I lead the Cell Signalling Laboratory at the Centre for Cancer Biology, a joint initiative of SA Pathology and the University of South Australia. Our team collaborates nationally and internationally, integrating advanced technologies such as phosphoproteomics, spatial transcriptomics, and high-resolution imaging with patient-derived and iPSC-based models.
Lab Mission and Impact
Our mission is to decode the signalling networks that drive cancer progression and therapy resistance, translating these discoveries into new biomarkers and therapeutic strategies for aggressive cancers. Through innovation and collaboration, we aim to improve outcomes for patients with cancers that currently lack effective targeted treatments.
I pioneered studies ... Read more
About me
I lead the Cell Signalling Laboratory at the Centre for Cancer Biology, a joint initiative of SA Pathology and the University of South Australia. Our team collaborates nationally and internationally, integrating advanced technologies such as phosphoproteomics, spatial transcriptomics, and high-resolution imaging with patient-derived and iPSC-based models.
Lab Mission and Impact
Our mission is to decode the signalling networks that drive cancer progression and therapy resistance, translating these discoveries into new biomarkers and therapeutic strategies for aggressive cancers. Through innovation and collaboration, we aim to improve outcomes for patients with cancers that currently lack effective targeted treatments.
I pioneered studies on epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), making foundational contributions to understanding cell plasticity through microRNA regulation and phosphorylation-mediated signalling. Today, my research focuses on dysregulated signalling networks driving tumour growth, metastasis, and therapy resistance, particularly in cancers lacking targeted therapies, such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and neuroblastoma. More recently, my work on neuroblastoma has brought me full circle to my early interest in neuronal differentiation—now exploring how developmental programs can give rise to cancers that originate in the womb.
My Journey. After completing a B.Sc. (Honours) at the University of Adelaide, I earned a Ph.D. in enzymology and protein chemistry. My postdoctoral training began at the Roche Institute of Molecular Biology (USA), where I applied emerging molecular biology techniques to identify marker genes involved in olfactory neuron regeneration and differentiation. A second postdoctoral fellowship at the Friedrich Miescher Institute (Switzerland) sparked my enduring interest in cancer signalling networks.
Returning to Adelaide with a young family, I joined the Hanson Centre for Cancer Research (later the Hanson Institute, now part of SA Pathology). In 2006, I was awarded a Cancer Council SA Senior Fellowship, which solidified my commitment to cancer research.
About me
Australian and New Zealand Society of Cell and Developmental Biology (ANZSCDB)
The Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition International Association (TEMTIA)
About me
Doctor of Philosophy The University of Adelaide
Post-doctoral Fellowships
Roche Institute of Molecular Biology, Nutley, NJ., USA
Friedrich Miescher Institut, Basel, Switzerland
Group Leader
Hanson Institute, Adelaide, Australia
Current
Laboratory Head
Cell Signalling Laboratory
Centre for Cancer Biology
SA Pathology
Research Vision and Impact
Our research aims to uncover the molecular and cellular mechanisms that drive cancer progression and therapy resistance, with a focus on translating these insights into improved treatment strategies. By integrating cutting-edge technologies and collaborative approaches, we strive to identify novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers that can ultimately improve patient outcomes in aggressive cancers such as triple-negative breast cancer and neuroblastoma that currrently lack effective targeted therapy.
