternal age and schizophrenia: a three- behavior? Current Zoology 57: 453-467 decline in STIM1 protein expression. Aging Cell 10: 675-685 Harper CB, Martin S, Nguyen TH, Daniels SJ, generation perspective. Schizophrenia Research 133: 120-124 Lavidis NA, Popoff MR, Hadzic G, Mariana A, Chau Karunanithi S, van Swinderen B (2011) Slamdance: seizing a Eramudugolla R, Kamke MR, Soto-Faraco S, Fuentes MMPB, Cleguer C, Liebsch N, Bedford G, Amber N, McCluskey A, Robinson PJ, Meunier FA (2011) fly model for epilepsy. Journal of Neurophysiology 106: 15-17 Mattingley JB (2011) Perceptual load influences auditory D, Hankin C, McCarthy P, Shimada T, Whap T, Marsh H Dynamin inhibition blocks botulinum neurotoxin space perception in the ventriloquist aftereffect. Kesby JP, O’Loan JC, Alexander S, Deng C, Huang X-F, (2011) Adapting dugong catching techniques to different type-A endocytosis in neurons and delays botulism. Cognition 118: 62-74 [Appeared as epub in 2010] McGrath JJ, Eyles DW, Burne THJ (2011) Developmental cultural and environmental settings. Marine Mammal Journal of Biological Chemistry 286: 35966-35976 vitamin D deficiency alters MK-801-induced behaviours Etherington SJ, Williams SR (2011) Postnatal development Science published online doi:10.1111/j.1748-7692.2011.00531.x Harris M, Gladman B, Hennessy N, Lloyd C, Mowry B, in adult offspring. Psychopharmacology 220: 455-463 of intrinsic and synaptic properties transforms signaling

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Kesby JP, Eyles DW, Burne THJ, McGrath JJ (2011) The Lin Q, Wei W, Coelho CM, Li X, Baker-Andresen McGrath J, Brown A, St Clair D (2011) Prevention through specific axonal fusion in transected C. elegans effects of vitamin D on brain development and adult brain D, Dudley K, Ratnu VS, Boskovic Z, Kobor MS, Sun and schizophrenia - the role of dietary factors. neurons. Developmental Dynamics 240: 1365–1372 function. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 347: 121-127 YE, Bredy TW (2011) The brain-specific microRNA Schizophrenia Bulletin 37: 272-283 Nolan CR, Wyeth GF, Milford MJ Wiles J (2011) miR-128b regulates the formation of fear-extinction Kim B-N, Cummins TDR, Kim J-W, Bellgrove MA, Hong Mo W-C, Liu Y, Cooper HM, He R-Q (2011) Altered The race to learn: spike timing and STDP can memory. Nature Neuroscience 14: 1115-1117 S-B, Song S-H, Shin M-S, Cho S-C, Kim J-H, Son J-W, development of Xenopus embryos in a hypogeo- coordinate learning and recall in CA3. Hippocampus Shin Y-M, Chung U-S, Han D-H (2011) Val/Val genotype Lovelace ES, Gunasekera S, Alvarmo C, Clark RJ, Nevin magnetic field. Bioelectromagnetics 33: 238-246 21: 647–660 [Appeared as epub in 2010] of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met ST, Grishin AA, Adams DJ, Craik DJ, Daly NL (2011) Moldrich RX, Mezzera C, Holmes WM, Goda S, Norval G, Dieckmann S, Huang S-C, Mao J-J, Chu polymorphism is associated with a better response to Stabilization of α-conotoxin AuIB: influences of disulfide Brookfield SJ, Rankin AJ, Barr E, Kurniawan N, Dewar H-P, Goldberg SR (2011) Does the tokay gecko OROS-MPH in Korean ADHD children. The International connectivity and backbone cyclization. Antioxidants & D, Richards LJ, López-Bendito G, Iwata T (2011) Fgfr3 (Gekko gecko [Linnaeus, 1758]) occur in the wild Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology 14: 1399-1410 Redox Signaling 14: 87-95 [Appeared as epub in 2010] regulates development of the caudal telencepha- in Taiwan? Herpetology Notes 4: 203-205 Kirszenblat L, Pattabiraman D, Hilliard MA (2011) Luu T, Cheung A, Ball D, Srinivasan MV (2011) lon. Developmental Dynamics 240: 1586–1599 Ocampo B, Kritikos A, Cunnington R (2011) How fron- LIN-44/Wnt directs dendrite outgrowth through LIN-17/ Honeybee flight: a novel ‘streamlining’ response. Molenberghs P, Hayward L, Mattingley JB, toparietal brain regions mediate imitative and comple- Frizzled in C. elegans Neurons. PLoS Biology 9: e1001157 Journal of Experimental Biology 214: 2215-2225 Cunnington R (2011) Activation patterns during mentary actions: an FMRI study. PLoS ONE 6: e26945 Klimis H, Adams DJ, Callaghan B, Nevin S, Alewood Lynagh T, Webb TI, Dixon CL, Cromer BA, Lynch action observation are modulated by context in O’Connell RG, Schneider D, Hester R, Mattingley JB, PF, Vaughan CW, Mozar CA, Christie MJ (2011) A novel JW (2011) Molecular determinants of ivermectin mirror system areas. NeuroImage 59: 608-615 Bellgrove MA (2011) Attentional load asymmetrically mechanism of inhibition of high-voltage activated sensitivity at the glycine receptor chloride channel. Molenberghs P, Cunnington R, Mattingley JB (2011) Brain affects early electrophysiological indices of visual orienting. calcium channels by α-conotoxins contributes to Journal of Biological Chemistry 268: 43913-43924 regions with mirror properties: a meta-analysis of 125 Cerebral Cortex 21: 1056-1065 [Appeared as epub in 2010] relief of nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain. Manitt C, Mimee A, Eng C, Pokinko M, Stroh T, Cooper human fMRI studies. Neuroscience Biobehavioral Reviews Pain 152: 259-266 [Appeared as epub in 2010] Pelekanos RA, Li J, Gongora M, Chandrakanthan V, Scown HM, Kolb B, Flores C (2011) The netrin receptor DCC is published online doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2011.07.004 J, Suhaimi N, Brooke G, Christensen ME, Doan T, Rice Kottler B, Lampin-Saint-Amaux A, Comas D, Preat required in the pubertal organization of mesocortical Molenberghs P, Sale MV (2011) Testing for spatial AM, Osborne GW, Grimmond SM, Harvey RP, Atkinson T, Goguel V (2011) Debra, a protein mediating dopamine circuitry. Journal of Neuroscience 31: 8381-8394 neglect with line bisection and target cancellation: are K, Little MH (2011) Comprehensive transcriptome lysosomal degradation, is required for long-term Mar JC, Matigian NA, Mackay-Sim A, Mellick GD, both tasks really unrelated? PLoS ONE 6: e23017 and immunophenotype analysis of renal and cardiac memory in Drosophila. PLoS ONE 6: e25902 Sue CM, Silburn PA, McGrath JJ, Quackenbush MSC-like populations supports strong congruence Moreira LA, Ye YH, Turner K, Eyles DW, McGraw EA, O’Neill Kraft P, Evangelista C, Dacke M, Labhart T, J, Wells CA (2011) Variance of gene expression with bone marrow MSC despite maintenance of SL (2011) The wMelPop strain of Wolbachia interferes with Srinivasan MV (2011) Honeybee navigation: following identifies altered network constraints in neurological distinct identities. Stem Cell Research 8: 58-73 dopamine levels in Aedes aegypti. Parasites Vectors 4: 1-5 routes using polarized-light cues. Philosophical disease. PLoS Genetics 7: e1002207 Pettigrew J (2011) Iconography in Bradshaw Transactions of the Royal Society B 366: 703-708 Mortensen PB, Pedersen CB, McGrath JJ, Hougaard Marek R, Coelho CM, Sullivan RKP, Baker-Andresen rock art: breaking the circularity. Clinical and DM, Nørgaard-Petersen B, Mors O, Børglum AD, Yolken Laube I, Kamphuis S, Dicke PW, Thier P (2011) D, Li X, Ratnu V, Dudley KJ, Meyers D, Mukherjee Experimental Optomerty 94: 403-417 RH (2011) Neonatal antibodies to infectious agents Cortical processing of head- and eye-gaze cues C, Cole PA, Sah P, Bredy TW (2011) Paradoxical and risk of bipolar disorder: a population-based Pignatelli V, Temple SE, Chiou TH, Roberts NW, guiding joint social attention. NeuroImage enhancement of fear extinction memory and synaptic case-control study. Bipolar Disorder 13: 624-629 Collin SP, Marshall NJ (2011) Behavioural relevance 54: 1643-1653 [Appeared as epub in 2010] plasticity by inhibition of the histone acetyltransferase of polarization sensitivity as a target detection p300. Journal of Neuroscience 31: 7486-7491 Mortimer D, Dayan P, Burrage K, Goodhill GJ (2011) Bayes- Levinson DF, Duan J, Oh S, Wang K, Sanders AR, Shi mechanism in cephalopods and fishes. Philosophi- optimal chemotaxis. Neural Computation 23: 336-373 J, Zhang N, Mowry BJ, Olincy A, Amin F, Cloninger Matthews N, Gold BJ, Sekuler R, Park S (2011) Gesture cal Transactions of the Royal Society B 366: 734-741 CR, Silverman JM, Buccola NG, Byerley WF, Black imitation in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin Nandam LS, Hester R, Wagner J, Cummins TD, Piper M, Harris L, Barry G, Heng YHE, Plachez C, DW, Kendler KS, Freedman R, Dudbridge F, Pe’er published online doi:10.1093/schbul/sbr062 Garner K, Dean AJ, Kim BN, Nathan PJ, Mattingley Gronostajski RM, Richards LJ (2011) Nuclear factor I, Hakonarson H, Bergen SE, Fanous AH, Holmans JB, Bellgrove MA (2011) Methylphenidate but not McGee TR, Hayatbakhsh MR, Bor W, Cerruto M, Dean one X regulates the development of multiple cellular PA, Gejman PV (2011) Copy number variants in Schizo- atomoxetine or citalopram modulates inhibitory A, Alati R, Mills R, Williams GM, O’Callaghan M, Najman populations in the postnatal cerebellum. Journal phrenia: confirmation of five previous findings and control and response time variability. Biological JM (2011) Antisocial behaviour across the life course: an of Comparative Neurology 519: 3532–3548 new evidence for 3q29 microdeletions and VIPR2 Psychiatry 69 902-904 [Appeared as epub in 2010] examination of the effects of early onset desistence duplications. American Journal of Psychiatry 168: 302-316 Pless SA, Hanek AP, Price KL, Lynch JW, Lester and early onset persistent antisocial behaviour in Neumann B, Nguyen KCQ, Hall DH, Ben-Yakar A, HA, Dougherty DA, Lummis SCR (2011) A cation- π adulthood. Australian Journal of Psychology 63: 44-55 Hilliard MA (2011) Axonal regeneration proceeds

