I completed my undergraduate and PhD training at UQ. After completing my PhD in 2009, I took up a postdoctoral position at UQCCR to introduce a translational edge to my research program. In 2012, I was awarded a Bill Gole Postdoctoral Research Fellowship from the Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia (MNDRIA). I returned to the School of Biomedical Sciences with this fellowship to continue my research program in motor neuron disease (MND). In 2015, I was awarded the Scott Sullivan MND Research Fellowship. In this position, I conduct research between the Queensland Brain Institute and the School of Biomedical Sciences at UQ and the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital to address how changes in energy metabolism affects the course of MND, whilst working to develop therapies for MND.
My primary research focus is to understand the causes and consequences of metabolic dysfunction in MND. I am particularly interested in identifying which metabolic pathways are disrupted in MND/ALS and how targeting these pathways might correct for defective energy balance, and prolong survival. I collaborate with international researchers and neurologists in Paris, Strasbourg, and Utrecht, and with a strong clinical team at the Royal Brisbane & Women’s hospital with the broader goal of translating basic research to the clinic. In collaboration with researchers in China, I am also interested in investigating how induced pluripotent stem cells may be used as a therapeutic avenue in MND.
Journal Article: Hypermetabolism in ALS is associated with greater functional decline and shorter survival
Steyn, Frederik J., Ioannides, Zara A., van Eijk, Ruben P. A., Heggie, Susan, Thorpe, Kathryn A., Ceslis, Amelia, Heshmat, Saman, Henders, Anjali K., Wray, Naomi R., van den Berg, Leonard H., Henderson, Robert D., McCombe, Pamela A. and Ngo, Shyuan T. (2018) Hypermetabolism in ALS is associated with greater functional decline and shorter survival. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 89 10: jnnp-2017. doi:10.1136/jnnp-2017-317887
Journal Article: Neuronal Lipid Metabolism: Multiple Pathways Driving Functional Outcomes in Health and Disease
Tracey, Timothy J., Steyn, Frederik J., Wolvetang, Ernst J. and Ngo, Shyuan T. (2018) Neuronal Lipid Metabolism: Multiple Pathways Driving Functional Outcomes in Health and Disease. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 11 10. doi:10.3389/fnmol.2018.00010
Journal Article: Patient with ALS with a novel TBK1 mutation, widespread brain involvement, behaviour changes and metabolic dysfunction
McCombe, Pamela A., Ngo, Shyuan T., Guo, Christine Cong, Fazlollahi, Amir, Bollmann, Saskia, Wang, Liting, Hu, Xintao, Barth, Markus, Salvado, Olivier, Davis, Mark, Ceslis, Amelia, Robinson, Gail, Henderson, Robert D. and Steyn, Frederik J. (2018) Patient with ALS with a novel TBK1 mutation, widespread brain involvement, behaviour changes and metabolic dysfunction. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, . doi:10.1136/jnnp-2018-318823
EATT for MND: Exposing mechanisms of impaired appetite regulation in MND
(2018–2020) Wesley Medical Research Ltd
Investigating endocrine causes and consequence of loss of appetite in MND patients
(2018–2019) Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
(2018–2019) Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
Using in vitro human cortical neurons as a model to study neuro metabolic defects in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring cellular bioenergetics in skeletal muscle in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Doctor Philosophy
Function and pharmacology of neuronal ion channels under the perturbed metabolic conditions associated with neurodegenerative disorders.
Doctor Philosophy
Metabolic dysfunction in Motor Neuron Disease/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Motor Neuron Disease/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (MND/ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that is characterised by the degeneration of both upper and lower alpha motor neurons. The irreversible loss of neurons in the brain and spinal cord results in progressive skeletal muscle paralysis and death within 2-5 years of diagnosis. There is no known cure for the disease, and treatments are of limited benefit. In the absence of a cure for MND/ALS, there is a pressing need to lessen the severity of symptoms associated with, and to slow the progression of disease, whilst enhancing quality of life.
While the fundamental mechanisms that underlie the development of MND/ALS remains unknown, recent studies suggest that defective regulation of energy homeostasis may exacerbate the degenerative process throughout the course of disease. This project investigates how altered glucose and fatty acid metabolism contributes to the progression of MND/ALS.
