Post-Doctorate Projects 2020

Cover Contents

Introduction

About Centenary 3

Facilities and Equipment 5

Meet our researchers – Program Heads 6

Meet our researchers – Laboratory Heads 10

Project

Vascular Biology – Prof Jenny Gamble 14

Gene & Stem Cell Therapy – Prof John Rasko 15

Liver Immunology – A/Prof Patrick Bortilino and A/Prof 15 David Bowen

Centre for Inflammation – Prof Phil Hansbro 16

This booklet contains the list of projects that will be supervised at Centenary Institute in 2020.

If you have any questions of a general nature, please contact Sonya, our Student Recruitment Officer. Email: [email protected] Phone: 02 9565 6100 ABOUT CENTENARY

At the Centenary Institute, researchers for those who wish to further develop their research are bringing renewed health and hope to skills. Australians and people around the world. Location There are other benefits to joining Centenary and the We are home to world-leading researchers in cancer first is location. Our building is in the very heart of the and heart disease. And we are at the forefront of what Camperdown-Ultimo health and education precinct - this is arguably the most exciting emerging area of medical consisting of an active and geographically condensed research today: inflammation and the host of chronic hub of research, teaching, training and industry diseases that it drives. organisations specialising in medicine and healthcare. Campus life is also close at hand with Centenary located Our mission is to increasingly gain a fundamental on the very border of the University of and right understanding of these diseases — the causes and next door to the newly established ‘Charles Perkins effects, the intricacies and complexities, the threats Centre’, a multidisciplinary research centre committed and predictors. We then look to develop innovative to improving global health outcomes. This means that treatments and cures with the goal of improving health at Centenary you will be at the very center of the latest outcomes and saving lives. and most up to date medical research taking place in , our geography facilitating potential linkages As an independent and internationally recognised and collaboration opportunities - plus you’ll be close to all Medical Research Institute the Centenary Institute of the advantages that University life has to offer. has state-of-the-art facilities and researchers at the top of their field, Centenary offers a perfect balance of challenge and support that will enable you to expand Affliation your skills and knowledge as you consider your future in Critically, the Centenary Institute is also closely affiliated science. with both the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the . Many of our senior researchers Notably the Centenary Institute has a long history of are specialist clinicians at the hospital and lecturers at helping students graduate with 1st Class Honours, an the University. This provides Centenary students and extensive PhD program and Post-doctorate opportunities post-doctorates with a ready-made network consisting of

Post-Doc Projects for 2020

3 ABOUT CENTENARY

some of the brightest minds in basic, applied and clinical Symposiums. The committee, in addition, assists the medical research. At Centenary we know that connection Student Committee with any educational initiatives and and collaboration is key - both to success in the mentoring initiatives that would further enhance student present and to a successful future too. Benefit from the life at Centenary. knowledge, the contacts and the professional expertise that our leading researchers can provide. Inclusion and Gender Equity Program Our Inclusion and Gender Equity Program provides a Life at Centenary forum for staff to raise and discuss issues relating to We have a collegiate approach to student engagement inclusion and gender equity and champions initiatives and offer a number of initiatives to improve, encourage that will help support and progress equity at the and support the education of our students. Centenary Institute.

Social Committee Student Committee The Social Committee organises events to encourage The Student Committee advises on student related intra-institutional relationships within the Centenary issues, coordinates events and engages with supervisors Institute. Annual events include a Welcome Reception and potential students to promote student opportunities for new staff, Harmony Day Potluck Lunch, Winterfest, and recruitment at Centenary. Trivia Night, Christmas Party and Christmas BBQ. Centenary Postgraduate Network Education Committee The Centenary Postgraduate Network (CPN) is a group The Education Committee’s general purpose is to built by, and for, Centenary Institute PhD students that provide advice on the education strategy for the Institute. aims to identify issues and activities of importance It also plans, coordinates and implements activities that to postgraduate students, and to find and generate assist in the continuing education and development of resources. Meeting once a month to share information, Centenary researchers and support staff. discuss technical, organisational, and other issues, and to offer support to members. Masters and Honours The Education Committee coordinates the regular students pursuing PhD studies are invited to participate. seminar series within the Institute, develops and delivers public lectures and also helps organise Colloquia and

