Yao laboratory: Cardiovascular Neuroscience
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Head of Laboratory
Dr Song Yao+61 3 8344 7327
Research Overview
View Dr Yao's latest publications listing here.
Our laboratory is focused on understanding how genetic, neurochemical and structural changes that occur in the brain in hypertension and following myocardial infarction (or heart failure), contributes to an overactive sympathetic nervous system and consequently disease progression. Current research projects include identifying and understanding how neuroinflammation (and the function of specific cytokines) might contribute to the development of hypertension. We are also interested in how changes in brain signalling might lead to worsening of disease outcomes following myocardial infarction and heart failure.
Current projects include:
1. Blood-brain barrier dysfunction in heart failure: we are trying to understand how a compromised blood-brain barrier might cause neural changes that lead to worse outcomes in heart failure.
2. Neuroinflammation in hypertension: we are trying to determine how brain inflammation might drive increases in sympathetic nerve activity in hypertension and heart failure with a specific focus on key cytokines and inflammatory factors.
3. Optogenetic stimulation of the vagus nerve as a treatment for heart failure.
4. Brainstem neurogenesis: we are trying to understand the role of nascent neurons in the brainstem and how these might be important of controlling cardiovascular reflexes and function.
5. Orexin and hypoglycaemia associated autonomic failure.
Staff
Dr Song Yao, Head of Laboratory
Dr Willian Korim, Research Fellow
Jasmine Sloan, PhD student
Collaborators
Professor Alexander Gourine, University College London
Professor Vagner Antunes, University of Sao Paulo
Professor Simon Malpas, University of Auckland
Dr Sarah-Jane Guild, University of Auckland
Dr Daniel McCormick, University of Auckland
Professor Clive May, Florey Institute
Professor Robin McAllen, Florey Institute
Professor Michael McKinley, Florey Institute
Dr Lindsea Booth, Florey Institute
Dr Stuart McDougall, Florey Institute
Dr Yugeesh Lankadeva, Florey Institute
A/Prof Akhter Hossain, Florey Institute
Funding
2017-2021 ARC Future Fellowship: Understanding brain mechanisms that control autonomic function. S Yao. Awarded $750,480
2020-2022 NHMRC Ideas Grant: A new target for heart failure treatment: the blood-brain barrier. Awarded $510,000
2017-2022 NHMRC Project Grant: The brain as a therapeutic target for heart failure. Awarded $922,000
Research Opportunities
This research project is available to PhD students, Masters by Research, Honours students, Master of Biomedical Science to join as part of their thesis.
Please contact the Research Group Leader to discuss your options.