Our people

Julie is interested in the basic cellular and molecular singalling mechanisms involved in neurons as well as other cells.  She is particularly interested in processes that trigger neurodegeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/motor neuron disease (MND), and related condition frontotemporal dementia (FTD).  This includes the role of cellular trafficking and the DNA damage response, as well as the protein disulphide isomerase family of chaperones.

Associate Professor Kelly Williams is the Co-Director of Research for Macquarie Medical School at Macquarie University. A/Prof Williams is Head of Genomics & Bioinformatics within the multidisciplinary Centre for Motor Neuron Disease (MND) Research at Macquarie University. Since completion of her PhD in 2013, she have received three fellowships for genetics and genomics research into MND (3-year MNDRA Bill Gole Postdoctoral Fellowship, 4-year NHMRC Early Career Research Fellowship and current 4-year FightMND Bill Guest Mid-Career Research Fellowship). As one of Australia’s leading early career researchers in MND, she was recruited as a founding member of the Macquarie University Centre for MND Research The majority of her academic career has focused on determining the genetic basis of motor neuron disease. She has played a central role in critical breakthroughs in MND through the identification of causal mutations in several genes. These seminal discoveries have opened new chapters in MND and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) research and have led to key insights into the pathology of these diseases. Her research has directly translated into clinical practice with these disease genes now added to diagnostic tests worldwide, including preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and pre-symptomatic testing. 

I am the Professor of Neurobiology and Neurochemistry, and Deputy Dean (Research & Innovation) in the Faculty of Medicine, Health & Human Sciences. I lead the Neurochemistry & Molecular Therapeutics Group within the Macquarie University Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research. My main areas of research interest involve a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding the biochemical, molecular and cellular mechanisms that underpin how neurons respond to injury or neurodegenerative disease, and how non-neuronal cells (glia) are involved in modulating this process.   More recently, we have taken our understanding of disease mechanisms to develop molecular therapies for Motor Neuron Disease (MND, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS). We have developed gene therapies for MND/ALS, which have been licensed to Celosia Therapeutics. I am the co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of CelosiaTX. I completed my PhD in molecular biology in 2003, and have since led a research team at the University of Tasmania (2004-2013) and at Macquarie University since 2013.

Dr. Laird studies the pathogenesis of movement disorders with a particular focus on identifying and testing potential disease treatments. Her group has been successful at producing and characterising the world’s first zebrafish model of spinocerebellar ataxia type-3 (also known as Machado Joseph Disease, MJD). They are currently testing the effect of various drugs on these zebrafish with the aim of identifying a treatment for the disease. Dr. Laird's full CV, with all grants and activities, can be accessed here.

A/Prof Marco Morsch is the Co-Director of Research in the Macquarie Medical School at Macquarie University. A/Prof Morsch is a mid-career neuroscientist and group leader in the Macquarie Medical School of the Faculty of Medicine and Health, and Human Sciences at Macquarie University. Dr Morsch received his PhD from the University of Bonn, Germany, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Sydney. In 2014 Marco moved to Macquarie University to work at the ‘Centre for MND Research’. A/Prof Morsch has established the first Australian zebrafish platform to characterise the process of neurodegeneration and monitor the interactions of phagocytosing microglia in real-time in the CNS of a living vertebrate (zebrafish). His unique research program allowed him to make important advances in the study of neurological diseases and, more recently, in the underlying principles of neuron-glia interactions in the healthy and stressed nervous system. In 2018 he was awarded the ‘Outstanding mid-career researcher’ prize by MND Research Institute of Australia.   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We have PhD and Masters opportunities available in our lab, including one fully funded domestic scholarships: "Investigating neuron-glia interactions in MND/ALS" - Link here   People with an interest in MND, molecular, biology, and advanced microscopy techniques, please reach out. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My career to date is focused on medical research and education in the tertiary sector, developing and managing ongoing relationships with different stakeholders between academia, industry and the community to foster opportunities for exchange. I obtained my B.Sc (Molecular Biotechnology)(2004, Usyd) and M.Biotech(Hons I)/Business(2006, MQU) under the supervision of Dr. Amit Kapur and Dr. Mark Molloy. During this period, I worked in the private sector at Australian Laboratory Services (ALS) and Laverty Pathology (formerly Mayne Health) which brought various experiences to hone my career. I was awarded an Australian Postgraduate Award Industry (APAI) linking up with GE Healthcare, and earned my Ph.D (2011, MQU) under the supervision of Prof. Nicki Packer and Prof. Mark Baker characterising the proteome effects of colorectal cancer and cachexia and the inflammatory effects on the liver membrane glycoproteome.  I moved abroad to the US and worked briefly as a Proteomics scientific officer at New York University, School of Medicine under the supervision of Prof. Tom Neubert (Jul 2010-Jun 2011) performing analysis for clients and collaborators in the Protein Analysis Facility. I was awarded a NIH Heart, Lung, Blood Institute (NHLBI) 3-year glycocardio postdoctoral fellowship under the Program Excellence in Glycosciences initiative, and undertook my postdoctoral training (Jun 2011 - Nov 2013) under the supervision of A/Prof Natasha Zachara in the Department of Biological Chemistry at the Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, to characterise the role of intracellular glycosylation O-GlcNAc in cardioprotection and survival. In March 2014, I was recruited back to MQU by Prof Mark Molloy and Prof Roger Chung to develop an independent research program to bridge the infrastructure capabilities at the Australian Proteome Analysis Facility (APAF) and the clinical and medical research in the MQU Centre for MND Research and clinic. I am group leader that heads the Neuroproteomics Research group that is propelled by 3 postdocs, 2 RAs and 2 PhD students.

