Dr. Richard Gordon leads a multi-disciplinary, industry-partnered research program in Translational Neuroscience which integrates immunology, drug development, pharmacology, metabolomics and microbial metagenomics. His group aims to understand and therapeutically target key pathological mechanisms which drive the onset and progression of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Their work combines target validation studies in human patients with mechanistic insights from disease models to develop and test novel therapeutic strategies that can be translated towards clinical trials.
Key research themes within this program include:
Dr. Gordon’s research has contributed to ground-breaking advances in the field of neuroinflammation and Parkinson’s disease, including discovery of a novel signalling paradigm for prokineticin signalling during neurodegeneration, and inflammasome activation as a driver of synuclein pathology and disease progression in PD. He established the Queensland Drug Repurposing Initiative (QDRI) which aims to accelerate new treatments for neurological diseases through drug repositioning. He is the Research Lead for the COMBO-PD clinical trial at UQ which is evaluating the therapeutic potential of restoring beneficial gut microbiota which are depleted in people with PD.
Dr. Gordon is a Board-certified toxicologist with the American Board of Toxicology (DABT) and has served as a member of the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee for the Australian Federal Government. He is also a Science Ambassador for the World Parkinson Coalition (WPC) for Australia and the Asia Pacific Region.
Journal Article: Inflammasome inhibition prevents α-synuclein pathology and dopaminergic neurodegeneration in mice
Gordon, Richard, Albornoz, Eduardo A., Christie, Daniel C., Langley, Monica R., Kumar, Vinod, Mantovani, Susanna, Robertson, Avril A. B., Butler, Mark S., Rowe, Dominic B., O'Neill, Luke A., Kanthasamy, Anumantha G., Schroder, Kate, Cooper, Matthew A. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2018). Inflammasome inhibition prevents α-synuclein pathology and dopaminergic neurodegeneration in mice. Science Translational Medicine, 10 (465) aah4066, eaah4066. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aah4066
Journal Article: Specific inhibition of NLRP3 in chikungunya disease reveals a role for inflammasomes in alphavirus-induced inflammation
Chen, Weiqiang, Foo, Suan-Sin, Zaid, Ali, Teng, Terk-Shin, Herrero, Lara J., Wolf, Stefan, Tharmarajah, Kothila, Vu, Luan D., van Vreden, Caryn, Taylor, Adam, Freitas, Joseph R., Li, Rachel W., Woodruff, Trent M., Gordon, Richard, Ojcius, David M., Nakaya, Helder I., Kanneganti, Thirumala-Devi, O’Neill, Luke A. J., Robertson, Avril A. B., King, Nicholas J., Suhrbier, Andreas, Cooper, Matthew A., Ng, Lisa F. P. and Mahalingam, Suresh (2017). Specific inhibition of NLRP3 in chikungunya disease reveals a role for inflammasomes in alphavirus-induced inflammation. Nature Microbiology, 2 (10), 1-11. doi: 10.1038/s41564-017-0015-4
Journal Article: Prokineticin-2 upregulation during neuronal injury mediates a compensatory protective response against dopaminergic neuronal degeneration
Gordon, Richard, Neal, Matthew L., Luo, Jie, Langley, Monica R., Harischandra, Dilshan S., Panicker, Nikhil, Charli, Adhithiya, Jin, Huajun, Anantharam, Vellareddy, Woodruff, Trent M., Zhou, Qun-Yong, Kanthasamy, Anumantha G. and Kanthasamy, Arthi (2016). Prokineticin-2 upregulation during neuronal injury mediates a compensatory protective response against dopaminergic neuronal degeneration. Nature Communications, 7 (1) 12932, 12932.1-12932.18. doi: 10.1038/ncomms12932
