I am a molecular biologist with research interests in cancer genetics, neurodegenerative disorders and development of novel therapeutics. My major focus is on the cellular response to different stresses and the consequences thereof.
The Hippo Pathway, Neural Stem Cells And Brain Growth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$363,137.00
Summary
During organism development, the brain grows to the right size without overgrowing. Neural stem cells are key regulators of brain size. We will define how the Hippo pathway crosstalks with nutrition-induced signals to control proliferation of neural stem cells and brain size. As well as producing important insights into normal growth, we will increase our understanding of brain diseases associated with aberrant brain growth, such as cancer.
Using viral inhibitors to understand the regualtion of apoptosis. Apoptosis is a form of cell death that is critical for the development and well-being of multicellular organisms. The activity of Bak or Bax, two members of the Bcl-2 family, are essential for apoptosis to proceed, but how the activity of these two proteins is regulated is unclear. Many viruses encode inhibitors of apoptosis and the project will make use of two novel viral inhibitors that specifically target Bak. The project aims ....Using viral inhibitors to understand the regualtion of apoptosis. Apoptosis is a form of cell death that is critical for the development and well-being of multicellular organisms. The activity of Bak or Bax, two members of the Bcl-2 family, are essential for apoptosis to proceed, but how the activity of these two proteins is regulated is unclear. Many viruses encode inhibitors of apoptosis and the project will make use of two novel viral inhibitors that specifically target Bak. The project aims to determine how the Bak inhibitors function and to provide valuable insights into the normal mechanisms regulating Bak activity.Read moreRead less
Alternative Mechanisms To Initiate Apoptotic Cell Death
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$336,767.00
Summary
Cell death is essential for our well being. As insufficient cell deaths can lead to cancers, promoting cell killing is a promising new avenue for treating this disease. However, current approaches are not fully optimal because we do not completely understand how the switch for cell death is flipped on. Our project seeks to answer this important question and we anticipate that a better understanding of this basic process will enable improved treatment for diseases such as cancer.
Molecular determinants of inflammatory caspase activity upon inflammasomes. Most processes fundamental to life rely on the timely, and regulated, execution of cellular functions. The innate immune system, in which both timing and regulation is paramount, rapidly detects invading microbes and induces a measured and timely antimicrobial response to clear infection. This project aims to address a key knowledge gap by characterising a mechanism for timely and controlled immune system activation and ....Molecular determinants of inflammatory caspase activity upon inflammasomes. Most processes fundamental to life rely on the timely, and regulated, execution of cellular functions. The innate immune system, in which both timing and regulation is paramount, rapidly detects invading microbes and induces a measured and timely antimicrobial response to clear infection. This project aims to address a key knowledge gap by characterising a mechanism for timely and controlled immune system activation and immune cell death via the non-canonical inflammasome. We do not currently understand how some immune pathways are turned on or off. This project will yield fundamental insight into mechanisms of mammalian inflammasome, inflammation and anti-microbial responses.Read moreRead less
Expansion Of TGF-beta-Smad Signaling Network And Intrinsic Epithelial-mesenchymal-endothelial Transition
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$557,297.00
Summary
The majority of tumor death occurs due to tumor metastasis. Both tumor growth and tumor spread require angiogenesis, which is thought to be driven by tumor but originated from host endothelial cells. Could tumor cells behave and function like endothelial cells? This application aims to detect the transition of adult epithelial cells to endothelial cells through a transient mesenchymal state. Our studies should reveal both the molecular and cellular causes of vasculogenic mimicry, thus establishi ....The majority of tumor death occurs due to tumor metastasis. Both tumor growth and tumor spread require angiogenesis, which is thought to be driven by tumor but originated from host endothelial cells. Could tumor cells behave and function like endothelial cells? This application aims to detect the transition of adult epithelial cells to endothelial cells through a transient mesenchymal state. Our studies should reveal both the molecular and cellular causes of vasculogenic mimicry, thus establishing a new paradigm in understanding tumor growth and metastasis. Such novel molecular understanding will open up new anti-tumor therapeutic opportunities.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100011
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$900,000.00
Summary
Integrated Multimodal System for Multiplexed Imaging of Signal Transduction. This project will introduce a unique microscopy platform and associated technologies into the Australian research environment that will enable researchers to redefine our understanding of molecular signal transduction. The instrumentation will enable the multidimensional imaging of live cells with unprecendented speed and sensitivity. The featured imaging modalities will enable the integration of distinct biological, ....Integrated Multimodal System for Multiplexed Imaging of Signal Transduction. This project will introduce a unique microscopy platform and associated technologies into the Australian research environment that will enable researchers to redefine our understanding of molecular signal transduction. The instrumentation will enable the multidimensional imaging of live cells with unprecendented speed and sensitivity. The featured imaging modalities will enable the integration of distinct biological, biochemical and chemical probes with a focus on minimizing phototoxicity. Expected outcomes include new fundamental knowledge on molecular signal transduction and cell heterogeneity; development of novel probes and methodologies and the development of new and existing interdisciplinary research collaborations. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100066
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$440,000.00
Summary
Mass Cytometry: A breakthrough in multidimensional systems biology. Mass cytometry - a breakthrough in multidimensional systems biology: Mass Cytometry by Time of Flight marries the resolution, specificity and sensitivity of atomic stable isotope mass spectrometry to the high-throughput, single-cell analytical advantages of flow cytometry. Using molecular probes conjugated with stable isotope tags, a large increase is possible in the number of simultaneous quantitative measurements in complex sa ....Mass Cytometry: A breakthrough in multidimensional systems biology. Mass cytometry - a breakthrough in multidimensional systems biology: Mass Cytometry by Time of Flight marries the resolution, specificity and sensitivity of atomic stable isotope mass spectrometry to the high-throughput, single-cell analytical advantages of flow cytometry. Using molecular probes conjugated with stable isotope tags, a large increase is possible in the number of simultaneous quantitative measurements in complex samples. These parameters, denoting cell type, function and signalling status, will make possible future advances in the understanding of the diversity of cell phenotype and function with a systems biology approach. Read moreRead less
Control of cell fate decisions in neurogenesis: use of embryonic stem cells to investigate key signalling systems and gene expression programs. Human embryonic stem cells (hESC) have the potential to provide an unlimited source of specific subtypes of human neurons for basic studies in neuroscience and biomedical applications. The use of hESC is limited at present by a lack of control over lineage commitment during differentiation in vitro. This project will use engineered reporter hESC lines t ....Control of cell fate decisions in neurogenesis: use of embryonic stem cells to investigate key signalling systems and gene expression programs. Human embryonic stem cells (hESC) have the potential to provide an unlimited source of specific subtypes of human neurons for basic studies in neuroscience and biomedical applications. The use of hESC is limited at present by a lack of control over lineage commitment during differentiation in vitro. This project will use engineered reporter hESC lines to investigate which cell signalling pathways and gene expression programs are involved in controlling cell fate. The project will result in improved protocols for hESC differentiation allowing enrichment of cultures with specific neuronal subtypes, and significant advances in the understanding of neuronal lineage commitment and maturation during brain development. Read moreRead less