Assoc. Prof. Stephen Robinson

Biography Steve was the founding coordinator of the Bachelor of Behavioural Neuroscience degree at Monash University (1999-2003). He was appointed as Deputy Head of the Department of Psychology in 2004, and subsequently as Head of Department in 2005, before attaining his present position as Director of Research for SPPPM in 2006. Prior to Monash, Steve had research positions at Sydney University (1986-1990), The University of Queensland (1991-1997) and The University of New South Wales (1998), including a prestigious ARC QEII Fellowship.

Professional Activities

• Neurobiology of Aging (2005-6)
• Glia (1994-2002)

• NHMRC
• ARC
• American Alzheimer Association
• Canadian Medical Research Council
• Israel Science Foundation
• Swiss National Science Foundation

• 4 international meetings on glia and brain biochemistry (1993, 1995, 2001, 2004)
• 4 international conferences on 'Challenging Views of Alzheimer's Disease' (2001, 2003, 2004, 2005)
• 1 Australasian meeting on 'Brain Cells Under Stress' (2004)

• Australian Neuroscience Society
• The Society for Free Radical Research, Australasia
• International Society for Neurochemistry

Research Interests

Steve's research is guided by the conviction that a better understanding of the involvement of astrocytes will lead to more effective treatments for many neurological disorders. His investigations on glia-neurone interactions, particularly the glutamate-glutamine cycle, have helped to focus international attention on the role of astrocytes in brain function. He has had an international profile as an outspoken critic of the rationale and efficacy of anti-amyloid-? approaches in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Steve directs two research teams: one undertakes laboratory research, the other clinical research. The laboratory team investigates the response of astrocytes to iron-mediated oxidative stress, and their involvement in age-related neurodegenerative disorders such as stroke and Alzheimer's disease. Insights contributed by this research include the discovery of a paradoxical interaction between amyloid-? and metal ions, key roles for astrocytes in accumulating iron and in reducing oxidative stress, and a novel quantitative assay for bio-iron.

The clinical team uses the Subtle Cognitive Impairment Test (SCIT) and other neuropsychological tests to examine cognitive impairment in clinical and community populations including HIV-dementia, cardiac surgery, elderly, fatigue, post-traumatic stress disorder and drug intoxication. These studies are being undertaken from the viewpoint that impairments in cognition are often the consequence of impaired metabolic interactions between astrocytes and neurones, and that ultimately it might be possible to alleviate these impairments with treatments that are directed at astrocytes.

Postgraduate Research Projects

Laboratory-based research projects investigate glia-neuronal interactions with a view of understanding neurodegenerative disorders. Current PhD students are undertaking projects on oxidative stress, iron and hemin metabolism, cholesterol metabolism, amyloid-beta toxicity and glutamine synthetase.

Clinically-based PhD students are investigating aspects of subtle cognitive impairment in a variety of populations including cardiac surgery patients, the elderly, alcohol-intoxicated subjects and children with developmental disorders.

Potential Student Projects

We are interested in understanding the role of astrocytes in brain function and dysfunction. Our focus is on the role of iron and oxidative stress in age-related neurodegenerative disorders such as stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. The research conducted by the team uses cell culture, biochemical assays, in vivo paradigms, and behavioural experiments on animals and humans. We have a wide range of potential student projects and would be happy to discuss them with you.

Teaching

• BNS2011: Brain Structure and Function
• BNS3031: Brain Chemistry and Behaviour

Collaborations

We enjoy fruitful collaborations with many research groups in Australia and overseas. Our current research collaborations include:

• Dr. Greg Yelland: Use of the SCIT in a variety of clinical and community contexts
• Prof. Julian Smith: Use of the SCIT in patients who undergo cardiac surgery
• Dr. Tom Edwards and Dr. Gavin Lambert: Investigation of the role of astrocytes in post-traumatic stress disorder
• Dr. Lisa Martin and Dr. Adam Mechler: Investigations of factors that influence the aggregation of amyloid-beta peptide
• Dr. Stefan Przyborski: The use of 3-dimensional polystyrene inserts for growing brain cells in culture

Grant Support

• Metabolism and neurotoxicity of hemin and hemin-derived iron, NHMRC Project Grant, 2005-2007 (with R Dringen)
• Differential effects of the secondary structure of A? on neuronal viability and synaptic integrity, Alzheimer's Australia Research Ltd Dementia Grant, 2005-2006 (with GM Bishop)
• Hearts and Minds: Assessment of Cognitive Impairment After Cardiac Surgery, Australasian Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons, 2005 (with J Smith, A Almeida, G Yelland, K Bruce)
• PALM Robot-MicroBeam Research Laser-Assisted Microdissection System, NHMRC Equipment Grant, 2006 (with G Drummond, H Schmidt, RJ Summers, C Mitchell, J Bertram, I Clarke & RE Widdop)
• The brain in a dish: Investigation of neural development and function in a three dimensional co-culture system, Monash-Newcastle research collaboration initiative, 2006 (with SA Przyborski and N Cameron)
• Mechanisms of brain oedema: Role of aquaporins and ion transport in astrocytes and endothelial cells, Monash University Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Strategic Grant Scheme, 2005 (with HC Parkington, MC Morganti-Kossmann, RA Lew, M Wintour-Coghlan)

Publications

Robinson, S.R., Hampson, E.C.G.M., Munro, M.N. and Vaney, D.I. (1993). Unidirectional coupling of gap junctions between neuroglia. Science, 262: 1072-1074.

Pow, D.V. and Robinson, S.R. (1994). Glutamate in some retinal neurons is derived solely from glia. Neuroscience, 60: 355-366.

Hertz, L., Dringen, R., Schousboe, A., and Robinson, S.R. (1999). Astrocytes: Glutamate producers for neurons. Journal of Neuroscience Research, 57: 417-428.

Barnett, N.L., Pow, D.V. and Robinson, S.R. (2000) Inhibition of Muller cell glutamine synthetase rapidly impairs the retinal response to light. Glia 30, 64-73.

Robinson, S.R. (2000) Neuronal expression of glutamine synthetase in Alzheimer's disease indicates a profound impairment of metabolic interactions with astrocytes. Neurochemistry Internatonal. 36, 471-482.

Robinson, S.R. and Bishop, G.M. (2002) Amyloid beta as a bioflocculant: Implications for the amyloid hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiology of Aging 23, 1051-1072.

Robinson, S.R., Bishop, G.M. and Münch, G. (2003) Amyloid-ß on trial. BioEssays 25, 283-288.

Riemer, J., Hoepken, H.H., Czerwinska, H., Robinson, S.R. and Dringen, R. (2004) Colorimetric ferrozine-based assay for the quantitation of iron in cultured cells. Analytical Biochemistry, 331, 370-375.

Fernandes, S.P., Edwards, T.M., Ng, K.T. and Robinson, S.R. (2006) HIV-1 protein GP120 rapidly impairs memory in chicks by interrupting the glutamate-glutamine cycle. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, Epub. May 19, 2006.

Liddell, J.R., Hoepken, H.H., Crack, P., Robinson, S.R. and Dringen, R. (2006) Glutathione peroxidase and GSH are required to protect mouse astrocytes from iron-mediated hydrogen peroxide toxicity. Journal of Neuroscience Research, Epub. May 23, 2006.

Patents

Yelland, Robinson, Hutchinson, Friedman. Detecting subtle cognitive impairment. National Phase of PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty). International filing date: 7th January, 2004. There are three patents pending:

Australia: AU2004203679
Europe: ET4700416.3
USA: US10-541896