Gordon, Richard, Singh, Neeraj, Lawana, Vivek, Ghosh, Anamitra, Harischandra, Dilshan S., Jin, Huajun, Hogan, Colleen, Sarkar, Souvarish, Rokad, Dharmin, Panicker, Nikhil, Anantharam, Vellareddy, Kanthasamy, Anumantha G. and Kanthasamy, Arthi (2016). Protein kinase Cδ upregulation in microglia drives neuroinflammatory responses and dopaminergic neurodegeneration in experimental models of Parkinson's disease. Neurobiology of Disease, 93, 96-114. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2016.04.008
Journal Article: Motor deficits associated with Huntington's disease occur in the absence of striatal degeneration in BACHD transgenic mice
Mantovani, Susanna, Gordon, Richard, Li, Rui, Christie, Daniel C., Kumar, Vinod and Woodruff, Trent M. (2016). Motor deficits associated with Huntington's disease occur in the absence of striatal degeneration in BACHD transgenic mice. Human Molecular Genetics, 25 (9) ddw050, 1780-1791. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddw050
Journal Article: The complement receptor C5aR controls acute inflammation and astrogliosis following spinal cord injury
Brennan, Faith H., Gordon, Richard, Lao, Hong W., Biggins, Patrick J., Taylor, Stephen M., Franklin, Robin J. M., Woodruff, Trent M. and Ruitenberg, Marc J. (2015). The complement receptor C5aR controls acute inflammation and astrogliosis following spinal cord injury. Journal of Neuroscience, 35 (16), 6517-6531. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5218-14.2015
(2022–2025) Research Donation Generic
Evaluation of Tolebrutinib as a novel disease-modifying therapeutic for Parkinson's disease
(2022–2024) The Michael J Fox Foundation Therapeutic Pipeline Program
Mining the gut microbiome to develop new treatments and biomarkers for Parkinson's disease
(2022–2024) Wesley Medical Research Ltd
(2023) Doctor Philosophy
Unravelling the role of Parkinson's disease pathology in sleep and circadian disruption
Doctor Philosophy
Pharmacological targeting of the inflammasome: towards novel therapeutics for Parkinson's disease
(2019) Doctor Philosophy
Novel therapeutic strategies targeting the microbiota and gut-brain axis in Parkinson's disease
Gastrointestinal pathology and alterations in the gut microbiota are often early pathogenic changes seen in Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurological disorders. Clinical studies suggest that gastrointestinal deficits in people with PD, can often precede cardinal motor symptoms, based on which clinical diagnosis is confirmed. Emerging evidence suggests that specific alternations in the gut microbiota and gastrointestinal deficits are associated with neuronal dysfunction, chronic immune activation and progressive neurodegeneration seen in PD. Our translational research program on the gut-brain axis combines innovative preclinical mechanistic studies in model systems, with powerful big-data analytics on our clinical cohorts to understand the role of gut dysbiosis and gastrointestinal dysfunction in PD, with a focus on therapeutically tractable mechanisms that are involved. We use these insights to develop and test novel and clinically relevant neuroprotective strategies by which to slow, stop or even reverse neurodegeneration in PD.
Pharmacological targeting of immune and inflammatory mechanisms for neuroprotection
Clinical biomarkers for Parkinson's disease
Inflammasome inhibition prevents α-synuclein pathology and dopaminergic neurodegeneration in mice
Gordon, Richard, Albornoz, Eduardo A., Christie, Daniel C., Langley, Monica R., Kumar, Vinod, Mantovani, Susanna, Robertson, Avril A. B., Butler, Mark S., Rowe, Dominic B., O'Neill, Luke A., Kanthasamy, Anumantha G., Schroder, Kate, Cooper, Matthew A. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2018). Inflammasome inhibition prevents α-synuclein pathology and dopaminergic neurodegeneration in mice. Science Translational Medicine, 10 (465) aah4066, eaah4066. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aah4066