Post-Doc Projects for 2020

4 Facilities systems are equipped with high precision stages, high At the Centenary Institute you will be able to access quality objectives, and some are equipped with cameras. state-of-the-art research equipment, some of which are the only ones available in the southern hemisphere. Intravital Microscopy Hands-on as well as theory training is provided to all Our most advanced microscopes available are the three Honours, Masers and PhD students by experienced LaVision Biotech multi-photon imaging stations that can facility staff. be used for deep tissue image in vitro or in vivo. These systems are the only ones in Australia that can utilise up Flow Cytometry to three different femto-second laser sources. Our many BD Analysers allow you to take quantitative measurements of thousands of individual cells or Software particles. The 10-Laser LSR you can even differentiate For the analysis of flow cytometry data, we provide up to 20 different parameters within a single cell, which is access to the FlowJo Single Cell Analysis Software. something only very few labs in the world are able to do. Images are used to analyse and observations quantified We also have the CyTOF is a mass cytometer, which is in order to generate meaningful outcomes. We provide the first instrument of its kind in Australia. access to a wide range of Image Analysis softwares.

Imaging Cytometry Animal House The advantage of using the Imaging Cytometry is to The Animal Facility is responsible for providing quality analyse a large amount of cells (high throughout) in a animals for research. Comprised of the Animal Facility consistent and unbiased manner. The newly installed Manager, the Animal Facility Officer, Animal Technicians AMNIS ImageStream X Mk2 allowing many hundreds of and Animal Attendants, the staff perform routine cell images can be captured per second. husbandry and welfare checks, as well as procedures training and researcher service requests. Microscopy Our imaging systems include the Leica SP5 Confocal, Zebrafish Facility the LAS Matrix Screener software and a water immersion Our 100 tank zebrafish facility is stocked with a range pump allow for high content screening even when of transgenic and mutant zebrafish concentrated on the performing long-term live cell imaging. The other imaging investigation of inflammation and vascular biology.

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5 MEET OUR RESEARCHERS

Program Heads His work has made internationally important contributions and led to the identification of novel avenues for therapy that are under further study. This is being achieved Professor Philip Hogg through the development of novel mouse models that recapitulate the hallmark features of human disease, Head of ACRF Centenary including infections, asthma and COPD and now Cancer Research Centre lung cancer. He employs these models in integrated approaches, with particular expertise in lung function Additional roles: analysis, to understand human diseases, and to develop Sydney Catalyst Chair in Translational Cancer Research new treatment strategies. Research outcomes have Philip Hogg has received many accolades in his a translational goal and his studies are conducted in distinguished research career – including the 2009 parallel with collaborative human studies with clinical Premier’s Award for Outstanding Cancer Researcher. researchers.

In partnership with the Australian Cancer Research Foundation and Sydney Catalyst, the ACRF-Centenary Cancer Research Centre expands the capabilities Dr Justin Wong of Centenary’s cancer research stream. Its goal is to Head of Epigenetics and RNA understand the link between diet, metabolism and Biology Program tumour initiation and development at a molecular level, and to design new therapies using this knowledge. It has Justin Wong currently holds a fellowship awarded by the four core strategic aims: i) making key discoveries about Cancer Institute of NSW. He completed his PhD in the disease mechanisms; ii) their effective translation into the area of cancer epigenetics in the laboratory of Professor clinic; iii) catalyzing medical research by collaborations Robyn Ward at the UNSW Sydney. He is an active and iv) local and international recognition. member of the Australasian Genomics Technologies Association (AMATA) and the RNA Society. Prof Philip Hogg graduated with a PhD in biochemistry from the University of in 1987. Following His program focuses on deciphering novel gene post-doctoral training in the USA and Sweden he returned regulation mechanisms in normal biology and cancer. He to UNSW as a NHMRC RD Wright Fellow. He is now a is passionate about determining the control of processes NHMRC Senior Principle Research Fellow and was the such as alternative splicing and RNA modification in inaugural director of the Lowy Cancer Research Centre cells. His vision is to acquire knowledge concerning at UNSW. He has won several national and international epigenetic changes, alternative splicing and RNA awards for his research, which focuses on a fundamental modification, which may be useful for the development of chemical modification of proteins he has discovered. This novel therapies for human diseases, especially cancers. research has led to a potential new cancer diagnostic and a therapeutic that are currently in clinical testing. Professor John Rasko AO Head of Gene and Stem Cell Professor Philip Hansbro Therapy Program Director of Centenary UTS Centre for Inflammation John Rasko AO is a clinical hematologist, pathologist and scientist with a productive track record in gene Philip Hansbro is an internationally recognised research and stem cell therapy, experimental haematology and leader in the study of respiratory diseases, such as molecular biology. asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, aka emphysema) and infections and is developing In over 150 publications he has contributed to the interests in lung cancer. His work is substantially understanding of stem cells and haemopoiesis, contributing to understanding the pathogenesis and the gene transfer technologies, oncogenesis, human development of new therapies for these diseases. aminoacidurias and non-coding RNAs.

