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Lachlan Thompson

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Head of Neural Transplantation, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health

Dr Lachlan Thompson completed a PhD in Neuropharmacology at Monash University before undertaking 5 years of postdoctoral research in the laboratory of world-renowned neuroscientist, Professor Anders Bjorklund, at Lund University in Sweden. In 2008 he moved back to Australia where he now heads the Neurogenesis and Neural Transplantation laboratory as a faculty member at the Florey Neuroscience Institute. His research team is focused on the development of stem cell-based therapies for brain and spinal cord repair, with a special emphasis on Parkinson's disease. He holds a fellowship and a number of major grants from the NHMRC as well as grants from the Motor Neuron Disease Research Institute. Recent publications include articles in the Journal of Neuroscience, Brain and Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. Lachlan is a guest editor at the Journal of Parkinson's disease and has received a number of awards from international granting agencies including the National Parkinson's Disease Foundation in the U.S.

Experience

  • 2008–present
    Laboratory Head, Faculty Member, Florey Neuroscience Institute
  • 2008–present
    Visiting Research Scientist, Brain Repair and Imaging in Neural Systems Unit, Lund University
  • 2002–2007
    Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Division of Neurobiology, Lund University

Education

  • 2002 
    Monash University, PhD in Neuropharmacology
  • 1996 
    University of Melbourne, BSc (Hons) Pharmacology

Publications

  • 2011
    Lentiviral delivery of Meteorin protects striatal neurons against excitotoxicity, Neurobiol Dis
  • 2010
    Gli1 is an Inducing Factor in Generating Floorplate Progenitor Cells from Human Embryonic Stem Cells, Stem Cells
  • 2010
    Midbrain Dopamine Neuronal Subtype Composition in Intra-striatal Grafts of Ventral Mesencephalon, Brain
  • 2009
    Reconstruction of the Nigro-striatal Dopamine Pathway in the Adult Mouse Brain, Eur J Neurosci
  • 2009
    Identification of Transplantable Dopamine Neuron Precursors, Exp Neurol
  • 2009
    Characterization of Meteorin-An Evolutionary Conserved Neurotrophic Factor, J Mol Neurosci
  • 2009
    Efficient production of mesencephalic dopamine neurons by Lmx1a expression in embryonic stem cells, PNAS
  • 2008
    Non-dopaminergic neurons in ventral mesencephalic transplants, Exp Neurol
  • 2008
    In vivo gene delivery to proliferating cells in the striatum, Neurobiol Dis
  • 2006
    Neurogenin2 identifies a transplantable dopamine neuron precursor, Exp Neurol
  • 2005
    In vitro and in vivo properties of Sox1-GFP cells, Eur J Neurosci
  • 2005
    Identification of dopaminergic neurons of nigral and VTA subtypes, J Neurosci
  • 2005
    Functional properties and synaptic integration of genetically labeled dopaminergic neurons, Eur J Neurosci
  • 2005
    Gene marking of human neural stem/precursor cells using green fluorescent proteins, J Gene Med
  • 2004
    Dynamics of transgene expression in a neural stem cell line, Exp Cell Res

Grants and Contracts

  • 2011
    Development of a stem cell therapy for motor neuron disease.
    Role:
    Chief Investigator
    Funding Source:
    Motor Neuron Disease Research Institute
  • 2011
    Career Development Fellowship
    Role:
    Chief Investigator
    Funding Source:
    National Health and Medical Research Council
  • 2010
    Repairing the nigrostriatal pathway.
    Role:
    Chief Investigator
    Funding Source:
    National Health and Medical Research Council
  • 2008
    Identification of new gene pathways in Parkinson's disease.
    Role:
    Chief Investigator
    Funding Source:
    National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Areas

  • Neurosciences (1109)
  • Regenerative Medicine (Incl. Stem Cells And Tissue Engineering) (100404)
  • Neurology And Neuromuscular Diseases (110904)