Chen, Weiqiang, Foo, Suan-Sin, Zaid, Ali, Teng, Terk-Shin, Herrero, Lara J., Wolf, Stefan, Tharmarajah, Kothila, Vu, Luan D., van Vreden, Caryn, Taylor, Adam, Freitas, Joseph R., Li, Rachel W., Woodruff, Trent M., Gordon, Richard, Ojcius, David M., Nakaya, Helder I., Kanneganti, Thirumala-Devi, O’Neill, Luke A. J., Robertson, Avril A. B., King, Nicholas J., Suhrbier, Andreas, Cooper, Matthew A., Ng, Lisa F. P. and Mahalingam, Suresh (2017). Specific inhibition of NLRP3 in chikungunya disease reveals a role for inflammasomes in alphavirus-induced inflammation. Nature Microbiology, 2 (10), 1-11. doi: 10.1038/s41564-017-0015-4
Gordon, Richard, Neal, Matthew L., Luo, Jie, Langley, Monica R., Harischandra, Dilshan S., Panicker, Nikhil, Charli, Adhithiya, Jin, Huajun, Anantharam, Vellareddy, Woodruff, Trent M., Zhou, Qun-Yong, Kanthasamy, Anumantha G. and Kanthasamy, Arthi (2016). Prokineticin-2 upregulation during neuronal injury mediates a compensatory protective response against dopaminergic neuronal degeneration. Nature Communications, 7 (1) 12932, 12932.1-12932.18. doi: 10.1038/ncomms12932
Gordon, Richard, Singh, Neeraj, Lawana, Vivek, Ghosh, Anamitra, Harischandra, Dilshan S., Jin, Huajun, Hogan, Colleen, Sarkar, Souvarish, Rokad, Dharmin, Panicker, Nikhil, Anantharam, Vellareddy, Kanthasamy, Anumantha G. and Kanthasamy, Arthi (2016). Protein kinase Cδ upregulation in microglia drives neuroinflammatory responses and dopaminergic neurodegeneration in experimental models of Parkinson's disease. Neurobiology of Disease, 93, 96-114. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2016.04.008
Mantovani, Susanna, Gordon, Richard, Li, Rui, Christie, Daniel C., Kumar, Vinod and Woodruff, Trent M. (2016). Motor deficits associated with Huntington's disease occur in the absence of striatal degeneration in BACHD transgenic mice. Human Molecular Genetics, 25 (9) ddw050, 1780-1791. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddw050
Brennan, Faith H., Gordon, Richard, Lao, Hong W., Biggins, Patrick J., Taylor, Stephen M., Franklin, Robin J. M., Woodruff, Trent M. and Ruitenberg, Marc J. (2015). The complement receptor C5aR controls acute inflammation and astrogliosis following spinal cord injury. Journal of Neuroscience, 35 (16), 6517-6531. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5218-14.2015
Albornoz, Eduardo A., Woodruff, Trent M. and Gordon, Richard (2018). Inflammasomes in CNS diseases. Inflammasomes: clinical and therapeutic implications. (pp. 41-60) edited by Mario D. Cordero and Elisabet Alcocer-Gómez. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-89390-7_3
Neuroinflammation as a therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases
Gordon, Richard and Woodruff, Trent M. (2017). Neuroinflammation as a therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases. Disease-modifying targets in neurodegenerative disorders: paving the way for disease-modifying therapies. (pp. 49-80) edited by Veerle Baekelandt and Evy Lobbestael. London, United Kingdom: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-805120-7.00003-8
Neuroinflammation as a therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases
Gordon, Richard and Woodruff, Trent M. (2017). Neuroinflammation as a therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases. Disease-modifying targets in neurodegenerative disorders. (pp. 43-64) edited by Veerle Baekelandt and Evy Lobbestael. Boston, MA, United States: Academic Press (Elsevier Press).
