Profiles

Brad Sutherland

UTAS Home Associate Professor Brad Sutherland

Brad Sutherland

Associate Professor

Room MS2, Level 4, 437a , Medical Sciences Precinct

+61 3 6226 7634 (phone)

Brad.Sutherland@utas.edu.au

Associate Professor Brad Sutherland is an NHMRC Boosting Dementia Fellow in the Discipline of Medical Sciences, Tasmanian School of Medicine in the College of Health and Medicine. His main research interests focus on the regulation of the microvascular system, how it is controlled at the cellular and molecular level, and how this becomes dysfunctional in diseases such as stroke and dementia. He also teaches Neuroscience and Physiology into a number of units as part of the BMedRes degree.

Biography

Brad completed his PhD at the University of Otago (Dunedin, New Zealand) where he investigated the activation of inflammatory pathways in the brain after stroke. After a small stint as a Teaching Fellow in Pharmacology & Toxicology (University of Otago), he took up a Post-doctoral Research Fellowship with the Acute Stroke Programme, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford (Oxford, UK). During his time in Oxford, he formed an interest in the regulation of blood flow in the brain in health and disease. This led to studies investigating the interaction between brain tissue and the blood vessels, the signalling mechanisms that controlled energy delivery to the brain, and how these were disrupted in conditions such as stroke.

In mid-2016, Brad arrived at the University of Tasmania to continue his research into cerebral blood flow and brain diseases such as stroke and dementia. He continues to use a wide range of in vitro and in vivo models to assess mechanisms of neurovascular regulation and models of disease.

Career summary

Qualifications

Degree

Thesis title

University

Country

Date

PhD

Heme oxygenase and the use of tin protoporphyrin in hypoxia-ischaemia-induced brain damage: mechanisms of action

University of Otago

New Zealand

2009

BSc (1st Class Hons)

The neuroprotective effect of epigallocatechin gallate following hypoxia-ischaemia-induced brain damage and its mechanisms of action

University of Otago

New Zealand

2004

Memberships

Professional practice

  • The International Society for Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism (ISCBFM)
  • Australasian Neuroscience Society (ANS)
  • Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR)
  • NHMRC National Institute for Dementia Research (NNIDR)

Teaching

Pharmacology, Neuroscience, Neurological diseases, Biochemistry, Physiology, Neuropathology

Teaching expertise

Brad’s expertise is in the teaching of undergraduate Pharmacology, Neuroscience and Physiology. He also has experience in teaching Biochemistry and Neuropathology and coordinating Pharmacology units. He has also supervised both undergraduate and postgraduate research projects.

Teaching responsibility

Brad regularly contributes to the teaching of:

  • Pharmacology (CSA230, CSA232, CSA234)
  • Pharmacology (CSA231, CSA233, CSA235)
  • Neuroscience A (CHP311)
  • Neuroscience B (CHP312)
  • Applied Physiology (CHP330)
  • Research Project in Health and Disease (CBA344)

View more on AssocProf Brad Sutherland in WARP

Expertise

Over many years, Brad has developed skills in a range of techniques to investigate blood flow in the brain, and to perform in vitro and in vivo experiments. Specifically, he has experience with multiple stroke models including intraluminal filament middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model and hypoxia-ischaemia model. He also uses in vitro models of stroke on primary cells or cell lines in culture by exposing cells to oxygen and glucose deprivation. He uses a number of transgenic mouse lines to answer biological questions and employs a range of techniques including light, epifluorescence, confocal and two-photon microscopy, immunohistochemistry, histology, molecular biology, and animal behaviour. He also has experience with animal MRI. These techniques can be utilised to investigate the biological basis of a range of neurological disorders.

Research Themes

Brad’s research aligns to the University’s research theme of Better Health. His research interests include understanding how blood flow is regulated in the brain, identifying how vascular dysfunction can lead to multiple brain diseases such as stroke, dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. He also focuses on the discovery of novel therapeutic targets that can prevent vascular dysfunction to stop disease progression in the brain. He utilises a wide range of in vitro and in vivo models to assess brain function and brain disease.

Blood flow in the brain is controlled by the neurovascular unit, which is a complex interplay of cells that communicate in order to increase blood - and therefore energy – supply in areas where brain activity is occurring. This is a tightly coupled process that uses complex paracrine signalling mechanisms and is prone to injury in disease. Brad is currently investigating the role of multiple cell types in the neurovascular unit and the mechanisms by which neurovascular dysfunction can occur.

Recently, Brad has developed an interest in the microcirculation, specifically a cell type called pericytes which exclusively reside on capillaries. These cells are involved in many brain processes including regulating blood flow in the brain and maintenance of the blood-brain barrier and may contribute to injury and repair of a number of diseases. Brad’s ongoing studies are examining mechanisms of pericyte dysfunction following stroke and dementia.

Collaboration

Brad is actively involved in a number of collaborations. Locally, Brad works closely with Prof David Howells, Dr Dino Premilovac and Prof Lisa Foa within the School of Medicine, A/Prof Kaylene Young in the Menzies and A/Prof Anna King and A/Prof Alison Canty in the Wicking. At a national level, Brad is a fellow of the NHMRC National Institute for Dementia Research which networks across the leading researchers in Dementia across Australia. He is also a member of StrokeCore which is a consortium of pre-clinical stroke researchers within Australia. Internationally, Brad continues to collaborate with Prof Alastair Buchan, A/Prof James Kennedy, A/Prof Nicola Sibson, A/Prof Gabriele De Luca and Dr Karl Morten from the University of Oxford (UK) on a range of stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and metabolism-related projects. He has also collaborated on blood flow-related projects with Prof David Attwell (University College London, UK), Prof Brian MacVicar (University of British Columbia, Canada), Prof Martin Lauritzen (University of Copenhagen, Denmark), Dr Clare Howarth (University of Sheffield, UK), Dr Chris Martin (University of Sheffield, UK) and Dr Catherine Hall (University of Sussex, UK).

Fields of Research

  • Central nervous system (320903)
  • Cardiology (incl. cardiovascular diseases) (320101)
  • Cellular nervous system (320902)
  • Systems physiology (320803)
  • Neurology and neuromuscular diseases (320905)
  • Cellular interactions (incl. adhesion, matrix, cell wall) (310105)
  • Cell physiology (320801)
  • Basic pharmacology (321401)
  • Signal transduction (310111)
  • Foetal development and medicine (321501)
  • Cell development, proliferation and death (310102)
  • Fine arts (360602)
  • Sensory systems (320907)
  • Autonomic nervous system (320901)
  • Nanomedicine (320604)
  • Cell neurochemistry (310104)
  • Biostatistics (490502)
  • Respiratory diseases (320103)
  • Nuclear medicine (320215)
  • Structural biology (incl. macromolecular modelling) (310112)
  • Obstetrics and gynaecology (321502)
  • Animal physiology - cell (310909)
  • Pharmaceutical sciences (321405)
  • Exercise physiology (420702)
  • Ophthalmology (321201)
  • Surgery (320226)
  • Gene expression (incl. microarray and other genome-wide approaches) (310505)
  • Neurosciences (320999)
  • Cancer cell biology (321101)
  • Animal physiology - systems (310910)
  • Proteomics and intermolecular interactions (excl. medical proteomics) (310109)
  • Law, science and technology (480408)
  • Molecular medicine (340406)
  • Innate immunity (320407)
  • Cellular immunology (320404)

Research Objectives

  • Clinical health (200199)
  • Expanding knowledge in the health sciences (280112)
  • Expanding knowledge in the biomedical and clinical sciences (280103)
  • Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences (280102)
  • Treatment of human diseases and conditions (200105)
  • Diagnosis of human diseases and conditions (200101)
  • Efficacy of medications (200102)
  • Neonatal and child health (200506)
  • The creative arts (130103)
  • Prevention of human diseases and conditions (200104)
  • Law reform (230405)
  • Legal processes (230406)

Publications

Dr Sutherland publishes regularly in high impact journals. He has more than 35 peer-reviewed papers including papers in Nature, Brain and Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism. He reviews grant applications for a number of granting bodies as well papers for a wide range of neuroscience journals.