Current Research Projects
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Our research focuses on understanding key signalling pathways that drive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) progression and treatment response. Current... Read more
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
Trafficking mechanisms governing receptor availability for signalling, NHMRC - Project Grant, 01/01/2018 - 31/12/2021
Using miR-200 to find new therapeutic targets for neuroblastoma, NHMRC - Project Grant, 01/01/2017 - 31/12/2019
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. Some long-standing staff members may have older outputs included. To see earlier years visit ORCID
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
Open access
2
2
1
|
| 2023 |
Open access
3
3
2
|
| 2022 |
Open access
2
|
| 2022 |
2
3
|
| 2021 |
Open access
23
22
8
|
| 2021 |
Open access
19
18
112
|
| 2020 |
Open access
9
9
|
| 2020 |
Open access
1594
1436
|
| 2019 |
Open access
55
53
2
|
| 2018 |
Open access
89
88
15
|
| 2015 |
54
53
18
|
| 2015 |
Open access
50
50
1
|
| 2014 |
Open access
124
121
|
| 2013 |
Open access
21
19
|
| 2013 |
Open access
|
| 2013 |
Open access
173
157
|
| 2013 |
123
120
|
| 2013 |
Open access
150
140
|
| 2011 |
Open access
510
478
|
| 2010 |
102
99
|
| 2008 |
3456
3250
|
| 2008 |
Open access
76
72
|
| 2008 |
Open access
15
13
|
Research
Research Vision and Impact
Our research aims to uncover the molecular and cellular mechanisms that drive cancer progression and therapy resistance, with a focus on translating these insights into improved treatment strategies. By integrating cutting-edge technologies and collaborative approaches, we strive to identify novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers that can ultimately improve patient outcomes in aggressive cancers such as triple-negative breast cancer and neuroblastoma that currrently lack effective targeted therapy.
Current Research Projects
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Our research focuses on understanding key signalling pathways that drive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) progression and treatment response. Current projects include:
Investigating how specific pathways influence TNBC response to existing therapies, including their role in determining cancer cell fate and shaping the tumour microenvironment.Identifying the molecular mechanisms underlying these pathways, such as kinase substrates and novel roles of post-translational modifications in regulating kinase function.Exploring how dysregulation of endosomal trafficking contributes to cancer progression.To address these questions, our laboratory employs cutting-edge approaches including phosphoproteomics, functional genomics, spatial transcriptomics, high/super-resolution confocal microscopy, genetically engineered and xenograft mouse models of TNBC, and analyses of patient-derived breast cancer specimens.
• Investigating pathways influencing treatment response and tumour microenvironment
• Identifying kinase substrates and novel roles of post-translational modifications
• Exploring how dysregulated endosomal trafficking drives cancer progression
Neuroblastoma
Our neuroblastoma research aims to uncover critical signalling pathways involved in neuroblast differentiation and maturation, and how their dysregulation leads to tumour development. Current projects include:
Using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to study the differentiation of neuroblasts into sympathetic neurons and identify key signalling programs.Leveraging insights from neuroblast differentiation to understand how aberrant signalling drives neuroblastoma.Developing iPSC-based disease models to discover and validate potential therapeutic targets.These studies integrate advanced sequencing technologies for coding and non-coding RNAs, bioinformatics, and spatial transcriptomics, using both mouse embryos and patient samples. This work is part of a collaborative effort with Professor Quenten Schwarz and Professor Greg Goodall at the Centre for Cancer Biology.
• Using iPSC models to study neuroblast differentiation and maturation
• Identifying dysregulated signalling pathways that lead to neuroblastoma
• Developing disease models to discover new therapeutic targets
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| Australian National University | AUSTRALIA |
| BreastScreen SA | AUSTRALIA |
| Cancer Council of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| Children's Cancer Institute Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| Flinders University | AUSTRALIA |
| Garvan Institute of Medical Research | AUSTRALIA |
| Ghent University | BELGIUM |
| Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science | AUSTRALIA |
| Kumamoto University | JAPAN |
| La Jolla Institute for Immunology | UNITED STATES |
| Monash University | AUSTRALIA |
| Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland | IRELAND |
| SA Pathology | AUSTRALIA |
| University Libre Bruxelles | BELGIUM |
| University of Adelaide | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Arizona | UNITED STATES |
| University of California | UNITED STATES |
| University of California San Diego | UNITED STATES |
| University of Canberra | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Malaya | MALAYSIA |
| University of Melbourne | AUSTRALIA |
| University of New South Wales | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Queensland | AUSTRALIA |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research | AUSTRALIA |
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| 110423 - Tackling Neuroblastoma using a multi-omics bioinformatics approach | Current |
| 110943 - Re-examining fundamental assumptions about microRNAs | Current |
| Determining the role of pY374PKCd mediated chemoresistance in triple negative breast cancer | Current |
| Identification of Molecular Drivers of Neuroblastoma | Current |
| Understanding chemoresistance mechanisms in triple negative breast cancer | Current |
| CD47 regulates cellular and metabolic plasticity in glioblastoma | Completed |