Post-Doc Projects for 2020

6 His program is focused on better understanding his research as is investigating how we can manipulate regenerative medicines to develop effective treatments the immune system for more infective strategies against for cancer, heart disease and genetic diseases. melanoma and common skin infections, for example Regenerative medicine is the process of replacing or caused by “golden staph”. regenerating human cells, tissues or organs to restore or establish normal function. Professor Mark Gorrell In the laboratory, he is identifying the triggers that Head of Liver Enzymes in switch genes on and off in cancer cells with the long- Metabolism and Inflammation term goal of developing new cancer therapies. By Program integrating Centenary’s bioinformatics expertise into targeted research areas, he has significantly increased Mark Gorrell trained in cell biology, virology, immunology the outcomes of his research in the laboratory. His and protein biochemistry at ANU, the University of research has discovered new ways to target blood Melbourne and Johns Hopkins University. cancer. It has also identified key nutrient pumps, which are vital to the growth of prostrate cancer cells. Using His research is focussed upon liver scarring and these discoveries and the knowledge of how cancer cancer prevention and treatment, chronic liver cells work, he is striving towards better therapeutics for disease pathogenesis, diabetes, protein and enzyme the treatment of cancer. biochemistry and cell biology related to the proteases DPP4, DPP9 and fibroblast activation protein (FAP).

His research experience also includes small RNA Professor Wolfgang Weninger viruses, transcriptomics, proteomics and cell biology. His Head of Immune Imaging research was important in the development of DPP4- Program targetted therapies for type 2 diabetes, which are now used to treat millions of patients. Inside the Centenary Additional roles: Institute, he chairs the postgraduate research and Honorary Professor of Dermatology, Dermatology, Central Clinical equipment grants committees, is Academic Advisor School, University of Sydney for postgraduate research and is a Commercialisation Chair of Dermatology at MedUni Vienna Committee member. Outside the Centenary Institute, Wolfgang Weninger is a preeminent clinician scientist in he is active in the International Proteolysis Society, the fields of dermatology and immunology. the Gastroenterological Society of Australia, NHMRC grant reviews, and editorial boards of Journals including He is a pioneer in the uncovering of immune cell Scientific Reports. behaviour during anti-pathogen and anti-tumour immune responses in the skin using intravital imaging technology. He is recognised for discovering several unique immune Associate Professor Patrick cell subsets and determining their function in the context Bertolino of immune-mediated pathology. Joint Head of Liver Immunology Program His ongoing work is aimed at understanding the mechanisms underlying skin allergies, and the pathways Patrick Bertolino is considered one of the leading experts resulting in successful immunity against skin infections in Liver Immunology internationally, and is acknowledged as well as melanoma. He is also using high end imaging as the leader in this field in Australia. technologies, like multi-photon microscopy, to dissect in real-time the working of the immune system in the skin. He has worked in the same field for the last 20 years The Centenary Institute houses one of Australia’s leading in internationally recognised research institutes, and imaging facilities to enable this research. has been trained by first class immunologists. During this time, he has developed unique transgenic mouse The pathogenesis of several inflammatory skin diseases models and has acquired a leading reputation in liver such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis is also a target of immunology. This reputation derives from original

