Understanding the impact of axonal transport (the transfer of information and knowledge in a neurone) in MND.
PhD Student: Alya Masoud Abdelhafid
Principal Investigator: Prof Giampietro Schiavo
Lead Institution: University College London
MND Association Funding: £110,702*
Funding dates: October 2023 - September 2026
*Supported by The Broad Appeal.
About the project
In our neurons, we have a process that facilitates long-range transfer of information and nutrients from one end of the neuron to the other and back again. This process is called axonal transport. Evidence suggests that at the very beginning of MND, this process is impaired. With little knowledge of the mechanisms that control axonal transport, this project aims to (1) find whether the regulation of axonal transport is impaired in different types of MND; (2) identify whether substances identified in a previous project are able to rescue transport in diseased neurons in MND. If researchers can restore healthy axonal transport, they may be able to block the process leading to motor neuron cell death and stop disease progression.
What could this mean for MND research?
The work looks to understand what happens within neurons and if transport of information and nutrients goes wrong in MND. Furthering our understanding of this process could lead researchers to find ways to correct or prevent the damage from being done. This could help to prevent motor neuron cell death and stop or reduce disease progression.
Resources
Project code: 908-792
