Leanne is researching mitochondrial dynamics in iPSC-derived models of Motor Neurone Disease
Leanne Jiang graduated from the University of Western Australia (UWA) in 2017 with a BSc Neuroscience Honours.
In 2018, she began a PhD under the inaugural BioZone program at UWA supervised by A/Prof Jennifer Rodger (WA), Prof Anthony Akkari (WA), Prof Alan Harvey (WA), Prof Merrilee Needham (WA), and A/Prof Shyuan Ngo (QLD). Her PhD thesis investigates aberrant mitochondrial dynamics in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In Perth, Leanne focussed on clinical aspects of ALS, identifying genetic polymorphisms, and designing antisense oligonucleotide therapeutics.
In 2021, Leanne began a year long research visit at AIBN to investigate mitochondrial dynamics in iPSC-derived lower motor neurons using live-cell imaging techniques.
From late 2022, Leanne is continuing her investigation into the relationship between mitochondria and toxic protein clumps, and methods to manipulate or prevent toxic aggregation leading to motor neuron death.
Industry Engagement and Collaborations
Perron Institute (WA)
Qiao Group (AIBN, UQ)
Key Publications
2022 Jiang, L & Ngo, ST Altered TDP-43 Structure and Function: Key Insights into Aberrant RNA, Mitochondrial, and Cellular and Systemic Metabolism in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
| Featured projects | Duration |
|---|---|
| Metabolism and skeletal muscle pathology in MND | 2015–2025 |
| Developing models to understand and treat MND using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) | 2018–2025 |
| Pre-clinical studies to decipher the causes of, and treatments for MND | 2012–2025 |