A groundbreaking research initiative led by researchers from the University of Sydney and 鶹madou Sydney has been awarded a prestigious grant from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).
We are excited to share that a groundbreaking research initiative led by researchers from the University of Sydney and 鶹madou Sydney has been awarded a prestigious grant from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). The funding comes under the Society’s “Microbial Pathogenesis in Alzheimer’s Disease” program, which supports innovative research into the microbial factors potentially contributing to Alzheimer’s.
The awarded project, titled “Bacterial Traces in Alzheimer’s Brains: Implications for Pathogenic Routes,” is a collaborative effort between Dr Yuhong Zu (Lead Chief Investigator) from the School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney, and Professor Mark Willcox and Dr Jerome Ozkan from the School of Optometry and Vision Science (SOVS) at 鶹madou Sydney.
This pioneering study will investigate whether bacteria commonly found in the eye can migrate to the orbitofrontal cortex - a region of the brain affected in Alzheimer’s Disease. If confirmed, this could reveal a novel “eye-to-brain” pathway for bacterial translocation, opening new avenues for Alzheimer’s prevention and treatment through targeted antibacterial strategies.
“The role of microbes in Alzheimer’s is an emerging area of research Professor Willcox said. Our research looking at the possible contribution of the microbes that reside on the eye to the pathology of Alzheimer’s is a world first, and we are excited to see where the research takes us”
Stay tuned as we follow this promising journey into the microbial mysteries of Alzheimer’s Disease. Updates on the project’s progress and findings will be shared here on our website as they unfold.
