Chris Sobey group
Stroke, cerebrovascular disease and dementia
Professor Chris Sobey is Co-Director of the Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research (CCBDR) and Distinguished Professor at La Trobe University. He has more than 270 publications, 30,000 citations and an h-index of 88 in the areas of experimental stroke and cardiovascular diseases. His work is currently exploring amnion cells as a novel therapy for stroke and vascular dementia and he is part of a team that is undertaking Phase I and II clinical trials of cell therapy in acute stroke patients.
Our research division aims to understand the fundamental injury and repair mechanisms which occur during stroke.
Our research division aims to understand the fundamental injury and repair mechanisms which occur during stroke. A stroke triggers a series of damaging events following its onset, including inflammation and systemic infection that lead to cell death and changes in mobility. Our team has introduced routine immunological approaches that are now widely used in this field to tackle inflammation.
Our key research focuses on whether immunotherapies – that is therapies which either supress or activate the body’s immune response - can be used to reduce brain inflammation and consequently reduce the burden of stroke. The team has extensive expertise using rodent studies, as well as new approaches to analysing large data sets to identify new relationships in stroke pathology.
Our team aims to address gaps in existing research by addressing key risk factors such as advanced age and sex in our work.
Cerebrovascular diseases (stroke, dementias) are a major health concern in Australia and throughout the world.
Cerebrovascular diseases (stroke, dementias) are a major health concern in Australia and throughout the world. Cardiovascular diseases disrupt the blood flow to the brain, which reduces the supply of oxygen and other essential nutrients required for neurons to function. This disruption can contribute to the development of cognitive impairment.
Our research focuses on the effects of cardiovascular diseases (e.g. hypertension, stroke, metabolic syndrome) on the brain and its circulation. We use animal models of disease as well as state-of-the-art imaging, and molecular and behavioural testing techniques to determine the impact of disease on the brain and to identify potential targets for therapy.
The overall goal of our research is to develop new therapies to help reduce the burden of cerebrovascular disease.
Meet the team
Stroke and Brain Inflammation:
- CCBDR Division Head: Dr Helena Kim
Cerebrovascular Diseases:
- CCBDR Division Head: Dr Michael De Silva
Patents
Sobey CG, Phan TG, Ma H. Compositions and methods for treating stroke. (International Publication Number: WO 2025/097200 A1, 15th May 2025; International Application Number: PCT/AU2023/051127, 8th November 2023).
https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/WO2025097200