Determining how the brain develops and functions is one of the greatest questions facing scientists today. A researcher in the newly formed section of ophthalmology and neuroscience has been awarded a four year Wellcome Trust career development fellowship worth over half a million pounds to study a congenital brain disease and shed light on one of the most important processes in embryonic development.

Dr Jacquelyn Bond is investigating a genetic disorder called microcephaly, which causes babies to be born with a small brain and mental retardation. Dr Bond and colleagues from the unit have already pinned down several genes which, when defective, cause microcephaly. She is now studying one of these genes, ASPM, to find its function and to determine how defects in the gene cause microcephaly.

Dr Bond believes that the ASPM protein is involved in cell division in the brain. Knowing how it works is not only of medical interest but could also tell us about the evolution of the human brain, the organ that makes us unique in the animal kingdom. "Functional studies of this important gene will increase our understanding of the pathways involved in brain development and determine how aberrations in the pathway involving ASPM result in microcephaly," said Dr Bond.

Other groups in the section of ophthalmology and neuroscience work on inherited blindness (Professor Chris Inglehearn) the molecular mechanisms which cause Parkinson's diseases (Dr Phil Robinson and Dr Helen Ardley) and the possible involvement of microcephaly genes in cancer (Dr Sandra Bell). Recent successes for the group include awards to Dr Carmel Toomes of a Royal Society principle research fellowship to study retinal vascular disease, and to Dr Manir Ali of an MRC new investigator award to study inherited blindness in chickens.

'"/>

Contact: Hannah Love
pressoffice@leeds.ac.uk
44-113-343-4100
University of Leeds
1-Mar-2006

Page: 1
Related medicine news :

1. The Burroughs Wellcome Fund awards $8 million to infectious disease investigators
2. Draining away brains toxic protein to stop Alzheimers
3. New research discovers independent brain networks control human walking
4. ADHD appears to be associated with depressed dopamine activity in the brain
5. First of its kind report on how children with brain tumors perform at school
6. Chemical in brain acts like a fuel gauge
7. Case study: cross-cultural bioethics training program helps fight African brain drain
8. Paying taxes, according to the brain, can bring satisfaction
9. Childrens brain responses predict impact of sleep loss on attention
10. Old memory traces in brain may trigger chronic pain
11. Stanford researchers track human stem cells transplanted into rat brain