Contact Details
Development and maturation of the cerebral cortex
The primary focus of the group is the development and maturation of the cerebral cortex of primates and other mammals. The adult cerebral cortex is formed as a mosaic of interconnected areas, but how the multiple of areas emerge seamlessly during ontogenesis and establish connections with other brain areas has yet to be determined. In order to address these issues, the laboratory has been focussing on the development of the visual cortex, which includes areas that are responsible for visual perception and visual guidance of behaviour. Understanding the early development of this important region will elucidate mechanisms that are relevant not only for understanding normal brain function, but also for clarifying the functional bases of disturbances of visual perception that emerge as a consequence of perinatal lesions (eg those associated with premature delivery, complications during labour, childhood accidents), abnormal visual experience in childhood, and neurological diseases.
A/Professor James Bourne completed his undergraduate degree at Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine, London and his PhD in Neuropharmacology at King’s College, London, before moving to Australia to undertake a Postdoctoral position. In 2003 he was awarded an ARC Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship, then in 2007 an NHMRC RD Wright (CDA II). In the same year he also received an NHMRC Award for Excellence in Health and Medical Research. A/Professor Bourne now has his own group in the newly established Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute focussing on the development and repair of the mammalian visual cortex; looking at this from the cell through to the system.
Highlight publications
|
Retrograde transneuronal degeneration in the retina and lateral geniculate nucleus of the V1 lesioned marmoset monkey. Brain Struct Funct Jan 2015;220(1):351-360. doi: 10.1007/s00429-013-0659-7. Epub 2013 Oct 31. |
Retrograde transneuronal degeneration in the retina and lateral geniculate nucleus of the V1 lesioned marmoset monkey. |
|
The Guidance Molecule Semaphorin3A is Differentially Involved in the Arealization of the Mouse and Primate Cereb Cortex. 2014 Nov;24(11):2884-98. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bht141. Epub 2013 May 24.
|
The Guidance Molecule Semaphorin3A is Differentially Involved in the Arealization of the Mouse and Primate |
|
Endogenous neurogenesis following ischaemic brain injury: insights for therapeutic strategies. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2014 Nov;56:4-19. doi: 10.1016/j.biocel.2014.08.003. Epub 2014 Aug 14. |
Endogenous neurogenesis following ischaemic brain injury: insights for therapeutic strategies. |
|
A reproducible and translatable model of focal ischema in the visual cortex of infant and adult marmoset monkeys. Brain Path 2014 Sept;24(5):459-474. doi: 10.1111/bpa.12129. Epub 2014 Feb 28. |
A reproducible and translatable model of focal ischema in the visual cortex of infant and adult marmoset monkeys. |
|
EphA4 is associated with multiple cell types in the marmoset monkey primary visual cortex throughout the lifespan. Eur J Neurosci. 2014 May;39(9):1419-28. doi: 10.1111/ejn.12514. Epub 2014 Mar 11.
|
EphA4 is associated with multiple cell types in the marmoset monkey primary visual cortex throughout the lifespan. |