Hardman Research Lab - Comparative Neuroanatomy and Neuropathology
Dr. Hardman's background and interest is as a neuroanatomist, with studies in comparative primate neuroanatomy (in particular humans, macaques and marmosets) as well as in human neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy. Dr. Hardman has published a number of articles in international refereed journals and is currently working on a stereotaxic, chemoarchitectural and quantitative atlas of the common marmoset brain (
http://www.brainatlases.unsw.edu.au/brainatlases/marmoset.html). He has directly supervised 5 research students (3 BSc Hons and 2 Medicine ILP). He is currently a member of the School of Medical Science Research, Teaching and Honours Committees and was the Honours coordinator from 2003 to 2007.
Research
A Quantitative Stereotaxic and Chemoarchitectural Atlas of the Common Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) Brain
In this study, the brains of several marmosets were imaged using a magnetic resonance imaging machine at the Howard Florey Institute in Melbourne. These brains of these animals were then sectioned and stained with various routine, histochemical and immunohistochemical stains to elicit the cytoarchitectural and chemoarchitectural details. Delineations of cortical regions, axonal tracts and deep laying nuclei (aggregations of neuronal cell bodies) were performed and volumes of these structures and the number of neurons (brain cells) contained within them estimated. A java-based program which displays images of the stained sections as well as MRIs, delineations and quantitative data is in the developmental stages and can be viewed at:
http://www.brainatlases.unsw.edu.au/brainatlases/marmoset.html
Clinicopathological Correlations and Pathological Progression of Parkinsonian Disorders
In this study, the total number of neurons and amount of neuropathology within multiple brain regions is compared between Parkinson's disease and/or progressive supranuclear palsy cases and normal age and sex matched controls. The extent of cell loss and neuropathology (if any) is also compared across cases and with the clinical features present during life, age at onset, age at death and the duration of the disease. This data is extremely valuable in gaining insights into the pathophysiology which underlie the symptoms of these diseases as well as into the sequence of pathological events which lead to neuronal degeneration.
Grants
1. UNSW Goldstar Award (2004) UNSW School of Medical Sciences
2. UNSW Faculty Research Grants Program (2003) UNSW School of Medical Sciences
3. NH&MRC Peter Doherty Fellowship (1998 to 2002) Monash University Department of Medicine
4. NH&MRC Travelling Award for Research Training (2000) UNSW School of Psychology
5. Small ARC Grant (2000) Monash University Department of Medicine
6. Collier Charitable Fund Equipment Grant (1999) Monash University Department of Medicine
Publications
1.
Hardman CD and Halliday GM (2009). The progression of basal ganglia pathology in progressive supranuclear palsy. J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol. Submitted and under consideration.
2. Murphy KE, Karaconji T,
Hardman CD, Halliday GM (2008). Excessive dopamine neuron loss in progressive supranuclear palsy. Mov. Disord. 23: 607-610.
3. Ashwell KWS,
Hardman CD, and Paxinos G (2006) Cyto- and chemoarchitecture of the sensory trigeminal nuclei of the echidna, platypus and rat. J. Chem. Neuroanat. 31: 81-107.
4. Ashwell KWS,
Hardman CD, and Paxinos G (2005) Cyto- and chemoarchitecture of the amygdala of a monotreme, Tachyglossus aculeatus (the short-beaked echidna). J. Chem. Neuroanat. 30: 82-104.
5. Ashwell KWS,
Hardman CD and Paxinos G (2004). The claustrum is not missing from all monotreme brains. Brain Behav. Evol. 64: 223-241.
6.
Hardman CD, Henderson J, Finkelstein DI, Horne MK, Paxinos G and Halliday GM (2002). Comparison of the basal ganglia in rats, marmosets, macaques, baboons and humans: volume and neuronal number for the output, internal relay and striatal modulating nuclei. J. Comp. Neurol. 445: 238-255.
7. Halliday GM,
Hardman CD, Cordato NJ, Hely MA and Morris JGL (2000). A role for the substantia nigra pars reticulata in the gaze palsy of progressive supranuclear palsy. Brain 123: 724-732.
8.
Hardman CD and Halliday GM (1999). The internal globus pallidus is affected in progressive supranuclear palsy and Parkinson's disease. Exp. Neurol. 158: 135-142.
9.
Hardman CD and Halliday GM (1999). The external globus pallidus in patients with Parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy. Mov. Disord. 14: 626-633. Also abstracted in Focus on Parkinson’s Disease, Excerpta Medica (2000).
10. Ferguson IA,
Hardman CD, Marotte LR, Salardini A, Halasz P, Vu D and Waite PME (1999). Serotonergic neurons in the brainstem of the wallaby, Macropus eugenii. J. Comp. Neurol. 411: 535-549.
11.
Hardman CD, Halliday GM, McRitchie DA and Morris JGL (1997). The subthalamic nucleus in Parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy. J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol. 56: 132-142.
12.
Hardman CD, Halliday GM, McRitchie DA, Cartwright HR, and Morris JGL (1997). Progressive supranuclear palsy affects both the substantia nigra pars compacta and reticulata. Exp. Neurol. 144: 183-192.
13.
Hardman CD, McRitchie DA, Halliday GM, Cartwright H and Morris JGL (1996). The substantia nigra pars reticulata neurons in Parkinson's disease. Neurodegeneration 5: 49-55.
14. McRitchie DA,
Hardman CD and Halliday GM (1996). Cytoarchitectural distribution of calcium binding proteins in midbrain dopaminergic regions of rats and humans. J. Comp. Neurol. 364: 121-150.
15. Johnson SM, Trussell DC, McRitchie DA, Halliday GM and
Hardman CD (1996). Anatomical and neurochemical identification of catecholaminergic neurons in brain slice preparations used in electrophysiology. J. Neurosci. Meth. 64: 83-93.
Research Topics Available for Studies Leading to BMedSc, BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD
The Role of Cerebellar Degeneration in the Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
This project will involve the analysis of cell loss and neuropathology within the cerebellar motor loop of cases of Parkinson's disease progressive supranuclear palsy and normal age and sex matched controls.
A Quantitative Comparison of the Nonhuman and Human Thalamus
This project will involve the delineation and quantitative analysis of various nuclei within the thalamus of humans, macaques and marmosets.