Adam Walker

Associate Professor Adam Walker is a neurodegeneration researcher at the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), The University of Queensland (UQ), specializing in motor neuron disease (MND)/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). He leads the Walker Lab, focusing on TDP-43 proteinopathies and their role in neurodegenerative disease progression.

• Education: BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry, University of Tasmania; PhD in Neuroscience, University of Melbourne; Postdoctoral Fellowship at University of Pennsylvania.

His research centers on understanding the molecular mechanisms of TDP-43 aggregation, ER stress pathways, and neuroinflammation in ALS/FTD. He employs transgenic mouse models, CRISPR, proteomics, and advanced imaging to identify therapeutic targets.

Recent publications highlight his work on TDP-43-induced microglial activation (2025), glymphatic system dysfunction (2025), and phosphorylation-driven neurodegeneration (2025). He collaborates with institutions like Queensland Emory Drug Discovery Initiative (QEDDI) and FightMND.

• Awards: Ross Maclean Fellowship; NHMRC RD Wright Career Development Fellowship; NHMRC CJ Martin Overseas Biomedical Research Fellowship.

As a principal advisor for PhD students, he supervises projects on TDP-43 post-translational modifications and metabolic flexibility in ALS. His lab partners with global institutions on drug development and gene therapy for neurodegenerative diseases.