High Caloric diets for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Ngo, Shyuan T., Steyn, Frederik J., McCombe, Pamela A. and Borges, Karin (2015). High Caloric diets for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In Ronald Ross Watson and Victor R. Preedy (Ed.), Bioactive nutraceuticals and dietary supplements in neurological and brain disease: prevention and therapy (pp. 355-361) London, United Kingdom: Academic Press. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-411462-3.00036-9
Ngo, Shyuan T. and Bellingham, Mark C. (2013). Neurophysiological recording of the compound muscle action potential for motor unit number estimation in mice. In Pilowsky, Paul M., Farnham, Melissa M. J. and Fong, Angelina Y. (Ed.), Stimulation and inhibition of neurons (pp. 225-235) New York, NY, United States: Humana Press. doi:10.1007/978-1-62703-233-9_13
Hypermetabolism in ALS is associated with greater functional decline and shorter survival
Steyn, Frederik J., Ioannides, Zara A., van Eijk, Ruben P. A., Heggie, Susan, Thorpe, Kathryn A., Ceslis, Amelia, Heshmat, Saman, Henders, Anjali K., Wray, Naomi R., van den Berg, Leonard H., Henderson, Robert D., McCombe, Pamela A. and Ngo, Shyuan T. (2018) Hypermetabolism in ALS is associated with greater functional decline and shorter survival. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 89 10: jnnp-2017. doi:10.1136/jnnp-2017-317887
Neuronal Lipid Metabolism: Multiple Pathways Driving Functional Outcomes in Health and Disease
Tracey, Timothy J., Steyn, Frederik J., Wolvetang, Ernst J. and Ngo, Shyuan T. (2018) Neuronal Lipid Metabolism: Multiple Pathways Driving Functional Outcomes in Health and Disease. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 11 10. doi:10.3389/fnmol.2018.00010
McCombe, Pamela A., Ngo, Shyuan T., Guo, Christine Cong, Fazlollahi, Amir, Bollmann, Saskia, Wang, Liting, Hu, Xintao, Barth, Markus, Salvado, Olivier, Davis, Mark, Ceslis, Amelia, Robinson, Gail, Henderson, Robert D. and Steyn, Frederik J. (2018) Patient with ALS with a novel TBK1 mutation, widespread brain involvement, behaviour changes and metabolic dysfunction. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, . doi:10.1136/jnnp-2018-318823
Dysregulation of miRNA biogenesis machinery and miRNA/RNA ratio in skeletal muscle of ALS mice
Russell, Aaron P, Ghobrial, Lobna, Ngo, Shyuan, Yerbury, Justin, Zacharewicz, Evelyn, Chung, Roger and Lamon, Séverine (2017) Dysregulation of miRNA biogenesis machinery and miRNA/RNA ratio in skeletal muscle of ALS mice. Muscle & nerve, 57 5: 838-847. doi:10.1002/mus.26039
Steyn, Frederik J., Ngo, Shyuan T., Chen, Vicky Ping, Bailey-Downs, Lora C., Xie, Teresa Y., Ghadami, Martin, Brimijoin, Stephen, Freeman, Willard M., Rubinstein, Marcelo, Low, Malcolm J. and Stout, Michael B. (2017) 17α-estradiol acts through hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin expressing neurons to reduce feeding behavior. Aging Cell, 17 1: 1-6. doi:10.1111/acel.12703
Endocrine rhythms of growth hormone release: insights from animal studies
Steyn, Frederik J. and Ngo, Shyuan T. (2017) Endocrine rhythms of growth hormone release: insights from animal studies. Best Practice and Research: Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 31 6: 521-533. doi:10.1016/j.beem.2017.10.009
Benyamin, Beben, He, Ji, Zhao, Qiongyi, Gratten, Jacob, Garton, Fleur, Leo, Paul J., Liu, Zhijun, Mangelsdorf, Marie, Al-Chalabi, Ammar, Anderson, Lisa, Butler, Timothy J., Chen, Lu, Chen, Xiang-Ding, Cremin, Katie, Deng, Hong-Weng, Devine, Matthew, Edson, Janette, Fifita, Jennifer A., Furlong, Sarah, Han, Ying-Ying, Harris, Jessica, Henders, Anjali K., Jeffree, Rosalind L., Jin, Zi-Bing, Li, Zhongshan, Li, Ting, Li, Mengmeng, Lin, Yong, Liu, Xiaolu, Marshall, Mhairi, McCann, Emily P., Mowry, Bryan J., Ngo, Shyuan T., Pamphlett, Roger, Ran, Shu, Reutens, David C., Rowe, Dominic B., Sachdev, Perminder, Shah, Sonia, Song, Sharon, Tan, Li-Jun, Tang, Lu, van den Berg, Leonard H., van Rheenen, Wouter, Veldink, Jan H., Wallace, Robyn H., Wheeler, Lawrie, Williams, Kelly L., Wu, Jinyu, Wu, Xin, Yang, Jian, Yue, Weihua, Zhang, Zong-Hong, Zhang, Dai, Noakes, Peter G., Blair, Ian P., Henderson, Robert D., McCombe, Pamela A., Visscher, Peter M., Xu, Huji, Bartlett, Perry F., Brown, Matthew A., Wray, Naomi R. and Fan, Dongsheng (2017) Cross-ethnic meta-analysis identifies association of the GPX3-TNIP1 locus with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Nature Communications, 8 1: 611. doi:10.1038/s41467-017-00471-1
