NSACollaborations

Collaborative Research Programs
The NSV research programs are closely tied to the operations of the NNF. These are vertically integrated programs of research, each with a portfolio of projects, in the following areas:

Each program of research features a number of multi-institute research projects, made possible through NSV's unified intellectual property (IP) management policy. Projects within the programs are encouraged to access relevant platforms wherever possible. For example the Pain program is heavily integrated with the Cellular Neurophysiology Platform, with activities occurring within the platform contributing to key research into the area of chronic pain. Researchers in the fields of Parkinson's disease and Motor Neuron disease are accessing the phenotyping services of the Integrative Neuroscience Facility. Neuroscience Trials Australia is providing critical services to stroke research and the Neuroproteomics and Neurogenomics platform is assisiting in the advance of research into Alzheimer's disease.

CSIRO P-Health Flagship
Early in the 2003-04 financial year, NSA announced a new strategic alliance with CSIRO under the banner of the Preventative Health (“P-Health”) National Research Flagships program?. This collaboration is focused on how proteins in the brain work in both health and disease, initially working towards an understanding of protein function in Alzheimer’s disease. Development of this alliance and scientific collaboration with CSIRO continued throughout the 2004-05 financial year.

The partnership brings CSIRO’s platform technologies and capabilities around structural biology and computational modelling together with the depth of neuroscience research skills an knowledge within the NSA network. This creates a situation of critical mass where teams of sufficient size and capability, with access to cutting edge technologies, are able to progress research more efficiently.

The collaboration between the NNF neuroscientists and CSIRO’s structural biologiests and computational chemists has yielded immediate results. Modelling of metal ion binding to amyloid at the quantum mechanical level has been complemented by a world first structural analysis. Co-crystallisation of amyloid with a binding partner has allowed resolution of new structural details using the Japanese “Spring 8” synchotron.

In the long term, this collaboration will aim to understand the influence of protective strategies, including nutrients and therapies. CSIRO and NSA have continued to work closely together developing this collaboration throughout the 2004-05 financial year and it is anticipated that other target areas will be evaluated as potential areas of collaboration within the alliance.
1. The CSIRO National Research Flagships Program assembles large multi-skilled teams from across Australia to deliver scientific solutions around important national issues. The goal of the Preventative Health (or “P-Health”) Flagship is to help Australians live longer healthier lives through earlier diagnosis and prevention. A core area of this research is focused on the investigation of preventative strategies for, and improved diagnosis of, disorders of the brain and mind.

Addiction Neuroscience Network Australia (ANNA)
click here to go to the ANNA page