Associate Professor
James St John
Associate Professor James St John is Head of the Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research at Griffith University. The researchers within the Centre are developing therapies to treat acquired brain injury and spinal cord paralysis. With the support of the Motor Accident Insurance Commission, the Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation and the Clem Jones Foundation, a Phase I/IIa clinical trial to repair the injured spinal cord is planned to commence in a few years.
By developing a therapy to treat the paralysed spinal cord, we can then apply similar approaches to treat acquired brain injuries.
We are also determining how viruses and bacteria can enter the brain as severe infections can have devastating consequences. In particular, we are focusing on why cells respond, or do not respond, to different pathogens.
One exciting area of research that is showing great promise for treating these neurological conditions is natural product drug discovery. By selectively activating specific cells using natural products, it may be possible to stimulate the cells of the brain to regenerate and to fight infections.
Affiliations
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery
- Institute for Glycomics
- Menzies Health Institute QLD
Overview
Current Work
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Associate Professor James St John is Head of the Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research. The aim of the Centre is to develop therapies to treat acquired brain injury and spinal cord injury. By combining advanced cell purification techniques with natural product drug discovery and engineering, the team is designing three-dimensional nerve bridges that will help regenerate the brain and spinal cord. Currently, there is a focus on developing a therapy to repair the injured spinal cord and a Phase IIa clinical trial is planned to commence in a few years with the support of the Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation. A/Prof St John also investigates how bacteria can penetrate the brain and spinal cord via entry from the nasal cavity. As bacteria are increasingly associated with diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, it is clear that an understanding of the interaction of bacteria and the brain is crucial for the development of potential therapies. A/Prof St John is also working on developing therapies to repair the injured olfactory (sense of smell) system. The focus of these therapies is to identify natural products that stimulate the neural stem cells and glia to regenerate the olfactory system after widespread injury or infection. |
Related Media Items
News
Expertise Keywords
- Glial cells
- Neuro-degenerative diseases
- Olfactory ensheathing cells
- Spinal cord injury
- Spinal cord repair
Subject Area Codes
- Biomaterials
- Central Nervous System
- Microbiology
- Neurosciences
- Peripheral Nervous System
Country Affiliations
- Australia
Research Publications and Outputs
Recent Publications
Publications: 91 (Other: 91)
Associated with Datasets
Funded Griffith Research
- (2018). Live cell imaging system for infectious agent research
- (2017). A Cure for Spinal Cord Injury
- (2016). Griffith Sciences Imaging and Quantitative Cell Analysis Facility
- (2016). The Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research
- (2015). Manipulating the selective activation of olfactory ensheathing cells for repair of the injured spinal cord
- (2015). Understanding how cells in the olfactory nerve prevent brain infection
- (2015). Understanding how cells in the olfactory nerve prevent brain infection
- (2013). A new treatment for acute spinal cord injury
- (2013). Olympus FluoView 1000 upgrade for Live-Cell Physiology
- (2012). Developing nerve regeneration therapies
- (2012). Integration and migration of glia: the key to nerve regeneration
- (2012). Ratiometric Illumination System for Live-Cell Physiology
- (2010). Understanding How Continual Phagocytosis by Olfactory Ensheathing Cells Promotes Growth and Regeneration of the Primary Olfactory Nervous System
- (2009). Building an artificial nerve fibre for improved transplantation success
- (2009). Pipette puller for micro-injection and patch clamping of cells - Sutter P - 1000
- (2008). Olfactory ensheathing cells: a major contributor to axon guidance? (How does the sense of smell develop and regenerate?)
Engagement and Impact
Learning and Teaching
Current and Past Courses
Research by Higher Degree Supervision or Scholarship
Theses Supervised at Griffith
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(2016) Integration of the Peripheral and Central Nervous System During Development of the Murine Olfactory Nerve Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
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(2017) The Macrophage Inducible C-type Lectin (Mincle) is a Receptor for the Yeast, Candida Albicans Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
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Johana Tello Velasquez (2016) Identification of Natural Compounds that Regulate Glial Cell Proliferation and Migration for Spinal Cord Injury Transplantation Purposes Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
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Melissa Sykes (2014) In Vitro Imaging of Trypanosoma cruzi Host Infection Systems for Evaluation of Compound Activity Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Background
Bio
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Head of the Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research. Dr St John obtained his PhD in Agricultural Science from the University of Melbourne. He then applied his expertise in carbohydrate synthesis and manipulation to determining the role of carbohydrates in the development and regeneration of the mammalian brain. He held positions as an NHMRC post-doctoral fellow at the University of Melbourne and University of Queensland, and has been chief investigator of NHMRC projects grants at the University of Queensland. In 2007 he took up the position of Group Leader of the Olfactory and Spinal Cord Repair Laboratory at the Eskitis Institute at Griffith University. In May 2016 he became Head of the Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research. |