Post-Doc Projects for 2020

7 MEET OUR RESEARCHERS

landmark papers that have transformed the field, and are Upon completion of his postdoctoral training at the now part of current paradigms. These include the first University of Oxford in 1986 as a CJ Martin Fellow, demonstration of naïve CD8 T cell activation in the liver, he returned to Sydney where he developed the basic the first evidence of direct interaction between circulating research program for the AW Morrow Gastroenterology T cells and hepatocytes, the role of intrahepatic T and Liver Centre at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital of cell activation in tolerance, and the discovery that which he is now the Director. liver-activated T cells are deleted in the lysosomes of hepatocytes. His current research interests include the immunopathogenesis of human chronic liver disease, liver autoimmunity, liver transplant tolerance and Dr David Bowen molecular analysis of hepatitis C virus. His clinical research interests include treatment of hepatitis B and Joint Head of Liver C, management of hepatocellular cancer and long term Immunology Program outcomes of liver transplantation. Addtional roles: His overaching goal is to understand the pathways at the Associate Professor Medicine, Central Clinical School, University cellular and molecular levels that drive liver injury and of Sydney cancer. David Bowen is a Gastroenterologist and Associate Professor of Medicine, Central Clinical School at the University of Sydney. Professor Peter Hersey His research program is helping to improve our Head of Melanoma Oncology understanding of the liver and its impact on immune and Immunology responses, both wanted and unwanted. Although the liver’s tolerance effect leads to better outcomes in Peter Hersey has extensive experience in both clinical transplantation, it can be detrimental during infections and laboratory based research on melanoma. He has such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and malaria. These held positions as a staff specialist and as Research diseases can use the liver as a means of persisting, Director at the Newcastle Melanoma Unit and Conjoint which can often lead to chronic infection. Professor of Oncology in the University of Newcastle and the Inaugural Chair of Melanoma Biology at the Dr Bowen is also providing some important clues to University of Sydney from 2011. improve the success of human gene therapy. Having already shown that the liver, like the lymph nodes, can His translational research activities have involved activate T cells, a key cell of the immune system, he is phase I-III trials of immunotherapy in melanoma, with now investigating how the liver induces immune tolerance modified peptide antigens and dendritic cell vaccines. and how immunity can be enhanced in this organ. He has taken a leading role in studies on properties of melanoma cells that make them resistant to treatment and devised new treatment approaches to overcome Professor Geoff McCaughan these properties. Head of Liver Injury and He is generally recognized as a pioneer of Cancer Program immunotherapy for melanoma in Australia and in focusing on properties of melanoma cells that make Additional roles: them resistant to apoptosis. He has participated in most A W Morrow Professor in Medicine of the key clinical trials on immunotherapy with immune Medicine, Central Clinical School checkpoint inhibitors. He is a member of the Melanoma Geoff McCaughan leads the Liver Injury & Cancer Research Institute of Australia and has received Program at the Centenary Institute, which covers continuous funding from the NHMRC for his research. Molecular Hepatology, Liver Cell Biology and Alcoholic Current interest centers on the role of epigenetic Liver Disease. regulators in progression and treatment of melanoma.

