Seminar: understanding myelin plasticity

Speaker: Dr Kaylene Young, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania

Date: Tuesday 5 May

Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Venue: 3rd Floor Seminar Room, Building 15, Clayton Campus

Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) are immature cells found in all regions of the adult central nervous system (CNS). OPCs continue to divide throughout life, and while the potential of these cells has been hotly debated, they primarily generate new oligodendrocytes. Oligodendrocytes are the myelinating cells of the CNS, and the cells attacked by Multiple Sclerosis pathology.

Dr Young’s research team has been investigating this novel form of neural plasticity, which she has termed ‘myelin plasticity’, in order to determine its normal function, what drives it, and its therapeutic potential.

Biography:

Dr Kaylene Young completed her PhD at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (University of Melbourne) before spending 18 months assisting in the successful establishment of the Queensland Brain Institute (University of Queensland). 

In 2004 she moved to the United Kingdom to work as a postdoctoral research fellow at University College London (UCL), and was awarded a career development award in stem cell research in 2008. Dr Young joined the Menzies Research Institute Tasmania in 2011 and has been a member since 2012. Dr Young is currently an NHMRC RD Wright Biomedical Research Fellow.

Dr Young is joint winner, along with Associate Prof Jose Polo, of the inaugural Metcalf Prize from the National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia.