At The Homer Hack, we’re committed to supporting researchers who are working to better understand and treat neurological diseases like Epilepsy, Autism, Schizophrenia, and brain injuries.
One of these researchers is Professor Terry O’Brien, a neurologist at Alfred Health. Every day, he cares for patients while also leading important research. His work combines helping patients directly and running clinical trials to find better treatments.
A key part of this research looks at a group of genes called the HOMER genes. These genes help brain cells connect and communicate. When the genes have mutations, they can cause serious neurological problems.
Before The Homer Hack started funding this work, not many researchers were studying how these gene mutations cause disease or how to treat them. With our support, more scientists are joining this important research. This is helping us learn more about how these genes work and how to help patients.
One researcher making great progress is Dr Anna Baker. Her team uses a small blood sample from patients to create stem cells. These stem cells can then be turned into brain cells that are unique to each patient. Growing these cells in a dish lets researchers test different medications to find the best treatments for each person. This exciting work is bringing us closer to personalised medicine, where care is tailored to the individual.
On behalf of our board, our researchers, and the patients who will benefit from this work, we thank you for your support. Together, we’re turning questions into answers and bringing hope to families affected by these diseases.
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