The gastrointestinal complications of Parkinson’s Disease

Research Opportunity
PhD students, Honours students, Master of Biomedical Science
Number of Honour Places Available
1
Number of Master Places Available
1
Primary Supervisor Email Number Webpage
Dr Rachel McQuade rachel.mcquade@unimelb.edu.au
Co-supervisor Email Number Webpage
Prof John Furness j.furness@unimelb.edu.au

Summary We explore how genes and the environment combine via experience-dependent plasticity in the healthy and diseased brain. Our research includes models of specific neurological and psychiatric disorders which involve cognitive and affective dysfunction, investigated at behavioural, cellular and molecular levels so as to identify pathogenic mechanisms and novel therapeutic targets. Most recently, this has included studies of intergenerational and transgenerational epigenetic inheritance.

Project Details

Parkinson’s Disease causes losses in neural control in the digestive system as well as defects in the central nervous system.  Loss of neural control of digestive function commonly occurs before central changes are detected.
About 70% of people with Parkinson’s Disease have digestive problems, most commonly constipation.  Importantly for understanding the genesis of Parkinson’s Disease, the digestive disorders often precede the motor dysfunction.  The constipation could arise from disorders in the central nervous system or from disorders in the enteric nervous system.


Research Opportunities

PhD students, Honours students, Master of Biomedical Science
Students who are interested in joining this project will need to consider their elegibility as well as other requirements before contacting the supervisor of this research

Graduate Research application

Honours application

Key Contact

For further information about this research, please contact a supervisor.

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