Johnson, Aishwarya Mary, Jose, Sara, Palakkott, Abdul Rasheed, Khan, Farheen Badrealam, Jayabalan, Nanthini, Kizhakkayil, Jaleel, AlNaqbi, Shamma Abdulla Ali, Scott, Mark GH, Ayoub, Mohammed Akli, Gordon, Richard and Saminathan, Hariharan (2023). Pharmacological Inhibition of PTEN Rescues Dopaminergic Neurons by Attenuating Apoptotic and Neuroinflammatory Signaling Events. Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, 1-14. doi: 10.1007/s11481-023-10077-8
Albornoz, Eduardo A., Gordon, Richard, Kumar, Vinod, Robertson, Avril A. B., Schroder, Kate and Woodruff, Trent M. (2023). Response to Comment on “Inflammasome inhibition prevents α-synuclein pathology and dopaminergic neurodegeneration in mice”. Science Translational Medicine, 15 (696) adh0604. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adh0604
Jayabalan, Nanthini, Oronsky, Bryan, Cabrales, Pedro, Reid, Tony, Caroen, Scott, Johnson, Aishwarya M., Birch, Natalia A., O’Sullivan, John D. and Gordon, Richard (2023). A review of RRx-001: a late-stage multi-indication inhibitor of NLRP3 activation and chronic inflammation. Drugs, 83 (5), 389-402. doi: 10.1007/s40265-023-01838-z
RRx-001: a chimeric triple action NLRP3 inhibitor, Nrf2 inducer, and nitric oxide superagonist
Oronsky, Bryan, Takahashi, Lori, Gordon, Richard, Cabrales, Pedro, Caroen, Scott and Reid, Tony (2023). RRx-001: a chimeric triple action NLRP3 inhibitor, Nrf2 inducer, and nitric oxide superagonist. Frontiers in Oncology, 13 1204143. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1204143
Inflammasome activation in Parkinson's disease
Jewell, Shannon, Herath, Ashane M. and Gordon, Richard (2022). Inflammasome activation in Parkinson's disease. Journal of Parkinson's Disease, 12 (s1), S113-S128. doi: 10.3233/JPD-223338
Mechanisms of NLRP3 activation and pathology during neurodegeneration
Jose, Sara, Groves, Natalie J., Roper, Kathrein E. and Gordon, Richard (2022). Mechanisms of NLRP3 activation and pathology during neurodegeneration. The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 151 106273, 106273. doi: 10.1016/j.biocel.2022.106273
Jewell, Shannon, Roper, Kerry, Woodhouse, Helen, Adam, Robert, O'Sullivan, John and Gordon, Richard (2022). LC-MS based urine metabolomic profiling indicate altered gut microbiome and host lipid metabolites in Parkinson's disease. The FASEB Journal, 36 (S1). doi: 10.1096/fasebj.2022.36.S1.R2928
Johnson, Aishwarya M., Ou, Zhen-Yi Andy, Gordon, Richard and Saminathan, Hariharan (2022). Environmental neurotoxicants and inflammasome activation in Parkinson’s disease – a focus on the gut-brain axis. The International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, 142 106113, 106113. doi: 10.1016/j.biocel.2021.106113
Saminathan, Hariharan, Charli, Adhithiya, Luo, Jie, Panicker, Nikhil, Gordon, Richard, Hostetter, Jesse M, Jin, Huajun, Anantharam, Vellareddy, Kanthasamy, Anumantha G and Kanthasamy, Arthi (2020). Fyn kinase mediates pro-inflammatory response in a mouse model of endotoxemia: Relevance to translational research. European journal of pharmacology, 881 173259, 173259. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173259
Samidurai, Manikandan, Tarale, Prashant, Janarthanam, Chelva, Estrada, Crystal Gomez, Gordon, Richard, Zenitsky, Gary, Jin, Huajun, Anantharam, Vellareddy, Kanthasamy, Anumantha G. and Kanthasamy, Arthi (2020). Tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) enhances activation of STAT3/NLRC4 inflammasome signaling axis through PKCδ in astrocytes: implications for Parkinson's disease. Cells, 9 (8) 1831, 1831-35. doi: 10.3390/cells9081831
Idris, Misgana, Mitchell, Deanne J., Gordon, Richard, Sidharthan, Neelima P., Butcher, Neville J. and Minchin, Rodney F. (2020). Interaction of the brain-selective sulfotransferase SULT4A1 with other cytosolic sulfotransferases: effects on protein expression and function. Drug Metabolism and Disposition, 48 (5), 337-344. doi: 10.1124/dmd.119.089714
