Centre for Cancer Biology
I joined UniSA in 2014 as the Chair of Cancer Biology and a Research Professor of Cell Biology.
After completing a PhD from University of Adelaide and postdoctoral training at University of Queensland, I held research scientist positions at CSIRO (Geelong), RIKEN (Tsukuba, Japan), and the Cancer Institute (Tokyo, Japan), before returning to Adelaide to start a research program at the Hanson Centre for Cancer Research at IMVS (that later became SA Pathology). In 2009, with Angel Lopez, I co-founded the Centre for Cancer Biology (CCB), which I co-directed for around 11 years. I have been supported by national and international Research Fellowships continuously for the past 30 years.
I am passionate about science and discovery... Read more
About me
I joined UniSA in 2014 as the Chair of Cancer Biology and a Research Professor of Cell Biology.
After completing a PhD from University of Adelaide and postdoctoral training at University of Queensland, I held research scientist positions at CSIRO (Geelong), RIKEN (Tsukuba, Japan), and the Cancer Institute (Tokyo, Japan), before returning to Adelaide to start a research program at the Hanson Centre for Cancer Research at IMVS (that later became SA Pathology). In 2009, with Angel Lopez, I co-founded the Centre for Cancer Biology (CCB), which I co-directed for around 11 years. I have been supported by national and international Research Fellowships continuously for the past 30 years.
I am passionate about science and discovery research! I have been trained as a biochemist, molecular biologist and cell biologist. My current research interests are in molecular mechanisms of disease, including cancer. Our research has resulted in fundamental discoveries in two key fields of intense contemporary interest: cell death and ubiquitin-dependent protein modification. Some of our key discoveries include the Nedd genes, e.g. identification of one of the first mammalian caspases (Nedd2/caspase-2); a novel family of ubiquitin ligases (the Nedd4 family); and the ubiquitin-like protein Nedd8 that is involved in a protein-modification process, now widely known as Neddylation. We also discovered and characterised a large part of the Drosophila cell death machinery, identified Ndfip1 and Ndfip2 as adaptors/regulators of ubiquitin ligases and characterised a previously unknown autophagy-dependent cell death program during development. Our work has contributed to better understanding of many human ailments including cancer, cardiovascular and kidney diseases.
Our work has been published in ~300 articles, cited >65,000 times with a current H index of 105 (Google Scholar). Our research has been presented in over 250 invited international and national talks and seminars. I have had the privilege of mentoring 30 postdoctoral scientists, 32 laboratory staff and 25 PhD students.
About me
Doctor of Biochemistry The University of Adelaide
Master of Science GB Pant University
Bachelor of Science Rohilkhand University
Cancer biology
Cell death modalities
Ubiquitination
Disease models and mechanisms
Cellular and molecular biology
Extracellular Vesicles (EVs)
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
New mechanisms regulating the biogenesis of extracellular vesicles, ARC - Discovery Projects, 01/01/2024 - 31/12/2026
Regulation of autophagy dependent cell and tissue deletion, ARC - Discovery Projects, 01/01/2021 - 31/03/2024
Deciphering the mechanisms of caspase-2-mediated suppression of aneuploidy and tumourigenesis, NHMRC - Project Grant, 01/01/2019 - 31/12/2021
Regulation of cell death, cell survival and ubiquitination in normal physiology and disease, NHMRC - Research Fellowship, 01/01/2016 - 31/12/2021
Ubiquitination-regulated sodium homeostasis in kidney disease, NHMRC - Project Grant, 01/01/2019 - 31/12/2021
Using mouse models to decipher the function of caspase-2 in limiting aneuploidy tolerance and cancer, NHMRC - Project Grant, 01/01/2018 - 30/06/2021
Cell death by self-eating: understanding autophagy-dependent tissue removal, ARC - Discovery Projects, 13/01/2017 - 12/01/2020
Hormone dependent autophagy and growth signalling in developmental cell death, NHMRC - Project Grant, 01/01/2017 - 31/12/2019
Exploring the role of Arrcd4 in extracellular vesicle biogenesis and its implications in tissue homeostasis , NHMRC - Project Grant, 01/01/2017 - 31/12/2019
Nedd4-2: a new player in polycystic kidney disease, NHMRC - Project Grant, 01/01/2016 - 31/12/2018
