Mechanisms of Proteostasis Dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Professional Overview

Associate Professor Julie Atkin is Associate Professor of Neurochemistry and Cell Biology. Her qualifications include a BSc(Hons)(Manchester UK), PhD (Sheffield UK).

A/Prof Atkin is internationally recognised as a leader in the role of cellular stress responses in motor neuron disease (MND).  Her research has opened up promising novel therapeutic targets which she is investigating further.  A/Prof Atkin previously led the MND group at the Florey Neuroscience Institute and in September 2009 she established her own laboratory at the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, the only university in Australia to receive the top score of five in both 2011 and 2012 in Research for Australia (ERA) ratings for Biochemistry & Cell Biology. A/Prof Atkin was recently recruited to Macquarie University, Sydney, to the Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre to work alongside other prominent ALS researchers including A/Prof Ian Blair, Prof Roger Chung and Prof Gilles Guillieum. She has also established a strong network of national and international collaborators which will facilitate productive research.  A/Prof Atkin has received over $2.3 million in competitive grant funding during the last ten years and has over 43 publications.

Current Research Projects

1. The role of intracellular trafficking as a novel pathogenic mechanism in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)/Motor Neuron Disease (MND).
2. The role of C9ORF72 in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)/Motor Neuron Disease (MND).

Contact Details

Tel: +61 (0)2 9850 2772
Email: julie.atkin@mq.edu.au