Dr Tom Duncan
Postdoctoral Research Associate
School Medical Sciences
Anatomy & Histology
Member of the Charles Perkins Centre
| Telephone | 02 9351 0893 |
|
|
Biographical details
Dr Duncan's focus is on the study of neuropathology and stem cell regenerative therapies. His current research projects include the study of canine dementia neuropathology, and the Skin-to-Neuron research programs in both caninesand humans. The long term goal of the Skin-to-Neuron project is to produce an effective cell based therapeutic treatment for Alzheimer’s disease by generating neurons from stem cell-like populations residing around the hair follicle. As a critical step in this process, Dr Duncan is also involved in the Dogs+cells trial– a promising cell based therapy that aims to reverse the clinical symptoms of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction, a dementia-like syndome common in older dogs. He also co-runs Australia's first Canine brain bank, led by Prof Michael Valenzuela and Prof Michael Buckland, dedicated to processing, pathological characterization and archiving of canine dementia brain tissue.
Research interests
Neurodegenerative pathology
Alzheimer's disease
Neural stem cell therapies
Stem cell biology
Microscopy and microanalysis
Teaching and supervision
Lecturer, Masters of Brain and Mind Science postgraduate degree
Tissue Culture Workshop Tutor,Masters of Brain and Mind Science postgraduate degree
Anatomy demonstrator, Medical Sciences undergraduate degree
Journal Club tutor, Neuroscience undergraduate degree
Current projects
Canine Dementia research
We have pioneered the classification and diagnosis of canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) - a neurodegenerative disease in older dogs highly analogous in both symptoms and pathology to Alzheimer’s disease in humans. As such this disease represents a crucial naturalistic model that may aid in the development of future stem cell therapies or drug treatments for human neurodegenerative conditions.
Using brain tissue donated to the canine brain bank we aim to characterise and quantify the bimolecular and structural changes that occur within the brain of dogs with CCD using cutting edge multiplex immunochemistry, histological and biochemical analysis of neuropathology.
Skin-to-Neuron research
Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by progressive and catastrophic loss of neurons and synaptic connectivity within the brain, particularly affecting the hippocampus - the memory centre of the brain. An effective treatment may therefore aim to restore those lost neuronal populations and recover the synaptic networks critical for mnemonic and higher-order brain function. Neural stem cell transplantation is one experimental strategy towards this goal.
We have recently developed an efficient and high yield system of generating neurons from native skin, through the isolation of a naturally occurring unique population of hair follicle stem cells and their re-differentiation (without genetic manipulation) into neural precursors. These skin-derived neural precursors (SKNs) maintain a strong neurogenic potential and are able to differentiate exclusive into neurons in vitro.SKNs have been well characterised using donor adult canine tissue.
Transplantation of SKNs into the aged rodent hippocampus resulted in a dramatic reversal of memory impairment. SKNs showed high levels of neuronal differentiation and functional engraftment into host neuronal circuitry. In all our rodent studies so far, transplantation of these cells has been safe.
Our current focus is attempting to better understand the cellular mechanisms behind the therapeutic effect of SKNs with more extensive rodent transplantation studies. We have also begun translating this SKN technology for humans, including fully characterizing the neurobiological properties of SKNs cultured from healthy and Alzheimer’s disease human skin tissue.
The Dogs+Cells clinical trial
We are now undertaking a world first clinical trial investigating whether Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD) in older dogs can be reversed by intracerebral transplantation of SKNs, and whether these cells have similar therapeutic effects within a pathological environment of the CCD brain. Success in this highly analogous, naturalistic disease model will facilitate the development of similar clinical trials in humans with Alzheimer’s disease.
Awards and honours
2017 ECR award, International Scoiety for Stem Cell Research Annual Meeting
2016 ECR award, ASSCR/AGCTS Annual Meeting
2016 Co-winner, Bosch Institute Micrograph of the Year Competition
2016 Presenter award, NSW Stem Cell NetworkAnnual Meeting
2015 ECR award, National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia
In the media
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2015/s4361718.htm?site=sydney
Group website rng.org.au/
Keywords
Neurosciences; Alzheimer's disease; Regeneration medicine/Tissue engineering; Stem cells; Neuropathology
Selected grants
2017
- Skin to Neuron: A novel therapy for alzheimer's dementia; Duncan T, Valenzuela M; Rebecca L Cooper Medical Research Foundation/Research Support.
2016
- The DOGS+CELLS Trial: A new pathway to treating Alzheimer's dementia; Duncan T, Valenzuela M; Equity Trustees Limited/Mason Foundation National Medical Research.
Selected publications
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|