Post-Doc Projects for 2020

8 His Program is interested in obtaining a detailed 3D Professor Chris Semsarian AM structural and functional understanding of the proteins involved in human iron distribution. By determining the Head of Molecular Cardiology structures of proteins involved in these processes, he Program aims to be able to provide a scaffold for the development of drugs that can effectively ‘tune’ their function and thus Additional roles: provide new treatments for patients. In particular he is Professor of Medicine, University of Sydney interested in new therapeutics for patients with Anemia of Cardiologist, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH), Sydney Chronic Disease. NHMRC Practitioner Fellow Chris Semsarian leads the Molecular Cardiology In humans the acquisition and distribution of iron is Program and is a cardiologist with a specific research required for a range of vital cellular processes, such focus in the genetic basis of cardiovascular disease. as generation of red blood cells. Errors in the proteins involved in iron distribution can cause a range of disease He trained at the University of Sydney, Royal Prince states, such as cancer and anemia (reduced levels of Alfred Hospital, and Harvard . A red blood cells). By understanding membrane protein focus area of his research is in the investigation and anatomy, structure and function, A/Prof Jormakka hopes prevention of sudden cardiac death in the young, to facilitate a structure-based drug discovery. particularly amongst children and young adults. He has an established research program at the Centenary Studies have also shown that 30-80% of cancer patients, Institute and is at the interface of basic science, clinical 25-50% of chronic kidney disease patients, and between research and public health, with the ultimate goal to 20-90% of acute and chronic infections are associated prevent the complications of genetic heart diseases in with anemia. Every day his research comes one step our community. closer to finding a cure. He is progressing his aim for the “perfect” drug to treat ACD, with the development of He has published over 150 peer-reviewed scientific pharmaceutical compounds. publications, in the highest-ranking cardiovascular and general medical journals. He is also been the primary supervisor of over 30 PhD, honours, and medical honours students since 2003, and is an active member Professor Warwick Britton AO of the mentoring program at the University of Sydney. Head of Tuberculosis Research Program He uses an integrated translational approach in human families, murine models, and cell culture systems. Additional roles: His research has elucidated the genetic causes of Bosch Professor of Medicine and Professor of Immunology cardiomyopathies and sudden death, identified key Medicine Central Clinical School, University of Sydney signaling pathways involved in development of disease, Research Director, Sydney Local Health District and provided a platform for this knowledge to be directly Warwick Britton has been an international leader in the translated to cardiovascular medicine by improved study of mycobacterial infections, he has built a thriving diagnostic and risk stratification strategies. His research research and teaching program at the University of has led to the reduction of both mortality and morbidity in Sydney and has been at the forefront of clinical research, families with genetic heart diseases. education and clinical care for more than four decades.

Recently, he initiated new collaborative research Associate Professor Mika programs in Vietnam on improving the control of Jormakka tuberculosis and on immunogenetics of tuberculosis. Head of Structural Biology Program Since 1997 his group has used an aerosol model of infection with virulent M. tuberculosis in a dedicated Mika Jormakka is widely recognised as a leader in the PC3 facility in the Centenary Institute. This has allowed field for membrane proteins. them to analyse the cellular and cytokine control of

Post-Doc Projects for 2020

9 MEET OUR RESEARCHERS

M. tuberculosis infection in the lungs using genetically Laboratory Heads modified mice and to develop novel subunit and recombinant BCG vaccines to prevent infection with M. Dr Renjing Liu tuberculosis. In addition his group has identified a new secreted enzyme of M. tuberculosis, which is a novel Head of Agnes Ginges target for drug development. He also has a longstanding Laboratory for Diseases of the research interest in the epidemiology and immunology Aorta of asthma, and established a long running cohort on childhood asthma in 1982. Renjing Liu has held many prestigious Fellowships and Awards from the USA and Australia in the field of cardiovascular research.

Professor Jennifer Gamble Her laboratory has identified a new stem cell mediated Head of Vascular Biology pathway in the regulation of smooth muscle cells. She Program is focused on the epigenetic regulation of miRNAs in cardiovascular diseases, looking at the identification Additional roles: of a novel biomarker for the earlier detection of Wenkart Chair of Endothelium cardiovascular events and deciphering the role of a novel Medicine, Central Clinical School, University of Sydney gene in protecting against aortic aneurysms. Jennifer Gamble is an internationally recognised research leader in the field of endothelial cell function Recent advanced work demonstrating the ability to and holds the Inaugural Wenkart Chair of the turn adult cells to stem cells has opened up exciting Endothelium and leads the Vascular Biology Program. avenues for disease modelling. This is particularly true for the study of diseases where tissue samples are Her interests lie in understanding endothelial cell near-impossible to obtain for research. Utilising this function particularly in the area of inflammation and how technique, she will derive patient-specific stem cells to dysfunction can influence disease. Her initial publication study complex diseases in the cardiovascular system. in this area established the endothelium as a dynamic These resultant cell lines will represent a unique cellular organ, central to the control of inflammatory processes. source for modelling complex diseases that can faithfully Diseases being investigated by her program include capture human disease and provide the first steps to cancer, atherosclerosis, metabolic disease, oedema and improved understanding of the cause of many disease thoracic aortic aneurysms. and its potential treatments.