Ngo, Shyuan T., Mi, Jia D., Henderson, Robert D., McCombe, Pamela A. and Steyn, Frederik J. (2017) Exploring targets and therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: current insights into dietary interventions. Degenerative Neurological and Neuromuscular Disease, 7 95-108. doi:10.2147/DNND.S120607
Ioannides, Z. A., Steyn, F. J., Henderson, R. D., McCombe, P. A. and Ngo, S. T. (2017) Predictions of resting energy expenditure in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are greatly impacted by reductions in fat free mass. Cogent Medicine, 4 . doi:10.1080/2331205X.2017.1343000
Anthropometric measures are not accurate predictors of fat mass in ALS
Ioannides, Zara A., Steyn, Frederik J., Henderson, Robert D., Mccombe, Pamela A. and Ngo, Shyuan T. (2017) Anthropometric measures are not accurate predictors of fat mass in ALS. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, 18 7-8: 486-491. doi:10.1080/21678421.2017.1317811
Fogarty, Matthew J., Klenowski, Paul M., Lee, John D., Drieberg-Thompson, Joy R., Bartlett, Selena E., Ngo, Shyuan T., Hilliard, Massimo A., Bellingham, Mark C. and Noakes, Peter G. (2016) Cortical synaptic and dendritic spine abnormalities in a presymptomatic TDP-43 model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Scientific Reports, 6 37968. doi:10.1038/srep37968
Carrasco-Pozo, Catalina, Tan, Kah Ni, Reyes-Farias, Marjorie, De La Jara, Nicole, Ngo, Shyuan Thieu, Garcia-Diaz, Diego Fernando, Llanos, Paola, Cires, Maria Jose and Borges, Karin (2016) The deleterious effect of cholesterol and protection by quercetin on mitochondrial bioenergetics of pancreatic β-cells, glycemic control and inflammation: in vitro and in vivo studies. Redox Biology, 9 229-243. doi:10.1016/j.redox.2016.08.007
Ioannides, Z. A., Ngo, S. T., Henderson, R. D., McCombe, P. A. and Steyn, F. J. (2016) Altered metabolic homeostasis in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: mechanisms of energy imbalance and contribution to disease progression. Neurodegenerative Diseases, 15 5-6: 382-397. doi:10.1159/000446502
Tefera, Tesfaye W., Wong, Yide, Barkl-Luke, Mallory E., Ngo, Shyuan T., Thomas, Nicola K., McDonald, Tanya S. and Borges, Karin (2016) Triheptanoin protects motor neurons and delays the onset of motor symptoms in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Plos One, 11 8: e0161816. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0161816
Li, Rui, Steyn, Frederik J., Stout, Michael B., Lee, Kevin, Cully, Tanya R., Calderon, Juan C. and Ngo, Shuyan T. (2016) Development of a high-throughput method for real-time assessment of cellular metabolism in intact long skeletal muscle fibre bundles. The Journal of Physiology, 594 24: 7197-7213. doi:10.1113/JP272988
Effect of deletion of ghrelin-o-acyltransferase on the pulsatile release of growth hormone in mice
Xie, T. Y., Ngo, S. T., Veldhuis, J. D., Jeffery, P. L., Chopin, L. K., Tschop, M., Waters, M. J., Tolle, V., Epelbaum, J., Chen, C. and Steyn, F. J. (2015) Effect of deletion of ghrelin-o-acyltransferase on the pulsatile release of growth hormone in mice. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 27 12: 872-886. doi:10.1111/jne.12327
Ngo, S. T., Steyn, F. J., Huang, L., Mantovani, S., Pfluger, C. M. M., Woodruff, T. M., O'Sullivan, J. D., Henderson, R. D. and McCombe, P. A. (2015) Altered expression of metabolic proteins and adipokines in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 357 1-2: 22-27. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2015.06.053
Ngo, S. T. and Steyn, F. J. (2015) The interplay between metabolic homeostasis and neurodegeneration: insights into the neurometabolic nature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Cell Regeneration, 4 5: 1-14. doi:10.1186/s13619-015-0019-6
