Human Pigmentation Genetics, Melanocyte Biology And Skin Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$686,656.00
Summary
The fellowship application by A/Prof Sturm is to support his research into the biology of human skin, hair and eye colour, and the process of melanoma formation. His pivotal discoveries into the genetic basis of pigmentation and its regulation has provided an understanding of these physical traits and the associated genotypic risk factors for skin cancer development. The genes that determine an individual's skin phototype and the mechanisms involved in the tanning response after UV-exposure of t ....The fellowship application by A/Prof Sturm is to support his research into the biology of human skin, hair and eye colour, and the process of melanoma formation. His pivotal discoveries into the genetic basis of pigmentation and its regulation has provided an understanding of these physical traits and the associated genotypic risk factors for skin cancer development. The genes that determine an individual's skin phototype and the mechanisms involved in the tanning response after UV-exposure of the skin are actively being investigated.Read moreRead less
Ligand Interactions Of The MC1R Receptor And Cellular Consequences For Melanocyte Responses To UV-damage
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$578,268.00
Summary
Although it is evident that fair skin types are more susceptible to sun damage, the relationship between sun exposure, skin colour and skin cancer formation is less clear. The genes and processes that determine an individual's skin phototype and the mechanisms involved in the tanning response after UV-exposure of the skin are the focus of this investigation. A major regulator of the response to UV radiation in the skin is the melanocortin-1 receptor. It is essential to understand the complex int ....Although it is evident that fair skin types are more susceptible to sun damage, the relationship between sun exposure, skin colour and skin cancer formation is less clear. The genes and processes that determine an individual's skin phototype and the mechanisms involved in the tanning response after UV-exposure of the skin are the focus of this investigation. A major regulator of the response to UV radiation in the skin is the melanocortin-1 receptor. It is essential to understand the complex interactions of this receptor that induce tanning.Read moreRead less
Melanomas are common cancers arising from the pigment cells of the skin. Sunlight is the principal environmental causal factor for this group of cancers, although there is increasing evidence that the effect of sunlight on the pigment cells is not the same for all people. We aim to answer the question. Does host phenotype predict the response of melanocytes to sunlight and in so doing, contribute information that may assist the development of effective prevention strategies
I am a molecular geneticist with a primary focus on the identification of genes and sequence variants underlying susceptibility to, and progression of, various tumour types _ in particular tumours of the skin (moles and melanoma), oesophagus, ovary, lung
This project seeks to evaluate the role of new cell growth regulating pathway in the development of moles and melanoma. In particular, we will determine at which stage during tumour progression disruption of this pathway occurs, and whether its loss is associated with melanoma patient survival. Identification of the cancer-related changes that occur when this pathway is aberrant may ultimately lead to the development of novel therapies to treat melanoma.
My work on human pigmentation genetics has provided a framework to understand normal variation in this physical trait and the associated genotypic risk factors for skin cancer development. The genes that determine an individual's skin phototype and the ce
Identification Of Novel Low Penetrance Genes Associated With Melanoma Risk
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$399,830.00
Summary
Using pools of DNA samples we will conduct a genome-wide association study for melanoma predisposition genes. The most promising candidate genes will be followed up by sequencing and further geneotyping of additional SNPs in order to identify the causal variants.