The microglial NLRP3 inflammasome is activated by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis proteins
Deora, Vandana, Lee, John D., Albornoz, Eduardo A., McAlary, Luke, Jagaraj, Cyril J., Robertson, Avril A. B., Atkin, Julie D, Cooper, Matthew A., Schroder, Kate, Yerbury, Justin J., Gordon, Richard and Woodruff, Trent M. (2020). The microglial NLRP3 inflammasome is activated by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis proteins. Glia, 68 (2) glia.23728, 407-421. doi: 10.1002/glia.23728
Inflammasome inhibition prevents α-synuclein pathology and dopaminergic neurodegeneration in mice
Gordon, Richard, Albornoz, Eduardo A., Christie, Daniel C., Langley, Monica R., Kumar, Vinod, Mantovani, Susanna, Robertson, Avril A. B., Butler, Mark S., Rowe, Dominic B., O'Neill, Luke A., Kanthasamy, Anumantha G., Schroder, Kate, Cooper, Matthew A. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2018). Inflammasome inhibition prevents α-synuclein pathology and dopaminergic neurodegeneration in mice. Science Translational Medicine, 10 (465) aah4066, eaah4066. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aah4066
Prokineticin-2 promotes chemotaxis and alternative A2 reactivity of astrocytes
Neal, Matthew, Luo, Jie, Harischandra, Dilshan S., Gordon, Richard, Sarkar, Souvarish, Jin, Huajun, Anantharam, Vellareddy, Désaubry, Laurent, Kanthasamy, Anumantha and Kanthasamy, Arthi (2018). Prokineticin-2 promotes chemotaxis and alternative A2 reactivity of astrocytes. Glia, 66 (10), 2137-2157. doi: 10.1002/glia.23467
An overview of sleep and circadian dysfunction in Parkinson's disease
Mantovani, Susanna, Smith, Simon S., Gordon, Richard and O'Sullivan, John D. (2018). An overview of sleep and circadian dysfunction in Parkinson's disease. Journal of Sleep Research, 27 (3) e12673, e12673. doi: 10.1111/jsr.12673
Chronic helminth infection perturbs the gut-brain axis, promotes neuropathology and alters behaviour
Giacomin, Paul R., Kraeuter, Ann Katrin, Albornoz, Eduardo A., Jin, Shuting, Bengtsson, Mia, Gordon, Richard, Woodruff, Trent M., Urich, Tim, Sarnyai, Zoltán and Soares Magalhães, Ricardo J. (2018). Chronic helminth infection perturbs the gut-brain axis, promotes neuropathology and alters behaviour. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 218 (9), 1511-1516. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiy092
Chen, Weiqiang, Foo, Suan-Sin, Zaid, Ali, Teng, Terk-Shin, Herrero, Lara J., Wolf, Stefan, Tharmarajah, Kothila, Vu, Luan D., van Vreden, Caryn, Taylor, Adam, Freitas, Joseph R., Li, Rachel W., Woodruff, Trent M., Gordon, Richard, Ojcius, David M., Nakaya, Helder I., Kanneganti, Thirumala-Devi, O’Neill, Luke A. J., Robertson, Avril A. B., King, Nicholas J., Suhrbier, Andreas, Cooper, Matthew A., Ng, Lisa F. P. and Mahalingam, Suresh (2017). Specific inhibition of NLRP3 in chikungunya disease reveals a role for inflammasomes in alphavirus-induced inflammation. Nature Microbiology, 2 (10), 1-11. doi: 10.1038/s41564-017-0015-4
Deora, Vandana, Albornoz, Eduardo A., Zhu, Kevin, Woodruff, Trent M. and Gordon, Richard (2017). The ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate does not inhibit synuclein mediated inflammasome activation in microglia. Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, 12 (4), 1-7. doi: 10.1007/s11481-017-9754-5
Gordon, Richard, Neal, Matthew L., Luo, Jie, Langley, Monica R., Harischandra, Dilshan S., Panicker, Nikhil, Charli, Adhithiya, Jin, Huajun, Anantharam, Vellareddy, Woodruff, Trent M., Zhou, Qun-Yong, Kanthasamy, Anumantha G. and Kanthasamy, Arthi (2016). Prokineticin-2 upregulation during neuronal injury mediates a compensatory protective response against dopaminergic neuronal degeneration. Nature Communications, 7 (1) 12932, 12932.1-12932.18. doi: 10.1038/ncomms12932
Gordon, Richard, Singh, Neeraj, Lawana, Vivek, Ghosh, Anamitra, Harischandra, Dilshan S., Jin, Huajun, Hogan, Colleen, Sarkar, Souvarish, Rokad, Dharmin, Panicker, Nikhil, Anantharam, Vellareddy, Kanthasamy, Anumantha G. and Kanthasamy, Arthi (2016). Protein kinase Cδ upregulation in microglia drives neuroinflammatory responses and dopaminergic neurodegeneration in experimental models of Parkinson's disease. Neurobiology of Disease, 93, 96-114. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2016.04.008