Palamiuc, Lavinia, Schlagowski, Anna, Ngo, Shyuan T., Vernay, Aurelia, Dirrig-Grosch, Sylvie, Henriques, Alexandre, Boutillier, Anne-Laurence, Zoll, Joffrey, Echaniz-Laguna, Andoni, Loeffler, Jean-Philippe and René, Frédérique (2015) A metabolic switch toward lipid use in glycolytic muscle is an early pathologic event in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. EMBO Molecular Medicine, 7 5: 526-546. doi:10.15252/emmm.201404433
Gender differences in autoimmune disease
Ngo, S. T., Steyn, F. J. and McCombe, P. A. (2014) Gender differences in autoimmune disease. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 35 3: 347-369. doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2014.04.004
Ngo, S.T., Steyn, F.J. and McCombe, P.A. (2014) Body mass index and dietary intervention: Implications for prognosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 340 1-2: 5-12. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2014.02.035
Steyn, F. J., Lee, Kevin, Fogarty, M. J., Veldhuis, J. D., McCombe, P. A,, Bellingham, M. C., Ngo, S. T. and Chen, C (2013) Growth hormone secretion is correlated with neuromuscular innervation rather than motor neuron number in early-symptomatic male amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mice. Endocrinology, 154 12: 4695-4706. doi:10.1210/en.2013-1570
Steyn, F. J., Xie, T. Y., Huang, L., Ngo, S. T., Veldhuis, J. D., Waters, M. J. and Chen, C. (2013) Increased adiposity and insulin correlates with the progressive suppression of pulsatile GH secretion during weight gain. Journal of Endocrinology, 218 2: 233-244. doi:10.1530/JOE-13-0084
Ngo, Shyuan T. and Bellingham, Mark C. (2013) Neurophysiological recording of the compound muscle action potential for motor unit number estimation in mice. Neuromethods, 78 225-235. doi:10.1007/978-1-62703-233-9-13
Ngo, S. T., Baumann, F., Ridall, P. G., Pettitt, A. N., Henderson, R. D., Bellingham, M. C. and McCombe, P. A. (2012) The relationship between Bayesian motor unit number estimation and histological measurements of motor neurons in wild-type and SOD1(G93A) mice. Clinical Neurophysiology, 123 10: 2080-2091. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2012.01.028
Huang, L., Steyn, F. J., Tan, H. Y., Xie, T. Y., Veldhuis, J. D., Ngo, S. T. and Chen, C. (2012) The decline in pulsatile GH secretion throughout early adulthood in mice is exacerbated by dietary-induced weight gain. Endocrinology, 153 9: 4380-4388. doi:10.1210/en.2012-1178
Ngo, Shyuan T., Cole, Rebecca N., Sunn, Nana, Phillips, William D. and Noakes, Peter G. (2012) Neuregulin-1 potentiates agrin-induced acetylcholine receptor clustering through muscle-specific kinase phosphorylation. Journal of Cell Science, 125 6: 1531-1543. doi:10.1242/jcs.095109
Steyn, F. J., Ngo, S. T, Lee, J. D., Leong, J. W., Buckley, A. J., Veldhuis, J. D., McCombe, P. A., Chen, C. and Bellingham, M. C. (2012) Impairments to the GH-IGF-I axis in hSOD1(G93A) mice give insight into possible mechanisms of GH dysregulation in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Endocrinology, 153 8: 3735-3746. doi:10.1210/en.2011-2171
Development of a method for the determination of pulsatile growth hormone secretion in mice
Steyn, F. J., Huang, L., Ngo, S. T., Leong, J. W., Tan, H. Y., Xie, T. Y., Parlow, A. F., Veldhuis, J. D., Waters, M. J. and Chen, C. (2011) Development of a method for the determination of pulsatile growth hormone secretion in mice. Endocrinology, 152 8: 3165-3171. doi:10.1210/en.2011-0253
Muscle Specific Kinase: Organiser of synaptic membrane domains
Ghazanfari, Nazanin, Fernandez, Kristine J., Murata, Yui, Morsch, Marco, Ngo, Shyuan T., Reddel, Stephen W., Noakes, Peter G. and Phillips, William D. (2011) Muscle Specific Kinase: Organiser of synaptic membrane domains. The International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, 43 3: 295-298. doi:10.1016/j.biocel.2010.10.008
Cole, R. N., Ghazanfari, N., Ngo, S. T., Gervasio, O. L., Reddel, S. W. and Phillips, W. D. (2010) Patient autoantibodies deplete postsynaptic muscle-specific kinase leading to disassembly of the ACh receptor scaffold and myasthenia gravis in mice. Journal of Physiology, 588 17: 3217-3229. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2010.190298
