Members

I am looking at neural decision making, specifically in terms of the Somatic Marker Theory of Damasio.

Current project: Utilisation of stem cells in the hippocampus to restore Cognitive functioning.

The distribution of white matter neurons in the apes.

Assessing the effects of prenatal stress on the preoptic nuclei of febrile seizure rat models.

L-DOPA model of dyskinesia.

A Descriptive Analysis of the Malayan tapir Brain

Strategic Leadership Coaching improves decision making and risk assessment in young business executives’ alpha activity over the frontal and cingulate cortices.

¥ Both active and passive anti-Aβ immunotherapies were shown to clear brain Aβ deposits.
¥ However, an active anti-Aβ vaccine (AN1792) has been discontinued because it caused meningoencephalitis in 6 % of Alzheimer’s disease patients treated.
¥ Among passive immunotherapeutics, bapineuzumab in clinical trials were disappointing. Another antibody, solanezumab, directed at the mid-region of Aβ, failed in two Phase III clinical trials.
¥ Active immunization held great promise for AD originally, clinical trials failed to show significant improvement in cognition and mortality, and presented a great risk of inducing severe inflammation of brain, exacerbating the disease and leading to increased mortality.
¥ Monoclonal antibodies not as effective in treating AD due to lack of specificity and heterogenous nature of drug to antibody leading to non-targeted conjugation.
¥ Heavy-chain antibodies from which single-domain antibodies called VNAR fragments can be obtained which are smaller (12kDa) than conventional antibodies (150kDa).
¥ The complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) loop of its variable domain is particularly extended, which allows more sequence diversity to be accommodated and the binding of cryptic antigens to occur.
¥ VNAR-SNAP can be engineered to incorporate sequences that have naturally occurring BBB permeability e.g. endothelial receptor sequences.
¥ This facilitates direct binding to an endothelial receptor for the transport through the endothelial barrier via receptor mediated transcytosis and endocytosis.
¥ Drugs or drug carriers could be attached to these fragments and then transported into the brain
¥ VH single domain antibodies have been developed against oligomeric and ibrillary forms of peptides and proteins and applied to Aβ.
¥ Here the VH domain antibodies contain short sequences of residues from regions of the targeted proteins that are expected to be highly amyloidogenic. These segments are then inserted genetically into the CDR3 loop of the VH domain antibodies, and depending on the length of the sequence that is inserted, antibodies binding to either to oligomers or fibrils is observed.
¥ The resulting VH domain antibodies have been found to inhibit effectively formation of fibrils and reduced the toxicity associated with the oligomers.
¥ In a study of the mechanism of the aggregation of Aβ, a peptide containing the sequence 18–41 was incorporated within the CDR3 loop of IgNAR single variable domain antibody.
¥ Interactions between inserted regions of Aβ with paired dimers formed a tetramer in the crystal caged within four IgNAR domains, inhibiting further assembly into amyloid fibrils.

Neuropsychological assessment and test applicability with South Africans with disadvantaged quality of education and disadvantaged backgrounds.

My research focuses on cytokines involved in cognitive function, investigated in relation to the influence pathogens such as helminthes (Type2) and bacteria (Type1) may have on learning and memory. Studies that I conduct aim to identify the possible role of pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory cytokine environment, on cognitive function, and their synergistic effects. Immunological roles of these cytokines on both immune cells (e.g. T cells) and non-immune cells (e.g. astrocytes) are identified, along with neuro-immunological factors and molecules associated with learning and memory. Moreover, using BCG and Listeria monocytogenes, we aim to study the role of IFN-g-producing T helper cells on cognitive functions.

Interested in integrating machine learning and measurement systems with neuroscience (computational neuroscience). Looking for a great project to join (PhD).

Sleep nuclei in Perissodactyls

The aim of my PhD research is:
To investigate the effects of maternal iron (Fe) and omega-3 fatty acid (n-3 FA) depletion and repletion, and potential Fe and n-3 FA interactions, on offspring neurodevelopment, and to determine whether the effects are sex-specific.

The specific objectives are:
- To investigate whether the effects of a maternal double-deficiency in Fe and n-3 FAs (ID+n-3 FAD) during pregnancy affects offspring brain biochemistry, cognition and behaviour to a greater extent than a single deficiency.
- To assess whether the provision of Fe and docosahexaenoic acid plus eicosapentaenoic acid (DHA/EPA), alone or in combination, to double-deficient (ID+n-3 FAD) female rats during the first trimester can prevent neurodevelopmental deficits in the offspring.
- To evaluate whether providing Fe and DHA/EPA in combination to double-deficient (ID+n-3 FAD) female rats before conception is more effective in preventing deficits in offspring brain biochemistry, cognition and behaviour, than when it is provided post-conception.

Exploring the development of socio-cognitive skills in health sciences students (undergrads) using active methods in cooperative/collaborative learning settings.

A neuropathological endophenotypic approach to understanding the genetic basis underlining criminal beahviour of females in South Africa

Organisational Neuroscience

HIV drug/ prophylactics effects of Oral epithelial cell lines.
Oral sensors in the oral region

I work in the field of psychiatric genetics research, focusing on anxiety and stress-related disorders, such as PTSD. I am particularly interested in the role of epigenetics in complex psychiatric disorders. One of my new research interests is investigating the role of the gut microbiome in neuropsychiatric disorders.