Molecular and Cell Biology
Mila Grinblat
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow
- mila.grinblat@jcu.edu.au
Dena Francis
- Lecturer, Molecular Genetics
- deanne.francis@jcu.edu.au
David Whitmore
- Professor, Biomedicine
- david.whitmore@jcu.edu.au
Margaret Jordan
- Senior Research Fellow
- margaret.jordan@jcu.edu.au
Patrick Schaeffer
- Associate Professor
- patrick.schaeffer@jcu.edu.au
Sacha Jensen
- Senior Lecturer
- sacha.jensen@jcu.edu.au
Lionel Hebbard
- Associate Professor
- lionel.hebbard@jcu.edu.au
Craig McFarlane
- Associate Professor
- craig.mcfarlane@jcu.edu.au
Alanna Sorenson
- Senior Lecturer, Molecular and Cell Biology
- alanna.sorenson@jcu.edu.au
Alan Baxter
- Adjunct Professor
- alan.baxter@jcu.edu.au
Causes of Multiple Sclerosis: a functional genomics approach (Old ID 20272)
Margaret Jordan
01 Jan 2013 - 31 Dec 2016
The locations of genes causing Multiple Sclerosis (MS) have been recently identified. The remaining challenge is to determine how these genetic locations contribute to risk. We have adopted a strategy to identify candidate genes (protein coding units) based on their differential expression in relevant immunocyte subsets. This project tests the candidate genes RGS1, HHEX and THEMIS.
Establishing the North Queensland Diabetic muscle stem cell library. (Old ID 27289)
Craig McFarlane
01 Jul 2021 - 31 Oct 2025
This project will develop a North Queensland Diabetic Muscle Library. Muscle tissue will be resected from patients and fixed and frozen. The tissues will also be dissociated and cultured to make primary myoblast cultures that will be used in future experiments in drug trials, sequencing and biochemical assays.
Bringing Modern Genomics to the Management of Lung Cancer in Queensland (Old ID 23121)
Alan Baxter
02 Jan 2018 - 01 Jul 2019
Our project will overcome many of the issues slowing the implementation of cancer genomics and personalised medicine in the state, including (and where relevant, in partnership with the QGHA capability projects): • We will develop models of care covering all aspects from consent, sample collection and handling, genomic profiling, data analysis and reporting of both somatic and heritable variants, to enable clinical uptake. • We will develop education programs for health care workers and patients. • We will establish protocols for cancer genomics in Indigenous populations in consensus with Indigenous communities. • We will perform a comprehensive analysis of the performance of all aspects of the upgraded model of care and compare it with the current standard of care to identify areas for improvement, and to establish the case for its broader implementation. A system of performance analysis and systems improvement will be built into the care pathways developed, to ensure continuous service improvement beyond the life of this project.
Elucidating gene pathways and their interactive networks, important in Multiple Sclerosis (Old ID 27273)
Margaret Jordan
01 Jul 2021 - 31 Dec 2022
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, debilitating diseases affecting young adults in Western society, particularly women in their child-bearing years. While we know that there is both a genetic and environmental component to the disease, we still do not know the cause and there is no cure. My research is to uncover knowledge on the genetics of disease to pinpoint targeted treatments, ensuring fewer side effects, and the hope to prevent disease in the future. This grant would provide seed funding to help develop a ground-breaking method and provide preliminary knowledge to attract funding for a more intensive study.
Genomics of lung cancer in Indigenous people of North Queensland (Old ID 26764)
Alan Baxter
11 Feb 2020 - 11 Feb 2021
Cancer genomic profiling is a major determinant of chemotherapy selection for non-small cell lung cancer and is widely used internationally. Indigenous genomes carry ~10X more uncharacterised DNA sequence variation than people of European heritage. THHS is currently trialling the use of whole exome sequencing, instead of the existing 4 gene panel, to base choice of targeted therapies in lung cancer. This creates an opportunity to study whether the cancer-associated variation currently being used to select therapies is adequate, and if not, these data will form the foundation for an NHMRC funding application to identify improved markers.
