Serendipity in Science: From Unexplained Weight Loss to Therapeutic Discovery in Motor Neurone Disease
Speaker: Associate Professor Frederik Steyn
Centre Director of Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research
School of Biomedical Sciences
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences
University of Queensland
Serendipity in Science: From Unexplained Weight Loss to Therapeutic Discovery in Motor Neurone Disease
Abstract: Weight loss is a strong predictor of poorer outcomes in motor neurone disease (MND), yet in some people it begins early and cannot be explained by dysphagia or muscle wasting alone. These observations raised a broader question: does MND disrupt the systems that normally defend appetite and body weight?
This talk will trace our efforts to address this question, from defining the clinical meaning of early weight loss to recognising appetite loss as an important but under-recognised feature of disease. I will discuss studies examining appetite regulation and the potential contribution of hypothalamic dysfunction, together with work alongside dietitians and allied health professionals to identify people at risk and strengthen nutritional care. I will then describe how these findings led us to target the ghrelin receptor and investigate ghrelin secretagogues as a potential therapy. These drugs may complement nutritional care by supporting appetite and metabolic health, while allowing us to test whether their broader actions can improve quality of life and slow disease progression. Together, this work positions disordered body-weight regulation not only as a consequence of disease, but as a window into disease biology and a potential therapeutic target.
About Neuroscience Seminars
Neuroscience seminars at the QBI play a major role in the advancement of neuroscience in the Asia-Pacific region. The primary goal of these seminars is to promote excellence in neuroscience through the exchange of ideas, establishing new collaborations and augmenting partnerships already in place.
Seminars in the QBI Auditorium on Level 7 are held on Wednesdays at 12-1pm, which are sometimes simulcast on Zoom (with approval from the speaker). We also occassionally hold seminars from international speakers via Zoom. The days and times of these seminars will vary depending on the time zone of the speaker. Please see each seminar listed below for details.