Cancer Discovery Accelerator, Australian Cancer Research Foundation, 01/06/2016 - 31/07/2018
Deciphering the function of capcase-2 in DNA damage response and tumour suppression, NHMRC - Project Grant, 01/01/2014 - 31/12/2017
Post-translational control of cell fate decision, ARC - Discovery Projects, 01/01/2015 - 31/12/2017
Cancer Discovery Accelerator, Cancer Council SA - Beat Cancer, 08/06/2016 - 08/06/2017
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 |
---|---|
2023 |
2
|
2021 |
Open access
22
|
2013 |
1
|
Year | Output |
---|---|
2025 |
|
2025 |
Open access
|
2025 |
Open access
|
2025 |
Open access
|
2024 |
4
4
8
|
2024 |
Open access
9
9
|
2024 |
Open access
3
3
7
|
2024 |
Open access
2
2
3
|
2024 |
Open access
4
4
1
|
2024 |
Open access
1379
1319
166
|
2023 |
Open access
6
6
9
|
2023 |
Open access
13
15
3
|
2023 |
Open access
6
7
10
|
2023 |
Open access
21
19
1
|
2023 |
Open access
22
23
1
|
2023 |
204
184
94
|
2022 |
Open access
10
10
2
|
2022 |
Open access
37
35
4
|
2022 |
Open access
15
15
5
|
2022 |
Open access
5
6
7
|
2022 |
Open access
4
4
10
|
2021 |
14
13
18
|
2021 |
Open access
27
33
16
|
2021 |
Open access
14
11
22
|
2021 |
Open access
19
19
27
|
2021 |
Open access
1838
1751
191
|
2021 |
Open access
1074
1000
179
|
2021 |
Open access
23
22
13
|
2021 |
Open access
39
35
4
|
2021 |
Open access
14
12
112
|
2021 |
Open access
28
29
3
|
2021 |
29
27
34
|
2021 |
Open access
11
11
2
|
2020 |
7
7
4
|
2020 |
Open access
25
24
5
|
2020 |
Open access
10
11
98
|
2020 |
Open access
3
3
2
|
2020 |
Open access
8
8
6
|
2020 |
2
2
4
|
2020 |
Open access
115
110
12
|
2019 |
211
192
6
|
2019 |
Open access
607
579
27
|
2019 |
Open access
5
6
5
|
2019 |
Open access
47
46
5
|
2019 |
Open access
7
6
6
|
2019 |
6
6
4
|
2019 |
Open access
39
37
5
|
2018 |
Open access
53
46
4
|
2018 |
Open access
169
159
13
|
2018 |
Open access
4984
4469
255
|
2018 |
Open access
11
10
3
|
2018 |
Open access
55
58
1
|
2018 |
Open access
67
66
19
|
2017 |
Open access
54
51
10
|
2017 |
Open access
189
191
5
|
2017 |
Open access
1342
1257
66
|
2017 |
Open access
28
29
2
|
2017 |
Open access
13
12
2
|
2017 |
11
11
|
2016 |
15
15
5
|
2016 |
Open access
25
26
10
|
2016 |
Open access
11
10
|
2016 |
Open access
301
278
14
|
2016 |
Open access
4501
24
216
|
2016 |
Open access
40
39
1
|
2016 |
Open access
34
31
10
|
2016 |
Open access
15
14
1
|
2016 |
Open access
27
27
|
2015 |
Open access
126
123
3
|
2015 |
1
6
|
2015 |
4
|
2015 |
11
|
2015 |
Open access
17
|
2015 |
Open access
2
1
|
2015 |
11
|
2015 |
155
151
2
|
2015 |
Open access
832
786
33
|
2015 |
Open access
1038
984
137
|
2015 |
Open access
137
138
1
|
2015 |
Open access
39
39
1
|
2015 |
Open access
11
21
7
|
2015 |
Open access
38
37
10
|
2015 |
Open access
64
58
12
|
2014 |
Open access
20
21
|
2014 |
10
9
|
2014 |
2
|
2014 |
Open access
21
20
|
2014 |
Open access
33
33
|
2014 |
Open access
50
46
|
2014 |
Open access
1045
982
|
2014 |
Open access
29
25
|
2013 |
Open access
64
63
|
2013 |
Open access
51
46
|
2013 |
Open access
191
171
|
2013 |
Open access
86
82
|
2013 |
Open access
62
57
|
2013 |
Open access
121
123
|
2013 |
Open access
232
222
|
2013 |
Open access
25
28
|
2012 |
Open access
65
62
|
2012 |
Open access
347
334
|
2012 |
Open access
90
88
|
2012 |
Open access
2130
1958
|
2012 |
Open access
38
34
|
2012 |
Open access
92
89
|
2012 |
Open access
2963
5943
|
2012 |
Open access
76
65
|
2011 |
Open access
81
76
|
2011 |
Open access
19
20
|
2011 |
Open access
41
39
|
2011 |
Open access
13
11
|
2011 |
Open access
71
65
|
2010 |
Open access
53
50
|
2010 |
Open access
48
42
|
2010 |
Open access
29
31
|
2010 |
Open access
13
13
|
2010 |
Open access
39
41
|
2010 |
Open access
190
189
|
2009 |
Open access
322
313
|
2009 |
Open access
|
2009 |
Open access
149
138
|
2009 |
Open access
101
99
|
2009 |
Open access
85
81
|
2009 |
Open access
2452
2425
|
2009 |
16
11
|
2009 |
123
123
|
2009 |
Open access
50
45
|
2009 |
Open access
873
836
|
2008 |
14
15
|
2008 |
Open access
168
152
|
2008 |
Open access
26
25
|
2008 |
32
31
|
2008 |
Open access
52
48
|
2008 |
Open access
141
134
|
2008 |
Open access
123
117
|
2008 |
Open access
111
104
|
2008 |
25
24
|
2008 |
Open access
139
132
|
Research
Cancer biology
Cell death modalities
Ubiquitination
Disease models and mechanisms
Cellular and molecular biology
Extracellular Vesicles (EVs)
PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION
Fellowships of the Learned Academies