Causes of multiple scelerosis: A functional genomics approach (Old ID 21267)
Margaret Jordan
01 Jan 2013 - 01 Jan 2016
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease that damages the brain and spinal cord and can cause numbness, muscle weakness, difficulties with coordination and balance, problems with speech and swallowing, visual problems, fatigue and bladder and bowel difficulties. After a worldwide effort, a large number of multiple sclerosis genes have been localised in the human genome. This project examines two of these genes in more detail with the aim of identifying exactly how they contribute to the risk of developing MS.
An immune transcriptional regulatory network approach to Multiple Sclerosis (Old ID 22105)
Alan Baxter
01 Jan 2016 - 31 Dec 2019
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease resulting from a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors. In an attempt to understand the integration of both sets of risk factors, we have compared mRNA transcripts between relapsing/remitting (RR) MS patients and healthy controls in 5 leukocyte subsets: CD4 and CD8 T cells, B cells, NK cells and monocytes. A gene co-expression network was generated based on correlation of expression levels across >700 gene expression microarrays, and a major co-ordinately regulated sub-network (module) of mRNA transcripts that is differentially expressed in the monocytes of RR-MS patients was identified. This project validates, characterizes and attempts to manipulate this transcriptional module in human cells ex-vivo and in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of central nervous system (CNS) autoimmunity. These results should provide greater explanatory power than the analyses of individual risk factors separately and may provide a multi-faceted target for intervention.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance facility for Northern Australia (Old ID 21541)
Patrick Schaeffer
26 Feb 2015 - 25 Feb 2016
Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is a fundamentally and critically important technique in the characterisation of organic, inorganic and biological compounds. The purchase of a state-of-the-art instrument at James Cook University and a lower resolution instrument at Charles Darwin University are required to support productive existing research projects, and nurture future projects, in organometallic chemistry and the development of new materials and analytical sensors; organic photochemistry as applied in synthesis and degradation; natural products, pharmaceutical, inorganic chemistry, where multinuclear nuclear magnetic resonance is most important and applicable in drug design, development and delivery.
Establishing a North Queensland Liver Tumour Library: New therapeutic approaches for advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Craig McFarlane
10 Jun 2024 - 01 Jul 2025
The treatment options for advanced stage HCC patients remain poor. We found that the inhibition of a heat shock protein (HSP) with a small molecule inhibitor can restrict HCC growth. Now we intend to use pre-clinical models to test whether the combination of HSP inhibition and current immune based therapies are better in reducing tumour load. This will be undertaken using advanced cell biology techniques and mouse models. This new therapy may be able to be adapted to patients and could lead to improving their choice of therapies and outcome.
Establishing the North Queensland Liver Tumour Library: Improving HCC detection and treatment. (Old ID 27780)
Craig McFarlane
13 Jul 2023 - 31 Dec 2026
The project will provide certain data on the usefulness of using liquid biopsy to diagnose HCC in Rural, regional and Remote patients, identify new liquid biopsy targets and test a new therapeutic approach to treat HCC.
Testing Cell Migration, Invasion, Proliferation, and Apoptosis in Hepatic Stellate Cells
- 2023
- Humana Press
- Researchers:Lionel Hebbard
Blind fish have cells that see light
- 2023
- Royal Society Publishing
- Researchers:David Whitmore
Energy allocation trade-offs as a function of age in fungiid corals
- 2023
- Frontiers Research Foundation
- Researchers:David Miller
Start Date:
01 Jan 2014
Title:
Australian Health Research Alliance-Women's Health Research Translation Network (WHRTN)[$15000]
Start Date:
01 Jan 2021
Start Date:
01 Jan 2020
Start Date:
01 Jan 2019
Start Date:
01 Jan 2016
Start Date:
01 Jan 2018
Title:
RIBG [$39 489]
Start Date:
01 Jan 2017
Start Date:
01 Jan 2016
Start Date:
01 Jan 2013
Title:
PhD, James Cook University
End Date:
01 Jan 2011