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.
Targeting Homeobox Genes In Acute Myeloid Leukaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$658,739.00
Summary
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a common blood cancer with dire clinical prognosis due to a lack of targeted molecular therapies. In this proposal we will identify new ways of targeting transcription factor proteins that are overexpressed in AML and promote leukaemia by repressing normal cellular growth controls. This may lead to novel methods to target leukaemic stem cells to specifically eliminate myeloid leukemia
Role Of MACROD2 Loss In DNA Repair, Chromosomal Instability And Development Of Colorectal Cancer: Clinical And Therapeutic Implications
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$772,871.00
Summary
The MACROD2 gene is deleted in one-third of human bowel cancers. We have discovered that MACROD2 deletion causes defective DNA repair and tumour chromosomal instability. Here, we will use novel laboratory models to show that MACROD2 loss actively promotes bowel cancer development. We will test the clinical implication of MACROD2 loss for predicting tumour therapy response and will investigate the potential of exploiting this deficiency for drug targeting.
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.
Breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy among women, with an estimated 1 million new cases per year worldwide. A family of enzymes known as protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) are fundamental in the initiation and progression of tumour growth and they are frequently hyperactivated in breast cancer. This proposal will examine whether inactivation of the enzyme known as TCPTP contributes to PTK hyperactivation and tumorigenicity in breast cancer.
Identifying And Characterizing Genes That Regulate Breast Tumorigenesis And Metastasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Summary
I am a breast cancer biologist. My research focuses on identifying the changes in normal cells that allow cancer to form, and identifying the changes in cancer cells that allows them to spread. To accomplish this, I have developed new methods using mouse models of breast cancer. My goal is to use these methods to further our understanding of the causes of breast cancer development and progression.
Role Of INPP4B And Related Proteins In Human Cancer.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$650,694.00
Summary
Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among females, affecting 1 in 9 women. Cells normally divide only when they receive a stimulus. The PI3K pathway, which responds to these stimuli, has been implicated in cancer and when mutated induces cells to multiply uncontrollably and invade surrounding tissue. This grant aims to characterise the role of a cancer suppressing gene and a related family member play in the development of human breast cancer.
Identification Of Novel ERBB2 Co-operating Tumor Suppressors Using In Vivo RNAi Screens.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Summary
Invasive breast cancer is often lethal, however, noninvasive disease has a >98% survival rate. Thus, understanding how breast cancer develops invasive ability is an important research goal. Using a new method in mice predisposed to breast cancer, we will find genes that prevent tumor invasion and determine if they are important in human cancer. By understanding how these genes restrict tumor invasion, we hope to develop therapies to improve breast cancer treatment.
There are ~1.6 billion overweight adults worldwide & this is predicted to rise to 2.3 billion by 2015. In Australia > 2/3 of adults are overweight or obese. Obesity is a key factor in the progression of many human malignancies. Obesity poses the greatest risk for the development hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a deadly cancer refractory to nearly all available anti-cancer therapies. This application will delineate the molecular mechanisms by which obesity promotes HCC development.