The current studies in the Vascular Biology Program are Clinical Associate Professor under four broad areas: Understanding ageing of the endothelium and its impact on vascular function; Novel Devanshi Seth regulators of angiogenesis; MicroRNA regulation of Head of Alcoholic Liver oedema and angiogenesis; and Diseases of the Disease Laboratory Aorta focussing on thoracic aortic aneurysms which Additional roles: affect 1:500 to 1:1000 people and which can result in Principal Scientist, Drug Health Services, Royal Prince Alfred sudden death. Hospital Clinical Associate Professor, Clinical Medicine & Addiction Medi- cine, University of Sydney (USYD) Devanshi Seth established this liver diseasea research program as a response to this often neglected area of human health. She is an internationally known leader in the alcohol/liver field, and she leads the NIH/NIAAA-funded study on genetics of alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC) using genome/exome sequencing.

Post-Doc Projects for 2020

10 She is the founder and leader of the multinational Associate Professor Jodie GenomALC Consortium which has established the Ingles world’s largest database and bio-bank of thousands of chronic heavy drinkers, a signficant resource for current Head of Clinical Cardiac and future research in the field of alcohol/liver research. Genetics Laboratory

Additional roles: Recently she was elected as Treasurer of the Research National Coordinator, Australian Genetic Heart Disease Registry Society on Alcoholism (RSoA), a unique association in the world on alcohol research. Dr Seth is also an Jodie Ingles is an NHMRC Career Development Executive member of the University of Sydney Human Fellow and is a cardiac genetic counsellor, Cardiology Research Ethics Committee (HREC 1). She is also on Department Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Sydney, and the Research Executive Committee at the Drug Health, Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Health, RPAH and is the lead investigator on a UK Biobank University of Sydney. project with access to UK Biobank one of the largest databases of genetic and clinical information on 500,000 She has more than 15 years experience working with patients. patients and families with genetic heart diseases. Her research focuses on the clinical, genetic and psychosocial aspects of care of these families, and she has more than 100 publications in these areas. She Dr Xiangjian Zheng co-leads two important national initiatives, the Australian Head of Cell Signalling Genetic Heart Disease Registry and the Australian Laboratory Cardiac Genetic Testing Network. She was recently awarded the Cardiovascular Research Network (CVRN) Xiangjian Zheng is a member of the Faculty of Medicine Rising Star Ministerial Award and an NHMRC Excellence at the University of Sydney and obtained his PhD in Award for the top ranked career development fellowship Molecular Medicine from Medical College of Georgia, in 2018 (clinical, level 1). where he studied lipid signalling in skin biology and endocrine control of blood pressure control. Dr Ulf Schmitz He continued his research in lipid signalling as a Research Fellow, then used the combination of zebrafish Head of Computational modelling and lipidomics approaches to investigate BioMedicine lipid-mediated signalling in angiogenesis and cancer biology. After that he became more focused on human Ulf Schmitz has an appointment as Conjoint Senior vascular diseases. Lecturer at the .

His current research focuses on molecular mechanisms His laboratory develops integrative workflows combining of cardiovascular development and diseases. His various computational disciplines with experimentation laboratory in exploring how blood vessels and hearts to address questions around non-coding RNAs, post- form and how they maintain their function at molecular transcriptional gene regulation and cancer biology. and cellular levels. Using machine learning, mathematical modelling, This has important implications in many human disease and molecular dynamics simulations he investigates states such as congenital vascular diseases, stroke, mechanisms of post-transcriptional gene regulation. He cancer, wound healing, diabetic complications, coronary found that synergistic target regulation by microRNAs artery diseases and vascular dementia. is a widespread phenomenon of post-transcriptional gene regulation – a mechanism that can be exploited to sensitize aggressive tumour cells to chemotherapy.

He also develops multi-omics data analysis pipelines to investigate patterns of alternative splicing and other

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11 MEET OUR RESEARCHERS

forms of gene regulation in normal biology and in moving to Sydney to start an independent laboratory at various cancers. the Centenary Institute.