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interaction at a phenylalanine residue in the glycine Nöthen, MM, O’Dushlaine, CT, Olincy, A, Olsen, L, O’Neill, Brain Injury 25: 543-550 basolateral amygdala. Neuropharmacology 60: 765-773 receptor binding site is conserved for different FA, Ørntoft, TF, Owen, MJ, Pantelis, C, Papadimitriou, G, [Appeared as epub in 2010] Segurado R, Bellgrove MA, Manconi F, Gill M, Hawi Z (2011) agonists. Molecular Pharmacology 79: 742-748 Pato, MT, Peltonen, L, Petursson, H, Pickard, B, Pimm, J, Epistasis between neurochemical gene polymorphisms Srinivasan MV (2011) Honeybees as a model for the study Pulver, AE, Puri, V, Quested, D, Quinn, EM, Rasmussen, Power JM, Bocklisch C, Curby P, Sah P (2011) Location and and risk for ADHD. European Journal of Human Genetics of visually guided flight, navigation and biologically HB, Réthelyi, JM, Ribble, R, Rietschel, M, Riley, BP, Ruggeri, function of the slow afterhyperpolarization channels in the 19: 577–582 inspired robotics. Physiological Reviews 91: 413-460 M, Schall, U, Schulze, TG, Schwab, SG, Scott, RJ, Shi, J, basolateral amygdala. Journal of Neuroscience 31: 526-537 Sigurdsson, E, Silverman, JM, Spencer, CC, Stefansson, K, Shan Q, Han L, Lynch JW (2011) Function of hyperek- Srinivasan MV (2011) Visual control of navigation in insects Proctor DT, Coulson EJ, Dodd PR (2011) Post-synaptic Strange, A, Strengman, E, Stroup, TS, Suvisaari, J, Terenius, plexia-causing α1R271Q/L glycine receptors is restored by and its relevance for robotics. Current Opinion in Neurobiol- scaffolding protein interactions with glutamate L, Thirumalai, S, Thygesen, JH, Timm, S, Toncheva, D, van shifting the affected residue out of the allosteric signaling ogy 21: 535-543 receptors in synaptic dysfunction and Alzheimer’s den Oord, E, van Os, J, van Winkel, R, Veldink, J, Walsh, D, pathway. British Journal of Pharmacology published online Stavenga DG, Leertouwer HL, Marshall NJ, Osorio D (2011) disease. Progress in Neurobiology 93: 509-521 Wang, AG, Wiersma, D, Wildenauer, DB, Williams, HJ, Wil- doi:10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01701.x. Dramatic colour changes in a bird of paradise caused by liams, NM, Wormley, B, Zammit, S, Sullivan, PF, O’Donovan, Richards K, Watson C, Buckley RF, Kurniawan ND, Yang Shan Q, Han L, Lynch JW (2011) β Subunit M2-M3 loop uniquely structured breast feather barbules. Proceedings MC, Daly, MJ& Gejman, PV(2011) Genome-wide association Z, Keller MD, Beare R, Bartlett PF, Egan GF, Galloway GJ, conformational changes are uncoupled from α1 β glycine of the Royal Society B - Biological Sciences 278: 2098-2104 study identifies five new schizophrenia loci. Nature Genetics Paxinos G, Petrou S, Reutens DC (2011) Segmentation of receptor channel gating: implications for human hereditary [Appeared as epub in 2010] 43: 969-976 the mouse hippocampal formation in magnetic resonance hyperekplexia. PLoS ONE 6: e28105 Stergiakouli E, Hamshere M, Holmans P, Langley K, images. NeuroImage 58: 732-740 Saha S, Scott JG, Varghese D, McGrath JJ (2011) Socio- Simonson TS, Xing J, Barrett R, Jerah E, Loa P, Zhang Y, Wat- Zaharieva I, Hawi Z, Kent L, Gill M, Williams N, Owen MJ, economic disadvantage and delusional-like experiences: a Ripke S, Sanders AR, Kendler KS, Levinson DF, Sklar P, kins WS, Witherspoon DJ, Huff CD, Woodward S,Mowry B, O’Donovan M, Thapar A (2011) Investigating the contribu- nationwide population-based study. European Psychiatry Holmans PA, Lin D-Y, Duan J, Ophoff RA, Andreassen OA, Jorde LB (2011) Ancestry of the Iban is predominantly south- tion of common genetic variants to the risk and pathogen- published online doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2011.09.004 Scolnick E, Cichon S, St Clair D, Corvin A, Gurling H, Werge T, east asian: genetic evidence from autosomal, mitochondrial, esis of ADHD. American Journal of Psychiatry published Rujescu D, Blackwood DHR, Pato CN, Malhotra AK, Purcell S, Saha S, Scott JG, Varghese D, Degenhardt L, Slade T, and Y chromosomes. PLoS ONE 6: e16338 online doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2011.11040551 Dudbridge F, Neale BM, Rossin L, Visscher PM, Posthuma D, McGrath JJ (2011) The association between delusional-like Simpson HD, Giacomantonio CE, Goodhill GJ (2011) Stratton P, Milford M, Wyeth G, Wiles J (2011) Using stra- Ruderfer DM, Fanous A, Stefansson H, Steinberg S, Mowry experiences, and tobacco, alcohol or cannabis use: a nation- Computational modeling of neuronal map development: tegic movement to calibrate a neural compass: a spiking BJ, Golimbet V, De Hert M, Jönsson EG, Bitter I, Pietiläinen wide population-based survey. BMC Psychiatry 11: 202 insights into disease. Future Neurology 6: 339-349 network for tracking head direction in rats and robots. PLoS OPH, Collier DA, Tosato S, Agartz I, Albus M, Alexander M, Saha S, Scott JG, Johnston AK, Slade TN, Varghese D, Carter ONE 6: e25687 Amdur RL, Amin F, Bass N, Bergen SE, Black DW, Børglum Simpson HD, Goodhill GJ (2011) A simple model can unify GL, McGrath JJ (2011) The association between delusional- AD, Brown MA, Bruggeman R, Buccola NG, Byerley a broad range of phenomena in retinotectal map develop- Stringer S, Wray NR, Kahn RS, Derks EM (2011) Underes- like experiences and suicidal thoughts and behaviour. WF, Cahn W, Cantor RM, Carr VJ, Catts SV, Choudhury K, ment. Biological Cybernetics 104: 9-29 timated effect sizes in GWAS: fundamental limitations of Schizophrenia Research 132: 197-202 Cloninger CR, Cormican P, Craddock N, Danoy PA, Datta single SNP analysis for dichotomous phenotypes. PLoS Sivyer B, Venkataramani S, Taylor WR, Vaney DI (2011) A S, de Haan L, Demontis D, Dikeos D, Djurovic S, Donnelly Saha S, Scott JG, Varghese D, McGrath JJ (2011) The ONE 6: e27964 novel type of complex ganglion cell in rabbit retina. Journal P, Donohoe G, Duong L, Dwyer S, Fink-Jensen A, Freedman association between general psychological distress and of Comparative Neurology 519: 3128–3138 Suárez R, Fernández-Aburto P, Manger PR, Mpodozis J R, Freimer NB, Friedl M, Georgieva L, Giegling I, Gill M, delusional-like experiences: a large population-based study. (2011) Deterioration of the gαo vomeronasal pathway in Glenthøj B, Godard S, Hamshere M, Hansen M, Hansen Schizophrenia Research 127: 246-251 Skeldal S, Matusica D, Nykjaer A, Coulson EJ (2011) sexually dimorphic mammals. PLoS ONE 6: e26436 T, Hartmann AM, Henskens FA, Hougaard DM, Hultman Proteolytic processing of the p75 neurotrophin receptor: a Saha S, Varghese D, Slade T, Degenhardt L, Mills K, CM, Ingason A, Jablensky AV, Jakobsen KD, Jay M, Jürgens prerequisite for signalling? Bioessays 33: 614–625 Subramanian L, Sarkar A, Shetty AS, Muralidharan B, McGrath J, Scott J (2011) The association between trauma G, Kahn RS, Keller MC, Kenis G, Kenny E, Kim Y, Kirov GK, Padmanabhan H, Piper M, Monuki ES, Bach I, Gronostajski and delusional-like experiences. Psychiatry Research 189: Sladky R, Friston KJ, Tröstl J, Cunnington R, Moser E, Wind- Konnerth H, Konte B, Krabbendam L, Krasucki R, Lasseter, RM, Richards LJ, Tole S (2011) Transcription factor Lhx2 is 259-264 ischberger C (2011) Slice-timing effects and their correction necessary and sufficient to suppress astrogliogenesis and VK, Laurent, C, Lawrence, J, Lencz, T, Lerer, FB, Liang, K- Y, in functional MRI. NeuroImage 58: 588-594 Lichtenstein, P, Lieberman, JA, Linszen, DH, Lönnqvist, J, Schiffner I, Baumeister J, Wiltschko R (2011) Mathematical promote neurogenesis in the developing hippocampus. Loughland, CM, Maclean, AW, Maher, BS, Maier, W, Mallet, analysis of the navigational process in homing pigeons. Smith AR, D’Annunzio L, Smith AE, Sharma A, Hofmann CM, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the J, Malloy, P, Mattheisen, M, Mattingsdal, M, McGhee, KA, Journal of Theoretical Biology 291: 42-46 Marshall NJ, Carleton KL (2011) Intraspecific cone opsin ex- USA 108: E265-E274 McGrath, JJ, McIntosh, A, McLean, DE, McQuillin, A, Melle, pression variation in the cichlids of Lake Malawi. Molecular Schönberger M, Ponsford J, Reutens D, Beare R, Clarke Talbot CM, Marshall JN (2011) The retinal topography I, Michie, PT, Milanova, V, Morris, DW, Mors, O, Mortensen, Ecology 20: 299-310 [Appeared as epub in 2010] D, O’Sullivan R (2011) The relationship between mood of three species of coleoid cephalopod: significance for PB, Moskvina, V, Muglia, P, Myin-Germeys, I, Nertney, DA, disorders and MRI findings following traumatic brain injury. Spampanato J, Polepalli J, Sah P (2011) Interneurons in the perception of polarized light. Philosophical Transactions of Nestadt, G, Nielsen, J, Nikolov, I, Nordentoft, M, Norton, N,

