Researchers in the Biomarkers theme focus on improving how we identify and track motor neuron disease (MND) through measurable biological indicators. These biomarkers can be anything from changes seen on brain scans to molecules detected in blood or genetic signatures, all clues that help reveal the presence and progression of MND.
Our multidisciplinary team combines cutting-edge approaches in neuroimaging, molecular biology, genetics, and bioengineering to discover markers that reflect the disease’s impact on the body. By uniting neurologists, neuroscientists, geneticists and engineers, we aim to develop reliable tests that can diagnose MND earlier, monitor its progression more precisely, and inform treatment decisions.
By pursuing a wide range of biomarker research approaches, we aim to:
- Enable earlier diagnosis: Identify signals (in scans, blood, or genes) that allow MND to be recognised sooner and more accurately.
- Monitor disease progression: Develop markers that track how MND is changing in a patient over time, for example, measuring metabolic changes, muscle function, or protein levels as the disease advances.
- Improve clinical trials: Introduce new outcome measures (such as imaging, blood biomarkers, or measures of activity) that give clear, data-driven readouts of whether a therapy is working, helping to accelerate and refine MND clinical trials.
- Understand disease subtypes: Use biomarkers to capture the biological diversity of MND (genetic profiles, inflammatory markers, etc.), which could guide more personalised treatments in the future.
Why our research matters
The biomarker discoveries at the UQ Centre for MND Research will assist in:
- Faster, accurate diagnoses: Doctors could diagnose MND sooner and with greater confidence by using validated biomarkers, giving patients timely access to care.
- Better patient monitoring: Regular biomarker tests (imaging scans, blood tests, etc.) would allow clinicians to closely monitor disease progression and adjust treatments to an individual’s needs.
- Stronger clinical trials: Objective biomarkers make clinical trials more powerful, as they provide clear measures of whether a new drug is slowing or halting the disease. This means promising therapies can be identified and brought to patients faster.
- Personalised medicine: As we catalogue different biomarkers, we gain insight into the varied ways MND can present. In the long term, this knowledge supports more personalised and targeted treatment approaches, improving outcomes for people living with MND.
Our team
- Professor Markus Barth - expert in advanced MRI techniques and sequences to assist in detecting brain and spinal cord changes in MND
- Associate Professor Taylor Dick - specialist in neuromuscular biomechanics, studying muscle function and movement as potential MND indicators
- Associate Professor Robert Henderson - neurologist bringing clinical insights, leading efforts to tie biomarker findings to patient care and disease heterogeneity
- Dr Fleur Garton - genomics researcher investigating blood-based biomarkers (like cell-free DNA and other omics) to improve MND diagnosis
- Professor Pamela McCombe - neurologist and theme leader, with extensive experience in MND clinical research and biomarker discovery
- Dr Allan McRae - statistical geneticist uncovering genetic markers and risk factors that contribute to MND
- Associate Professor Shyuan Ngo - researcher specialising in metabolic aspects of MND (e.g. energy use), as well as extracellular vesicles as disease markers
- Dr Quan Nguyen - bioinformatician applying machine learning and genomics to identify complex biomarker patterns in MND
- Associate Professor Peter Noakes - neuroscientist exploring neuromuscular changes in MND, linking fundamental disease mechanisms to measurable outcomes
- Dr Thomas Shaw - neuroscientist and neuroimaging specialist exploring how clinical management of MND can be enhanced using MRI
- Associate Professor Frederik Steyn - researcher specialising in metabolic and physiological aspects of MND (e.g. energy use, hormone levels) as disease markers
- Associate Professor Adam Walker - neurobiologist examining molecular and cellular hallmarks of MND (such as protein aggregates) to inform biomarker development
- Associate Professor Anthony White - expert in neuroinflammation and cell models, investigating immune-related changes and cellular biomarkers in MND
- Professor Naomi Wray - leader in neurogenetics, analysing large-scale genetic data to pinpoint hereditary influences and genetic biomarkers in MND
- Dr Alain Wuethrich - bioengineer developing novel nano-diagnostic tools (using nanotechnology and microfluidics) for sensitive detection of MND biomarkers