Dr David Gonsalvez heads up a laboratory focused on how glia, the non-neuronal cells in the brain and spinal cord, develop, contribute to neuronal plasticity and respond following injury. David’s lab also focuses on identifying therapeutic targets that may promote the repair of the nervous system in autoimmune diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
Video transcript
[Music plays and an image of a David Gonsalves walking with his back to us plays on screen.]
David Gonsalves: I study MS, but I study a substance called myelin,
[Image changes to show Professor David Gonsalves, University of Melbourne, standing and talking to the camera]
which is the electrical insulating material of the brain.
[Image changes to show Professor David Gonsalves and a male colleague in a laboratory type setting]
It’s absolutely essential for normal brain function. The NHMRC offers this fantastic program where you can present the NHMRC with an idea and a host lab, and if you’re fortunate enough they will fund your idea.
[Image changes back to show Professor David Gonsalves, standing and talking to the camera]
Getting one of these fellowships has really enabled me to sort of develop an idea of my own and develop some new techniques to look at things in this particular area.
[Image changes to show Professor David Gonsalves and a male colleague in a laboratory type setting]
Because the NHMRC have funded the project, we’ve identified a novel mechanism to potentially promote repair of the insulating system, following disease.
[Image changes back to show Professor David Gonsalves, standing and talking to the camera]
This is a component of the brain that really we don’t understand how it has an impact on overall function. To come up with something that could potentially promote the repair of this in a disease condition and help some people out,
[Image changes to show Professor David Gonsalves sitting in the laboratory, he turns to face the camera and smiles]
it’s not hard to be motivated when you’ve got that going on.
[Music plays and NHMRC logo appears on screen with text beside it: Building a Healthier Australia]
End of transcript.