How can we better understand, protect and even repair the human brain?

Meet and question our panel of researchers who are using stem cells to study and potentially treat brain disorders: conditions such as multiple sclerosis, stroke, Parkinson’s disease and dementia.

About two in five Australians will experience a brain disorder in their lifetime. Unfortunately, we still have much to learn about the brain and what happens as we age.

The good news is that scientists working with stem cells are discovering:

How our brains deteriorate as we age, and what we can do about it
How stem cells might repair the brain and reverse conditions like Parkinson’s disease
How multiple sclerosis could become a “disease without disability”
How else stem cells can be used in advancing new therapies for brain conditions.

Find out more from our panel of researchers and clinicians working on:

Parkinson's disease and mitochondrial disorders – Professor Carolyn Sue AM, a clinician-scientist at Neuroscience Research Australia in Sydney
Parkinson’s disease, and other neurological conditions including stroke, motor neuron disease (MND) and Huntington’s disease – Professor Clare Parish from The Florey in Melbourne
Multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions – Professor Kaylene Young from the Menzies Institute in Hobart.

The webinar is presented by the National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia and hosted by Science in Public’s director of engagement Tanya Ha.

More about the speakers and host organisation:

Professor Carolyn Sue AM is a clinician-scientist renowned for her pioneering research in Parkinson's disease and mitochondrial disorders. She holds the Kinghorn Chair of Neurodegeneration at Neuroscience Research Australia, is a Professor of Neurology at the University of New South Wales and Director of Neurosciences at Prince of Wales Hospital. She has significantly advanced the understanding of neurodegenerative diseases through her innovative research integrating genomics, molecular neuroscience, and adult stem cell models. More about Carolyn: neura.edu.au/researchers/professor-carolyn-sue

Professor Clare Parish is a neuroscientist and interdisciplinary researcher recognised for her contributions to the fields of stem cell biology, neural engineering and brain repair. She is Deputy Director and head of the and Stem Cells and Neural Development Group at The Florey. Clare has an interest in repairing the injured brain through human stem cell transplantation, particularly for Parkinson’s disease and stroke. Her team is also focused on using patient stem cells to develop advanced models of diseases (including PD, MND and Huntington’s Disease) to aide in understanding these disorders and developing new therapies. More about Clare: florey.edu.au/researcher/clare-parish/

Professor Kaylene Young is a neuroscientist investigating the behaviour and function of brain stem cells in order to find ways to influence their activity to achieve brain repair. Kaylene is Theme Leader for Brain Health Research at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research and leads the NHMRC Centre of Excellence in Multiple Sclerosis Research Translation. Kaylene was one of the two inaugural winners of the Metcalf Prizes for Stem Cell Research. More about Kaylene: discover.utas.edu.au/Kaylene.Young/

Tanya Ha (moderator) is Director of Engagement at Science in Public, where she has looked after communication for the National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia, among other clients, for more than 10 years. She is also an award-winning science journalist, television presenter, author, speaker and sustainable living advocate: www.scienceinpublic.com.au/about/our-team#Tanya-Ha

The National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia is an ATO-registered tax-deductible Health Promotion Charity dedicated to promoting the study and responsible use of stem cells to reduce the burden of disease.

The Foundation’s activities include:

supporting research that pursues cures for as-yet-untreatable diseases
building a community of people with a shared interest in stem cell science
providing the Australian public with objective, reliable information on both the potential and risks of stem cell medicine.

We are working to build a community of people with a stake in stem cell science and to promote collaboration between scientists locally and internationally.

For more information, visit: www.stemcellfoundation.net.au

Contact the host of Future Medicine: Stem Cells and Brain Health