Muttenthaler, Marcus, Nevin, Simon T., Grishin, Anton A., Ngo, Shyuan T., Choy, Peng T., Daly, Norelle L., Hu, Shu-Hong, Armishaw, Christopher J., Wang, Ching-I. A., Lewis, Richard J., Martin, Jennifer L., Noakes, Peter G., Craik, David J., Adams, David J. and Alewood, Paul F. (2010) Solving the alpha-conotoxin folding problem: Efficient selenium-directed on-resin generation of more potent and stable nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antaqonists. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 132 10: 3514-3522. doi:10.1021/ja910602h
Brockhausen, J., Cole, R. N., Gervasio, O. L., Ngo, S. T., Noakes, P. G. and Phillips, W. D. (2008) Neural agrin increases postsynaptic ACh receptor packing by elevating rapsyn protein at the mouse neuromuscular synapse. Developmental Neurobiology, 68 9: 1153-1169. doi:10.1002/dneu.20654
Neural agrin: A synaptic stabiliser
Ngo, Shyuan T., Noakes, Peter G. and Phillips, William D. (2007) Neural agrin: A synaptic stabiliser. International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 39 5: 863-867. doi:10.1016/j.biocel.2006.10.012
Rapsyn interaction with calpain stabilizes AChR clusters at the neuromuscular junction
Chen, F, Qian, L, Yang, ZH, Huang, Y, Ngo, ST, Ruan, NJ, Wang, J, Schneider, C, Noakes, PG, Ding, YQ, Mei, L and Luo, ZG (2007) Rapsyn interaction with calpain stabilizes AChR clusters at the neuromuscular junction. Neuron, 55 2: 247-260. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2007.06.031
Neuregulin potentiates agrin-induced acetylcholine receptor clustering in myotubes
Ngo, S. T., Balke, C., Phillips, W. D. and Noakes, P. G. (2004) Neuregulin potentiates agrin-induced acetylcholine receptor clustering in myotubes. Neuroreport, 15 16: 2501-2505. doi:10.1097/00001756-200411150-00014
Comparison of Faecal Microbe Diversity Between Motor Neurone Disease (Mnd) and Control Participants
Steyn, Frederik J., Restuadi, Restuadi, Ioannides, Zara, Ngo, Shyuan T., McRae, Allan, Wray, Naomi R., Henderson, Robert and McCombe, Pamela (2017). Comparison of Faecal Microbe Diversity Between Motor Neurone Disease (Mnd) and Control Participants. In: Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian-and-New-Zealand-Association-of-Neurologists (ANZAN), Gold Coast, Australia, (). 9-12 May 2017. doi:10.1136/jnnp-2017-316074.81
Comparison of faecal microbe diversity between motor neurone disease (MND) and control participants
Steyn, Frederik J., Restuadi, Restuadi, Ioannides, Zara, Ngo, Shyuan T., McRae, Allan, Wray, Naomi R., Henderson, Robert and McCombe, Pamela (2017). Comparison of faecal microbe diversity between motor neurone disease (MND) and control participants. In: Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (ANZAN), Gold Coast Australia, (). May 9-12, 2017. doi:10.1136/jnnp-2017-316074.81
Ioannides, Zara A., Ngo, Shyuan T., Henderson, Robert D., McCombe, Pamela A. and Steyn, Frederik J. (2017). Hypermetabolism in Motor Neurone Disease Is Associated with a Greater Functional Decline But Not Weight Loss. In: Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian-and-New-Zealand-Association-of-Neurologists (ANZAN), Gold Coast, Australia, (). May 09-12, 2017. doi:10.1136/jnnp-2017-316074.18
Neurodegeneration: an endocrine and metabolic perspective
Ngo, Shyuan (2016). Neurodegeneration: an endocrine and metabolic perspective. In: Annual Scientific Meeting of the Endocrine Society of Australia, Adelaide, Australia, (7-7). 23-26 August 2015. doi:10.1111/cen.13010
Peripheral immune complement activation in neurodegenerative disease
Mantovani, S., Gordon, R., Ngo, S., Pfluger, C., O'Sullivan, J., Noakes, P., Henderson, R., McCombe, P. and Woodruff, T. (2015). Peripheral immune complement activation in neurodegenerative disease. In: 25th Biennial Meeting of the International-Society-for-Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific-Society-for-Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian-Neuroscience-Society, Cairns Australia, (124-124). 23-27 August 2015. doi:10.1111/jnc.13188
McCombe, P, Ngo, S, Bellingham, M, Pettitt, A and Henderson, R (2011). Comparison of Motor Units Number Estimation by Bayesian Statistical MUNE with Histological Counting of Motor Unit Numbers: Validation of the Method. In: Neurology. 63rd AAN Annual Meeting, Honolulu Hi, (A410-A410). Apr 09-16, 2011.
