Pradeep Manuneedhi Cholan
Identifying the effects of the gut microbiome on microglial cells in Alzheimer's disease
Award
Race Against Dementia - Dementia Australia Research Foundation Post-Doctoral Fellowship
Status
In progress
Start Date
8 April 2024
About the project
Over the last years, a connection between a dysfunctional gut and Alzheimer’s disease has been established. This is due to infection that is regulated by the microorganisms in the gut, which ultimately affect the brain. The gut is a powerful organ that can modulate the immune system. Importantly, it can be regulated non-invasively through diet and drugs, and this study aims to determine how this can be harvested in Alzheimer’s disease. Dr Manuneedhi Cholan’s project aims to assess the faecal microbiome of people with Alzheimer’s disease and their metabolites in the progression of the disease. The team will use an in vivo preclinical platform to provide the first unequivocal evidence that the faecal microbiome of people with Alzheimer’s disease can modulate immune responses in the brain. The team will further determine the specific end-products or metabolites involved in this process and aim to validate the interventions as novel treatment strategies in well-characterised Alzheimer’s disease mouse models – for fastest possible clinical translation.
Successful completion of this project will result in identification of how faecal microbiome and microbial metabolites are involved in modulating Alzheimer’s disease. This project will implement a novel platform for gut microbiome research in the field aiding to identify gut directed therapies for Alzheimer’s disease in the future.
Where are they now?
Dr Pradeep Manuneedhi Cholan is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre at Macquarie University. He investigates the role of gut microbiome in neurodegenerative diseases.