International and National Fellowships
Significant Awards and Prizes
External engagement & recognition
Organisation | Country |
---|---|
Ain Shams University | EGYPT |
AstraZeneca | AUSTRALIA |
Australian National University | AUSTRALIA |
Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute | AUSTRALIA |
Baylor College of Medicine | UNITED STATES |
Boston University | UNITED STATES |
Candiolo Cancer Institute | ITALY |
Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas | SPAIN |
Childrens Cancer Institute Australia for Medical Research | AUSTRALIA |
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory | UNITED STATES |
Cordeliers Research Centre (France) | FRANCE |
CSIRO Australia (Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research organisation) | AUSTRALIA |
Deakin University | AUSTRALIA |
Duke University | UNITED STATES |
Emory University | UNITED STATES |
Federal University of Sao Carlos | BRAZIL |
Federico II University | ITALY |
Flinders Medical Centre | AUSTRALIA |
Florey Neuroscience Institute | AUSTRALIA |
Garvan Institute of Medical Research | AUSTRALIA |
Genentech | UNITED STATES |
Georgetown University | UNITED STATES |
Ghent University | BELGIUM |
Griffith University | AUSTRALIA |
Hanson Institute | AUSTRALIA |
Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research | AUSTRALIA |
Harvard University | UNITED STATES |
Hebrew University | MEXICO |
Hong Kong Baptist University | HONG KONG |
Hudson Institute of Medical Research | AUSTRALIA |
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai | UNITED STATES |
Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science | AUSTRALIA |
Jilin University | CHINA |
Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz | GERMANY |
Johns Hopkins University | UNITED STATES |
Kanazawa University | JAPAN |
Kanazawa University Hospital | JAPAN |
Karolinska Institute | SWEDEN |
Keio University | JAPAN |
La Trobe University | AUSTRALIA |
Lausanne University Hospital | FRANCE |
Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine | GERMANY |
Mayo Clinic | UNITED STATES |
Medical University of Graz | AUSTRIA |
Medical University of Innsbruck | AUSTRIA |
Monash University | AUSTRALIA |
National Institute on Aging | UNITED STATES |
National Institutes of Health | UNITED STATES |
New York University | UNITED STATES |
Okayama University | JAPAN |
Osaka University | JAPAN |
Ozgene | AUSTRALIA |
Pavlov University | RUSSIAN FEDERATION |
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre | AUSTRALIA |
Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development | UNITED STATES |
Pierre and Marie Curie University | FRANCE |
Queensland Institute of Medical Research | AUSTRALIA |
Queensland University of Technology | AUSTRALIA |
Regina Elena National Cancer Institute | ITALY |
RMIT University | AUSTRALIA |
Royal Adelaide Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
SA Pathology | AUSTRALIA |
SA Water | AUSTRALIA |
Sapienza University of Rome | ITALY |
South Australian Health and Medical and Research Institute (SAHMRI) | AUSTRALIA |
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | UNITED STATES |
Stanford University | UNITED STATES |
State University of New York Buffalo | UNITED STATES |
Technion Israel Institute of Technology | ISRAEL |
The Hospital for Sick Children | CANADA |
The Institut Pasteur (AKA L'Institut Pasteur) | FRANCE |
Thomas Jefferson University | UNITED STATES |
Tokyo Medical Dental University | JAPAN |
Tokyo Medical University | JAPAN |
Trinity College Dublin | IRELAND |
University of Adelaide | AUSTRALIA |
University Of Angers | FRANCE |
University of Cambridge | UNITED KINGDOM |
University of Cologne | GERMANY |
University of Geneva | SWITZERLAND |
University of Iowa | UNITED STATES |
University of Konstanz | GERMANY |
University of Lausanne | SWITZERLAND |
University of London | UNITED KINGDOM |
University of Massachusetts Amherst | UNITED STATES |
University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School | UNITED STATES |
University of Massachusetts Medical School | UNITED STATES |
University of Melbourne | AUSTRALIA |
University of Michigan | UNITED STATES |
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities | UNITED STATES |
University of New South Wales | AUSTRALIA |
University of Newcastle | AUSTRALIA |
University of Otago | NEW ZEALAND |
University of Oxford | UNITED KINGDOM |
University Of Paris Sud (Paris 11) | FRANCE |
University of Pennsylvania | UNITED STATES |