Professor Rowe was appointed to the Faculty of Medicine, Human and Health Sciences at Macquarie University in 2007 at the age of 42, the youngest Professor of Neurology in Australia. He was instrumental to the nascent health precinct at Macquarie University, MQ Health. The Neurology Clinic at Macquarie was the first clinic to open in June 2010. Rowe has delivered neurological care to thousands of patients with Motor Neuron Disease, Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions. The Neurology service at Macquarie currently cares for >200 patients with MND and >800 patients with Parkinson’s disease. In 2013, Rowe was the catalyst for the Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre at Macquarie University, recruiting six research teams to work on MND including genetics, proteomics, cellular signalling, animal modelling, novel therapies and clinical trials. Now with 82 staff and a budget of AUD13 million per annum, the MND Research Centre at MQ is the largest MND research centre and clinic in Australia. Rowe founded the Neurodegenerative Diseases Biobank at MQ, that currently curates >80,000 biospecimens from >500 patients with both genetic and sporadic MND in addition to other neurodegenerative diseases. Professor Rowe (orcid: 0000-0003-0912-2146) has >100 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals, chapters in textbooks on Motor Neurone Disease, and has edited a textbook on the Non Motor Manifestations of Parkinson’s Disease (Oxford University Press). He has >6300 total citations with >3300 citations over the last five years. His publications in the area of MND appeared in Nature Genetics (2016, doi: 10.1038/ng.3622., 334 citations, Altmetric score 346 (top 1%), Nature Communications (2017, doi: 10.1038/ncomms14774), 87 citations, Altmetric score 243 (top 2%) and Science Translational Medicine (2018, doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aah4066), 197 citations, Altmetric score 537 (top 1%).  Rowe holds two patents in the area of Parkinson’s disease. In addition a patent concerning a blood test in Motor Neuron Disease and other Neurodegenerative diseases was awarded in 2018. Professor Rowe runs the Clinical Trials Unit relevant to MND at MQ, initiating the first human clinical trials at Macquarie University in 2012 (The Parkinson’s Progression Marker Initiative). Rowe is the Principal investigator of nine therapeutic trials in MND and PD from Phase 1 to Phase 3 trials exploring novel therapeutics in MND and Parkinson’s disease. He manages a research and clinical trial staff of six. Rowe is the Principal Investigator on the ATLAS study in pre-symptomatic MND patients, with Macquarie University the only site in Australia. This landmark study utilizes antisense oligonucleotide therapy (tofersen) directed at SOD1, one of the causes of genetic MND. Macquarie is one of the global lead recruitment sites for delivering intrathecal therapy for genetic causes of MND in the ATLAS trial. In addition Rowe manages the care of patients with SOD1 MND on the expanded access program for Biogen. This program delivers ASO therapy intrathecally to symptomatic patients with MND due to a mutation in MND. Professor Rowe was also the Principal investigator on the WAVE study for genomic therapy for c9orf72 related MND.