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the Royal Society B 366: 724-733 of Chemical Crystallography 41: 944-951 ck B, Keating DJ, Meunier FA (2011) Phosphatidylinositol(4,5) ed. P. O’Donnell, 113-125. New York, USA Humana Press, Inc. bisphosphate coordinates actin-mediated mobilization and Thomas P, Kenny N, Eyles DW, Moreira LA, O’Neill SL, Asgari Vukovic J, Blackmore DG, Jhaveri D, Bartlett PF (2011) Ac- Marshall JN, Collin SP, Hart N, Bailes H (2011). Vision in translocation of secretory vesicles to the plasma membrane S (2011) Infection with the wMel and wMelPop strains of tivation of neural precursors in the adult neurogenic niches. Lungfish. In The Biology of Lungfishes,eds. J. M. Jorgensen, of chromaffin cells. Nature Communications 2: 1-11 Wolbachia leads to higher levels of melanization in the Neurochemistry International 59: 341-346 J. Joss, 447-513. Enfield UK Science Publisher hemolymph of Drosophila melanogaster, Drosophila simu- Williams SR, Wozny C (2011) Errors in the measurement of Walker TL, Turnbull GW, Mackay EW, Hannan AJ, Bartlett Marshall JN, Johnsen S (2011). Camouflage in marine fish. In lans and Aedes aegypti. Developmental and Comparative voltage-activated ion channels in cell-attached patch-clamp PF (2011) The latent stem cell population is retained in the Animal Camouflage: Mechanisms and Function, eds. M. Ste- Immunology 35: 360-365 [Appeared as epub in 2010] recordings. Nature Communications 2: 1-9 hippocampus of transgenic Huntington’s disease mice but vens, S. Merilaita 186-211. Cambridge, UK University Press Thompson AW, Pujic Z, Richards LJ, Goodhill GJ (2011) not wild-type mice. PLoS ONE 6: e18153 Williams NM, Franke B, Mick E, Anney RJL, Freitag CM, Gill Moore RJD, Thurrowgood S, Soccol D, Bland D, Srini- Cyclic nucleotide-dependent switching of mammalian axon M, Thapar A, O’Donovan MC, Owen MJ, Holmans P, Kent Walterfang M, Fahey M, Abel L, Fietz M, Wood A, Bowman vasan MV (2011). A bio-inspired stereo vision system for guidance depends on gradient steepness. Molecular and L, Middleton F, Zhang-James Y, Liu L, Meyer J, Nguyen E, Reutens D, Velakoulis D. (2011) Size and shape of the guidance of autonomous aircraft. In Stereo Vision Advances Cellular Neuroscience 47: 45-52 TT, Romanos J, Romanos M, Seitz C, Renner TJ, Walitza S, corpus callosum in adult Niemann-Pick type C reflects state in Theory and Applications of Stereo Vision, ed. A. Bhatti, Warnke A, Palmason H, Buitelaar J, Rommelse N, Vasquez Underwood CK, Kurniawan ND, Butler TJ, Cowin GJ, and trait illness variables American Journal of Neuroradiol- 305-326. Rijeka, Croatia. In Tech. AA, Hawi Z, Langley K, Sergeant J, Steinhausen H-C, Wallace RH (2011) Non-invasive diffusion tensor imaging ogy 32: 1340-1346 Roeyers H, Biederman J, Zaharieva I, Hakonarson H, Elia J, Osborne GW (2011). Recent advances in flow cytometric cell detects white matter degeneration in the spinal cord of a Wang Q, Lynch JW (2011) Activation and desensitization Lionel AC, Crosbie J, Marshall CR, Schachar R, Scherer SW, sorting. In Methods in Cell Biology, eds. Z. Darzynkiewicz, mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. NeuroImage induce distinct conformational changes at the extracellular- Todorov A, Smalley SL, Loo S, Nelson S, Shtir C, Asherson P, E. Holden, A. Orfao, W. Telford, D. Wlodkowic, 533-556. 55: 455-461 [Appeared as epub in 2010] transmembrane domain interface of the glycine receptor. Reif A, Lesch K-P, Faraone SV (2011) Genome-wide analysis Waltham, USA. Academic Press. van Alphen B, van Swinderen B (2011) Drosophila strate- Journal of Biological Chemistry 286: 38814–38824 of copy number variants in attention deficit hyperactivity van Swinderen B (2011). Attention in Drosophila. Interna- gies to study psychiatric disorders. Brain Research Bulletin disorder: the role of rare variants and duplications at 15q13.3. Wang Q, Lynch JW (2011) A comparison of glycine- and tional Review of Neurobiology, 99: 51-85. ed Nigel Atkinson published online doi:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2011.09.007 American Journal of Psychiatry published online doi:10.1176/ ivermectin-mediated conformational changes in the San Diego CA. Elsevier Inc. appi.ajp.2011.11060822 van Swinderen B, Andretic R (2011) Dopamine in Dros- glycine receptor ligand-binding domain. The International Conference Proceedings ophila: setting arousal thresholds in a miniature brain. Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology 44:335-340 Wilson M, Nacsa N, Hart NS, Weller C, Vaney DI (2011) Proceedings of the Royal Society of London - Biological Regional distribution of nitrergic neurons in the inner retina Burne TH, Turner K, Alexander S, Eyles DW, McGrath JJ. Wang Q, Su T-P, Zhou Y, Chou K-H, Chen I-Y, Jiang T, Lin Sciences 278: 906-913 of the chicken. Visual Neuroscience 28: 205-220 (2011). Modelling cognitive symptoms in the DVD-deficient C-P (2011) Anatomical insights into disrupted small-world rodent model of schizophrenia. In Schizophrenia Bulletin, Van-Eyk SM, Siebeck UE, Champ CM, Marshall J, Hart NS networks in schizophrenia. NeuroImage published online Wong Y, Cooper HM, Zhang K, Chen M, Bartlett P, Xu ZP Supp 1 201-202. Colorado Springs, USA (2011) Behavioural evidence for colour vision in an elasmo- doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.09.035 (2011) Efficiency of layered double hydroxide nanoparticle- branch. Journal of Experimental Biology 214: 4186-4192 mediated delivery of siRNA is determined by nucleotide se- Fernandes J, Postula A, Thurrowgood S, Srinivasan M. Wang Y, He G, He L, McGrath J (2011) Do shared mecha- quence. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science published (2011). Insect inspired vision for micro aerial vehicle naviga- Varghese D, Scott J, Welham J, Bor W, Najman J, nisms underlying cell cycle regulation and synaptic plastic- online doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2011.12.046 tion In Australasian Conference on Robotics and Automa- O’Callaghan M, Williams G, McGrath J (2011) Psychotic-like ity underlie the reduced incidence of cancer in schizophre- tion 2011 1-8. Melbourne, Australia experiences in major depression and anxiety disorders: a nia? Schizophrenia Research 130: 282-284 Zhang Z, Liu Y, Jiang, T. Zhou B, An N, Dai H, Wang P, Niu Y, population-based survey in young adults. Schizophrenia Wang L, Zhang X (2011) Altered spontaneous activity in Alz- Moore RJD, Thurrowgood S, Bland D, Soccol D, Wang Y, Yao M, Zhou J, Zheng W, Zhou C, Dong D, Liu Y, Bulletin 37: 389-393 heimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment revealed Srinivasan MV. (2011). A fast and adaptive method for Teng Z, Jiang Y, Wei G, Cui X (2011) The promotion of neural by Regional Homogeneity. NeuroImage 59: 1429–1440 estimating UAV attitude from the visual horizon. In 2011 Varghese D, Saha S, Scott JD, Chan RCK, McGrath JJ (2011) progenitor cells proliferation by aligned and randomly IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and The association between family history of mental disorder oriented collagen nanofibers throughβ 1 integrin/MAPK Zylinski S, How MJ, Osorio D, Hanlon RT, Marshall NJ (2011) Systems: Celebrating 50 Years of Robotics, 4935-4940. San and delusional-like experiences: a general population study. signaling pathway. Biomaterials 32: 6737-6744 To be seen or to hide: visual characteristics of body patterns Francisco, USA Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genet- for camouflage and communication in the Australian giant Wozny C, Williams SR (2011) Specificity of synaptic con- ics 156: 478-483 cuttlefishSepia apama. American Naturalist 177: 681-690 Moore RJD, Thurrowgood S, Soccol D, Bland D, Srini- nectivity between layer 1 inhibitory interneurons and layer vasan MV. (2011). A method for the visual estimation and Venkatachalam TK, Pierens GK, Bernhardt PV, Hammond L, 2/3 pyramidal neurons in the rat neocortex. Cereb Cortex Book and Book Chapters control of 3-DOF attitude for UAVs. The 2011 Australasian Reutens DC (2011) Synthesis and structural characterization 21: 1818-1826 Eyles DW, Burne THJ, Alexander S, Cui X, McGrath JJ (2011). Conference on Robotics and Automation Melbourne, of (Z)-3-[(4-chlorophenylamino) methylene] naphthalene- Wen PJ, Osborne SL, Zanin M, Low PC, Wang H-TA, Schoe- The developmental vitamin D (DVD) model of schizophre- Australia 2(3H)-one: an enol, keto or zwitterionic tautomer? Journal nwaelder SM, Jackson SP, Wedlich-Söldner R, Vanhaesebroe- nia. Animal Models of Schizophrenia and Related Disorders,

