Neurogenetics Group

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is our main area of research focus, with current work focusing on determining mechanisms underlying disease development and its progression through genetic research. There are two different approaches we use to achieve our goals: large population-based genetic studies, and single cell genomic sequencing.

Population-based genetic studies have taken the form of genome-wide associations scans (GWAS) involving DNA samples from thousands of people living with MS and controls to search genes associated with disease. These large studies have been conducted in collaboration with other scientists across the world who have formed consortia including The Australia and New Zealand MS Genetic Consortium (ANZgene) and The International MS Genetics Consortium (IMSGC). Through collaborative studies involving ANZgene and IMSGC conducted over the last 15 years, we have contributed to the identification of a proportion of the 200+ genes we known are involved in MS susceptibility.

Our single cell research program focusses on MS and motor neurone disease (MND), and seeks to understanding disease processes by exploring DNA sequence for somatic mutations in single cells, such as neurons, from post-mortem brain tissue that has been donated to brain banks for research.