1. Current research activities

Over the past five years my research has focused on five main areas:

Development of new types of chimeric peripheral nerve grafts and development of cell/polymer hybrid structures for use in CNS repair

Analysis of mechanisms underlying the promotion of axonal growth and regeneration

The role of neurotrophic factors in neuronal viability and regeneration of processes

The development of viral vector therapies for gene transfer to neurons and glia

The role of glia and inflammation in neurodegeneration and neuropathology

2. Keywords

CNS regeneration, gene therapy, transplantation, growth factors, visual system, spinal cord, neurotrauma, tissue engineering.

3. End-user applications


• Better treatment of patients with brain or spinal cord injury
• Better understanding of neurodegenerative disease


4. Key publications

I.	Cui, Q. and Harvey, A.R. (1995) At least two mechanisms are involved in the death of retinal ganglion cells following target ablation in neonatal rats. J. Neurosci. 15: 8143-8155.
II.	Woerly, S., Plant, G.W. and Harvey, A.R. (1996) Neural tissue engineering: from polymer to biohybrid organs. Biomaterials, 17: 301-310.
III.	Loh, N.K., Woerly, S., Bunt, S.M., Wilton, S. and Harvey, A.R. (2001) The regrowth of axons within tissue defects in the CNS is promoted by implanted hydrogel matrices that contain BDNF and CNTF producing fibroblasts. Exp. Neurol., 170: 72-84.
IV.	Cui, Q., Pollett, M.A., Symons, N.A., Plant, G.W. and Harvey, A.R. (2003) A new approach to CNS repair using chimeric peripheral nerve grafts. J. Neurotrauma 20: 17-31
V.	Cui, Q., Yip, H.K., Zhao, R.C.H., So, K-F. and Harvey, A.R. (2003) Intraocular elevation of cyclic AMP potentiates CNTF-induced regeneration of adult retinal ganglion cell axons. Mol. Cell Neurosci. 22: 49-61.

5. Outreach activities

I was a nominated member of the Western Australian Reproductive Technology Council (1995-2003) and am currently a deputy member of the Council (2003-2006).

I was a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee, Western Australian Reproductive Technology Council (1996-2003) and am currently Chair of this Committee (2003-2006).

I was a member of the WA Animal Resources Authority (Animal Resources Centre, Murdoch) (1999-2002)

I am a member of the Board of the Neurological Council of WA

I have given many interviews to newspapers and to radio and television. In 2002 I was one of four invited panellists who discussed the future of the brain in sickness and in health at the 10th Australian Science Festival, Canberra. This Forum was chaired by Robyn Williams and was broadcast on ABC Radio National’s Science Show.

Over the years I have received a number of invitations to talk to non-scientific organizations, community groups and support associations about my area of research, summarizing recent advances in my own lab and in other labs around the world. These include:

The Science Teachers’ Association of WA
The Australian Institute of Public Policy
WA Parkinson’s Association (twice)
Head Injured Society of WA
Perth Legacy
Australian Brain Foundation (WA)
Paraplegic-Quadriplegic Association of WA
Jungian Society
Head Injury Interest Group, Selby Centre, Health Dept of WA
Princess Margaret Hospital – Professional Development Midwife Programme
Reproductive Technology Council
Rotary Clubs
Catholic Doctors’ Association
X Club, University House, Perth
Christchurch Grammar School, Centre for Bioethics

I have twice been asked to talk at ANZAAS meetings (once in Melbourne and once here in Perth).

6. Key organisation membership

None as Yet

7. Early career researcher?

No.

8. Young investigator?

No.

9. Skills and expertise


• transplantation
• gene therapy
• neural repair
• cell death
  
10. Specialist equipment and infrastructure


• None as Yet 


11. Contact Details 

    Professor Alan Harvey
    Address: 35 Stirling Highway Crawley WA 6009
    Country: Australia
    Phone: +61 8 6488 3294
    Fax: +61 8 6488 1051
    Email: arharvey@anhb.uwa.edu.au
    
    

© 2004

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