Since 2008, Dr Medeiros has led the effort to identify the underlying mechanisms related with the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. His long-term goal is to advance knowledge of healthy, and diseased, brain function to a point where rational strategies can be developed for the prevention and cure of age-related neurological disorders. To pursue his research goals, Dr Medeiros maintains a research environment in which creative and innovative ideas can be nurtured and brought to fruition using a base of established as well as state-of-the-art approaches. His belief is that this environment will facilitate conceptual leaps in our understanding of the diseases that impact the human brain.

The following projects may be suitable for either Honours or PhD.

   Dr Rodrigo Medeiros

Project 1

Role of the immune system in neurodegeneration

​Dr Medeiros discovered that Alzheimer's disease promotes defects in fundamental molecular events that limit and resolve inflammation, and demonstrated that such changes account for a substantial portion of the disease pathogenesis. Currently, the Neurula lab is undertaking the challenge of using and developing novel laboratory models in parallel with studies on affected human subjects to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms linking inflammation to β-amyloid, tau pathology and cognitive decline. Understanding these mechanisms will allow definition of the biological pathways involved in the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease, and identify potential therapeutic targets for the management of this devastating disorder.

Project 2

Impact of comorbidities in brain ageing and disease

The Neurula Lab also studies the impact of comorbidities in neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s disease. We seek to understand how concurrent diseases that commonly occur in the elderly may modulate neurodegeneration and age-related changes in the brain. We have been particularly interested in infections, diabetes and traumatic brain injury as major regulators of biological processes, and are developing genetic and pharmacological agents to manipulate these pathways in Alzheimer’s disease.

Techniques you will learn in our group may include: Primary glial and neuronal cell cultures, intracranial delivery of viral vectors, western blot, immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunocytochemistry (ICC) and immunofluorescence (IF).

How to apply