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Contact Details

Phone
+64 3 479 8821
Email
joanna.williams@otago.ac.nz
Position
Associate Professor
Department
Department of Anatomy
Qualifications
BSc MSc PhD (Otago)
Research summary
Molecular Neurobiology

Research

Our research covers three main areas:

Memory mechanisms: Using modern molecular biological, bioinformatics and proteomic techniques we have built up a portfolio of studies focused on the regulation of key glutamate receptors involved in memory processes as well as how gene and microRNA expressions are altered in response to memory events. Understanding how memories are formed will lead to a greater understanding of the molecular pathology underlying aging-related memory loss and diseases of the brain.

Amyloid precursor protein: The lab is intensively researching a protein called sAPPα. Unlike amyloid-?, the pathological agent in Alzheimer's Disease, sAPPα, has neuroprotective and memory enhancing functions and the group aims to uncover both molecular mechanisms underlying these positive functions and the specific regions within sAPPα which confer these properties as these may have therapeutic potential.

Biomarkers Discovery: We have added a new dimension to our research portfolio which aims to identify biomarkers within plasma which may be predictive of neurological diseases. Currently this work focuses on Alzheimer's Disease, Schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease.

Joanna's research expertise includes molecular profiling - Western blotting, qPCR, qPCR arrays, microarrays, epigenetics assay, bioinformatics, human and animal models of Alzheimer's disease.

For more details:
Neuroscience Research Group

Publications

Guévremont, D., Roy, J., Cutfield, N. J., & Williams, J. M. (2023). MicroRNAs in Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and diagnostic accuracy meta-analysis. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 16272. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-43096-9 Journal - Research Article

Tippett, L. J., Cawston, E. E., Morgan, C. A., Melzer, T. R., Brickell, K. L., Ilse, C., … Le Heron, C., Buchanan, S., … Anderson, T. J., Williams, J. M., Cutfield, N. J., Dalrymple-Alford, J. C., … the NZ-DPRC. (2023). Dementia Prevention Research Clinic: A longitudinal study investigating factors influencing the development of Alzheimer’s disease in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 53(4), 489-510. doi: 10.1080/03036758.2022.2098780 Journal - Research Article

Ryan, B., O'Mara Baker, A., Ilse, C., Brickell, K. L., Kersten, H. M., Williams, J. M., … Curtis, M. A. (2023). The New Zealand Genetic Frontotemporal Dementia Study (FTDGeNZ): A longitudinal study of pre-symptomatic biomarkers. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 53(4), 511-531. doi: 10.1080/03036758.2022.2101483 Journal - Research Article

Spoelstra, H. E., Westlake, C. M., & Williams, J. M. (2022). The relationship between secreted amyloid precursor protein alpha (sAPPα) and the cell surface expression of NMDA glutamate receptors: A time-course study. In L. Wilson, H. Harcombe, P. Jayakaran, L. Burga, J. Antony, K. Morgaine, M. Garelja, A. Middleton, M. Anwar & T. Milne (Eds.), Proceedings of the 264th Otago Medical School Research Society (OMSRS) Meeting: Masters/Honours Student Speaker Awards. Dunedin, New Zealand: OMSRS. Retrieved from https://ourarchive.otago.ac.nz/handle/10523/12839 Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Lamichhane, R., Williams, J., Fouille, R., Tirand, C., Wedlock, L., Hannaway, R., & Ussher, J. E. (2022, August). Co-stimulatory function of 4-1BB during MAIT cell activation by bacteria. Poster session presented at the Webster Centre for Infectious Diseases Satellite Meeting: Queenstown Research Week, Queenstown, New Zealand. Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

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