p73 gene in dopaminergic neurons is highly susceptible to manganese neurotoxicity
Kim, Dong-Suk, Jin, Huajun, Anantharam, Vellareddy, Gordon, Richard, Kanthasamy, Arthi and Kanthasamy, Anumantha G. (2016). p73 gene in dopaminergic neurons is highly susceptible to manganese neurotoxicity. NeuroToxicology, 59, 231-239. doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2016.04.012
Mantovani, Susanna, Gordon, Richard, Li, Rui, Christie, Daniel C., Kumar, Vinod and Woodruff, Trent M. (2016). Motor deficits associated with Huntington's disease occur in the absence of striatal degeneration in BACHD transgenic mice. Human Molecular Genetics, 25 (9) ddw050, 1780-1791. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddw050
Panicker, Nikhil, Saminathan, Hariharan, Jin, Huajun, Neal, Matthew, Harischandra, Dilshan S., Gordon, Richard, Kanthasamy, Kavin, Lawana, Vivek, Sarkar, Souvarish, Luo, Jie, Anantharam, Vellareddy, Kanthasamy, Anumantha G. and Kanthasamy, Arthi (2015). Fyn kinase regulates microglial neuroinflammatory responses in cell culture and animal models of parkinson’s disease. Journal of Neuroscience, 35 (27), 10058-10077. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0302-15.2015
Khan, Nemat, Gordon, Richard, Woodruff, Trent M. and Smith, Maree T. (2015). Antiallodynic effects of alpha lipoic acid in an optimized RR-EAE mouse model of MS-neuropathic pain are accompanied by attenuation of upregulated BDNF-TrkB-ERK signalling in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Pharmacology Research and Perspectives, 3 (3) e00137, 1-16. doi: 10.1002/prp2.137
Brennan, Faith H., Gordon, Richard, Lao, Hong W., Biggins, Patrick J., Taylor, Stephen M., Franklin, Robin J. M., Woodruff, Trent M. and Ruitenberg, Marc J. (2015). The complement receptor C5aR controls acute inflammation and astrogliosis following spinal cord injury. Journal of Neuroscience, 35 (16), 6517-6531. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5218-14.2015
Elevation of the terminal complement activation products C5a and C5b-9 in ALS patient blood
Mantovani, S., Gordon, R., Macmaw, J. K., Plfluger, C. M., Henderson, R. D., Noakes, P. G., McCombe, P. A. and Woodruff, T. M. (2014). Elevation of the terminal complement activation products C5a and C5b-9 in ALS patient blood. Journal of Neuroimmunology, 276 (1-2), 213-218. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2014.09.005
Gordon, Richard, Anantharam, Vellareddy, Kanthasamy, Anumantha G. and Kanthasamy, Arthi (2012). Proteolytic activation of proapoptotic kinase protein kinase Cδ by tumor necrosis factor α death receptor signaling in dopaminergic neurons during neuroinflammation. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 9 (1) 82. doi: 10.1186/1742-2094-9-82
Kanthasamy, Kavin, Gordon, Richard, Jin, Huajun, Anantharam, Vellareddy, Ali, Syed, Kanthasamy, Anumantha G. and Kanthasamy, Arthi (2011). Neuroprotective Effect of Resveratrol Against Methamphetamine-Induced Dopaminergic Apoptotic Cell Death in a Cell Culture Model of Neurotoxicity. Current Neuropharmacology, 9 (1), 49-53. doi: 10.2174/157015911795017353
A simple magnetic separation method for high-yield isolation of pure primary microglia
Gordon, Richard, Hogan, Colleen E., Neal, Matthew L., Anantharam, Vellareddy, Kanthasamy, Anumantha G. and Kanthasamy, Arthi (2011). A simple magnetic separation method for high-yield isolation of pure primary microglia. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 194 (2), 287-296. doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2010.11.001
A Novel Role for Glucocerebrosidase 1 (GBA1) in Parkinson's Disease