QBI ANNUAL REPORT 79 Publications

Ng KB, Bradley AP, Cunnington R. (2011). Effect of compet- Hall W, Carter A (2011) Science, safety and costs make deep ing stimuli on SSVEP-based BCI. In 33rd Annual Interna- brain stimulation for addiction a low priority: a reply to tional Conference of the IEEE EMBS, 6307-6310. Boston, Vorspan et al. (2011) and Kuhn et al. (2011). Addiction 106: USA 1537-1538

Wyeth G, Milford M. (2011). Towards lifelong navigation Marshall J, Cronin T, Wehling MF (2011) New directions in and mapping in an office environment. In 14th International the detection of polarized light. Philosophical Transactions Symposium of Robotic Research, ISRR 2009, 589-603. of the Royal Society B 366: 615-616 Lucerne, Switzerland Marshall J, Cronin TW (2011) Polarisation vision. Current Protocols and Laboratory Manuals Biology 21: R101-R105 van Swinderen B (2011) An assay for visual learning in McGrath JJ, Hannan AJ, Gibson G (2011) Decanalization, individual Drosophila larvae. Cold Spring Harbor Protocol brain development and risk of schizophrenia. Translational 2011: 1200 Psychiatry 1: e14

van Swinderen B (2011) The aversive phototaxic suppres- McGrath J (2011) Migrant status, vitamin D and risk of sion assay for individual adult Drosophila. Cold Spring schizophrenia. Psychological Medicine 41: 892-895 Harbor Protocol 2011: 1203-1205 McGrath, J. J. & Lawlor, D. A. (2011) The search for modifi- van Swinderen B (2011) Single fly tethered paradigms.Cold able risk factors for schizophrenia. American Journal of Spring Harbor Protocol 2011: 1488-1491 Psychiatry 168: 1235-1238

van Swinderen B (2011) The optomotor maze: a population Mulley JC, Heron SE, Wallace RH, Gecz J, Dibbens LM (2011) assay for visual perception in Drosophila. Cold Spring “Blinders, phenotype, and fashionable genetic analysis”: set- Harbor Protocols 2011: 1337-1339 ting the record straight for epilepsy! Epilepsia 52: 1757-1758

van Swinderen B (2011) Conditioning to colors: a popula- Suárez R (2011) Molecular switches in the development tion assay for visual learning in Drosophila. Cold Spring and fate specification of vomeronasal neurons. Journal of Harbor Protocols 2011: 1334-1336 Neuroscience 31: 17761-17763

van Swinderen B (2011). Drosophila neurobiology: A laboratory manual In Visual learning and perception in * some publications appeared first as electronic publica- Drosophila, 411-427. New York , U.S.A Cold Spring Harbor tions (epub) in 2010 ahead of their print version in 2011. Laboratory Press These have been labeled accordingly. Editorials, letters, reviews and others.

Carter A, Hall W (2011) Proposals to trial deep brain stimulation to treat addiction are premature. Addiction 106: 235-237

Cronin T, Marshall JN, Wehling MF (2011) Talbot H. Water- man. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 366: 617-618

Frey C, Marshall NJ, Sherrell AJ (2011) Designing modular unmanned landers to better observe life in the deep ocean. Sea Technology 52: 25-28

80 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

QBI ANNUALPUBLICATIONS REPORT 81 Grants

For funding commencing in 2011, GST exclusive. perception of actions, $244,753, 3 years Neurogenetics Initiative, $690,000, 3 years cerebral cortex, $690,370, 5 years Australia-Indonesia Institute, Australian Duncan J, Lawrence A, Bredy T, Gavrilescu M - The Coulson E, Wallace R, Gearing D - Regulation of Wray N - NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship level Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade long-term consequences of toluene exposure on neuronal cell death signalling for the treatment of A: Dissecting the shared genetic architecture of Dean A (CoralWatch) - Reef Education the maturing brain, $360,000, 3 years [awarded to neurodegenerative diseases, $430,000, 3 years psychiatric and psychological traits with application through Active Learning, $11,000, 1 year and administered by the University of Melbourne] Townsend K, Marshall J, Wilcox C, Hardest B - to prediction of genetic risk, 5 years [awarded to Wray while at the Queensland Institute of Medical Australian Research Council Dux P, Mattingley J - Bottlenecks in the brain: Identifying the risks and assessing the impacts a causal role for the frontal-parietal network in of marine debris on sea turtles in Australian Research but transferred to QBI in 2011; held in Fellowships multitasking limitations, $382,000, 3 years [awarded waters, $465,000, 3 years [awarded to and Honorary capacity while on ARC Future Fellowship] Australian Laureate Fellowship to and administered by UQ School of Psychology] administered by UQ School of Biological Sciences] Training (Postdoctoral) Fellowship Mattingley J - Cognitive control of attention Goodhill G - Mechanisms of nerve fibre guidance Special Research Initiative in Stem Cells Science Sale M - Investigation of the effect of prism and its role in regulating brain function in by molecular gradients, $300,000, 3 years Pera T, Kilpatrick T, Gardner D, Hilton D, Rosenthal therapy on attention dysfunction in right- health and disease, $2,649,836, 5 years Marshall J, Cheney K, Temple S, Cribb T - The N, Elefanty A, Stanley E, Gray P, Little M, Grimmond parietal lobe damaged stroke patients Future Fellowships functions of reef fish colour patterns: how did S, Wolvetang E, Nielsen L, Bartlett P, Wells C, with spatial neglect, $290,032, 4 years Claudianos C - The role of synapse development the coral trout get its spots? $230,000, 3 years Harvey R, Graham R, Alexander W - Stem Cells Projects in cognitive disorder, $708,377, 4 years Rubinsztein-Dunlop H, Nieminen T, Meunier Australia, $21,000,000, 7 years [awarded to and Development Grant administered by the University of Melbourne] Hilliard M - Molecules and mechanisms F - Dynamics of constrained Brownian motion Bartlett P, Boyd A - Therapeutic development regulating axonal degeneration and regeneration of neuro-secretory vesicles, $510,000, 3 years Cancer Council Queensland of novel EphA4 antagonists for spinal in C. elegans neurons, $714,528, 4 years [awarded to and administered by UQ Centre Richards L, Boyd A, Piper M - Suppression cord injuries, $663,390, 3 years for Biophotonics and Laser Science] van Swinderen B - Perceptual of high-grade glioma by Nfib over- Project Grants suppression mechanisms in the Srinivasan, M - Visual guidance of expression, $196,452, 2 years Bellgrove M, Hester R, Chambers C, Garavan H, Drosophila brain, $813,192, 4 years flight in birds, $500,000, 3 years Mason Foundation Hawi Z - Genetic and physiological mechanisms Wray N - Dissecting the shared genetic Goddard ME, Visscher P* - Why is most of the Coulson E, Rose S, Hort J, Byrne G - Measures of of executive control, $541,049, 3 years architecture of psychiatric and psychological genetic variance for complex traits undetected cholinergic basal forebrain degeneration as an early Burne T, McGrath J, Eyles D - Attentional traits with application to prediction of genetic by large powerful screens of common variants? screen for Alzheimer's disease, $50,000, 1 year processing in developmentally vitamin risk, $686,400, 4 years [awarded to Wray $360,000, 3 years [awarded to and administered by Motor Neurone Disease Research D deficient rats: Modelling the cognitive while at the Queensland Institute of Medical the University of Melbourne] (*Visscher appointed Institute of Australia symptoms of schizophrenia, $244,182, 3 years Research but transferred to QBI in 2011] UQ Diamantina Institute 60%; QBI 40%) Wallace R, Blair I, Mangelsdorf M, Claudianos C, van Swinderen B, Reinhard Williams S - Operation of nerve cell networks Large Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities Nicholson G - Identifying genes that are J - Neurexin and neuroligin: a code for in the neocortex, $813,192, 4 years Bredy T, Claudianos C, Richards L, Grimmond regulated by TDP-43 and FUS using high- synaptic development, $337,524, 3 years Projects S, Lawrence A, Mowry B - Mass spectrometry throughput sequencing, $96,540, 1 year Cooper H, Neogenin: a regulator of platform for high-throughput genotyping, Discovery Projects National Health and Medical Research Council neuronal differentiation and migration epigenetic analysis and validation of genome-wide in the adult brain, $322,524, 3 years Bartlett P, Boyd A - Development of novel sequencing studies, $240,000, 1 year. Fellowships reagents that specifically counteract EphA4 to Coulson E, Nykjaer A - How do p75 and Linkage Projects Research Fellowships enhance axonal regeneration, $420,000, 3 years sortilin facilitate TrkA-mediated survival Brown M, Xu H, Bartlett P, Wallace R, Visscher Richards L - NHMRC Principal Research Cunnington R - The mirror system and the signalling? $540,048, 3 years P, Mowry B, Reutens D - Sino-Australian Fellowship: Development of the