He has also identified intron retention as a well He primarily seeks to understand how pathology- conserved form of alternative splicing that mediates associated changes to the vasculature affect cell-specific gene regulation. Aberrant intron retention inflammation. He has an extensive publication record in has been described in multiple human cancers. He the fields of mycobacterial infection and inflammatory aims to identify regulators and consequences of intron bowel disease, with additional interests in atherogenesis retention as well as cross-talk with other forms of post- and diseases with a shared granuloma-like pathotype. transcriptional gene regulation. Associate Professor Anthony Dr Mainthan Palendira Don Head of Human Viral Head of Lipid Metabolism and and Cancer Immunology Neurochemistry Laboratory Laboratory Anthony Don leads has an interest in the modern field of Mainthan Palendira is a Senior Lecturer in the chemical biology. After completing a PhD in biochemistry Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology at and molecular pathology at UNSW Sydney in 2004, the University of Sydney. he then undertook postdoctoral research at Scripps Research Institute, California. His laboratory focuses on human immunology research with a particular interest in cancers and viral infections. His laboratory uses sophisticated mass spectrometry He is interested in understanding how the human methods in combination with genetic models to immune system normally controls Epstein Barr Virus, investigate how lipid signalling molecules control and to what extent it contributes to disease. Effective myelination in normal development and normal control of infections and cancers relies on coordinated ageing, and how these processes are dysregulated trafficking of T cells into tissues. in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s Disease, Frontotemporal Dementia, and Multiple His recent work has not only identified resident Sclerosis. Modern research is increasingly showing memory T cells in different human tissues, but has also that changes to brain lipid metabolism are causative demonstrated that there is strategic retention of these in age-related dementia. His research is generating a cells at sites of possible reinfection. Understanding greater understanding of how lipid signalling molecules how T cells are retained within tissues, at the sites of and myelin lipid metabolism regulates healthy brain continuing exposure to viruses, is critical not only for function and how the signalling metabolite sphingosine future vaccine strategies, but also for the prevention of T 1-phosphate will drive the development of new cell mediated immunopathology. therapeutics to promote remyelination and restore brain function in neurodegenerative conditions.

Dr Stefan Oehlers His research group is the first in the world to have developed potent and specific inhibitors of specific Head of Immune-vascular ceramide synthase enzymes, which are the enzymes Interactions Laboratory that catalyse ceramide synthesis. He is creating these inhibitors to open up the international research Stefan Oehlers is currently a University of Sydney Fellow community’s understanding of a key aspect of with the Institute and a holder of a NSW physiological metabolism, and with a view to creating Health Early-Mid Career Fellowship. new drugs to treat obesity and diabetes.

He trained with zebrafish as a model of human immunity at the University of Auckland (PhD) and Duke before

Post-Doc Projects for 2020

12 Post-Doc Projects

Establish your post-doctorate career at the Centenary Institute, a world-leading independent medical research organisation that has an internationally renowned reputation for excellence. With some of the most talented researchers in their fields, together with state-of-the-art facilities and a culture of support and mentorship, you’ll have the means to be able to produce amazing life-changing discoveries. You’ll also develop the advanced skills required to not only succeed but to prosper and to one day potentially lead in your chosen area of live-saving medical research.

At Centenary we offer you the perfect environment to help shape, support and drive forward an exciting research journey full of fascination, fulfilment and opportunity.

“Centenary offers exceptional facilities at the heart of Sydney, with world-class leaders in their fields and an ethos of collaboration. All the support and services needed to excel in the modern science environment are on hand to help you fulfil your research goals.”

Dr Joshua Neale Research Officer, Agnes Ginges Laboratory for Diseases of the Aorta Laboratory

centenary.org.au/post-doc POST-DOC PROJECTS

Prof Jenny Gamble Prof Jenny Gamble Vascular Biology : Jenny Gamble Vascular Biology : Jenny Gamble [email protected] [email protected] +61 2 9565 6225 +61 2 9565 6225

Alzheimer’s Disease and Endothelial Cell Age and Aortic Valve Calcification Ageing Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is the most common The evidence is now strong, both from animal and valvular heart disease in developed countries. The human studies, that breakdown of the Blood Brain incidence of CAVD increases with age. Even moderate to Barrier (BBB) is a causative factor in Alzheimer’s severe cases of the disease increase the risks for heart Disease, with the disruption of the BBB and changes in failure and sudden death. the blood vessels preceding cognitive decline. At present there are no drug therapies available for Endothelial cells are the first-line of the BBB and are also this disease and we have a limited understanding of essential for maintaining the barrier integrity of blood the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms vessels. When we age, endothelial cells change their of calcification that may help in the development of barrier characteristics. We have identified major changes therapeutics. in the genes of ‘aged’ endothelial cells, with many of these genes linked to Alzheimer’s Disease. The project is aimed at identifying the role of ageing on the endothelial cells and the impact on the calcification of The project will involve understanding the impact of the valve. ageing and the age-associated genes on the function of endothelial cells and on the initiation and progression of Techniques: in vitro model of ageing and of disease, Alzheimer’s Disease. establishment of animal models of disease. Analysis of human tissue, isolation of endothelial cells and Techniques: High resolution imaging, animal models, application to single cell RNA sequencing, molecular molecular and cell biology techniques, isolation of cells biology and cell biology, and high resolution imaging. from brain blood vessels, single cell transcriptomics, single cell proteomics Project area: Inflammation

