Professor Brett Garner leads the Cellular Lipidology Group at NeuRA. He obtained his PhD from Sydney University Faculty of Medicine in 1996 and has extensive postdoctoral research experience in cellular lipidology; including as a Wellcome Research Fellow in the Department of Biochemistry at Oxford University. His research focus is on the transport, metabolism and function of lipids including cholesterol and glycosphingolipids (GSLs) with an emphasis on understanding how lipid homeostasis contributes to neuronal function and degeneration; particularly in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. This research is predominantly at a molecular and cellular level and is supplemented by studies of human brain tissue. Since an overriding goal is to develop novel neuroprotective pharmacological strategies, animal studies are also conducted that focus on control of lipid homeostasis in the central nervous system and the inhibition of amyloid-beta deposition in the brain. Professor Garner also has a strong research record in the field of vascular disease and his work in this area is focused the regulation of atherosclerosis via inhibition of sphingolipid synthesis. Atherosclerosis is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, stroke and vascular dementia.