Total publications

66

Journal Article

(56 outputs)
YearCitationAltmetrics
2023Cashion JM, Young K, Sutherland BA, 'How does neurovascular unit dysfunction contribute to multiple sclerosis?', Neurobiology of Disease, 178 pp. 1-17. ISSN 0969-9961 (2023) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106028 [eCite] [Details]

Co-authors: Cashion JM; Young K

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2023Kandzija N, Rahbar M, Davis Jones G, Motta-Mejia C, Zhang W, et al., 'Placental capillary pericytes release excess extracellular vesicles under hypoxic conditions inducing a pro-angiogenic profile in term pregnancy', Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 651 pp. 20-29. ISSN 0006-291X (2023) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.02.015 [eCite] [Details]

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2023Morris GP, Gowing EK, Courtney JM, Coombe HE, King NE, et al., 'Vascular perfusion differs in two distinct PDGFRβ-positive zones within the ischemic core of male mice 2 weeks following photothrombotic stroke', Journal of neuroscience research, (101) Article 278-292. ISSN 1097-4547 (2023) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25146 [eCite] [Details]

Co-authors: Morris GP; Courtney JM; Coombe HE; King NE; Howells DW

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2023Premilovac D, Sutherland BA, 'Acute and long-term changes in blood flow after ischemic stroke: challenges and opportunities', Neural Regeneration Research, 18, (4) pp. 799-800. ISSN 1876-7958 (2023) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.350699 [eCite] [Details]

Co-authors: Premilovac D

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2022Courtney J, Morris GP, Cleary EM, Howells DW, Sutherland BA, 'Automated quantification of multiple cell types in fluorescently labeled whole mouse brain sections using QuPath', Bio-protocol, 12, (13) pp. 1-12. ISSN 2331-8325 (2022) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.21769/BioProtoc.4459 [eCite] [Details]

Co-authors: Courtney J; Morris GP; Cleary EM; Howells DW

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2022King NE, Courtney J-M, Brown LS, Foster CG, Cashion JM, et al., 'Pharmacological PDGFRβ inhibitors imatinib and sunitinib cause human brain pericyte death in vitro', Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 444 pp. 1-9. ISSN 0041-008X (2022) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2022.116025 [eCite] [Details]

Co-authors: King NE; Courtney J-M; Brown LS; Foster CG; Cashion JM; Attrill EH; Premilovac D; Howells DW

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2022Larkin JR, Foo LS, Sutherland BA, Khrapitchev A, Tee YK, 'Magnetic resonance pH imaging in stroke - combining the old with the new', Frontiers in Physiology, 12 pp. 1-8. ISSN 1664-042X (2022) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.793741 [eCite] [Details]

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2022Msayib Y, Harston GWJ, Ray KJ, Larkin JR, Sutherland BA, et al., 'Quantitative chemical exchange saturation transfer imaging of nuclear overhauser effects in acute ischemic stroke', Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 88, (1) pp. 341-356. ISSN 0740-3194 (2022) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29187 [eCite] [Details]

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2022Russell AAM, Sutherland BA, Landowski LM, Macleod M, Howells DW, 'What has preclinical systematic review ever done for us?', BMJ Open Science, 6, (1) Article e100219. ISSN 2398-8703 (2022) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1136/bmjos-2021-100219 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 1

Co-authors: Russell AAM; Landowski LM; Howells DW

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2022Zhu W, Neuhaus A, Beard DJ, Sutherland BA, DeLuca GC, 'Neurovascular coupling mechanisms in health and neurovascular uncoupling in Alzheimer's disease', Brain: A Journal of Neurology, 145, (7) pp. 2276-2292. ISSN 0006-8950 (2022) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac174 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 3Web of Science - 4

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2021Beard DJ, Hadley G, Sutherland BA, Buchan AM, 'Commentary: Rapalink-1 increased infarct size in early cerebral ischemia-reperfusion with increased blood-brain barrier disruption', Frontiers in Physiology, 12 pp. 1-3. ISSN 1664-042X (2021) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.706528 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 5

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2021Courtney J-M, Morris GP, Cleary EM, Howells DW, Sutherland BA, 'An automated approach to improve the quantification of pericytes and microglia in whole mouse brain sections', eNeuro, 8, (6) pp. 1-11. ISSN 2373-2822 (2021) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1523/ENEURO.0177-21.2021 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 5Web of Science - 5

Co-authors: Courtney J-M; Morris GP; Cleary EM; Howells DW

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2021Foster CG, Landowski LM, Sutherland BA, Howells DW, 'Differences in fatigue-like behavior in the lipopolysaccharide and poly I:C inflammatory animal models', Physiology and Behavior, 232 pp. 1-10. ISSN 0031-9384 (2021) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113347 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 4Web of Science - 4

Co-authors: Foster CG; Landowski LM; Howells DW

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2020Beard DJ, Brown L, Sutherland BA, 'The rise of pericytes in neurovascular research', Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism, 40, (12) pp. 2366-2373. ISSN 0271-678X (2020) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1177/0271678X20958497 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 4Web of Science - 5

Co-authors: Brown L

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2020Courtney JM, Sutherland BA, 'Harnessing the stem cell properties of pericytes to repair the brain', Neural regeneration research, 15, (6) pp. 1021-1022. ISSN 1673-5374 (2020) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.270301 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 9Web of Science - 7

Co-authors: Courtney JM

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2020Foo LS, Larkin JR, Sutherland BA, Ray KJ, Yap W-S, et al., 'Study of common quantification methods of amide proton transfer magnetic resonance imaging for ischemic stroke detection', Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 85, (4) pp. 2188-2200. ISSN 0740-3194 (2020) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28565 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 8Web of Science - 8

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2020Landowski LM, Niego B, Sutherland BA, Hagemeyer CE, Howells DW, 'Applications of Nanotechnology in the Diagnosis and Therapy of Stroke', Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis, 46, (5) pp. 592-605. ISSN 0094-6176 (2020) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-3399568 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 14Web of Science - 12

Co-authors: Landowski LM; Howells DW

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2020Premilovac D, Blackwood SJ, Ramsay C, Keske MA, Howells DW, et al., 'Transcranial contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the rat brain reveals substantial hyperperfusion acutely post-stroke', Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism pp. 1-15. ISSN 0271-678X (2020) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1177/0271678X20905493 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 5Web of Science - 5

