To study the genetic alterations that give rise to cancer. In particular, exploring how too little death of cells can lead to a tumour. If too few cells in a tissue die, a tumour may develop there. The team is exploring how the cell death process is normally controlled. They plan to characterise the molecules inside cells that determine whether a cell lives or dies and hope that better understanding of those molecules will help to explain how tumours arise. It could also lead to new drugs that c ....To study the genetic alterations that give rise to cancer. In particular, exploring how too little death of cells can lead to a tumour. If too few cells in a tissue die, a tumour may develop there. The team is exploring how the cell death process is normally controlled. They plan to characterise the molecules inside cells that determine whether a cell lives or dies and hope that better understanding of those molecules will help to explain how tumours arise. It could also lead to new drugs that can kill tumour cells more effectively by directly triggering the normal death switch of the cell.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Hox Genes In Myeloid Cell Development And Myeloid Leukaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$591,286.00
Summary
The transformation of normal white blood cells into leukaemic cells occurs as a result of changes to the genes of those cells. These changes are often characteristic of particular cancers and carry diagnostic and prognostic significance. This work will determine how critical some of the typical genetic changes of leukaemia are to the occurrence and persistence of cancer. Importantly, we will determine whether targeting these changes can provide new and effective approaches to treatment.
Temporal And Spatial Regulation Of Caspases In Development And Metamorphosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,250.00
Summary
Cell death by a special process called apoptosis is a means of deleting unwanted and harmful cells from the body. Extensive apoptosis occurs during foetal development which is required to get rid of many excess cells produced during the growth of the embryo. Selective apoptosis is also essential for the formation of different tissues and organs in developing foetus. In the adult, apoptosis is required for proper functioning of the immune system, to remove virus infected and cancer cells and in g ....Cell death by a special process called apoptosis is a means of deleting unwanted and harmful cells from the body. Extensive apoptosis occurs during foetal development which is required to get rid of many excess cells produced during the growth of the embryo. Selective apoptosis is also essential for the formation of different tissues and organs in developing foetus. In the adult, apoptosis is required for proper functioning of the immune system, to remove virus infected and cancer cells and in general to maintain the correct number of cells in the body. As such, misregulated apoptosis is associated with the pathogenesis of a wide array of diseases such as autoimmune diseases, many forms of cancer and neurodegenerative disorders (such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases), heart disease, ischaemia and other conditions. To understand, manage and treat disorders that result from aberrant apoptosis, we need to know at molecular and cellular level, how apoptosis is brought about and how it is regulated. We have been studying these processes in detail for several years. Central to the apoptotic execution of cell death are a group of proteases that target many cellular proteins for specific cleavage. The activation of these proteases is the crucial step in the initiation of apoptosis and therefore each cell has developed complex ways to control this process. In the present proposal, we aim to study regulation of caspases that are involved in developmental apoptosis. Furthermore, we plan to identify proteins that are responsible for the regulation of caspase activation.Read moreRead less
Throughout our lives cells must die and be replenished. One way multicellular organisms remove unwanted cells is through a process called programmed cell death. This process eliminates redundant, damaged or infected cells by a program of cell suicide. We are studying the underlying molecular mechanisms of this cell suicide in order to design new pharmaceuticals to treat illnesses caused by a disruption in programmed cell death. The fine balance between living and dying cells must be maintained a ....Throughout our lives cells must die and be replenished. One way multicellular organisms remove unwanted cells is through a process called programmed cell death. This process eliminates redundant, damaged or infected cells by a program of cell suicide. We are studying the underlying molecular mechanisms of this cell suicide in order to design new pharmaceuticals to treat illnesses caused by a disruption in programmed cell death. The fine balance between living and dying cells must be maintained and if this balance is lost then disease may result. A reduced level of cell death may result in cancers while too many dying can contribute to degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and stroke. Currently many of these diseases do not have effective treatments. We will determine the three-dimensional structures of key proteins involved in programmed cell death and use this information to design drugs that can interfere with the molecular processes involved in signalling cell death. Such drugs may prove useful new therapies in a wide range of diseases caused by a breakdown in the biochemical paths to cell death.Read moreRead less
Is The Tumour Suppressor Activity Of P53 Independent Of Its Transcriptional Role?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$162,920.00
Summary
To become cancerous, a cell must avoid death. As such, cancer cells often contain defects in cell death pathways which render them resistant to pro-death stimuli, including many chemotherapeutic drugs. To design new and better cancer therapies, it is essential that we understand the critical molecular processes that control cell death. This will allow the development of more effective ways to either reset, or bypass, defects in cell death pathways which have contributed to cancer formation.
Cell Cycle Regulation By The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$227,036.00
Summary
The rate of growth and death of normal cells is regulated through signals transmitted from the cell surface to the nucleus. In many human cancers the normal regulatory mechanisms are subverted, leading to uncontrolled growth of the cells. We aim to characterize the signals that are initiated by binding of the Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) to its receptor and to understand how these signals influence the ability of the cell to divide and to survive. We will identify the pathways that contribute t ....The rate of growth and death of normal cells is regulated through signals transmitted from the cell surface to the nucleus. In many human cancers the normal regulatory mechanisms are subverted, leading to uncontrolled growth of the cells. We aim to characterize the signals that are initiated by binding of the Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) to its receptor and to understand how these signals influence the ability of the cell to divide and to survive. We will identify the pathways that contribute to uncontrolled growth in tumor cells. This knowledge is necessary for the design of new therapies targetted to the molecular lesions which stimulate solid tumors.Read moreRead less
I am a molecular geneticist investigating the development of cancer, the mechanisms controlling apoptosis, and how impaired apoptosis contributes to tumorigenesis and the resistance of cancer cells to therapy.
Investigating Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Permeabilization During Programmed Cell Death
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$88,065.00
Summary
Cancer cells often contain defects which prevent their death. To kill cancer cells we must either reset or bypass these defects. Release of cytochrome c from mitochondria is a critical event in cell death and proteins that block this event render cells resistant to many cancer therapies. My research will determine how cytochrome c release occurs, how this event is regulated and how to kill cancer cells in which cytochrome c release is blocked.