82 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Grants

Gunnersen J, Power J - Sez6 and neuronal administered by Washington University, USA; calcium signalling in synapse development subaward of USD$616,023 to van Swinderen] [awarded to and administered by the Queensland State Government University of Melbourne], $596,072, 3 years Queensland-Chinese Academy Sciences Hawi Z, Bellgrove M, Wallace R, Vance A - Biotechnology Projects Fund Functional characterisation of genetic risk variants for Bartlett P, Cooper H, Sah P, He R, Li B, Liu Y - ADHD: from association to biology, $507,255, 3 years The effect of hypogeomagnetic field on brain McGrath J, Eyles D, Burne T, Pedersen C, St function and development, $250,000, 3 years Clair D, Mortensen P - Neonatal vitamin D status Queensland-Chinese Academy Sciences and risk of schizophrenia: a replication in two Early Career Fellowships Program independent samples, $334,615, 3 years Nguyen T - Uncovering the mechanisms Meunier F, Arumugam T - TNF traffic and secretion underpinning the sustainability of neurotrans- in astrocytes and microglial cells: unveiling new mission at a central synapse, $17,000, 1 year. targets for ischemic stroke, $565,048, 3 years Indo-Queensland Biotechnology Project Fund Piper M - Investigation of the role of Nfix in adult neurogenesis, $337,524, 3 years Bartlett P, Jhaveri D, Vaidya V - Stimulation of adult neural stem cells by norepineph- Sah P, Windels F - Neural correlates of fear rine: a promising target for the treatment conditioning and extinction, $855,650, 5 years of depression, $250,000, 5 years Williams S - Cellular basis of cortico- cortical integration, $337,524, 3 years UniQuest Wray N, Montgomery G, Martin N, Middeldorp R, Freimer N - Towards an etiological understand- Coulson E - UniQuest Pathfinder, $50,000, 1 year ing of the comorbidity of psychiatric disorders, Richards L, Boyd A - UniQuest $845,939, 3 years [awarded to Queensland Institute Pathfinder, $50,000, 1 year of Medical Research but transferred to QBI in 2011] Wray N, Visscher P - Better methods for individual risk prediction of complex traits in human populations, $578,416, 3 years [awarded to Queensland Institute of Medical Research but transferred to QBI in 2011]

National Institutes of Health, USA National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Shaw P, van Swinderen B - Functional analysis of sleep promoting neurons in health and disease USD$1,574,042, 5 years [awarded to and

Researcher Irina Kharatishvili working in the laboratory.

QBI ANNUAL REPORT 83 Neuroscience Seminars

QBI conducts a weekly seminar program giving Dr Allen Cheung Dr Ben Emery Professor Roland Jones neuroscientists an opportunity to learn more Queensland Brain Institute, and School Centre for Neuroscience and Howard Florey University of Bath, Bath about the latest scientific developments, often of Information Technology and Electrical Institute, The University of Melbourne The role of presynaptic NMDA and kainate before research is published. The series is designed Engineering, The University of Queensland Transcriptional control of CNS myelination receptors in synaptic plasticity, synchrony and to challenge researchers in their thinking, promote Neurocomputational principles of animal navigation epileptic activity in the entorhinal cortex excellence through the exchange of ideas and lead Ms Claire Foldi Dr Charles Claudianos Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland Dr Shanker Karunanithi to future collaborations. Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland Mouse models of advanced paternal age: School of Biomedical Sciences, The Dr Victor Anggono The neurexin and neuroligin complex: relevance to neuropsychiatric disorders University of Queensland Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Johns codes, circuits and cognitive disorder Neuronal homeostasis in Drosophila Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore Professor Wayne Hall Activity-dependent regulation of AMPA receptor trafficking Professor Justin Cooper-White UQ Centre for Clinical Research and the Queensland Ms Sepideh Keshavarzi Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Na- Brain Institute, The University of Queensland Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland Professor Dana Ballard notechnology and the School of Chemical The ethical and social implications of The medial nucleus of the amygdala: neuronal University of Texas, Austin Engineering, The University of Queensland proposals to allow normal adults to use neu- classification and synaptic transmission Modular reinforcement learning as a Tailored surfaces, scaffolds and diagnostic cell-based ropharmaceutical drugs to enhance cognitive model of embodied cognition microfluidic platforms for small molecule screening, functioning or replace recreational drugs Assoc. Professor Rupert Lanzenberger stem cell expansion and controlled tissue genesis Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Dr Daniel Blackmore Ms Callista Harper Medical University of Vienna, Vienna Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland Professor Michael Corballis Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland Molecular and functional neuroimaging in Physical exercise activates endogenous Department of Psychology, The Mechanisms segregating local from retrograde psychiatric neuroscience using PET and fMRI neural stem cells in the aged brain University of Auckland, Auckland trafficking in presynaptic terminals Language, time, and the lopsided brain Professor Andrew Lawrence Dr Tom Burne Professor Cheng He Howard Florey Institute and Centre for Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland Associate Professor Jeremy Crook Department of Neurobiology, Second Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne Modelling cognitive symptoms in Department of Surgery, St Vincent’s Hospital, Military Medical University, Shanghai Reinforcement vs extinction: the yin developmental vitamin D-deficient rats and The University of Melbourne Biology of olfactory ensheathing cells in CNS regeneration & yang of mGlu5 signalling Physical exercise activates endogenous Professor Brian Butterworth neural stem cells in the aged brain Dr Massimo Hillard Dr Yonghui Li Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Department Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland Institute of Computing Technology, Chinese of Psychology, University College, London Professor Brian Dean Neurite development and regeneration Academy of Sciences, Beijing The science of failing to learn arithmetic Rebecca L. Cooper Research Laboratories, Victorian Brain in C. elegans neurons Brainnetome study based on diffusion MRI Bank Network, and The Mental Health Research Institute Professor Xiangjun Chen The role of muscarinic receptors in the patho- Mr Robiul Islam Ms Nancy Malintan Department of Neurology, Fudan University, physiology and treatment of schizophrenia Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Discovering novel drugs targeting glycine receptor Role of Munc18-1 in regulating neuroexocytosis: Axonal transport and motor neuron disease: Professor Carlos Dotti Cl - channels in pain sensory pathways unravelling the trafficking pathway underpinning what we can learn from Swl mouse study? Center for Human Genetics, Katholieke Syntaxin-1 delivery to the plasma membrane Univeriteit Leuven, Belgium Professor Tianzi Jiang Dr Louise Cheng Establishment of neuronal polarity in vivo Institute of Automation, Chinese Dr Sally Martin Department of Developmental Neurobiology, Academy of Sciences, Beijing Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland National Institute for Medical Research, London Dr Kevin Dudley Vascular development in the primate retina: the Regulation of autophagic trafficking in neurons: Food for thought: how the growth of Drosophila Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland role of guidance and anti-angiogenic factors clues to a novel neurodegenerative pathway CNS is spared under nutrient restriction Epigenetic mechanisms associated with vulner- and ability and resilience to psychiatric disease How do brain networks correlate with intelligence?

84 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Neuroscience Seminars

Ms Sharon Mason School of Medicine, Baltimore Dr Samuel Solomon Dr Thomas Whitford Queensland Brain Institute, Altered peri-adolescent maturation of prefrontal School of Medical Sciences Bosch Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department The University of Queensland cortical circuits in animal models of schizophrenia Institute, The University of Sydney of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne The role of Nuclear Factor One (NFI) Some building blocks for motion vision Corollary discharge abnormalities in patients in cortical development Dr Judith Reinhard with schizophrenia: evidence from electroen- Queensland Brain Institute, Ms Cornelia Strobel cephalography and diffusion-tensor imaging Professor Colin Masters The University of Queensland Queensland Brain Institute Mental Health Research Institute, How the brain makes sense of scents: The University of Queensland Professor Wolfgang and Professor The University of Melbourne lessons from honeybees and humans The medial intercalated cells of the mouse amygdala Roswitha Wiltschko The natural history of Alzheimer’s disease: J. W. Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt strategies for diagnosis and therapy Professor David Reutens Professor Yi Sun How birds use the magnetic field Centre for Advanced Imaging, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral of the earth for navigation Professor Jason Mattingley The University of Queensland Sciences and the Department of Molecular and Queensland Brain Institute and School of Imaging epileptogenesis Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Dr Naomi Wray Psychology, The University of Queensland Los Angeles Medical School, Los Angeles Genetic Epidemiology, Molecular Epidemiology Parietal control of attention, saccadic remapping Professor Nadia Rosenthal Epigenetic regulation of stem cell differentiation and Queensland Statistical Genetics Laboratories, and audiovisual integration: insights from Australian Regenerative Medicine Queensland Institute of Medical Research human brain stimulation studies Institute, Monash University Professor Misha Tsodyks What have we learnt about psychiatric disorders Immune modulation of mammalian regeneration Department of Neurobiology, from genome-wide association studies? Ms Linda May Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot Queensland Brain Institute, Professor John Rothwell Neuronal population coding of Dr Xin Yu The University of Queensland Institute of Neurology, University parametric working memory Laboratory of Functional and Molecular Amyloid beta-initiated p75 neurotrophin receptor College London, London Imaging, National Institute of Neurological death signalling is mediated by GIRK channels Probabilistic motor learning in healthy volunteers Ms Qian Wang Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda and patients with Parkinson’s disease studied Queensland Brain Institute, Characterizing the sensory deprivation-induced Associate Professor Fred Meunier with transcranial magnetic stimulation The University of Queensland plasticity along the whisker-barrel system Queensland Brain Institute, Investigating GABA-A and glycine receptor structure of adolescent rats: from systemic MRI brain The University of Queensland Professor Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop and function using voltage clamp fluorometry mapping to single cell electrophysiology Touching the void: one vesicle’s journey from School of Mathematics and Physics and the centre of the cell to the extracellular space Centre for Biophotonics and Laser Science, Professor Sam Weiss Associate Professor Yimin Zou The University of Queensland Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Department of Cell Division of Biological Sciences, University Professor Sir Robin M. Murray Catch, move and twist using optical tweezers Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary of California, San Diego Institute of Psychiatry and Maudsley Adult neural stem cells: from basic Wnt/Planar cell polarity signalling in axon NHS Foundation Trust, London Professor Pankaj Sah science to therapeutic applications guidance and spinal cord injury Drugs, stress, and the onset of psychosis Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland Associate Professor Markus Wenk Associate Professor Peter Noakes Fear, synaptic plasticity and the amygdala Department of Biochemistry and School of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, National The University of Queensland Mr Hugh Simpson University of Singapore, Singapore Highlights in the making and breaking Queensland Brain Institute, Lipidomics, new tools and applications of the neuromotor system The University of Queensland Computational modelling of Professor Patricio O’Donnell retinotectal map development Departments of Anatomy & Neurobiology and Psychiatry, University of Maryland