Co-authors: Premilovac D; Howells DW

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2020Sutherland BA, Hadley G, Alexopoulou Z, Lodge TA, Neuhaus AA, et al., 'Growth differentiation factor-11 causes neurotoxicity during ischemia in vitro', Frontiers in Neurology pp. 1-8. ISSN 1664-2295 (2020) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.01023 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 4Web of Science - 3

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2019Attrill EH, Ramsay C, Ross R, Richards S, Sutherland BA, et al., 'Metabolic-vascular coupling in skeletal muscle: a potential role for capillary pericytes?', Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 47, (3) pp. 520-528. ISSN 0305-1870 (2019) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1111/1440-1681.13208 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 5Web of Science - 5

Co-authors: Attrill EH; Ross R; Richards S; Premilovac D

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2019Beard DJ, Hadley G, Thurley N, Howells DW, Sutherland BA, et al., 'The effect of rapamycin treatment on cerebral ischemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of animal model studies', International journal of stroke, 14, (2) pp. 137-145. ISSN 1747-4930 (2019) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1177/1747493018816503 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 19Web of Science - 17

Co-authors: Howells DW

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2019Brown LS, Foster CG, Courtney JM, King NE, Howells DW, et al., 'Pericytes and Neurovascular Function in the Healthy and Diseased Brain', Frontiers in cellular neuroscience pp. 1-9. ISSN 1662-5102 (2019) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00282 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 156Web of Science - 152

Co-authors: Brown LS; Foster CG; Courtney JM; King NE; Howells DW

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2019Hadley G, Beard DJ, Alexopoulou Z, Sutherland BA, Buchan AM, 'Investigation of the novel mTOR inhibitor AZD2014 in neuronal ischemia', Neuroscience Letters, 706 pp. 223-230. ISSN 0304-3940 (2019) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2019.05.023 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 5Web of Science - 5

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2019Hadley G, Beard DJ, Couch Y, Neuhaus AA, Adriaanse BA, et al., 'Rapamycin in ischemic stroke: old drug, new tricks?', Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 39, (1) pp. 20-35. ISSN 0271-678X (2019) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1177/0271678X18807309 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 28Web of Science - 28

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2018Hadley G, Neuhaus AA, Couch Y, Beard DJ, Adriaanse BA, et al., 'The role of the endoplasmic reticulum stress response following cerebral ischemia', International journal of stroke, 13, (4) pp. 379-390. ISSN 1747-4930 (2018) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1177/1747493017724584 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 20Web of Science - 21

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2017Howarth C, Sutherland BA, Choi HB, Martin C, Lind BL, et al., 'A critical role for astrocytes in hypercapnic vasodilation in brain', Journal of Neuroscience, 37, (9) pp. 2403-2414. ISSN 0270-6474 (2017) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0005-16.2016 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 45Web of Science - 44

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2017Neuhaus AA, Couch Y, Sutherland BA, Buchan AM, 'Novel method to study pericyte contractility and responses to ischaemia in vitro using electrical impedance', Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 37, (6) pp. 2013-2024. ISSN 0271-678X (2017) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1177/0271678X16659495 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 27Web of Science - 28

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2017Percie du Sert N, Alfieri A, Allan SM, Carswell HV, Deuchar GA, et al., 'The IMPROVE Guidelines (Ischaemia Models: Procedural Refinements Of in Vivo Experiments)', Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 37, (11) pp. 3488-3517. ISSN 0271-678X (2017) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1177/0271678X17709185 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 89Web of Science - 75

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2017Sutherland BA, Fordsmann JC, Martin C, Neuhaus AA, Witgen BM, et al., 'Multi-modal assessment of neurovascular coupling during cerebral ischaemia and reperfusion using remote middle cerebral artery occlusion', Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 37, (7) pp. 2494-2508. ISSN 1559-7016 (2017) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1177/0271678X16669512 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 6Web of Science - 5

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2016Sutherland BA, Neuhaus AA, Couch Y, Balami JS, DeLuca GC, et al., 'The transient intraluminal filament middle cerebral artery occlusion model as a model of endovascular thrombectomy in stroke', Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism, 36, (2) pp. 363-369. ISSN 0271-678X (2016) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1177/0271678X15606722 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 51Web of Science - 49

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2015Balami JS, Hadley G, Sutherland BA, Karbalai H, Buchan AM, 'Reply: Intravenous thrombolysis for ischaemic strokes: a call for reappraisal', Brain, 138, (4) pp. e342. ISSN 0006-8950 (2015) [Letter or Note in Journal]

DOI: 10.1093/brain/awu283 [eCite] [Details]

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2015Balami JS, Sutherland BA, Edmunds LD, Grunwald IQ, Neuhaus AA, et al., 'A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of endovascular thrombectomy compared with best medical treatment for acute ischemic stroke', International journal of stroke, 10, (8) pp. 1168-1178. ISSN 1747-4930 (2015) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1111/ijs.12618 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 78Web of Science - 77

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2015Buchan AM, Karbalai HG, Sutherland BA, 'The future of stroke therapy must not be mired by past arguments', The Lancet, 386, (9994) pp. 654. ISSN 0140-6736 (2015) [Letter or Note in Journal]

[eCite] [Details]

2015Redzic ZB, Rabie T, Sutherland BA, Buchan AM, 'Differential effects of paracrine factors on the survival of cells of the neurovascular unit during oxygen glucose deprivation', International journal of stroke, 10, (3) pp. 407-414. ISSN 1747-4930 (2015) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1111/ijs.12197 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 22Web of Science - 21

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2014Balami JS, Hadley G, Sutherland BA, Karbalai H, Buchan AM, 'Reply: Thrombolysis in acute ischaemic stroke', Brain, 137, (1) pp. e282. ISSN 0006-8950 (2014) [Letter or Note in Journal]

DOI: 10.1093/brain/awu066 [eCite] [Details]

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2014Hall CN, Reynell C, Gesslein B, Hamilton NB, Mishra A, et al., 'Capillary pericytes regulate cerebral blood flow in health and disease', Nature, 508, (7494) pp. 55-60. ISSN 0028-0836 (2014) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1038/nature13165 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 1124Web of Science - 1091

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2014Neuhaus AA, Rabie T, Sutherland BA, Papadakis M, Hadley G, et al., 'Importance of preclinical research in the development of neuroprotective strategies for ischemic stroke', JAMA neurology, 71, (5) pp. 634-639. ISSN 2168-6149 (2014) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2013.6299 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 48Web of Science - 41

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2014Sutherland BA, Buchan AM, 'The life of Bo K. Siesjo, MD, PhD, 1930-2013', International Journal of Stroke, 9, (1) pp. 2-4. ISSN 1747-4930 (2014) [Letter or Note in Journal]

DOI: 10.1111/ijs.12237 [eCite] [Details]

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2013Balami JS, Chen R, Sutherland BA, Buchan AM, 'Thrombolytic Agents for Acute Ischaemic Stroke Treatment: The Past, Present and Future', CNS & neurological disorders drug targets, 12, (2) pp. 145-154. ISSN 1871-5273 (2013) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.2174/18715273113129990057 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 30Web of Science - 19

