How do we fit a large bed through a small door?

In this article we spoke to Dr Rebecca Nisbet about the obstacles she’s overcome in her career researching the blood-brain barrier and how she is trying to fit “a large bed through a small door”.

As a prominent researcher developing ways to deliver drugs through the blood brain barrier, Dr  Nisbet is used to overcoming obstacles.

But it was a grant from the Dementia Australia Research Foundation a decade ago that allowed Dr Nisbet to break through the toughest barrier facing researchers early in their careers – establishing themselves in their field.

Dr Nisbet, who is the head of the of Antibody Therapeutics Laboratory at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, said the Fellowship she received from the Dementia Australia Research Foundation solidified her decision to stay working in dementia research.

“The funding is obviously important, but along with that, the Fellowship gave me access to the Queensland Brain Institute to work with some of the best laboratories and researchers in the world. It opened up so many opportunities for me,” Dr Nisbet said.

Breaking through the blood-brain barrier

The blood-brain barrier is the system that prevents toxins and viruses from entering our brains. Unfortunately, this system also blocks drugs and therapeutics from entering the brain.

“The blood-brain barrier prevents 99 per cent of drugs from entering the brain,” Dr Nisbet said.

“We believe that this is one of the primary reasons so many promising drugs that have been developed to treat dementia have had disappointing results in human trials. What we need to do is develop ways to deliver drugs through the blood-brain barrier.”

One innovation Dr Nisbet and her team are developing is to use DNA or mRNA, which can cross the blood-brain barrier, as ‘instruction manuals’ that can produce the therapeutic proteins once they are in the brain.

“I use the analogy of trying to fit a large bed through a small door. What you need to do is take the instructions and the flat-pack disassembled bed through the door to build it in the bedroom. We can use DNA and mRNA like instruction manuals for the production of therapeutic proteins, so we can hopefully use them to deliver drugs through the blood-brain barrier,” Dr Nisbet said.

Supporting the next generation of dementia researchers

Dr Nisbet encourages any researcher early in their career to not to be shy about asking questions or applying for grants.

“Don’t be afraid to talk to experts in the field. Ask lots of questions and network and don’t be worried about not knowing something,” Dr Nisbet said.

The Chair of the Dementia Australia Research Foundation, Professor Graeme Samuel AC, said that since the year 2000, the Foundation had provided funding for more than 350 of Australia’s best and brightest early career researchers.

“We fund researchers across all stages of their career but maintain a particular focus on supporting Australia’s talented new and early career dementia researchers,” Professor Samuel said.

“In this way we hope to be able to encourage more brilliant researchers like Dr Nisbet to continue to work to improve the lives of people living with dementia, their families and carers.”

All funding for the Dementia Australia Research Foundation is donated by members of the public and by private and philanthropic organisations.

For more information about our grants program, the research we support or to make a donation, please contact the Dementia Australia Research Foundation today.

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What is it like to take part in dementia research? We spoke to Dementia Advocate Dr Ron Sinclair OAM about his vast experience contributing to research, including his advice to others that everyone has a right to be heard.

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