Jayabalan, Nanthini, Roper, Katherine Kerry, Woodhouse, Helen M., Adam, Robert J., O'Sullivan, John D. and Gordon, Richard (2022). A Novel Role for Glucocerebrosidase 1 (GBA1) in Parkinson's Disease. Experimental Biology Meeting 2022, Philadelphia, PA United States, 2-5 April 2022. Hoboken, NJ United States: John Wiley and Sons. doi: 10.1096/fasebj.2022.36.S1.R5391
C5aR1 is required for a-synuclein mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation
Gordon, Richard, Albornoz, Eduardo, Kanthasamy, Anumantha and Woodruff, Trent (2018). C5aR1 is required for a-synuclein mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation. 27th International Complement Workshop (ICW), Santa Fe, NM, United States, Sep 16-20, 2018. Kidlington, Oxford, United Kingdom: Pergamon Press. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2018.06.247
Magalhaes, Ricardo J. Soares, Giacomin, Paul, Sarnyay, Zoltan, Kraeuter, Ann, Urich, Tim, Bengtsson, Mia, Jin, Shuting, Albornoz, Eduardo A., Gordon, Richard and Woodruff, Trent (2017). Gut microbiome changes induced by experimental trichuris muris infection are associated with decreased cognitive function in mice. 65th Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Tropical-Medicine-and-Hygiene (ASTMH), Atlanta, GA, United States, 13-16 November 2016. Deerfield, United States: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
Motor neuron disease proteins activate complement and generate C5a
Deora, Vandana, Mantovani, Susanna, Yerbury, Justin, Clark, Richard, Atkin, Julie, Lee, John, Gordon, Richard and Woodruff, Trent M. (2017). Motor neuron disease proteins activate complement and generate C5a. 16th European Meeting on Complement in Human Disease (EMCHD), Copenhagen, Denmark, 8-12 September 2017. Kidlington, Oxford, United Kingdom: Pergamon Press. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2017.06.144
Li, Rui, Lee, John D., Levin, Samantha, Gordon, Richard and Woodruff, Trent M. (2016). A pathogenic role for the C5a receptor, C5aR2, in mouse models of Huntington's and Parkinson's disease. The XXVI International Complement Workshop (ICW), Kanazawa, Japan, 4-8 September 2016. Muenchen, Germany: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.imbio.2016.06.186
Gordon, Richard, Albornoz, Eduardo A., Kumar, Vinod, Zhou, Kiane, Garin-Michaud, Ashoka, Mantavani, Susanna, Kanthasamy, Anumantha G. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2016). Complement C5a activates microglial NLRP3 inflammasomes and drives neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease through C5aR1. The XXVI International Complement Workshop (ICW), Kanazawa, Japan, 4-8 September 2016. Muenchen, Germany: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.imbio.2016.06.146
Li, R., Levin, S., Lee, J., Gordon, R. and Woodruff, T. (2016). The complement C5a receptor, C5aR2 contributes to motor deficits in mouse models of Huntington's and Parkinson's disease. International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Melbourne, Australia, 21-26 August 2016. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley - VCH. doi: 10.1002/eji.201670200
Paraquat activates the NLRP3 Inflammasome in microglia via the NADPH oxidase pathway
Albornoz, E., Deora, V., Robertson, B. A., Cooper, M. A., Schroder, K., Woodruff, T. M. and Gordon, R. (2015). Paraquat activates the NLRP3 Inflammasome in microglia via the NADPH oxidase pathway. International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Melbourne, Australia, Aug 21-26, 2016. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley-Blackwell.
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. 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, 23-27 August 2015. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1111/jnc.13188
Mantovani, S., Li, R., Gordon, R., Kumar, V., Taylor, S. and Woodruff, T. M. (2013). Behavioural and pathological phenotyping of the C57BL/6J BACHD transgenic mouse model of Huntington’s disease. World Congress on Huntington’s disease, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 15-18 September 2013. Amsterdam, Netherlands: I O S Press.
