The Garner Group occupies three laboratories at POWMRI that are well equipped for cell and molecular biology, analytical biochemistry, advanced microscopy and animal studies. A major goal of Dr Garner's group is to understand the regulation of brain lipid homeostasis and how this contributes to neurodegeneration. A strong emphasis is placed on the identification of novel therapeutic targets that modulate lipid parameters in order to treat neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. The Garner group also has a strong track record in vascular disease research and work continues in this area with a focus on regulation of sphingolipid synthesis to treat Atherosclerosis. An overview of the current research projects and group members is provided in the Research Projects and Research Team pages. The Garner Group has also established expertise in glycobiology research and amino acid metabolism and several collaborative projects are continuing in these areas.
Assoc Professor Brett Garner leads the Cellular Lipidology Group at POWMRI. He obtained his PhD from Sydney University Faculty of Medicine in 1996 and has extensive postdoctoral research experience in cellular lipidology; including as a Wellcome Research Fellow in the Department of Biochemistry at Oxford University. His research focus is on the transport, metabolism and function of lipids including cholesterol and glycosphingolipids (GSLs) with an emphasis on understanding how lipid homeostasis contributes to neuronal function and degeneration; particularly in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. This research is predominantly at a molecular and cellular level and is supplemented by studies of human brain tissue. Since an overriding goal is to develop novel neuroprotective pharmacological strategies, animal studies are also conducted that focus on control of lipid homeostasis in the central nervous system and the inhibition of amyloid-beta deposition in the brain. Assoc Professor Garner also has a strong research record in the field of vascular disease and his work in this area is focused the regulation of atherosclerosis via inhibition of sphingolipid synthesis. Atherosclerosis is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, stroke and vascular dementia.
Interaction of cholesterol and glycosphingolipids (GSLs) in lipid rafts and impact on neuronal amyloid-beta peptide formationOur work has shown that cellular glycosphingolipid (GSL) accumulation promotes cholesterol storage. |
Regulation of neuronal alpha-synuclein expressionLewy bodies are neuropathological inclusions found in Parkinson's disease brain and are composed of aggregated proteins including alpha-synuclein and other components including lipids. |
Regulation of neuronal cholesterol balance and amyloid-beta production by ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transportersWe have shown that specific ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter subfamily A and subfamily G members are expressed in human neurons and other brain cells. |
Targeting the sphingolipid biosynthetic pathway to treat atherosclerosisAtherosclerosis is a major cause of heart attack and stroke and accounts for ~50% of all deaths in developed countries. |
Understanding the function of apolipoprotein-E in neurobiology and neurodegenerationApoE plays an important role in brain lipid transport and neurodegenerative diseases, however, the intracellular mechanisms involved are unclear. |
Function of ABCA and G transporters in regulation of lysosomal membrane lipids and implications for amyloid-beta mediated neurodegenerationWe have recently shown that specific ABC transporters are key regulators of neuronal membrane lipid composition and that this potently regulates the processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) t |