McCombe, Pamela, Ngo, Shuyan, Bellingham, Mark, Pettitt, Anthony and Henderson, Robert (2011). Comparison of Motor Units Number Estimation by Bayesian Statistical MUNE with Histological Counting of Motor Unit Numbers: Validation of the Method. In: 63rd Annual Meeting of the American-Academy-of-Neurology, Honolulu, HI, U.S.A., (A410-A410). APR 09-16, 2011.
Ngo, S. T., Bellingham, M. C., Pettitt, A. N., Ridall, P. G., Henderson, R. D. and McCombe, P. A. (2011). Comparison of motor unit number estimation by Bayesian statistical MUNE with histological counting of motor unit numbers. In: 22nd International ALS/MND Symposium, Sydney, Australia, (). 30 November - 2 December 2011.
Estimation of Motor Unit Loss in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Ngo, S. T., Baumann, F., Pettitt, A. N., Ridall, P. G., Henderson, R. D., McCombe, P. A. and Bellingham, M. C. (2011). Estimation of Motor Unit Loss in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). In: Australian Neuroscience Society 31st Annual Meeting, Auckland, New Zealand, (). 31 January -3 February 2011.
Pulsatile Growth Hormone Secretion in the SOD1G93A Mouse Model of ALS
Steyn, F.J., Ngo, S.T., Buckley, A.J., Leong, J.W., Veldhuis, J.D., McCombe, P.A., Chen, C. and Bellingham, M.C. (2011). Pulsatile Growth Hormone Secretion in the SOD1G93A Mouse Model of ALS. In: Endocrine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, Perth, Western Australia, (). 28-31 August.
Ngo, S. T., Steyn, F. J., Buckley, A. J., Leong, J. W., Veldhuis, J. D., Chen, C., McCombe, P. A. and Bellingham, M. C. (2011). Pulsatile growth hormone secretion in the SOD1G93A mouse model of ALS resembles growth hormone deficiency in ALS patients. In: 22nd International ALS/MND Symposium, Sydney, Australia, (). 30 November - 2 December 2011.
Bayesian Motor Unit Number Estimation in the SOD1G93A mouse
Ngo, S.T., Bellingham, M.C., Baumann, F., Pettitt, A.N., Ridall, P.G., Henderson, R.D. and McCombe, P.A. (2010). Bayesian Motor Unit Number Estimation in the SOD1G93A mouse. In: Forum of European Neuroscience, AMSTERDAM NETHERLANDS, (). 3/7/2010-7/7/2010.
Ghazanfari, N., Gervasio, O. L., Ngo, S. T., Reddel, S. R. and Phillips, W. D. (2009). Anti-MuSK-positive myasthenia gravis patient antibody causes aberrant activation of MuSK and disassembly of acetylcholine receptor clusters. In: Proceedings of: Australian Neuroscience Society Annual Meeting 2009. ANS 2009: 29th Annual Meeting of the Australian Neuroscience Society, Canberra, ACT, Australia, (69-69). 27-30 January 2009.
Neuregulin Modulates Acetylcholine Receptor Clustering via Non-transcriptional Mechanisms
Shyuan, N., Cole, R. N., Sunn, N., Phillips, W. D. and Noakes, P. G. (2009). Neuregulin Modulates Acetylcholine Receptor Clustering via Non-transcriptional Mechanisms. In: Oral Abstracts. Australian Neuroscience Society 29th Annual Meeting 2009. ANS 29th Annual meeting 2009, Canberra, ACT, (44-44). 27 - 30 January, 2009.
Neuregulin Modulates Agrin-Induced Acetylcholine Receptor Clustering via MuSK Phosphorylation.
Ngo, Shyuan T., Cole, R. N., Sunn, Nana, Phillips, W. D. and Noakes, Peter G. (2009). Neuregulin Modulates Agrin-Induced Acetylcholine Receptor Clustering via MuSK Phosphorylation.. In: Proceedings of the 39th annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience 2009. Neuroscience 2009, SfN's 39th annual meeting, Chicago, IL, U.S., (). 17-21 October 2009.
Ngo, S.T., Cole, R.N., Sunn, N., Phillips, W.D. and Noakes, P.G. (2009). Neuregulin potentiates agrin-induced acetylcholine receptor clustering via a non-transcriptional mechanism in skeletal muscles. In: 9th Hunter Valley Cellular Biology Meeting, Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia, (). 23-25 September 2009.