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2013Balami JS, Hadley G, Sutherland BA, Karbalai H, Buchan AM, 'The exact science of stroke thrombolysis and the quiet art of patient selection', Brain, 136, (Pt 12) pp. 3528-3553. ISSN 0006-8950 (2013) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1093/brain/awt201 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 57Web of Science - 54

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2013Balami JS, Sutherland BA, Buchan AM, 'Complications Associated with Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator Therapy for Acute Ischaemic Stroke', CNS & neurological disorders drug targets, 12, (2) pp. 155-169. ISSN 1871-5273 (2013) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.2174/18715273112119990050 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 37Web of Science - 31

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2013Sutherland BA, Buchan AM, 'Alteplase treatment does not increase brain injury after mechanical middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat', Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 33, (11) pp. e1-7. ISSN 0271-678X (2013) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1038/jcbfm.2013.148 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 18Web of Science - 2

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2013Sutherland BA, Harrison JC, Nair SM, Sammut IA, 'Inhalation gases or gaseous mediators as neuroprotectants for cerebral ischaemia', Current drug targets, 14, (1) pp. 56-73. ISSN 1389-4501 (2013) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.2174/1389450111314010007 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Web of Science - 11

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2012Minnerup J, Sutherland BA, Buchan AM, Kleinschnitz C, 'Neuroprotection for Stroke: Current Status and Future Perspectives', International journal of molecular sciences, 13, (9) pp. 11753-11772. ISSN 1422-0067 (2012) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.3390/ijms130911753 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 145Web of Science - 133

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2012Sutherland BA, Minnerup J, Balami JS, Arba F, Buchan AM, et al., 'Neuroprotection for ischaemic stroke: Translation from the bench to the bedside', International Journal of Stroke, 7, (5) pp. 407-418. ISSN 1747-4930 (2012) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1111/j.1747-4949.2012.00770.x [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 204Web of Science - 184

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2011Nair SM, Rahman RM, Clarkson AN, Sutherland BA, Taurin S, et al., 'Melatonin treatment following stroke induction modulates L-arginine metabolism', Journal of Pineal Research, 51, (3) pp. 313-23. ISSN 0742-3098 (2011) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-079X.2011.00891.x [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 24Web of Science - 22

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2011Rivers JR, Sutherland BA, Ashton JC, 'Characterization of a rat hypoxia-ischemia model where duration of hypoxia is determined by seizure activity', Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 197, (1) pp. 92-96. ISSN 0165-0270 (2011) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2011.02.002 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 9Web of Science - 8

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2011Sutherland BA, Papadakis M, Chen R-L, Buchan AM, 'Cerebral blood flow alteration in neuroprotection following cerebral ischaemia', The Journal of physiology, 589, (17) pp. 4105-14. ISSN 0022-3751 (2011) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.209601 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 45Web of Science - 40

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2011Sutherland BA, Shaw OM, Clarkson AN, Winburn IC, Errington AC, et al., 'Tin Protoporphyrin Provides Protection Following Cerebral Hypoxia-Ischemia: Involvement of Alternative Pathways', Journal of neuroscience research, 89 pp. 1284-1294. ISSN 0360-4012 (2011) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1002/jnr.22661 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 7Web of Science - 7

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2010Harston GWJ, Sutherland BA, Kennedy J, Buchan AM, 'The contribution of L-arginine to the neurotoxicity of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator following cerebral ischemia: a review of rtPA neurotoxicity', Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 30, (11) pp. 1804-1816. ISSN 0271-678X (2010) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1038/jcbfm.2010.149 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 37Web of Science - 37

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2009Sutherland BA, Rahman RM, Clarkson AN, Shaw OM, Nair SM, et al., 'Cerebral heme oxygenase 1 and 2 spatial distribution is modulated following injury from hypoxia-ischemia and middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats', Neuroscience Research, 65, (4) pp. 326-334. ISSN 0168-0102 (2009) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2009.08.007 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 28Web of Science - 26

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2007Ashton JC, Rahman RM, Nair SM, Sutherland BA, Glass M, et al., 'Cerebral hypoxia-ischemia and middle cerebral artery occlusion induce expression of the cannabinoid CB2 receptor in the brain', Neuroscience letters, 412, (2) pp. 114-117. ISSN 0304-3940 (2007) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2006.10.053 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 117Web of Science - 105

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2006Sutherland BA, Rahman RM, Appleton I, 'Mechanisms of action of green tea catechins, with a focus on ischemia-induced neurodegeneration', Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 17, (5) pp. 291 - 306. ISSN 0955-2863 (2006) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2005.10.005 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 283Web of Science - 231

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2005Clarkson AN, Sutherland BA, Appleton I, 'The biology and pathology of hypoxia-ischemia: an update', Archivum immunologiae et therapiae experimentalis, 53, (3) pp. 213-225. ISSN 0004-069X (2005) [Refereed Article]

PMID: 15995582 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Web of Science - 51

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2005Kapoor M, Clarkson AN, Sutherland BA, Appleton I, 'The role of antioxidants in models of inflammation: emphasis on L-arginine and arachidonic acid metabolism', Inflammopharmacology, 12, (5-6) pp. 505-19. ISSN 0925-4692 (2005) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1163/156856005774382797 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 21

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2005Sutherland BA, Shaw OM, Clarkson AN, Jackson DM, Sammut IA, et al., 'Neuroprotective effects of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate after hypoxia-ischemia-induced brain damage: novel mechanisms of action', The FASEB Journal, 19, (2) pp. 258-260. ISSN 1530-6860 (2005) [Refereed Article]

DOI: 10.1096/fj.04-2806fje [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 132Web of Science - 106

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Chapter in Book

(4 outputs)
YearCitationAltmetrics
2021Sutherland B, 'The Complex and Integral Roles of Pericytes Within the Neurovascular Unit in Health and Disease', Biology of Pericytes - Recent Advances, Springer Nature Switzerland AG, A Birbrair (ed), Switzerland, pp. 39-74. ISBN 978-3-030-62128-5 (2021) [Research Book Chapter]

[eCite] [Details]

2017Neuhaus AA, Sutherland BA, Buchan AM, 'Targeting Pericytes and the Microcirculation for Ischemic Stroke Therapy', Neuroprotective Therapy for Stroke and Ischemic Disease, Springer International Publishing, PA Lapchack and JH Zhang (ed), Switzerland, pp. 537-556. ISBN 978-3-319-45344-6 (2017) [Research Book Chapter]

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-45345-3_22 [eCite] [Details]

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2016Hoyte LC, Sutherland BA, Buchan AM, 'Animal models of stroke', Reference Module in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Psychology, Elsevier, J Stein (ed), United States, pp. 1-10. ISBN 978-0-12-809324-5 (2016) [Other Book Chapter]

DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-809324-5.02030-7 [eCite] [Details]

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2014Sutherland BA, Rabie T, Buchan AM, 'Laser Doppler Flowmetry to Measure Changes in Cerebral Blood Flow', Cerebral Angiogenesis Methods and Protocols, Humana Press, R Milner (ed), United Kingdom, pp. 237-248. ISBN 978-1-4939-0320-7 (2014) [Research Book Chapter]

DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-0320-7_20 [eCite] [Details]

