I head the Gene Regulatory Networks Laboratory at the Centre for Cancer biology, an alliance between the University of South Australia and SA Pathology. My laboratory focuses on the role of non-coding RNAs (RNAs that do not instruct protein production) as regulators of the gene expression networks that drive and control cancer progression. This includes microRNAs, which act as genetic “off-switches” of protein-coding genes, and long non-coding RNAs which utilize a range of mechanisms to both positively and negatively regulate gene expression. Our research looks at how and why specific genes are selected for regulation, how these regulated genes interact to control biological processes such as cancer, and explores the potential... Read more
About me
I head the Gene Regulatory Networks Laboratory at the Centre for Cancer biology, an alliance between the University of South Australia and SA Pathology. My laboratory focuses on the role of non-coding RNAs (RNAs that do not instruct protein production) as regulators of the gene expression networks that drive and control cancer progression. This includes microRNAs, which act as genetic “off-switches” of protein-coding genes, and long non-coding RNAs which utilize a range of mechanisms to both positively and negatively regulate gene expression. Our research looks at how and why specific genes are selected for regulation, how these regulated genes interact to control biological processes such as cancer, and explores the potential for these non-coding RNAs to themselves serve as future therapeutics. My group uses a broad range of molecular assays and bioinformatic analyses to interrogate the complex regulatory systems that are employed by cells and that are hijacked by cancer.
I completed my Bachelor’s degree with Honours in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Adelaide where I studied hypoxically-regulated transcription factors. I then moved to the University of Dundee, UK (2005-2008), joining the laboratory of Prof Neil Perkins where I worked on the co-regulation of splicing and transcription. Upon returning to Australia in 2008, I took a post-doctoral position with Prof Greg Goodall working on microRNAs, from which I established my own laboratory at the CCB in 2016. As an early career researcher, I received fellowships from the National Breast Cancer Foundation (2009-2011) and the Florey Foundation (2012-2014). I currently hold a Future Fellowship from the Australian Research Council (2020-2024) and a UniSA Enterprise Fellowship (2023-2027).
About me
Doctor of Philosophy The University of Adelaide
Bachelor of Science (Honours) The University of Adelaide
Bachelor of Science (Molecular Biology) The University of Adelaide
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
Transcriptional regulation by microRNAs, ARC - Discovery Projects, 08/07/2019 - 07/07/2022
Using miR-200 to find new therapeutic targets for neuroblastoma, NHMRC - Project Grant, 01/01/2017 - 31/12/2019
How isomiRs expand the microRNA functional repertoire in affecting gene expression, NHMRC - Project Grant, 01/01/2014 - 31/12/2016
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 or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
Year | Output |
---|---|
2024 |
Open access
2
|
2024 |
Open access
1
|
2024 |
Open access
2
1
|
2023 |
Open access
2
8
|
2023 |
Open access
2
|
2023 |
Open access
3
4
|
2022 |
39
38
3
|
2022 |
Open access
24
23
1
|
2021 |
Open access
11
11
2
|
2021 |
Open access
17
14
1
|
2021 |
Open access
3
3
2
|
2021 |
Open access
71
66
2
|
2020 |
Open access
6
7
1
|
2020 |
Open access
9
8
9
|
2019 |
Open access
22
21
5
|
2019 |
Open access
14
14
1
|
2019 |
Open access
6
5
5
|
2018 |
Open access
72
67
28
|
2018 |
Open access
23
21
3
|
2018 |
Open access
28
26
2
|
2018 |
Open access
78
78
15
|
2017 |
Open access
5
5
|
2017 |
Open access
58
55
6
|
2016 |
Open access
567
542
33
|
2015 |
Open access
50
50
1
|
2015 |
Open access
43
41
1
|
2015 |
Open access
33
30
2
|
2015 |
Open access
57
53
5
|
2014 |
Open access
121
119
13
|
2014 |
104
98
|
2014 |
43
59
|
2013 |
Open access
146
135
|
2013 |
Open access
103
101
|
2012 |
376
356
|
2011 |
Open access
68
65
|
2011 |
Open access
487
459
|
2011 |
Open access
659
617
|
2011 |
Open access
469
438
|
2010 |
Open access
73
62
|
2010 |
43
40
|
2009 |
107
96
|
2008 |
Open access
928
876
|
2008 |
Open access
82
77
|
2008 |
Open access
435
404
|
External engagement & recognition
Organisation | Country |
---|---|
Australian National University | AUSTRALIA |