Ngo, S. T., Cole, R. N., Phillips, W. D. and Noakes, Peter G. (2008). Molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of the clustering and dispersal of acetylcholine receptors in skeletal muscle. In: Combined conference abstracts: Proceedings of the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. ComBio 2008, Canberra, Australia, (). 21-25 September, 2008.
Nerve to Muscle Signalling in Myasthenia Gravis
Ngo, S. T., Cole, R. N., Phillips, W. D. and Noakes, P. G. (2008). Nerve to Muscle Signalling in Myasthenia Gravis. In: Australian Society for Medical Research, PA Hospital, Brisbane, Australia, (). May 2008.
Selenocysteine in peptide drug design
Adams, D. J., Alewood, P. F., Choy, P. T., Craik, D. J., Daly, N. L., Grishin, A. A., Hu, S-H., Martin, J. L., Muttenthaler, M., Nevin, S. T., Ngo, S. T. and Noakes, P. G. (2008). Selenocysteine in peptide drug design. In: Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) Annual Scientific Meeting: Drug Discovery and Development, Couran Cove Island Resort, Queensland, Australia, (). 13 - 17 July 2008.
Selenocysteine in peptide folding and drug design
Muttenthaler, M., Nevin, S. T., Grishin, A. A., Ngo, S. T., Choy, P. T., Daly, N. L., Hu, S-H., Martin, J. L., Noakes, P. G., Craik, D. J., Adams, D. J. and Alewood, P. F. (2008). Selenocysteine in peptide folding and drug design. In: XXth International Symposium on Medicinal Chemistry (EFMC-ISMC 2008), Vienna, Austria, (). 31 August - 4 September 2008.
Neuregulin modulates postsynaptic acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular synapse
Ngo, S. T., Phillips, W. D. and Noakes, P. G. (2007). Neuregulin modulates postsynaptic acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular synapse. In: Proceedings of the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. ComBio 2007, Sydney , Australia, (POS-MON - 53). September 22-26 2007.
Regulatory Role of Neuregulin in Acetylcholine Receptor Clustering at the Neuromuscular Synapse
Ngo, S.T., Phillips, W.D. and Noakes, P.G. (2007). Regulatory Role of Neuregulin in Acetylcholine Receptor Clustering at the Neuromuscular Synapse. In: Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience 2007, San Diego, CA, U.S.A., (). 3-7 November, 2007.
Signaling underlying postsynaptic differentiation at the neuro-muscular junction
Chen, Fei, Qian, Lei, Yang, Zhi-hua, Huang, Ying, Ngo, Shyuan T., Ruan, Nan-jie, Wang, Jia, Schneider, Claudio, Noakes, Peter G., Ding, Yu-qiang, Mei, Lin and Luo, Zhen-ge (2007). Signaling underlying postsynaptic differentiation at the neuro-muscular junction. In: The 19th Federation of Asian and Oceanian Biochemists and Molecular Biologists Inc. (FAOBMB) Meeting, Seoul, Korea, (). 27-31 May, 2007.
Neuregulin as a Regulator of Acetylcholine Receptor Clusters at the Neuromuscular Synapse
Ngo S. T., Phillips, W. D. and Noakes, P. G . (2006). Neuregulin as a Regulator of Acetylcholine Receptor Clusters at the Neuromuscular Synapse. In: 4th Congress of Federation of Asian-Oceanian Neuroscience Societies, Hong Kong, (). November 30 - December 2.
Neuregulin is a regulator of acetylcholine receptor clusters at the neuromuscular synapse
Ngo, S. T., Noakes, P. G. and Phillips, W. D. (2006). Neuregulin is a regulator of acetylcholine receptor clusters at the neuromuscular synapse. In: Combined conference abstracts from the (combined) Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 43rd- Conference, the Australian and New Zealand Society for Cell & Developmental Biology 18th- Conference, and the Australian Society of Plant Physiologists 39th- Conference. , Kent Town, South Australia, (). 2006.
Neuregulin-1 Modulates Agrin-induced Acetylcholine Receptor Clustering
Shyuan, Ngo, Phillips, W. D. and Noakes, Peter G. (2006). Neuregulin-1 Modulates Agrin-induced Acetylcholine Receptor Clustering. In: Australian neuroscience proceedings, in: Neuroscience letters. Supplement.. The 26th annual meeting of the Australian Neuroscience Society, Sydney, Australia, (POS-FRI-015). 31 Jan - 3 Feb 2006.
Differential Expression of MRNA in MuSK-Deficient Mice
Caudron, A. J., Lichanska, A. M., Ngo, S. T., Cooper, H. M. and Noakes, P. G. (2005). Differential Expression of MRNA in MuSK-Deficient Mice. In: ComBio 2005. ComBio 2005, Adelaide Convention Center, Adelaide, South Australia, (). 25 - 29 September 2005.