Citations: Scopus - 5

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Conference Publication

(2 outputs)
YearCitationAltmetrics
2019Landowski LM, Foster CG, Sutherland BA, Howells DW, 'Poly I:C and LPS induce blood brain barrier disruption and a fatigue behavioural phenotype in rodents in vivo', Society for Neuroscience Conference 2019, 19 - 23 October, Chicago, IL (2019) [Conference Extract]

[eCite] [Details]

Co-authors: Landowski LM; Foster CG; Howells DW

2014Sutherland BA, 'Keynote speaker: pre-clinical research the potential therapeutic opportunities for various gases including oxygen', British Hyperbaric Association Annual Meeting, 7-8 November, 2014, Hull, United Kingdom (2014) [Keynote Presentation]

[eCite] [Details]

Entry

(2 outputs)
YearCitationAltmetrics
2020Russell AM, Ottavi T, Landowski L, Sutherland B, Howells D, et al., 'Untangling the effects of surgery and anaesthesia on a vasoconstrictive model of cerebral ischaemia', PROSPERO: International prospective register of systematic reviews, CRD42020218550 (2020) [Entry]

[eCite] [Details]

Co-authors: Russell AM; Ottavi T; Landowski L; Howells D; van Luijk J

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2019Russell AM, Landowski L, Sutherland B, Howells D, 'Separating surgery from stroke: the effects of surgical severity on photothrombotic animal models of cerebral ischaemia', PROSPERO: International prospective register of systematic reviews, CRD42019115429 (2019) [Entry]

[eCite] [Details]

Co-authors: Russell AM; Landowski L; Howells D

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Other Public Output

(2 outputs)
YearCitationAltmetrics
2017Landowski LM, Sutherland BA, Eaton E, 'Science in the Pub, Brain edition: Neuropathy, Stroke and Alzheimer's Disease', Afternoons with Helen Shield, ABC Hobart radio, 5 July 2017 (2017) [Media Interview]

[eCite] [Details]

Co-authors: Landowski LM; Eaton E

2017Sutherland BA, 'Interview with Helen Shield', ABC Nightlife with Helen Shield National Broadcast, 8 February 2017 (2017) [Media Interview]

[eCite] [Details]

Grants & Funding

Brad has previously held grants from the Medical Research Council, John Fell Fund, Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund and Medical Research Fund while working at the University of Oxford (UK).