Cancer Council of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
Central Queensland University | AUSTRALIA |
Children's Cancer Institute Australia | AUSTRALIA |
Deakin University | AUSTRALIA |
Flinders University | AUSTRALIA |
Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research | AUSTRALIA |
Harvard University | UNITED STATES |
Hudson Institute of Medical Research | AUSTRALIA |
Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science | AUSTRALIA |
Monash University | AUSTRALIA |
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute | AUSTRALIA |
Queensland University of Technology | AUSTRALIA |
Royal Perth Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
SA Pathology | AUSTRALIA |
St Vincent's Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
St. Vincent's Institute of Medical Research | AUSTRALIA |
The Institut Pasteur | FRANCE |
University of Adelaide | AUSTRALIA |
University of Dundee | UNITED KINGDOM |
University of Malaya | MALAYSIA |
University of Melbourne | AUSTRALIA |
University of Pennsylvania | UNITED STATES |
University of Queensland | AUSTRALIA |
University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
University of Washington | UNITED STATES |
University of Western Australia | AUSTRALIA |
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research | AUSTRALIA |
External engagement & recognition
Engagement/recognition | Year |
---|---|
Future FellowshipAustralian Research Council (ARC) |
2019 |
Grant review panelNational Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) |
2018 |
Invited TalkComBio Conference, Adelaide |
2018 |
Grant review panelNational Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) |
2017 |
Secretary of organizing committeeScience Amongst the Vines Conference |
2017 |
Post-doctoral FellowshipFlorey Foundation |
2016 |
Special Interest Group organiserSouth Australian RNA |
2016 |
Post-doctoral FellowshipFlorey Foundation |
2015 |
Review Panel MemberWomen's and Children's Hospital Research Grant |
2015 |
South Australian RepresentativeAustralian Epigenetics Alliance |
2015 |
Special Interest Group organiserSouth Australian RNA |
2015 |
Invited Talk and Session ChairJapanese and Australian Joint RNA conference (JAJRNA), Sydney |
2014 |
Organising committeeJapan/Australian RNA network (JAJRNA) Conference, Sydney |
2014 |
Post-doctoral FellowshipFlorey Foundation |
2014 |
Review Panel MemberWomen's and Children's Hospital Research Grant |
2014 |
Session ChairComBio Conference, Canberra |
2014 |
Special Interest Group organiserSouth Australian RNA |
2014 |
Invited Talk and Session ChairComBio Conference, Perth |
2013 |
Review Panel MemberWomen's and Children's Hospital Research Grant |
2013 |
Special Interest Group organiserSouth Australian RNA |
2013 |
Local Organising Committee4th Australasian Epigenetics Conference |
2012 |
Novel Concepts Grant Review Panel MemberNational Breast Cancer Foundation |
2012 |
Post-doctoral fellowshipNational Breast Cancer Foundation |
2012 |
Session ChairAustralasian Epigenetics Meeting, Adelaide |
2012 |
Special Interest Group organiserSouth Australian RNA |
2012 |
Post-doctoral fellowshipNational Breast Cancer Foundation |
2011 |
Special Interest Group organiserSouth Australian RNA |
2011 |
Post-doctoral fellowshipNational Breast Cancer Foundation |
2010 |
Special Interest Group organiserSouth Australian RNA |
2010 |
Post-doctoral fellowshipNational Breast Cancer Foundation |
2009 |
Teaching & student supervision
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
Thesis title | Student status |
---|---|
110943 - Re-examining fundamental assumptions about microRNAs | Current |
A novel protein ZCCHC24 as a regulator of breast cancer cell plasticity and metastasis | Current |
Alternative splicing networks and their impact on the development of aggressive prostate cancer | Current |
Lipid nanoparticles for delivery of nucleic acid vaccines | Current |
Nuclear functions of microRNAs that control EMT in breast cancer | Current |
Targeting oncogenic signalling with custom RNA drugs | Current |
Understanding how the epigenetic field effect exerted by cancers upon their microenvironment promotes tumour progression | Current |
Understanding how the epigenetic field effect exerted by cancers upon their microenvironment promotes tumour progression | Current |
Developing network inference methods for cancer driver discovery | Completed |
Elucidating coding region targets of microRNAs | Completed |