Yassi-Projects

Yassi-Projects

Researcher: 
Associate Professor Nawaf Yassi

Projects

Last modified: 
Tue, 29/09/2020 - 2:24pm

SIMOA Platform

The SIMOA-HDX technology is a highly sensitive and automated biomarker platform which allows for the detection of proteins associated with dementia pathology in blood and other body fluids (e.g. spinal fluid).

The detection of blood biomarkers such as neurofilament light chain, amyloid-b and tau represents a major potential advance in the field of dementia, opening up the possibility of a blood test for dementia diagnosis.

The SIMOA platform is also available for research collaborations in other neurological and non-neurological diseases.

Team members

SAMe – A Phase II Clinical Trial

S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe) is a natural compound which plays a key role in the homocysteine cycle. It is also a key substrate for multiple biochemical methylation pathways, including DNA methylation and methylation of PP2a, the primary tau phosphatase enzyme. Reduced methylation of PP2a has been shown to be associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease pathology (particularly p-tau), and SAMe has been shown to attenuate this process in preclinical models.

We are conducting a phase 2 trial using oral SAMe in patients will mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease to investigate its effect on levels of p-tau in the disorder.

SAMe could represent a simple, cheap and safe intervention for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other tauopathies.

Team members

The Healthy Brain Project

There is growing evidence that the underlying pathology which causes Alzheimer’s disease (and probably other dementias) begins many years before the earliest clinical features manifest, during midlife. Therefore, understanding the earliest stages of the pathology during this stage of life will be key to unlocking the pathogenesis and developing early and effective interventions.

The Healthy Brain Project is an online-based collaborative study which investigates the genesis of Alzheimer’s disease in middle aged Australians. The study is interested in genetic, health, environmental and lifestyle risk factors which may predict the development of future dementia, and interventions to reduce this risk.

healthybrainproject.org.au

PCA Stroke Study

Post stroke cognitive impairment is common and not well understood. In particular, the influence of preclinical Alzheimer’s disease on post-stroke cognitive impairment is poorly understood.

In this longitudinal observational study, we are investigating biomarkers of preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (PET and blood markers) in patients with posterior cerebral artery territory infarction. This type of stroke commonly causes cognitive impairment and affects the hippocampus and thalamus, which are known to be critical brain regions in Alzheimer’s disease pathology.

Team members