Funding Summary

Number of grants

28

Total funding

$6,451,889

Projects

Checking the pulse of pericytes: Do microglia cause a breakdown of brain blood vessels in Alzheimer's disease? (2024 - 2027)$1,278,438
Description
Pericytes are cells that control blood flow through capillaries. Microglia in the brain respond to inflammation. Some microglia interact with pericytes which may control blood flow and brain function. In Alzheimers disease (AD), this interaction is disrupted. This proposal will use innovative techniques to understand how pericytes and microglia interact and how this goes wrong in AD. This opens up new potential treatment options for AD.
Funding
National Health & Medical Research Council ($1,278,438)
Scheme
Grant-Ideas
Administered By
University of Tasmania
Research Team
Sutherland BA; Morris GP; De Luca G; Ziebell JM
Period
2024 - 2027
Grant Reference
2028045
Understanding the role of insulin in the healthy and type 2 diabetic brain (2023)$69,955
Description
The aim of this project is to determine whether insulin has vascular and metabolic effects in specific regions of the brain and whether these effects are lost with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. This is pre-clinical work that will be performed in experimental rodents but the outcomes of the work will have wide relevance.
Funding
Diabetes Australia Research Program ($69,955)
Scheme
Grant
Administered By
University of Tasmania
Research Team
Premilovac D; Sutherland BA; Cullen CL; Foster CG
Year
2023
Dissecting the effects of CLN3 variants on the blood-brain barrier (2022)$55,000
Description
We will use our induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) resource to break Batten disease down into discrete cellular contexts of the BBB - endothelial cells, pericytes, and astrocytes - to provide the advances in knowledge that can guide mechanism-based hypotheses regarding new treatment strategies.
Funding
Batten Disease Support and Research Association Australia ($55,000)
Scheme
Grant
Administered By
University of Tasmania
Research Team
Cook AL; Sutherland BA
Year
2022
Detecting microvascular injury after stroke using a blood test (2022)$9,820
Description
Pericytes, cells controlling blood flow in the brain, are injured post-stroke. This may increase brain injury and worsen neurological disability. This project will develop a blood test for detecting pericyte injury. This test may be useful for diagnosing blood flow impairments or predicting brain injury and neurological disability post-stroke.
Funding
Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation ($9,820)
Scheme
Grant-Incubator
Administered By
University of Tasmania
Research Team
Morris GP; Sutherland BA; Howells DW; King AE; Castley HJ; Courtney J; Collins J
Year
2022
Targeting no-reflow to augment tissue salvage in stroke (2022 - 2024)$999,978
Description
Ischemic stroke is due to a blocked major brain artery. Half of patients who receive acute treatment do not improve forunclear reasons. We will study one potential reason, the "no-reflow phenomenon", where micro-blockages in small vessels stop blood reaching thebrain despite unblocking the major artery. We will test how to reduce no-reflow in mice, and how it affects humans. Our ultimate aim is to develop aclinical trial for no-reflow to help brain tissue receive blood more efficiently.
Funding
Medical Research Future Fund ($999,978)
Scheme
Grant - Cardiovascular Health Mission
Administered By
University of Melbourne
Research Team
Ng F; Sutherland BA; Campbell B; Medcalf R; Desmond P; Turner R; Thijs V; Johns H; Donnan G; Davis S
Period
2022 - 2024
Can metformin and exenatide improve brain vascular function in type 2 diabetes to reduce stroke severity? (2022)$68,581
Description
People with type 2 diabetes are four times more likely to have a stroke. As well as this, data shows that diabetic individuals who have a stroke are more likely to have a more severe stroke and are far more likely to die following a stroke. The primary treatment for stroke is to remove the clot that caused the stroke in the first place so that blood flow is restored to the affected area. Commonly prescribed anti-diabetic drugs appear to reduce diabetic stroke severity and improve patient outcomes following a stroke independently of lowering blood glucose levels, but we don't know how or why this is the case. The current project will determine whether common anti-diabetic drugs, metformin and/or glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists such as exenatide, improve the health and function of blood vessels in the diabetic brain to reduce the impact of stroke. If true, this work will demonstrate that metformin and exenatide treatment may not only be useful for lowering blood glucose levels, but also aid in reducing the burden of stroke in those with type 2 diabetes.
Funding
Diabetes Australia Research Program ($68,581)
Scheme
Grant
Administered By
University of Tasmania
Research Team
Premilovac D; Sutherland BA; Howells DW; Morris GP
Year
2022
Special delivery to the brain: Using cutting-edge ultrasound to increase drug delivery to reduce brain damage after a stroke (2022)$9,584
Description
This project will investigate whether ultrasound can be used to deliver a drug, idebenone, specifically to the brain to reduce brain damage after a stroke in experimental rodents.
Funding
Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation ($9,584)
Scheme
Grant-Incubator
Administered By
University of Tasmania
Research Team
Premilovac D; Sutherland BA; Howells DW; Castley HJ; Guven N
Year
2022
Acquisition of a VS200 Research Slide Scanner for the College of Health and Medicine (2022)$100,000
Description
The Olympus VS200 Research Slide Scanner enables the imaging of entire tissue sections in an automated manner. It can acquire images from up to six fluorescent channels along with brightfield, dark field and phase contrast, and has objectives up to 100X. The robotic slide loader allows for batch scanning of up to 210 slides at a time and can accommodate multiple sizes of slides up to 4x5 plates for large tissue sections. Our current VS120 slide scanner is already used at a maximum capacity with researchers having to book weeks in advance to scan slides. The VS200 will add further capacity and offers improved capabilities with greater optical resolution, more fluorescent channels, more batch scanning capacity and the ability to scan larger slides. Pairing this with free open source software like QuPath provides high throughput, efficient and highly accurate quantitative workflows that greatly improve productivity.
Funding
Ian Potter Foundation ($100,000)
Scheme
Grant - Medical Research
Administered By
University of Tasmania
Research Team
Sutherland BA; Howells DW; Courtney J; King AE; Dickson TC; Premilovac D; Bye N; Flies AS; Young K
Year
2022
A new theory of fatigue: The role of AgRP neurons in ME/CFS (2021 - 2023)$268,200
Description
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex multi-system disease for which there is no cure. It is often characterised by fatigue, post-exertional malaise, cognitive dysfunction, muscle weakness, slowed reflexes and coordination, sleep disturbances, fever, myalgia, photosensitivity and neuro-immuno-endocrine dysfunction1 which can be disabling and dramatically impact quality of life. Some 190-240,000 Australians have been diagnosed with ME/CFS with many more probably undiagnosed.The fatigue experienced by patients with ME/CFS shares many features with the fatigue experienced in other conditions ranging from severe infections through cancer and brain injury to autoimmune diseases. Often the fatigue is overlooked by the medical profession and researchers alike. Never-the-less it is estimated that 38% of adults are affected by fatigue at some stage. Importantly for many, like patients with ME/CFS, there is no identifiable underlying pathology to blame and when there is a known pathology, the fatigue does not usually resolve with treatment of that pathology. We believe that fatigue is caused by an independent pathological process that can be triggered by many disease stimuli and can perpetuate independently of an associated trigger. We propose an overarching mechanism for all-cause fatigue driven by protective energy homeostasis mechanisms driven by neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. These Agouti-related protein (AgRP) expressing neurons, occupy an unusual niche in the brain. They are well known for their role in regulating energy balance, but they also interact with the stress, anxiety, circadian and inflammation regulatory pathways of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis which are already known for participation in the pathology of fatigue. Importantly they are not protected by a structure called the blood-brain-barrier so are readily damaged by circulating inflammatory and stress stimuli. Moreover, they can be killed by such stimuli but also have the capacity to be replenished over time. These features make them good candidates to underpin the pathology of fatigue. We hypothesise that ME/CFS manifests when AgRP neuron signalling is impaired, resulting in a loss of homeostatic drive to promote arousal, attention and activity. We further hypothesise that restoration or replacement of AgRP neuron signalling will treat ME/CFS.We will test these hypotheses using transgenic mice developed by our multidisciplinary team that allow us to genetically control the activity of AgRP neurons and the regulation of the blood-brain-barrier and determine how they respond to inflammatory stimuli commonly used to generate animal models of ME/CFS-related fatigue. By examining how these animals then respond to drugs that change either the activity or the number of AgRP neurons, we will be able to determine whether this mechanism can be targeted to treat fatigue. If successful, these later proof-of-principle interventions may provide translatable therapies in their own right but are expected to pave the way for more refined medicinal chemistry.While the primary target of this research is finding a therapy that benefits patients with ME/CFS, our hypothesis is applicable to all forms of fatigue, whether associated with cancer, brain injury, autoimmune disease or severe infection. Importantly, while repopulation of lost AgRP neurons will take time, pharmacological mimicking of their function should produce immediate benefit. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study world-wide to propose that fatigue is mediated by AgRP neuron signalling.
Funding
Equity Trustees Limited ($268,200)
Scheme
Grant-Mason Foundation ME/CFS
Administered By
University of Tasmania
Research Team
Sutherland BA; Herzog H; Landowski LM
Period
2021 - 2023
Posthuman Genetic Legacies (2021)$21,100
Description
Posthuman Genetic Legacies is a practice-led research project that investigates avenues of producing an alternative (non-human) andongoing genetic legacy via biotechnological intervention. The study draws on established practices in biological art to consider the feminist potential of cell culture and genetic engineering technologies to acquire biological offspring when conventional reproductive pathways are compromised or traditional conceptions of motherhood are undesirable. The project also aims to test the proposition that posthuman and new materialist philosophies, that disrupt binary categorisation and a human centred perspective, may offer a conceptual space for rethinking the anguish of situational childlessness. Through a range of boundary-challenging artistic examinations, existing regulatory and ethical issues will be examined to highlight the legal frameworks that govern access to reproductive technologies as well as ownership, use and patenting of biological material.
Funding
Australian Network for Art and Technology ($21,100)
Scheme
Synapse
Administered By
University of Tasmania
Research Team
Kratz SJ; Sutherland BA; Hutmacher D; Nielsen JL
Year
2021
Is the neurovascular niche the initiation point for multiple sclerosis? (2021 - 2023)$240,000
Description
At present little is known about the cause of MS. This project aims to identify cellular changes that could explain some of the known risk factors and their contribution to MS pathology, and has the potential to identify cellular targets that could be used to develop tools for the early diagnosis and even prevention of MS. The specific cellular changes we are focusing on are pericytes (vascular cells only on capillaries) and oligodendrocyte precursor cells (cells that give rise to oligodendrocytes which myelinate axons in the brain).
Funding
Multiple Sclerosis Australia ($240,000)
Scheme
Grant-Project
Administered By
University of Tasmania
Research Team
Sutherland BA; Young K
Period
2021 - 2023
Harnessing the dual roles of pericytes to improve stroke outcomes (2021 - 2024)$862,943
Description
Pericytes are cells that exclusively reside on capillaries and can actively contract or relax to modulate capillary blood flow. Pericytes also have angiogenic, stem cell and phagocytic properties that are important for brain function. In ischaemic stroke, when brain blood flow is depleted, pericytes contract and then die, leading to capillary constriction even after arterial blood flow has been restored. However, after the acute stroke period, pericytes may have an important role in brain repair. Therefore, limiting pericyte contraction acutely while promoting pericyte activity during recovery may be a novel therapeutic strategy for ischaemic stroke.Aim 1 will determine whether acute pericyte constriction of capillaries is implicated in worsening stroke outcome. We will utilise our available NG2-DsRed and PDGFRβ-Cre transgenic mouse lines to selectively kill (ablate) pericytes during acute period post-stroke while using our novel contrast-enhanced ultrasound paradigm to assess blood flow and stroke outcomes. In addition, we will use primary cell culture methods to analyse the secretome of neurons, astrocytes, microglia and endothelial cells following ischaemia and their effects on pericyte function.Aim 2 will investigate whether pericytes drive the recovery process of the brain following stroke. Through our aforementioned transgenic mouse lines, we will selectively ablate pericytes in the recovery phase to determine its influence on stroke outcome. We will use lineage tracing to track pericytes following stroke to determine whether pericytes migrate away from capillaries and differentiate into other cell types. Lastly, we will implant pericytes into the mouse brain post-stroke to promote recovery of the brain.This research will develop pericytes as a therapeutic target for both the acute and recovery phases of stroke, pioneering future ischaemic stroke treatment and providing novel approaches for other vascular diseases and brain injuries.
