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Dr Andrew Tosolini

Research Fellow

Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
a.tosolini@uq.edu.au

Overview

​Dr Tosolini is a cell biologist with a focus at the intersection of axonal transport, neurotrophic factors, motor neurons and skeletal muscle, in the context of motor neuron disease (MND)/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). His research to date has focused on utilising the connectivity between skeletal muscle and motor neurons for the enhanced delivery of therapeutic agents to the spinal cord (e.g., viral-mediated gene therapy). Building upon these foundations, his postdoctoral training focused on defining the axonal transport dynamics in a number of different experimental conditions, including stimulation with different neurotrophic factors (e.g., BDNF, GDNF), α motor neuron subtypes (i.e., fast motor neurons vs slow motor neurons), and alterations to such factors in MND/ALS pathology.

Dr Tosolini has joined the laboratories of A/Prof. Shyuan Ngo (AIBN) and Dr. Derek Steyn (SBMS) to undertake a novel project looking at assessing a novel therapeutic compound in mouse models of ALS, and in as well as in ALS patient-derived muscle cultures. This project is in collaboration with Dr. Giovanni Nardo at Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy.

​Dr Tosolini completed his PhD in 2015 in the discipline of Anatomy at the School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales (UNSW). His PhD project focused on characterising the connectivity between various skeletal muscles and their innervating motor neuron pools, to optimally deliver agents (e.g., retrograde tracers, virus) to the spinal cord motor neurons via retrograde axonal transport. For the work produced in his PhD, Dr Tosolini was awarded a place on the Faculty of Medicine's Dean's List.

In 2016, Dr Tosolini joined the Schiavo Laboratory at University College London (UCL), UK as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate to undertake a project focused on: 1) understanding factors influencing axonal transport dynamics in distinct in vitro and in vivo models of motor neuron disease (MND)/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and 2) revealing the signalling elements governing neuronal trans-synaptic transfer.

In 2020, Dr Tosolini was awarded a Junior Non-Clinical Post-Doctoral Fellowship by the Motor Neuron Disease Association, UK to expand his work on evaluating axonal transport dynamics in mouse models of motor neuron disease (MND) as well as in diverse human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived motor neurons. This project is a direct continuation of my post-doctoral training in the Schiavo laboratory, and included a novel collaboration with Prof. Rickie Patani (Francis Crick Institute, London, UK), to evaluate axonal transport dynamics of diverse organelles in mouse and human models of MND/ALS.

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of New South Wales
  • Bachelor (Honours), University of New South Wales

Publications

View all Publications

Available Projects

  • Axonal transport in Motor Neuron Disease

    Axonal transport maintains neuronal homeostasis by ensuring the long-range delivery of several cargoes, including cytoskeletal components, organelles, signalling molecules and RNA between proximal and distal neuronal compartments. As a result, perturbations in axonal transport have severe consequences for neuronal homeostasis and function. Indeed, axonal transport is perturbed in many neurodegenerative disorders, including motor neuron disease (MND)/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS).

    In this project, we will assess axonal transport dynamics of distinct intracellular organelles (e.g., signalling endosomes, mitochondria, lysosomes, neurotrophic factors) in both mouse and human models of MND/ALS. The in vivo component will assess axonal transport in several mouse models of MND/ALS that are currently available at UQ. This will be complemented by the in vitro component that will assess transport dynamics in motor neurons derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells harbouring diverse MND/ALS patient mutations.

View all Available Projects

Publications

Featured Publications

Book Chapter

Journal Article

Conference Publication

  • BDNF-dependent modulation of axonal transport is selectively impaired in Motor Neuron Disease

    Tosolini, Andrew P., Sleigh, James N., Surana, Sunaina, Rhymes, Elena R., Cahalan, Stephen D. and Schiavo, Giampietro (2023). BDNF-dependent modulation of axonal transport is selectively impaired in Motor Neuron Disease. Australasian Neuroscience Society - 41st Annual Scientific Meeting, Brisbane, Australia, 4-7 December 2023.

  • In vivo axonal transport of diverse organelles in ALS

    Tosolini, Andrew P., Birsa, Nicol, Cunningham, Tom, Fisher, Elizabeth, Fratta, Pietro and Schiavo, Giampietro (2023). In vivo axonal transport of diverse organelles in ALS. CAMAND Conference - Cellular and Molecular Advances in Neurodegeneration, Brisbane, Australia, 3-4 December 2023.

  • In vivo axonal transport of diverse organelles in MND

    Tosolini, Andrew P., Sleigh, James N., Surana, Sunaina, Rhymes, Elena R., Birsa, Nicol, Cunningham, Tom, Fisher, Elizabeth M.C., Fratta, Pietro and Schiavo, Giampietro (2023). In vivo axonal transport of diverse organelles in MND. 4th Annual Griffith University Parkinson's Disease Network Symposium, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 30 November 2023.

  • Axonal transport in MND

    Tosolini, Andrew P. (2023). Axonal transport in MND. Australian and New Zealand MND Research Symposium, Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 17-18 November 2023.

  • In vivo axonal transport of diverse organelles in MND

    Tosolini, Andrew P., Sleigh, James N., Surana, Sunaina, Rhymes, Elena R., Birsa, Nicol, Cunningham, Tom, Fisher, Elizabeth, Schiavo, Giampietro and Fratta, Pietro (2023). In vivo axonal transport of diverse organelles in MND. Australia and New Zealand MND Research Symposium, Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 17-18 November 2023.

Possible Research Projects

Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.

  • Axonal transport in Motor Neuron Disease

    Axonal transport maintains neuronal homeostasis by ensuring the long-range delivery of several cargoes, including cytoskeletal components, organelles, signalling molecules and RNA between proximal and distal neuronal compartments. As a result, perturbations in axonal transport have severe consequences for neuronal homeostasis and function. Indeed, axonal transport is perturbed in many neurodegenerative disorders, including motor neuron disease (MND)/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS).

    In this project, we will assess axonal transport dynamics of distinct intracellular organelles (e.g., signalling endosomes, mitochondria, lysosomes, neurotrophic factors) in both mouse and human models of MND/ALS. The in vivo component will assess axonal transport in several mouse models of MND/ALS that are currently available at UQ. This will be complemented by the in vitro component that will assess transport dynamics in motor neurons derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells harbouring diverse MND/ALS patient mutations.

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Links

ORCID: 0000-0001-7651-7442

Scopus ID: 54404094400

Google Scholar ID: PoCfET4AAAAJ

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