Arachidonic Acid Modulation of Glutamate Transporters [ 2002 - 2004 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Prof Robert Vandenberg (Principal investigator) ,  Prof Mark Connor

Brief description Neurotransmitter transporters play a key role in regulating the dynamics of neurotransmission and are also the targets for a number of very important drugs. Glutamate is the predominant neurotransmitter responsible for fast excitatory neurotransmission and glutamate transporters are responsible for controlling glutamate concentrations to maintain normal neurotransmission. The failure of glutamate transporters has been implicated as playing a key role in brain damage following a stoke and also for long term neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. In this project we shall investigate a novel mechanism for regulating the activity of glutamate transporters and explore the possibility of pharmacologically manipulating glutamate transporters. This work may lead to the development of novel compounds that improve transporter function and reduce the pathological consequences of impaired transporter function. Such compounds may have therapeutic potential as neuroprotectants in the treatment of neurological disorders such ischaemic brain damage or neurodegenerative disorders such Alzheimer's disease.

Funding Amount $AUD 286,980.00

Funding Scheme NHMRC Project Grants

Notes Standard Project Grant