(2022–2025) Research Donation Generic
Evaluation of Tolebrutinib as a novel disease-modifying therapeutic for Parkinson's disease
(2022–2024) The Michael J Fox Foundation Therapeutic Pipeline Program
Mining the gut microbiome to develop new treatments and biomarkers for Parkinson's disease
(2022–2024) Wesley Medical Research Ltd
(2022) Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc Linda Rynalski Bridge Funding Grant
CNS-targeted inhibitors of neuroinflammation for disease modification in Parkinson's disease
(2021–2023) The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research
(2021–2023) University of Georgia
(2021–2023) The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research
(2021–2023) The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research
(2020–2022) Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
(2020–2021) Metro North Hospital and Health Service
(2020–2021) Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
(2019–2022) The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research
Validating the NLRP3 Inflammasome as a Therapeutic Target in Motor Neuron Disease
(2018–2022) NHMRC Project Grant
Targeting peripheral inflammatory pathology in Parkinson's disease using repurposed drugs
(2018–2019) Wesley Medical Research Ltd
(2018) UQ Development Fellowships
The Queensland Drug Repurposing Initiative
(2017–2023) Queensland Government Advance Queensland Innovation Partnerships
Drug repurposing for neurodegeneration using Artificial Intelligence and machine learning
(2017–2021) Advance Queensland Research Fellowships
Therapeutic switching of a licensed oncology drug to target neuropathology in Parkinson's disease
(2017–2019) The Cure Parkinson's Trust
(2017–2018) UQ Early Career Researcher
Blocking inflammasome-induced neuroinflammation in PD with a potent, orally available small molecule
(2016–2020) The Michael J Fox Foundation Therapeutic Pipeline Program
Pharmacological Targeting of Proinflammatory Kinase Signalling in Parkinson's disease
(2016–2018) The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research
(2015–2017) The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research
(2015–2016) Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
Ian Potter Foundation Travel Award to attend the 'Experimental Biology 2015 Annual Meeting'
(2015) Ian Potter Foundation
Therapeutic targeting of inflammation in Parkinson's disease
(2015) RL Cooper Medical Research Foundation Limited
Characterization of the role of complement activation in Parkinson's disease
(2012–2013) UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
Unravelling the role of Parkinson's disease pathology in sleep and circadian disruption
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
(2023) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Pharmacological targeting of the inflammasome: towards novel therapeutics for Parkinson's disease
(2019) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
The role of GPR43 in neuroinflammation and the hSOD1G93A mouse model of motor neuron disease
(2019) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Contribution of innate immune signalling to microglial activation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(2018) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
The Role of the C5a Receptor, C5aR2, in Neurodegenerative Disease
(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.
Novel therapeutic strategies targeting the microbiota and gut-brain axis in Parkinson's disease
Gastrointestinal pathology and alterations in the gut microbiota are often early pathogenic changes seen in Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurological disorders. Clinical studies suggest that gastrointestinal deficits in people with PD, can often precede cardinal motor symptoms, based on which clinical diagnosis is confirmed. Emerging evidence suggests that specific alternations in the gut microbiota and gastrointestinal deficits are associated with neuronal dysfunction, chronic immune activation and progressive neurodegeneration seen in PD. Our translational research program on the gut-brain axis combines innovative preclinical mechanistic studies in model systems, with powerful big-data analytics on our clinical cohorts to understand the role of gut dysbiosis and gastrointestinal dysfunction in PD, with a focus on therapeutically tractable mechanisms that are involved. We use these insights to develop and test novel and clinically relevant neuroprotective strategies by which to slow, stop or even reverse neurodegeneration in PD.
Pharmacological targeting of immune and inflammatory mechanisms for neuroprotection
Clinical biomarkers for Parkinson's disease
Novel therapeutic approaches for regeneration of the central nervous system
AI-based approaches for therapeutic development and drug repositioning
Drug discovery, development and repurposing to accelerate therapies for neurodegeneration