University of Pittsburgh | UNITED STATES |
University of Queensland | AUSTRALIA |
University of Rome Tor Vergata | ITALY |
University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
University of Sydney | AUSTRALIA |
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center | UNITED STATES |
University of Western Australia | AUSTRALIA |
University of Zurich | SWITZERLAND |
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research | AUSTRALIA |
Weill Cornell Medical College | UNITED STATES |
Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar (Medbay) | UNITED STATES |
External engagement & recognition
Engagement/recognition | Year |
---|---|
South Australian Scientist of the Year, 2020SA Science Excellence and Innovation Awards |
2021 |
Fellowship Selection CommitteeAustralian Academy of Science |
2020 |
Member, National Committee for Biomedical SciencesAustralian Academy of Science |
2020 |
Fellowship Selection CommitteeAustralian Academy of Science |
2019 |
Member, National Committee for Biomedical SciencesAustralian Academy of Science |
2019 |
PresidentAustralia and New Zealand Society for Cell and Developmental Biology |
2019 |
Scientist of the year - nominationSA Science Excellence Awards |
2019 |
Affiliate Professor of MedicineThe University of Adelaide |
2018 |
Associate EditorMolecular and Cellular Oncology |
2018 |
Board MemberInternational Cell Death Society |
2018 |
Committee member, Assigners AcademyNational Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) |
2018 |
Editorial Advisory BoardOncotarget |
2018 |
Editorial Board MemberFrontiers in Cancer Molecular Targets and Therapeutics |
2018 |
Editorial Board MemberCell Death and Differentiation |
2018 |
Editorial Board MemberScienceOPEN |
2018 |
Fellowship Selection CommitteeAustralian Academy of Science |
2018 |
Finalist, South Australian Scientist of the Year AwardGovernment of South Australia |
2018 |
MemberAustralian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) |
2018 |
MemberJapan Society for the Promotion of Science Alumni Association in Australia (JSPSAAA) |
2018 |
MemberEuropean Cell Death Organization |
2018 |
MemberResearch Strategy Group of the Beat Cancer Project |
2018 |
MemberAmerican Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology |
2018 |
MemberFaculty of 1000 |
2018 |
Member of the Order of Australia (AM)Order of Australia |
2018 |
Member, National Committee for Biomedical SciencesAustralian Academy of Science |
2018 |
PresidentAustralia and New Zealand Society for Cell and Developmental Biology |
2018 |
SAIMA President AwardSouth Australian Indian Medical Association (SAIMA) |
2018 |
Affiliate Professor of MedicineThe University of Adelaide |
2017 |
Associate EditorMolecular and Cellular Oncology |
2017 |
Committee member, Assigners AcademyNational Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) |
2017 |
Editorial Advisory BoardOncotarget |
2017 |
Editorial Board MemberFrontiers in Cancer Molecular Targets and Therapeutics |
2017 |
Editorial Board MemberCell Death and Differentiation |
2017 |
Editorial Board MemberScienceOPEN |
2017 |
Fellowship Selection CommitteeAustralian Academy of Science |
2017 |
MemberResearch Strategy Group of the Beat Cancer Project |
2017 |
MemberAmerican Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology |
2017 |
MemberJapan Society for the Promotion of Science Alumni Association in Australia (JSPSAAA) |
2017 |
MemberAustralian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) |
2017 |
MemberEuropean Cell Death Organization |
2017 |
MemberFaculty of 1000 |
2017 |
Member, National Committee for Biomedical SciencesAustralian Academy of Science |
2017 |
PresidentAustralia and New Zealand Society for Cell and Developmental Biology |
2017 |
President-elect and council memberAustralia and New Zealand Society for Cell and Developmental Biology |
2017 |
President-elect and council memberAustralia and New Zealand Society for Cell and Developmental Biology |
2016 |
President's MedalAustralia and New Zealand Society for Cell and Developmental Biology |
2016 |
Senior Principal Research FellowshipNational Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) |
2016 |
FellowAustralian Academy of Health and Medical Science |
2015 |
FellowshipAustralia and New Zealand Society for Cell and Developmental Biology |
2015 |
Member, Grant Reviewing PanelsNational Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) |
