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Past news and events
See what our team was involved in.
24 May 2026
Nearly 50 members of the Macquarie University Dementia Research Centre (DRC), together with family, friends and five enthusiastic dogs, joined thousands of participants at the 2026 Memory Walk and Jog at Sydney Olympic Park in support of dementia awareness and fundraising for Dementia Australia.
Now in its seventh year of participation, the event continues to be one of the DRC’s key community initiatives, bringing researchers, clinicians, supporters and families together for a shared cause – a future without dementia.
Following the walk and run, the DRC group gathered at the beautiful Lake Pavilion in Olympic Park for a sumptuous brunch and a chance to connect outside the laboratory and work environment.
The DRC is proud to have raised $3,519 for Dementia Australia, helping support people living with dementia, their families and carers across Australia.
Thank you to everyone who walked, ran, donated, volunteered and supported the event. Every step brings us closer to turning today’s discoveries into tomorrow’s therapies.
26 November 2025
The Macquarie University Dementia Research Centre (DRC) has received $200,000 in funding from Syngap Research Fund Australia to support research investigating SYNGAP1-related disorders and their links to neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia.
Led by Professor Lars Ittner and Dr Janet van Eersel, the project will explore the interaction between the proteins tau and SynGAP1, which are both important for normal brain function and neuronal communication. SYNGAP1 mutations are estimated to account for one to two per cent of all intellectual disability cases, making it one of the most common genetic causes of intellectual disability.
The research aims to develop innovative gene therapy approaches that could enhance SynGAP1 function while reducing the harmful effects of tau, a key protein implicated in Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia.
More than 1,400 individuals worldwide have currently been identified with SYNGAP1-related disorders, including families in Australia, with diagnoses continuing to rise through improved genetic testing and awareness.
The project highlights the DRC’s commitment to translating discovery research into future therapies through collaborative and community-supported research initiatives.
22 September 2025
Founded by Professor Lars Ittner, Dr Janet van Eersel and Dr Ole Tietz, SynaptraBIO is developing innovative therapies targeting the molecular drivers of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, with the goal of creating patient-friendly disease-modifying treatments.
This milestone also marks an important achievement for the DRC, with SynaptraBIO becoming the second spin-off company established from research conducted at the Centre, following the launch of Celosia Therapeutics in 2023. Together, these companies highlight the DRC’s growing strength in translating fundamental neuroscience discoveries into real-world therapeutic development.
The work reflects the Centre’s mission of 'Turning today’s discoveries into tomorrow’s therapies' through collaborative, translational research spanning discovery science, drug development and clinical application.
Read the full Macquarie University Lighthouse article.
For more information about the DRC’s translational research programs and spinout companies, visit:
28 Nov 2024
We are thrilled to share the announcement by Celosia Therapeutics of the successful completion of a $16.75 million Series A funding round, led by Uniseed with significant contributions from Iomar Barrett and UniSuper. This landmark investment will drive the development of CTx1000, a pioneering gene therapy targeting TDP-43, a protein directly linked to the pathology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
This groundbreaking progress is a testament to the monumental efforts of Professors Lars Ittner and Yazi Diana Ke, our directors. Their 15 years of dedicated research have laid the foundation for a therapy that not only aims to halt ALS progression but also holds the promise to reverse damage and restore lost functions.
This achievement is supported by an incredible team of dedicated staff. Their collective passion and expertise have been integral to advancing this critical work.
17 Sep 2024
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in the Sydney Marathon and to those who generously donated to this year’s Dementia Research Centre (DRC) annual fundraising campaign. Through your combined efforts, we have raised more than $2000, which will contribute toward establishing the PhD scholarship we have been working toward.
A special thanks goes to Julia van der Hoven, who organised the DRC picnic after the run. More than 20 participants joined us in celebrating the marathon’s completion, and we also had the privilege of meeting the co-founder of the Dementia Research Community Charity, making it a memorable day for all.
A special mention goes to Ole, our squad leader, who completed the 42k marathon in an impressive 3:38:57, placing him in the top 30 per cent of the 25,000 runners despite battling a knee injury. We’re also incredibly proud of Yuanyuan Deng for completing her first marathon with an outstanding time of 5:50:00 – an extraordinary accomplishment for a first-time runner.
2024 marks the fifth time that DRC has participated in the Sydney Marathon to raise funds and awareness for dementia research. As dementia continues to emerge as a critical global health priority, the urgency of supporting research has never been greater. There is something each of us can do, even if we’re young and healthy:
- stay active
- maintain a healthy brain
- advocate for dementia research.
If we can’t be scientists working on a cure, we can help accelerate the research by being advocates. We look forward to Sydney Marathon 2025 and invite anyone interested to join us in this vital cause.
13 Sep 2024
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all who participated in the special events during Dementia Month.
The MMS Showcase – Dementia Research was a resounding success, with an impressive turnout from the faculty. The seamless presentations by eight researchers provided an insightful and up-to-date overview of the Dementia Research Centre’s (DRC) work, covering topics such as:
- models and mechanisms
- drug development
- translation and clinical applications.
The event concluded with a compelling talk from Professor Lars Ittner, who shared his vision for the future of dementia research at Macquarie University.
Contact us at dementia@mq.edu.au to request a showcase recording.
We also hosted a BBQ generously sponsored by MQ Health.
We are incredibly thankful to the hospital for sponsoring this event each year since 2019 to raise dementia awareness. This year, we raised more than $600 for the dementia research community, and we are grateful to everyone who contributed to this important cause.
These events were a powerful reminder of the ongoing challenge of finding a cure for dementia, and your participation brings us one step closer to making that a reality. Thank you for your continued support!
17 June 2024
Dr Janet van Eersel, a Senior Research Fellow and Group Leader from the Dementia Research Centre (DRC), has received a US$370,000 grant from CURE Epilepsy to further her work on excitotoxicity.
Excitotoxicity is a phenomenon closely linked to epilepsy, in which nerve cells in the brain receive too much stimulation, leading to cell damage and ultimately nerve cell death.
Dr van Eersel is part of a team at the DRC that discovered the protein tau has a major role to play in enabling excitotoxicity. They also uncovered that the enzyme p38 kinase can modify tau, thereby preventing excitotoxicity. Based on this, the team has developed a gene therapy to boost p38 kinase activity, which they have discovered can reduce abnormal EEG activity and seizure severity in animal models of epilepsy.
The grant will allow Dr van Eersel and her team to refine this gene therapy for use in human patients and prepare it for human clinical trials.
16 Feb 2024
We are so proud to share the news of the latest publication in the prestigious journal Neuron Targeting 14-3-3θ-mediated TDP-43 pathology in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia mice.
This is an amazing milestone of Professor Yazi Ke's work since its discovery in her early postdoctoral days.
The discovery has lead to CTx1000 one of the main gene therapies championed by Celosia Therapeutics, a Macquarie University spin-out company formed in 2022 to help bring groundbreaking work of the University’s neuroscientists from the lab to patients.
We hope to be able to begin in-human trials of CTx1000 within next few years, bringing hopes to many who are waiting for therapy that will work for their condition.