Funding
National Health & Medical Research Council ($862,943)
Scheme
Grant-Ideas
Administered By
University of Tasmania
Research Team
Sutherland BA; Howells DW; Clarkson A; Premilovac D
Period
2021 - 2024
Grant Reference
2003351
The role of the placenta in determining the post-natal effects of in utero exposure to bushfire smoke (2021)$20,000
Description
There is a growing body of evidence that in utero exposure to pollution events, such as bushfires, can have consequences for somatic, lung and immune development leading to an increased risk of lung disease later in life. However, there is a critical gap in the field that needs to be addressed - what is the mechanism linking in utero exposure to altered post-natal respiratory health? In novel preliminary experiments, we have data to suggest that altered placental function is the key. We hypothesise that impaired lung and immune development as a result of in utero exposure to landscape fire-derived particulate matter (PM) is due to alterations in placental structure and function. We aim to characterise the placental response to maternal exposure to bushfire smoke using samples from human placentas collected before, during and after the severe Tasmanian bushfires that occurred in the summer of 2018/19.
Funding
Australian Respiratory Council ($20,000)
Scheme
Grant-Research
Administered By
University of Tasmania
Research Team
Zosky GR; Johnston F; Sutherland BA
Year
2021
Toward targeted drug delivery to the brain using ultrasound (2020)$9,543
Description
All drugs given to patients in the setting of stroke are confounded by off-target effects those drugs have on other organs in the body. This pilot project will take advantage of our newly established transcranial ultrasound methods to establish a new way to deliver drugs specifically to the brain regions affected by stroke.
Funding
Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation ($9,543)
Scheme
Grant-Incubator
Administered By
University of Tasmania
Research Team
Premilovac D; Sutherland BA; Howells DW; Castley HJ
Year
2020
Differentiation of inducible pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) into pericytes to investigate neuron-pericyte interactions (2019)$9,980
Description
iPSCs can be differentiated into multiple cell types, including neurons and pericytes. We wish to differentiate iPSCs from the same parental lineage into pericytes, a vascular cell with roles in blood-brain barrier maintenance and regulation of cerebral blood flow. The interaction between pericytes and neurons has not been extensively studied, and these models will allow the determination of how these cells interact leading to novel research with relevance to understanding normal brain function and how this contributes to neurodegenerative diseases.
Funding
University of Tasmania ($9,980)
Scheme
Grant-Research Enhancement Program
Administered By
University of Tasmania
Research Team
Cook AL; Sutherland BA
Year
2019
Can idebenone be used to reduce severity of stroke? (2019)$9,962
Description
There are no drugs that improve the outcomes following a stroke. We have recently identified idebenone as a neuroprotective agent during times of energy stress. This pilot project will investigate whether idebenone can be used to reduce the severity of stroke in a pre-clinical animal model.
Funding
Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation ($9,962)
Scheme
Grant-Incubator
Administered By
University of Tasmania
Research Team
Premilovac D; Sutherland BA; Howells DW; Guven N; Castley HJ
Year
2019
The role of skeletal muscle pericytes in the development of insulin resistance: friend of foe? (2019)$16,457
Description
An important action of insulin in the body is to increase blood flow through capillaries in skeletal muscles. This vascular action of insulin occurs rapidly after insulin levels in the blood rise, for example following a meal, to ensure that both insulin and glucose are delivered to muscle cells to enable glucose removal from the blood. Importantly, the vascular action of insulin is lost early in development of insulin resistance and contributes to the progression of the disease. Where and how insulin acts in the vascular tree to increase muscle blood flow remains poorly understood, with insulin's potential direct effects on capillaries completely overlooked. The proposed NHMRC Ideas grant will seek to fill this gap in knowledge by demonstrating that insulin acts directly on pericytes, a contractile cell type that wrap around capillaries, to increase capillary blood flow and that these effects are lost during insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Funding
University of Tasmania ($16,457)
Scheme
Grant-Research Enhancement Program
Administered By
University of Tasmania
Research Team
Premilovac D; Sutherland BA
Year
2019
An energy crisis for Alzheimer's disease: is pericyte degeneration to blame? (2019 - 2022)$857,283
Description
One possible cause of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is narrowing of small blood vessels (capillaries) within the brain, limiting blood flow and energy supply. Pericytes, a cell found only on capillaries, maintain blood flow throughout the brain. In AD, pericytes may die leading to an energy deficit and memory problems. We will test using human brains and animal models whether pericyte loss causes AD and how this is happening. Pericytes could provide a new therapy option for AD.
Funding
National Health & Medical Research Council ($857,283)
Scheme
Grant-Project
Administered By
University of Tasmania
Research Team
Sutherland BA; De Luca G
Period
2019 - 2022
Grant Reference
1163384
Investigating ferroptosis as a novel mechanism of oligodendrocyte death. (2018)$30,000
Description
This project aims to understand the mode of cell death induced by a stroke, and determine the capacity for already developed therapeutics to rescue these cells. By saving oligodendrocytes from death after stroke, we aim to reduce the lesion size, but also keep these critical cells in place to support nerve cell survival and function.
Funding
Brain Foundation ($30,000)
Scheme
Grant-Research
Administered By
University of Tasmania
Research Team
Cullen CL; Young K; Sutherland BA
Year
2018
In pursuit of an innovative experimental model of vascular dementia-a pilot study (2018)$10,000
Description
This collaboration will be between imaging neuroscientists based in the Wicking DementiaResearch and Education Centre (Canty, Bennett) and a cerebral vascular biologist based inthe School of Medicine (Sutherland). This work will take two different areas of biologicalresearch, our blood vessels and our brains, and investigate how reduced blood flow caninfluence neurons within our brains after an ischemic event typical of vascular dementia.This collaboration will run across two divisions of the College of Health and Medicine: theSchool of Medicine and the Wicking Dementia Centre and include staff at different levels(D/C/B). This collaboration aligns with the University subtheme of complex disease, underthe umbrella of Better Health - investigating the complexity of mixed dementia and linking itwith cardiovascular health. Dementia is a recognised flagship of the College of Health andMedicine, and this project aims to initiate a new area of research in vascular dementia,capitalising on existing researcher strengths. Alison Canty and Brad Sutherland are leaders intheir respective fields of expertise, and seek to work together on this innovative project toestablish a new line of enquiry to determine the origins of the pathology of vasculardementia. If funded, and if successful, we would aim to recruit a HDR student to continuethis work, providing a valuable training opportunity
Funding
University of Tasmania ($10,000)
Scheme
Grant- Research Enhancement Program
Administered By
University of Tasmania
Research Team
Canty A; Sutherland BA; Bennett WR
Year
2018
The pathological effects of Alzheimer's disease on axons (2018 - 2020)$90,000
Description
Proposed PhD project investigating the role of amyoloid upon axonal dystrophies in the progression of Alzheimer's disease
Funding
Dementia Australia Research Foundation Ltd ($90,000)
Scheme
Grant-Scholarship
Administered By
University of Tasmania
Research Team
Young K; Blizzard C; Cullen CL; Sutherland BA
Period
2018 - 2020
Can anti-diabetic agents improve blood flow and outcome following stroke in type 2 diabetes? (2018)$24,912
Description
People with type 2 diabetes are four times more likely to have a stroke. Interestingly, common anti-diabetic drugs seem to improve patient outcomes following a stroke. This project will determine whether anti-diabetic drugs improve brain blood flow dynamics during and after stroke to reduce stroke severity in an animal model of type 2 diabetes.
Funding
Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation ($24,912)
Scheme
Grant-Minor Project
Administered By
University of Tasmania
Research Team
Premilovac D; Sutherland BA; Burgess JR; Howells DW; Foa LC; Keske MAV
Year
2018
Pericyte dysfunction limiting energy supply in Alzheimer's disease (2018 - 2021)$717,709
Description
Pericytes are contractile cells exclusively residing on the basement membrane of capillaries. These cells have been shown to control cerebralblood flow and energy supply, maintain the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and mediate beta amyloid clearance. An emerging pathologicalmechanism of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the development of vascular dysfunction leading to chronic hypoperfusion, disruption of the BBBand altered beta amyloid clearance. These symptoms are all, in part, controlled by pericytes. Therefore, the degeneration of pericytes may becritical to the development of AD and could represent a novel cellular target for AD therapy. I will utilise my strong background in pericyte andneurovascular biology to:1) Establish a link between pericyte loss and human AD pathology. I will use human post-mortem brains and immunohistochemicaltechniques to assess pericyte degradation and its association with cognitive loss as well as amyloid, tau and vascular pathology.2) Follow changes in pericyte number, coverage and function alongside the development of AD. I will use NG2-DsRed mice that havefluorescent pericytes crossed with an animal model of AD to observe how pericytes change by assessing BBB function and capillary blood flowas AD pathology develops.3) Modulate blood flow and pericyte function directly in NG2-DsRed mice to associate pericyte dysfunction with changes in cognitivebehaviour and AD progression.4) Determine the mechanism of pericyte loss in AD using human pericyte cultures and identify novel compounds that could prevent pericyte degradation and cognitive decline.This research will provide an understanding of the importance of pericyte degeneration to AD pathology and whether pericytes represent a viable target on which further pre-clinical development of pericyte-targeting drugs for AD can begin.
Funding
National Health & Medical Research Council ($717,709)
Scheme
Fellowship - Boosting Dementia Research Leadership
Administered By
University of Tasmania
Research Team
Sutherland BA
Period
2018 - 2021
Grant Reference
APP1137776
The Peri-Peri project: the role of pericytes in placental function and perinatal outcome (2018)$10,000
Description
This project will assess how pericytes, a specific cell that may control blood flow in placenta, could contribute to restricted growth of babies during pregnancy.
Funding
Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation ($10,000)
Scheme
Grant-Starter
Administered By
University of Tasmania
Research Team
Sutherland BA; Dargaville PA; Edwards LM
Year
2018
Blood vessels squeezed to death by pericytes: a new therapeutic target for ischaemic stroke (2018 - 2019)$100,000
Description
This project will assess how pericytes, a specific cell that may control blood flow in the brain, are affected by stroke and will identify mechanisms that could be targeted as a treatment strategy for stroke.
Funding
Rebecca L Cooper Medical Research Foundation ($100,000)
Scheme
Grant
Administered By
University of Tasmania
Research Team
Sutherland BA
Period
2018 - 2019
Blood-brain barrier energy dysfunction: the unifying cause of fatigue (2017)$99,874
Description
Fatigue can be much more than just a sense of tiredness. It is also a debilitating symptom of many diseases and disorders, hampering peoples' ability to perform the simplest of daily activities. The underlying mechanism of fatigue is unknown. We hypothesise that fatigue is ultimately the result of reduced delivery of energy to the brain. We will assess how energy supply is altered in fatigued brain. A special diet (that supplies an alternative energy source for the brain) will be used to circumvent this energy deficit. We hope to establish how fatigue occurs and offer clues to a simple treatment strategy.
Funding
The Mason Foundation ($99,874)
Scheme
Grant-Judith Jane Mason & Harold Stannett Williams
Administered By
University of Tasmania
Research Team
Howells DW; Sutherland BA; Landowski LM; Eaton ED; Allan S; Morten K
Year
2017
Paving the way for future stroke drug development: creating a new gold-standard model of stroke (2017 - 2019)$442,570
Description
Stroke is a leading cause of death and chronic disability. Stroke therapeutics developed in animal models fail when translated into human clinical trials, due to flaws inherent in these models. We will break through this translational roadblock by using magnetic microparticles to induce an ischemic stroke that accurately represents human disease
Funding
Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation ($442,570)
Scheme
Grant - Project Grant Funding
Administered By
University of Tasmania
Research Team
Landowski LM; Howells DW; Castley HJ; Sutherland BA; Kirkcaldie MTK
Period
2017 - 2019
Squeezed to death by pericytes: a new target for ischaemic stroke treatment (2017)$20,000
Funding
University of Tasmania ($20,000)
Scheme
Grant- Research Enhancement Program
Administered By
University of Tasmania
Research Team
Sutherland BA
Year
2017