2015 |
President-elect and council memberAustralia and New Zealand Society for Cell and Developmental Biology |
2015 |
Committee member, Assigners AcademyNational Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) |
2014 |
Committee member, Assigners AcademyNational Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) |
2013 |
FellowAustralian Academy of Science |
2013 |
Lamberg MedalAustralian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) |
2013 |
Member of learned academyAustralian Academy of Science |
2013 |
Research ExcellenceFederation of Asian and Oceanian Biochemists and Molecular Biologists |
2013 |
Committee member, Assigners AcademyNational Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) |
2012 |
Editorial Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Societies and Peer Review Panels
Associate Editor, Journal of Extracellular Vesicles (appointed Nov 2024)
Member, Australian Research Council College of Experts (appointed Nov 2024)
Member, Australian Academy of Science Sectional Committee SC9 (2023-2026)
Member, Selection Committee for the AAHMS Jian Zhou Medal (2023-2025)
Member, NHMRC Investigator (L1-L3) Grants Review Panel (2019, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Member, Program Committee for 26th Congress of IUBMB (2022-2024)
Member, Award Selection Panel, Australasian Society of Cell Death (2020, 2021, 2022)
Member, Beat Cancer Project Research Strategy Group, Cancer Council SA (2017- current)
Member of the Board, International Society of Cell Death (2018- current)
Member, Steering Committee of Research Centre for Extracellular Vesicles (RCEV) (2021- current)
Member, Australian Academy of Science National Committee for Biomedical Sciences (2017- 2024)
Member, Selection Panel, SA Science Excellence and Innovation Awards (2021, 2022, 2023)
ACDS Pioneer and Advisor, Australasian Cell Death Society (2020- current)
Member, International Society of Extracellular Vesicles (2020- current)
Member, American Society for Biochemistry and Cell Biology (ASBMB) (1997- current)
Member, Australian Society for Biochemistry and Cell Biology (ASBMB) (1996- current)
Member, American Association for Advancement of Science (AAAS) (1995- current)
Member, Ausbiotech (2019- current)
Member, National Association of Research Fellows (NARF) (2000- current)
Member, Editorial Board, Cell Death & Differentiation (1996- current)
Member, Faculty of 1000 (2001- current)
Member, ANZSCDB Committee (2019- current)
Executive and Past-President, ANZSCDB (2019-2021)
President, Australia and New Zealand Society for Cell and Developmental Biology (ANZSCDB) (2017-2019)
Member, AAS Sectional Committee SC8 (2017-2020)
Member, NHMRC Assigners Academy (2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018)
Member, NHMRC Grant Reviewing Panels (GRP) (2001, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2011, 2015)
Member, NHMRC Academy (2011)
Member, Cancer Australia Grant Review Panel (2009)
Member, RAH/IMVS Research Committee (2005-2009)
Chair, RAH/IMVS Research Fellowship Sub-Committee (2005-2009)
Chair, NHMRC GRP (2006, 2007)
Deputy Chair, NHMRC GRP (2005)
Member, Cancer Council Research Advisory Committee (1999-2001)
Member, NHMRC Regional Grants Interviewing Committee (1999)
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
Thesis title | Student status |
---|---|
Exploring the mechanisms of age-related polyploidy in inflammation and liver cancer | Current |
Investigating the functions of the ubiquitin ligase NEDD4-2 in kidney disease. | Current |
Modulation of NEDD4-2 expression and activity as a cellular mechanism for ameliorating kidney disease | Current |
New mechanisms regulating the biogenesis of extracellular vesicles | Current |
Regulation of autophagy in cell and tissue homeostasis | Current |
Analysis of Arrdc4 ubiquitination and its function in extracellular vesicles biogenesis | Completed |
Deciphering the role of caspase-2 in protecting against genetic instability and tumour suppression | Completed |
Identifying regulators of autophagy-dependent cell death | Completed |
Investigating the role of NEDD4 in neural crest cell development and craniofacial bone formation | Completed |
Regulation and mechanism of autophagy-dependent developmental cell death in Drosophila melanogaster larval midgut | Completed |
Regulation of retromer and its role in tauopathies | Completed |
The role for caspase-2 in mammary development and fat biology | Completed |