QBI ANNUAL REPORT 85 Professional Service

Perry Bartlett Scientific Advisory Committee Member John McGrath Course Management Committee Member n Centre for Brain Research, University of n Joint NHMRC-Alzheimer’s Australia n Schizophrenia International Research n Multiple Sclerosis Australia Grant Auckland, Scientific Advisory Board Member Dementia Care Knowledge Translation Society, Board Member Review Panel Member n Queensland Chapter of the Australian Consultation Group, Panel Member n Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Academy of Science, Chair Research Committee Member Mandyam Srinivasan n Garvan Institute of Medical Research, University Ross Cunnington n International Society for Translational n ARC Network for Intelligent Signal Sensors and of New South Wales, Scientific Appointments n NHMRC Grant Review Panel Member Medicine, Committee Member Information Processing, Advisory Board Member and Promotions Committee Member n Australasian Society for Psychophysiology Secretary n Australian Schizophrenia Research Bank, n Australasian Conference on Robotics and n Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Access Committee Member Automation (ACRA), Program Committee Member Australia, Research Committee Member Darryl Eyles n Ernst Strüngmann Forum on Schizophrenia, n Research Evaluation Committee, n SpinalCure Australia, Director and n NHMRC Grant Review Panel Member Program Advisory Committee National ICT Australia Ltd Member Scientific Board Chairman n Biological Psychiatry Australia, n Schizophrenia Research Forum, n Centre for the Mind, University of Sydney, n Research Australia Limited, Member Foundation Executive Member Advisory Board Member Scientific Advisory Board Member of Board of Directors n National ICT Australia Ltd, Research n NHMRC Academy Member Tianzi Jiang Frederic Meunier Evaluation Committee Member n NHMRC Career Development Fellowship n Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted n Multiple Sclerosis Australia Grant Review Panel Member Intervention Society, Member of Board of Directors Review Panel Member Peter Visscher n Australian Academy of Science, Animal n Gordon Research Conference in Quantitative Sciences Committee Member John Kelly Bryan Mowry Genetics & Genomics Chair n National Collaborative Research Infrastructure n Psychiatric Genetics Consortium: n New Zealand Statistical Genetics Network Mark Bellgrove Strategy Imaging Facilities Board Member Schizophrenia Group Analysis Group Member Scientific Advisory Board Member n NHMRC Grant Review Panel Deputy-Chair n NHMRC Academy Member Joe Lynch Michael Piper n NHMRC Grant Review Panel Member Timothy Bredy n NHMRC Grant Review Panel Member n NHMRC Grant Review Panel Member n NHMRC Program Grant Panel Member n NHMRC Grant Review Panel Member n Australian Course in Advanced Neuroscience Scientific Program Advisory Group Member Judith Reinhard Naomi Wray Thomas Burne n Australian Physiological Society n Australasian Association for Chemosensory n NHMRC Grant Review Panel Member n Australian Society for Psychiatric Research National Council Member Science Council Member Queensland Representative n Australian Association of von Humboldt Huji Xu Justin Marshall Fellows, Queensland Representative n Chinese College of Rheumatologist and Helen Cooper n Australian Coral Reef Society, Immunologist, Vice-President n NHMRC Grant Review Panel Member immediate Past President David Reutens n Chinese Rheumatology Association Standing Member n Brisbane Chapter of the American n Heron Island Research Station n NHMRC Academy Member n Chinese Clinical Immunology Society for Neuroscience President Steering Committee Member n National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Association Standing Member n Australian Neuroscience Society Scientific n Ocean Reconnaissance Conservation Strategy, Imaging Group Member n National Natural Science Foundation of China, Program Advisory Group Member Association (USA), Advisory Board Member n Medicare Services Advisory Committee Member Program Review Committee Member n Australian Huntington’s Disease Association, n ProjectAWARE, Honorary Board Member Queensland Branch, QBI representative Linda Richards n National Trauma Research Institute: Traumatic Brain Jason Mattingley n Australian Brain Bee Challenge National Chair Injury & Spinal Cord Injury Forum Panel Member n Association for Attention & Performance, n International Brain Bee Committee Vice-Chair Advisory Council Member n NHMRC Mental Health Targeted Calls for Elizabeth Coulson n Australian Academy of Science National Research Working Committee Member n Australian Brain Bee Challenge, Committee for Brain and Mind Member Northern Territory Coordinator n Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, Pankaj Sah n Australian Neuroscience Society Panel D (Psychology, Social Medicine, n Addiction Neuroscience Network Australia, National Council Member Education) Committee Member Scientific Advisory Committee Member n Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Association, n Australian Course in Advanced Neuroscience,

86 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

Editorial Boards

Perry Bartlett Justin Marshall Pankaj Sah n Acta Physiologica Sinica, Editorial Board n Marine & Freshwater Behaviour & n Hippocampus, Editorial Board n Developmental Neurobiology, Editorial Board Physiology, Editorial Board n BioMedCentral Physiology, Editorial Board n Developmental Neuroscience, Editorial Board n PLoS One, Academic Editor n Neural Plasticity, Editorial Board n Frontiers in Neurogenesis, Associate Editor n Channels, Editorial Board n International Journal of Developmental Jason Mattingley n Journal of Neuroscience, Editorial Board Neuroscience, International Editorial Board n Brain and Cognition, Editorial Board n Neuroscience Letters, Associate Editor n Journal of Neuroscience Research, Editorial Board n Cortex, Associate Editor n Journal of Neurophysiology, Associate Editor n Neural Development, Editorial Board n Cognitive Neuroscience, Editorial Board n The Open Neuroscience Journal, n Neuroscience Research, Editorial Board n Neurocase, Editorial Board Editorial Advisory Board n Neurosignals, Editorial Board n Neuropsychologia, Editorial Advisory Board n Yonsei Medical Journal, Editorial Board Mandyam Srinivasan n Stem Cell Research, Editorial Board John McGrath n Advances in Artificial Neural Systems, Editorial Board n Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, Editorial Board n Journal of Comparative Physiology Mark Bellgrove n Australian and New Zealand Journal A, Editorial Advisory Board n Journal of Attention Disorders, Editorial Board of Psychiatry, Editorial Board n PLoS Biology, Editorial Board n BioMedCentral Psychiatry, Editorial Board Thomas Burne n Clinical Schizophrenia and Related Bruno van Swinderen n PLoS One, Academic Editor Psychoses, Editorial Board n PLoS One, Academic Editor n Cognitive Neuropsychiatry, Editorial Board Charles Claudianos n Frontiers of Molecular Psychiatry, Editorial Board Peter Visscher n The Open Evolution Journal, Editorial Board n Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria, Associação n American Journal of Human Genetics, Brasileira de Psiquiatris, Editorial Board Editorial Board Member Helen Cooper n Schizophrenia Bulletin, Editorial Board n Genetics Research, Associate Editor n Growth Factors, Editorial Board n Schizophrenia Research, Editorial Board n PLoS Genetics, Associate Editor n Translational Psychiatry, Editorial Board n Scientific Reports, Associate Editor Geoffrey Goodhill n Network: Computation in Neural Frederic Meunier Robyn Wallace Systems, Editor-in-Chief n Current Neuropharmacology, Editorial Board n Journal of Applied Clinical Pediatrics, Editorial Board n Neural Circuits and Systems, Editorial Board n Journal of Neurochemistry, Handling Editor n Neural Computation, Associate Editor n Scientific Reports, Associate Editor n Nature Scientific Reports, Editorial Board n PLoS One, Academic Editor

Tianzi Jiang Bryan Mowry n IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging, Associate Editor n PLoS One, Academic Editor n IEEE Transactions on Autonomous Mental n Genes, Editorial Board Development, Associate Editor n Psychiatric Genetics, Editorial Board n Neuroscience Bulletin, Associate Editor n PLoS One, Academic Editor David Reutens n Computational Imaging and Vision, Series Editor n Stroke Research and Treatment, Editorial Board n Cognitive Neurodynamics, Editorial Board n Brain Navigator, Editorial Board

Joe Lynch Linda Richards n Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, Editorial Board n Developmental Dynamics, Editorial Board n International Journal of Biochemistry and n Frontiers in Neuroscience, Editorial Board Molecular Biology, Editorial Board n Neurosignals, Editorial Board n Journal of Biological Chemistry, Editorial Board n Brain Navigator, Editorial Board

QBI ANNUAL REPORT 87 UQ Appointments

Perry Bartlett University Senior Management Committee Academic Board, Professorial Member Senate, Professorial Member Centre for Advanced Imaging Advisory Board Anthropology Museum Management Committee Advancement Sub-Committee Professorial Promotions Appointments Committee

Thomas Burne Anatomical Biosciences Animal Ethics Committee

Helen Cooper Institutional Biosafety Committee Academic Board Standing Committee - Representative on Faculty Selection Committees for Academic Appointments (Levels B-D)

Geoffrey Goodhill Research Higher Degree Committee

John Kelly Biological Resources Steering Committee National Imaging Facility Research Infrastructure and Facilities Working Group

