معرفی
Julie Atkin is a Professor in Neurobiology at the Macquarie Medical School, affiliated with the Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre at Macquarie University. She specializes in cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)/Motor Neuron Disease (MND) and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). Her work focuses on cellular trafficking, DNA damage response, and the role of protein disulfide isomerases in neurodegeneration.
Her research spans over two decades, with projects funded by institutions like FightMND and collaborations with international teams. Key projects include investigating TDP-43 pathology, ER-Golgi trafficking dysregulation, and therapeutic targets for ALS/FTD. Notable achievements include identifying molecular hallmarks of ageing in ALS and elucidating the protective role of PDI family proteins against mutant TDP-43.
Dr. Atkin has published extensively in high-impact journals like NeuroMolecular Medicine and Molecular Neurobiology, with over 100 articles and a h-index of 41. Her work bridges basic science and translational research, targeting mechanisms of neurodegeneration for therapeutic development. She also mentors early-career researchers through fellowship programs.
Her lab is part of the Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre, collaborating globally to advance understanding of ALS/FTD pathogenesis. Ongoing projects explore gene therapy, DNA damage repair deficits, and novel drug candidates targeting TDP-43 and C9orf72 pathways.
