Development of new molecular therapies to treat MND
The goal of these projects is to examine and refine our existing molecular and gene therapies for use in in vitro and in vivo for treatment testing.
This scholarship supports PhD research that aims to develop innovative molecular and gene therapies to treat motor neuron disease (MND). This research will contribute towards our vision to cure MND.
Key details
- 20235763, 20235764
- PhD
- Applications close on 30 April 2025 at 11pm
- Domestic
- Medicine and health, science
- $38,500 p.a. (2025 rate)
About the scholarship
We have our first generation therapies that have shown to reduce the levels of pathogenic proteins in cell and animal models, as a potential treatment for motor neuron disease (MND). Whilst these therapies have shown to work, their mechanism of action as a therapy is still unclear in which this project aims to address.
This project also involves refining our current therapies for the next generation for testing in various other MND models.
- Project 1 – This project will be suitable for a potential PhD student with a synthetic chemistry or molecular biology background. We currently have molecular therapies that work. The goal of this project will refine our gene therapy and/or small molecules that enable the next generation of therapies to be more efficacious. The therapies will be tested in cell culture models to determine mechanism-of-action, off-target effects, efficiency in reducing pathological proteins, and cell penetrability.
- Project 2 – This project will be suitable for a potential PhD student with a cell biology and animal work experience. The goal in this project will add value by testing our first generation therapies in cell line and animal models and assessing mechanism of delivery and action and measuring motor and cognitive deficits/improvements in rodent MND models.
Availability
The scholarship is available to candidates eligible to undertake a direct entry three year PhD program.
Components
Each scholarship comprises:
- a tuition fee offset/scholarship
- a living allowance stipend.
The value of each stipend scholarship is $38,500 per annum (full time, indexed) for three years.
Contact us
Albert Lee
Marco Morsch