Joe Lynch Master of Neuroscience Program Coordinator

Marie Mangelsdorf Anatomical Biosciences Animal Ethics Committee

Justin Marshall Marine Research Station Advisory Committee

Frederic Meunier Radiation Health and Safety Committee

Michael Piper Research Committee

Linda Richards Animal Users Advisory Committee, Chair

Pankaj Sah Research Committee

88 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

QBI Staff

Director, Professor Mandyam Srinivasan Conjoint Appointments Dr Luca Cocchi (began June) Dr Tam Nguyen Queensland Brain Institute Assoc. Professor Bruno van Swinderen Dr Vasilis Mantzioris (began August) Dr Alexandre Cristino Dr Cathrin Nourse Professor Perry Bartlett Professor Peter Visscher (began Dr Lawrence Sanjay Nandam Dr Xiaoying Cui Dr Conor O’Leary (began June) September) Dr Mark Spanevello Dr Tarrant Cummins Dr Shona Osborne Deputy Director (Research) Dr Robyn Wallace Dr Angela Dean Dr Andreas Papadopulos (began August) Professor Pankaj Sah Assoc. Professor Stephen Williams Emeritus Professor Dr Kirsty Dixon (finished April) Dr Angelique Paulk Dr Naomi Wray (began September) Professor David Vaney Dr Kevin Dudley Dr John Power Deputy Director (Operations) Professor Huji Xu Dr Richard Faville Dr Zlatko Pujic John Kelly Honorary Professors Dr Trudi Flatscher-Bader Dr Martin Sale University of Queensland Affilliates Professor Wickliffe Abraham Dr Isabel Formella Dr Ingo Schiffner (began July) Faculty Professor Andrew Boyd Professor David Adams Dr Daniel Gilbert (began January finished Dr Qiang Shan (finished March) Assoc. Professor Mark Bellgrove Professor Matthew Brown Professor Shaun Collin April) Dr Benjamin Sivyer Dr Timothy Bredy Professor Chen Chen Professor Mary Galea Dr Rosina Giordano-Santini (began Dr Sune Skeldal (began June) November) Dr Thomas Burne (Conjoint Appointment) Professor Wayne Hall Professor David Gearing Dr Jay Spampanato (finished January) Dr Jacob Gratten Dr Allen Cheung (began July) Professor Ottmar Lipp Professor Dexter Irvine Dr Peter Stratton Dr Jill Harris (finished July) Dr Charles Claudianos Professor Daniel Markovich Professor Tianzi Jiang (finished February) Dr Rodrigo Suárez (began March) Dr Ziarih Hawi Dr Robert Colvin Dr Sean Millard Professor Gisela Kaplan Dr Robert Sullivan Dr Martin How Assoc. Professor Helen Cooper Assoc. Professor Peter Noakes Professor Nicholas Martin Dr Chanel Taylor Dr Jonathan Hunt (began August) Assoc. Professor Elizabeth Coulson Dr Marc Ruitenberg Professor Hideyuki Okana Dr Fabrice Turpin (began September) Dr Wendy Imlach (began May) Assoc. Professor Ross Cunnington Dr Ethan Scott Professor Brent Reynolds Dr Isaac Ugwumba (began June finished Dr Dhanisha Jhaveri Dr Darryl Eyles (Conjoint Appointment) Professor Peter Silburn Professor Lesley Rogers July) Dr Marc Kamke Professor Geoffrey Goodhill Dr Surya Singh (began September) Professor Seong-Seng Tan Dr Nicholas Valmas Dr Angelo Keramidas Dr Massimo Hilliard Professor Walter Thomas Professor Charles Watson Dr Bart van Alphen Dr Benjamin Kottler Professor Tianzi Jiang (began February) Dr Guy Wallis Dr Jana Vukovic Dr David Kvaskoff Professor Joe Lynch Postdoctoral Fellows Dr Francois Windels Dr Aoife Larkin (began November) Professor Justin Marshall Adjunct Appointments Dr Fabienne Alfonsi Dr Zhe Yang Dr Yonghui Li (began October) Professor Jason Mattingley Dr Marta Bortoletto Dr Daniel Angus Dr Nikolai Liebsch Professor John McGrath (Conjoint Dr James Crane Dr Eleonora Autuori Research Officers Dr Pei Ching Low Appointment) Dr Andrew Delaney Dr Lilach Avitan (began April) Danakai Bradford (finished February) Dr Tien Luu Assoc. Professor Frederic Meunier Dr Geoffrey Ericksson (finished January) Dr Guy Barry (finished February) Jens Bunt Dr Marie Mangelsdorf Professor Bryan Mowry (Conjoint Dr Louise Faber Dr Denis Bauer Jing Lu (began August) Appointment) Dr Vikki Marshall Dr Adam Hamlin Dr Oliver Baumann Linda May (began December) Geoffrey Osborne Dr Sally Martin Dr Robert Hester Dr Daniel Blackmore Hugh Simpson (began October finished Dr Michael Piper Dr Natasha Matthews December) Dr Jonathan Mann (began April) Dr Meiyun Chang-Smith (finished July) Dr Judith Reinhard Dr Dusan Matusica Cornelia Strobel (began November) Professor Geofferey Masters Dr Guo-Bo Chen (began October) Professor David Reutens (Affiliate Assoc. Professor Dale Nyholt (began Dr Weichuan Mo (began August) Appointment) Dr Min Chen December) Dr Randal Moldrich (finished March) Professor Linda Richards Dr Tsyr-Huei Chiou Dr Brent Neumann

QBI ANNUAL REPORT 89 QBI Staff

Research Assistants Katelin Haynes Kalpana Patel Charlotte Clark Truong Giang Nguyen Suzanne Alexander Lydia Hayward Matthew Pelekanos Sean Coakley Navid Nourani Vatani Kathy Asmussen Sophie Hill Thomas Pollak (finished March) Lavinia Codd David Painter John Baisden Chien Ho (began July) Boris Prosper Hayley Cox Genevieve Phillips (began December) Anne-Sophie Bedin (began August) Mei-Fong Ho (began February finished Rohan Puri Peter Curby Simandeep Poonian Daniel Bland (finished June) September) Gregory Robinson Melissa de Vries Chikako Ragan Natalie Bland (finished June) Casey Holding Petra Sedlak Daina Dickens (began June) Vikram Ratnu (began July) Clement Bonini (began August) MD Robiul Islam (finished June) Murugesh Sheekar Christine Dixon Amanda Robinson Zoran Boskovic Sharifun Islam (finished June) Henry Simila Jiaxin Du Sumiti Saharan Dr Arne Brombas Oscar Jacoby Lauren Simpson (began September) Michael Dwyer Talwar Sahil (began August) Kristy Butler Peter Josh (began November) Heather Smith Nahla Lufti A Faizo Farshid Sepehrband (began December) Tim Butler James Kesby (finished May) Dean Soccol Claire Foldi Aanchal Sharma (began March) Awais Butt (finished September) Leonie Kirszenblat (finished June) Sophie Tajouri Clare Giacomantonio Hugh Simpson Mykolas Byrne (began July) Diana Kleine Andrew Thompson (finished June) Ilan Gobius Daniel Stjepanovic Benjamin Calcagno Michael Knight (began May) Saul Thurrowgood Helen Gooch Cornelia Strobel Maria Caldeira (began May) Pauline Ko Karly Turner Veronika Halasz Gavin Taylor Lara Campbell Santi Krisantini Meggie Voogt Lu Han Hanne Thoen (began March) Justin Chaplin (began March) Xiang Li Joseph Wagner Lauren Harms Vanesa Tomatis Dr Carlos Magalhaes Coelho Casey Linton Mirela Wagner (began August) Callista Harper Qian Wang Michael Colditz Pei-Yun Liu (began November) Dianne Walker Shao-Chang Huang Rebecca Williams Belinda Craig (began February) Yolanda Liu William Warhurst Thuan G Huynh Xi Yao (began February) Lauren Crumlish David Lloyd Phoebe Watt Oscar Jacoby (began April) Jiajia Yuan Tess Evans (began July) Samuel Lukowski (began September) Wei Wei Georg Kerbler Oressa Zalucki Cheryl Filippich Nicola Marks (began Novemeber) Peter Wen (finished July) Sepideh Keshavarzi Angus Fisk Andrew Martin (began March finished Amanda White Leonie Kirszenblat (began June) Awarded PhD 2011 June) Elizabeth Forbes John Wilson (finished June) Elizabeth Kita (began March) Danakai Bradford Timothy Martin Kelly Garner Li Xu (began June) Inga Laube Amber-Lee Donahoo Eva McClure (finished June) Alan Goldizen Melvyn Yap (began October) Sha Liu Jonathan Hunt Laura McLeod (began May) Helen Gooch Nancy Malintan MD Robiul Islam Cornel Mirciov (began September) Jack Goodrich Research Higher Degree Students Roger Marek Timothy Lynagh (2011 Dean’s Award for Audrey Moran Rachel Gormal Samuel Baker Andrew Martin (began June) RHD Excellence) Rebecca Morley (finished January) Julia Groening Danay Baker-Andresen Sharon Mason Nicola Watts Paula Mugno Ramirez (began March) Natalie Groves Jessica Barnes Linda May Deborah Nertney Nivetha Gunasekaran Anna Bode Richard Moore Master of Neuroscience Estella Newcombe Justine Haddrill Conor Champ John Morris Joel Adams-Bedford Colby Oitment Teresa Hall Jeiran Choupan (began December) Ramesh Narayanan Megan Campbell Tishila Palliyaguru (began December) Lauren Harms Wen-Sung Chung Thai Vinh Nguyen Yuan Cao Nickless Palstra

