How Does The Tumour Suppressor: Nerfin-1 Prevent Dietary Dependent Tumour Growth?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$630,942.00
Summary
The influence of diet has been linked to tumour growth for decades, however, there is little scientific evidence to support or disprove this. In this study, we will assess the effect of diet on tumours in fruit flies. The metabolic genes which regulate the growth of fly tumours will then be studied in human brain tumours. Our studies will ultimately shed light on how tissue growth is controlled by dietary intake, and have the potential to inform the way that we treat and manage human cancers.
Functional Studies On The Role Of DNp73 In Stem Cells And Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$428,838.00
Summary
This project investigates the role of the p73 gene in regulating stem cells and facilitating intestinal cancer formation. We hypothesize that when a particular form of this gene (DNp73) is upregulated it prevents differentiation of stem cells and promotes tumour formation. We combine novel approaches in mice and fruit flies to examine the function of DNp73 in stem cells with analysis of human tumour samples. These studies may identify a new target for tumour therapy.
Defining The Role Of Wnt Signaling In Hepatocellular Carcinoma And The Potential Of Wnt-targeted Therapy For HCC
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$403,210.00
Summary
Of all cancers, liver cancer is the third biggest killer worldwide and there is currently no effective treatment options for this disease. We now know many of the common genetic changes that occur in liver tumour cells but have yet to develop targeted drug treatments. This project is aimed at determining whether reactivating a tumour cell's normal cancer suppressing functions can stop tumour growth and whether we can use this information to develop specific drugs that target liver tumour cells
I am a cell biologist/geneticist focusing on understanding tumourigenesis. Cancer is a multigenic and complicated disease, involving interactions between the tumour and normal tissue. I use the genetically tractable model organism, the vinegar fly, Drosophila, to model cancer in situ and identify novel genes that drive cancer. My 5 year career plan is to use the Drosophila system to model cooperative tumourigenesis in epithelial and brain tissues and translate this to human cancer.
The Role Of Snail Family Proteins In Stem Cells And Tumour Growth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$589,175.00
Summary
This project investigates the role of a family of genes in regulating stem cells in normal tissues and cancer. This family can switch other genes off and we hypothesize that keeping these genes off is required to allow stem cells to be maintained in tissues. We combine novel studies in fruit flies and mice to examine gene function in stem cells and tumour initiation. These studies will increase our knowledge of how to manipulate stem cells and may identify new targets for tumour therapy.