Research Supervision

Brad has co-supervised two PhD students and one Masters student while working at the University Oxford (UK). Brad is currently available to take on supervision of Higher Degree Research Students in the College of Health and Medicine.

Current

11

Completed

4

Current

DegreeTitleCommenced
PhDMeta-analyses of Preclinical Ischaemic Stroke Studies to Inform Methodological Design2018
PhDUnderstanding Skeletal Muscle Blood Flow and the Potential Role of Pericytes2018
PhDThe Influence of APOE and LRP1 on Pericyte Function and Amyloid- Deposition in Alzheimer's Disease2019
PhDInvestigating Cerebrovascular Changes in Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes2019
PhDExploring Pericyte Dysfunction as an Underlying Factor in Multiple Sclerosis Pathogenesis2020
PhDThe Role of Pericytes in Vascular Recovery Following Stroke and Ageing2021
PhDStem Cell Models of the Blood-brain Barrier2022
PhDPericytes and no-reflow post-stroke2023
PhDInterpretable Artificial Intelligence2023
PhDImproving brain blood flow post-stroke2023
PhDCAA and Vascular Dysfunction in AD2024

Completed

DegreeTitleCompleted
PhDAsperuloside Enhances Taste Perception, Decreases Inflammation and Prevents Weight Gain in High-fat Fed Mice
Candidate: Muhammad Ishaq
2022
PhDCuprizone Demyelination Modifies Neuron to Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cell Synaptic Networks
Candidate: Benjamin Sebastian Summers
2022
PhDPericyte, Vascular and Microglia Changes in Alzheimer's Disease and Neuroinflammation
Candidate: Catherine Grace Foster
2022
PhDPericyte Contractility, Microvascular Blood Flow and the Consequences of Stroke
Candidate: Lachlan Shaun Brown
2022