90 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2011

QBI Staff

Muhammed Chothia Advancement Human Resources Technical Services Luis Sebastian Contreras Huerta Director of Advancement - Brooke Ellem Technical Services Manager - Kylie Cuthberton Nicola Smith (began September) Jackie Perren David Wheeldon Athina Eu Jenny Valentine Adam Barry Laura Fenlon Finance and Store Brandon Horne Beomjun Kim Laboratory Support Finance Manager - Ethan Park Gayeshika Leanage Scientific Services Manager - Katherine Parsonage Azra Zamri Clare Seaman Taryn Donnelly (Maternity leave cover) Administrative Support Dr Gilyana Borlikova (began August) Anna Brancatini Earlene Ashton Awarded Master of Neuroscience Wade Ebeling Ilse Buttiens (began November) 2011 Judy Bracefield Chad Lake (began August) Brenda Campbell Zoran Boskovic Jane Ellis Michael Perren Suzanne Campbell Jeffrey Hanks-Thomson Luke Hammond Elizabeth Power Susan Earnshaw Ying Wan Maureen Kearney Kathy Webb (began November) Rachael Kelly (began November) Aaron Warren Colin MacQueen Nathan Weir (finished July) Kym Mayes Di Xia Donna Martin Annita Nugent (began April) Shanzhi Yan Nicholas Nacsa Virginia Nink Communications and Graphics Charmaine Paiva Denise Cullen Reeza Palamoodu Nazer Peter Goodenough Scholarship Dr Nana Sunn (finished July) Dee McGrath Amelia Sah Alphonse Aime Yambisang Janette Zlamal Jill Wardropper Freda Talao Director’s Office Occupational Health and Safety Ross Dixon Institute Manager Executive Office Manager - Helen Weir Alison van Niekerk Ashley Cooper (began April) Students Manager, Postgraduate Student Grants, Ethics and Publications Deirdre Wilson Administration - Grants, Ethics and Publications Susan Shade (began October) Manager - Information Technology Dr Sylvie Pichelin IT Manager - Ben Kelly Elizabeth Watts (finished June) Debra McMurtrie Jake Carroll Australian Brain Bee Challenge Senior Research Manager - Gene Beaumont Rowan Tweedale Phillip George (finished March) Sarah Eagle (finished June) Perry Kollmorgen (began April) Katherine Wilkins (began July) Commercialisation Toby O’Brien (finished March) Annita Nugent (finished April) Irek Porebski (began March) Dr Bronwyn Battersby (began August) Michael Simpson (began March)

Above: Michael Perren in QBI Stores. Below: Brooke Ellem is part of the Human Resources team.

QBI ANNUAL REPORT 91 In Appreciation

All members of QBI sincerely thank our valued donors for their support in 2011.

Principal Kim Broadfoot Mary Cross Gayle Ginnane Desmond Jack Daphne Maclean Jaikisan Patel Sue Soda Lorraine Broadley Owen and Marjorie Cusack Elizabeth Gordon Jandet Pty Ltd Julie Mannion Stuart Pegg Raymond Soderholm Estate of Dr Clem Jones Bronlie Construc- Paul Dall’Alba Daniel Graham Tianzi Jiang Ruth Marjason Patricia Pepper Soroptimist International tions Pty Ltd John Dashwood Noella Grant Dinah Johnson Joyce Markwell Leah Perry Brisbane South Corinne Brown Dorothy Davidson Lynette Gray Moffatt Robyn Johnston Janice Marshall Suzie Phillips Southern Districts Rugby Nigel Brown Union Football Club Inc Major Suzanne Davis Kath Grealy Daryl Johnstone Judith Martin Florence Pidgeon Attracta Brownlee Lynette Davis Francis Gregg Kim Jones Jennifer Maruff Carol Pomfret G Spence Iain Bruce Felicia De Laat Ronald Grice Janet Jukes Veronica Mason Eva Popper Barbara Stace G James Australia Pty Ltd Glen and Aija Brumby Hazel Dennis Donald and Daphne Rosemary Kajewski Kenneth Mason Carol Portmann Rosemary Stay Index Group of Companies Peter Burrows Mary Denver Grimley N Keegan Judy Massey Glenda Powell Henrik Steenberg Simon Stevenson Linda Levett and family Peter Cairns Luke Devitt Ross and Kim Grimley Yvonne Kirkegard Fiorenzo Matarazzo Hyrtle and Marianne Kathleen Cameron Richard Dickson Patricia Haggard Jane Klug Peter Mattner Powley Kevin and Beverley MND and Me Foundation Helen Cameron Ross Dickson Bronwen Hall Helen Komoff Lewis Mayne Clemens Pratt Stewart Frank and Patsy Youngleson Katharine Cameron Karl Dodd Colin Ham William Koppe John McEvoy Steven Prowacki Venetia Stombuco Tracy Campbell Ray Donaldson Oriel Handley Dorothy Kuhl Marcia McInnes QSuper Members Services Tony Swiericzuk Daniel Capper Neil Douglas Gerowyn Hanson Sandra Lacey Penelope McKelvie William Quarterman Frances Symonds Constantine Carides Andrew Douglas Gregory Harmer Lorraine Ladewig Moya McKenzie John Redman Paul Taylor Margaret Carroll Gerry Doyle Barbara Hawken William Laidlaw Michael McMahon David Reeves The Gap Uniting Individuals and Church Senior Gary Carter Fiona Draney Lex Haworth William Lanagan Brendan Meagher Shirley Richter Organisations Friendship Group Maurice Cassidy Ruth Duncan Glennys Hayes Shirley Larsen Haemen Mendis David Ritchie Debra and David Peter Adams Andrew Catsoulis C Hearle John Michelmore Brent and Sue Roberton Joanne Dunn John Laurent Thompson Aero Products Pty Ltd Centenary Classic Roger Heath Raymond Mickan Rita Ross Don and Anne Dunstan Joan Lawrence Jeffrey Thomsett Harry Ahrens Mercedes-Benz Adriana Heintz Cabrina Milne Norma Ross Anthony Dutton Maxwell Lennox Anthony Toohey Philip Aitken Anne Chappell Gregory Henricks Fiorella Morlin Rotary Club of Aspley Inc Fay Edwards Maija Liiv Peter Varghese David Allan Chinderah Discount Femme and Nicole Hensen Dane Moulton Edward Rutledge F Edwards Lions Club of Emu Peter Vincent Ming Anderson Mufflers Joanne Herkes Park Inc. Bevan Muldoon Lindsay Ryan Estate of Cecil English Sylvia Walker Beverley Armstrong Siu Chow Adolphus Hertzberg Anne Little Stella Muller Geoffrey Sattler Gretchen Evans Richard Wallace-Barnett Artwork In Wood Robert Christiansen Frank Hills Keith Locke Angela Murchison Joyce Schmidt Graham Field Abel Wan Jean Ashford Peter Clark Ryan Lindsay Hollingworth Loganlea Pharmacy Denis Murphy Claire Schwarz-Hoey Paul Figallo Alan Weeks Anne Bachelard Valma Clarkson Julie Holmes and Maridale Park Joan Murphy Suzanne Sellwood Robert Fitchew Harold Westaway Naomi Bailey Kim Cocker Mark and Jaine Holmes Pharmacy Denis Nave Marcia Senn Brian Fitzpatrick Gillian White Ellen Bannister Dave and Ina Collidge Adrian Holt Christine Lonergan Judith Nedderman Monica Senyard Ian Florence Dorothea Wilkinson Gregory Bartlett Garry Collins Tracey Hopkins James Lucas Audrey Neill James Shelton Judith Foote Clive Williams Geoffrey Bayliss Kirstie Colls Hubert Horne Christopher Lynagh Beryl Neill Tom Shepherdson Roscoe Foreman Margaret Williams Pauline Beames Maria Comino Beth Howard Richard Lynch Helen Noad Anthony Shepley Harold and Ailcie Foxton Matthew Wissemann Barry Beck Cooper Reeves Pty Ltd Faith Howell Michael Lynch John Nolan Michael Shorrock Bruce Frank Women in Finance Edward Coppinger Mary Lyons Beth Shorten Doreen Bengtson Bronwyn Fryar Glenn Howell Nucrush Pty Ltd Association Jeanette Covacevich Helena Macey Alan Bennett Ronald Fuller Margaret Hoyes Gregory Nutting John Siemon (Queensland) Christine Cowell Michael MacGinley G Bowhay Malcolm Garrett Lyle Humphreys Patricia O’Connor Hee Sheng Shi Fashu Sim Yiu-Chung Wong Constance Creedon Moyea MacLean William Boyce Jan Gillies Anthony Humphrys Narelle O’Shanesy Elizabeth Skerman Peter Woodward Crommelin Family Hilda Maclean Charles Brabazon Maureen Gilmartin N Hurst Jenette Otter Joan Smart Louisa Yeung Foundation Alan Brecknell Barbara Gilmore George Hutchinson Craig and Pam Maclean Suzanne Parker Smart Supplies Jennifer Brennan Colin Cross Hamish Maclean (Australia) Pty Ltd

92 QBI ANNUAL REPORT Also sincere thanks to our donors who prefer to remain anonymous. Supporting QBI

Researchers at QBI are dedicated to unlocking How to support the Queensland Brain Institute the mysteries of neurodegenerative diseases and mental health disorders, which currently Donations Bequests account for a staggering 45 per cent of the burden of disease in Australia. There are many ways in which you can help By leaving a bequest to QBI in your will, you Under current legislation, gifts to the support QBI’s research effort, including: are leaving a lasting legacy that accelerates Queensland Brain Institute are tax By improving the understanding of the current research and preserves future deductible. To discuss how you can n Make a donation for a fundamental mechanisms that regulate projects. Bequests can include: support the Institute, please contact us at: brain function, QBI researchers are working specific research area n A percentage of an estate Queensland Brain Institute to develop new, more effective therapeutic n Purchase scientific equipment Building #79, Upland Road treatments for conditions such as dementia, n The residuary of an estate (what n Fund scholarships for The University of Queensland stroke, motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis remains after all other gifts and talented students St Lucia QLD 4072 and neurotrauma. costs have been deducted) n Provide fellowships for early- QBI relies on both public and private n A gift of a specific sum of money Telephone: +61 7 3346 6300 to mid-career scientists donations to continue its research programs Facsimile: +61 7 3346 6301 n A particular asset, such as and is therefore grateful for the support and n Sponsor Professorial Chairs Email: [email protected] property, works of art, shares, generosity of its benefactors. Website: www.qbi.uq.edu.au n Undertake laboratory dedications or an insurance policy

n Provide gifts in memoriam

Queensland Brain Institute Phone: +61 7 3346 6300 Building #79, Upland Road Fax: +61 7 3346 6301 The University of Queensland Email: [email protected] St Lucia QLD 4072 Web: www.qbi.uq.edu.au