Neuregulin modulates agrin-induced acetylcholine receptor clustering in myotubes
Ngo, S. T., Phillips, W. D., Lavidis, N. A. and Noakes, P. G. (2005). Neuregulin modulates agrin-induced acetylcholine receptor clustering in myotubes. In: Proceedings of the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. ComBio 2005, Adelaide, (POS-WED-061). 25-29 September, 2005.
Regulation of Acetylcholine Receptor Clustering and Dispersal
Ngo, S.T., Noakes, P.G. and Phillips, W.D (2005). Regulation of Acetylcholine Receptor Clustering and Dispersal. In: 6th Hunter Valley Cellular Biology Meeting, The Sebel-Kirkton Park, Pokolbin, NSW, Australia, (). 6-8 April, 2005.
Agrin and Heregulin induction of acetylcholine receptor clustering in C2C12 myotubes
Ngo, S. T., Nguyen T. T., Phillips, W. D. and Noakes, P. G. (2004). Agrin and Heregulin induction of acetylcholine receptor clustering in C2C12 myotubes. In: Proceedings of the Australian Neuroscience Society, Melbourne, (POS-WED-13-POS-WED-13). 2004.
The regulatory role of neuregulin in acetylcholine receptor clustering at the neuromuscular synapse
Ngo, S. T., Phillips, W. D. and Noakes P. G. (2000). The regulatory role of neuregulin in acetylcholine receptor clustering at the neuromuscular synapse. In: Society for Neuroscience Abstract Viewer. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting 2000, New Orleans, Louisiana, (). 4-9 November, 2000.
Neuregulin Modulation of Agrin-Induced Acetylcholine Receptor Clustering
Shyuan Ngo (2009). Neuregulin Modulation of Agrin-Induced Acetylcholine Receptor Clustering PhD Thesis, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland.
EATT for MND: Exposing mechanisms of impaired appetite regulation in MND
(2018–2020) Wesley Medical Research Ltd
Investigating endocrine causes and consequence of loss of appetite in MND patients
(2018–2019) Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
(2018–2019) Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
Assessment of metabolic health in neurodegeneration: studies in motor neurone disease (MND)
(2017–2020) Wesley Medical Research Ltd
Targeting the metabolism of glycosphingolipids as a novel therapeutic strategy for MND
(2017–2020) The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health
Cell-free DNA and ALS; insight into disease mechanisms and progression
(2017–2018) Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
(2017–2018) Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
(2017) UQ Early Career Researcher
Bioenergetic deficit in neurodegeneration: studies in motor neuron disease (MND)
(2016–2019) NHMRC Project Grant
(2016) UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
Instrumentation for the analysis of cellular and metabolic phenotypes
(2016) UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
Metabolic and gut dynamics in MND: Identifying novel strategies to meet energy needs in patients
(2016) Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
The Scott Sullivan Research Fellowship
(2015–2019) The MND and ME Foundation
(2015–2016) Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
Investigating the consequences of increased fat catabolism in motor neurone disease (MND)
(2014–2015) Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
Investigating the causes and consequences of growth hormone dysfunction in motor neuron disease
(2013–2014) Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
(2012–2015) Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
Investigating the mechanisms underlying defective energy metabolism in motor neuron disease (MND)
(2012) AAS - France-Australia Science Innovation Collaboration (FASIC) Program Early Career Fellowships
Using in vitro human cortical neurons as a model to study neuro metabolic defects in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Exploring cellular bioenergetics in skeletal muscle in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Function and pharmacology of neuronal ion channels under the perturbed metabolic conditions associated with neurodegenerative disorders.
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Understanding and manipulating the epigenetic determinants of ageing
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Systems Genomics applied to Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
(2018) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
(2018) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
(2018) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
(2017) Master Philosophy — Associate Advisor
(2017) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.
Metabolic dysfunction in Motor Neuron Disease/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Motor Neuron Disease/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (MND/ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that is characterised by the degeneration of both upper and lower alpha motor neurons. The irreversible loss of neurons in the brain and spinal cord results in progressive skeletal muscle paralysis and death within 2-5 years of diagnosis. There is no known cure for the disease, and treatments are of limited benefit. In the absence of a cure for MND/ALS, there is a pressing need to lessen the severity of symptoms associated with, and to slow the progression of disease, whilst enhancing quality of life.
While the fundamental mechanisms that underlie the development of MND/ALS remains unknown, recent studies suggest that defective regulation of energy homeostasis may exacerbate the degenerative process throughout the course of disease. This project investigates how altered glucose and fatty acid metabolism contributes to the progression of MND/ALS.