I am a cell biologist who studies the molecular mechanisms that couple cells together into tissues in the body. These adhesion mechanisms are essential during development, support normal tissue turnover and are disrupted in human disease. My research aims to understand how cell adhesion functions normally and how it is disturbed in inflammation and cancer.
Unraveling The Molecular Mechanism Of Tau Spread In Alzheimer's Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,252,244.00
Summary
Disease progression in Alzheimer's disease is still poorly understood. The project is based on new findings by the research team that suggest that core cellular pathways and building blocks of nerve cell connections are required to allow the spread of pathology in the brain. This project will establish whether these pathways can be used as effective targets to intercept disease progression and prevent further cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease pathology.
Analysis Of Killer T Cell Geometry During An Anti-tumour Response
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$547,216.00
Summary
Cancer is a major health problem around the world. Currently used treatment options of cancer have the drawback that they also damage healthy tissues. This limits the dosages that can be administered, frequently resulting in treatment failure. Anti-tumour killer T cells are a naturally occurring cell type that can cause tumour regression. In the present proposal, we explore how the efficiency of these cell-types can be further enhanced to induce rejection of progressing tumours.
Using MiR-200 To Find New Therapeutic Targets For Neuroblastoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$563,152.00
Summary
Neuroblastoma is one of the most common cancers in children. We have found that a genetic regulator, called microRNA, can limit the ability of neuroblastoma cells to invade surrounding tissues and metastasise. We aim use the microRNAs to find new therapeutic targets that may work in combination with existing treatments, reducing the short term toxicity and long term deleterious effects of current treatments.