Project area: Inflammation

Post-doc Projects for 2020

14 Prof John Rasko A/Prof Patrick Bertolino and A/Prof David Gene & Stem Cell Therapy : John Rasko Bowen [email protected] Liver Immunology : Patrick Bertolino +61 2 95656116 [email protected] +61 2 95656186 Molecular and cellular analyses of circulating tumour cells in cancer patients Understanding how CD4 T cells help CD8 T Our Program is focussed on implementing new cells in the liver immunotherapies for 2 of the most deadly cancers, The liver is known for its ability to induce tolerance in pancreatic cancer and mesothelioma. many clinical settings (transplantation, chronic viral hepatitis). We have previously demonstrated that it is Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) are cells that have also the only non-lymphoid organ supporting activation been released from the primary tumour tissue into of naïve CD8 and CD4 T cells independently of lymphoid the bloodstream and undergo a migratory process to tissues. Unlike T cell activation in lymphoid tissues, form metastases at secondary sites. Capturing and intrahepatic activation leads to tolerance, potentially analysing these rare cells is now possible using our explaining the liver tolerance properties and its first-in-Australia RareCyte® platform, incorporating next- susceptibility to chronic viral infections. generation ‘liquid biopsy’ technology. We are able to identify, isolate and culture CTCs in the blood to perform CD4 T cells have been shown to be essential for the molecular genetic, cellular and imaging analyses. development of effector CD8 T cells and liver immunity. Although many studies have shown that CD4 T cells Hence, this platform has the potential to provide ‘real- promote optimal CD8 T cell expansion, differentiation time’ cancer information throughout all stages of a and acquisition of effector function, also known as “CD4 patient’s cancer journey. By understanding and using help”, it remains unclear how and where CD4 T cells CTCs, our group hopes to facilitate the implementation of help CD8 T cells in the liver. To address this, we will new cellular CAR-T immunotherapies and provide real- induce expression of both CD8 and CD4 T cell epitopes time monitoring of patient treatment outcomes. recognized by transgenic T cells by in vivo rAAV vector- mediated transduction of hepatocytes. The activation, Projects include: evaluating the ability of circulating function and fate of transgenic T cells and the influence tumour cells to predict patient response; evaluating of TCR affinity will be analyzed using advanced flow cellular therapies to patient-derived cells; evaluating cytometry and state of the art imaging techniques. circulating ‘precursor tumour’ cells as a possible diagnostic marker to improve early detection. Project area: Inflammation;Other: Liver Immunology

Project Area: Cancer

Post-doc Projects for 2020

15 HONORS PROJECTS

Prof Phil Hansbro Prof Phil Hansbro Centre for Inflammation : Phil Hansbro Centre for Inflammation : Phil Hansbro [email protected] [email protected] +61 2 9565 6200 +61 2 9565 6200

Investigating how the microbiome may Investigating new treatments for respiratory protect or promote the development and disease progression of chronic respiratory disease This role will be focussed on projects performed with This role will investigate how the microbiome may protect our many Industry partners. We have many years or promote the development and progression of chronic of successful collaborations in this space and many respiratory disease such as COPD. The role will have a more projects on the horizon. The majority of projects major emphasis on investigating novel therapeutic and investigate the potential for new and novel therapeutic preventative treatments for chronic lung disease. The and preventative treatments in acute and chronic lung successful applicant must have: diseases (infections, asthma, IPF, COPD, lung cancer). The successful applicant must have: • Completion of Doctoral Degree (or submission of degree) microbiology/bacteriology, as it pertains to the • Completion of Doctoral Degree (or submission of pathogenesis of respiratory disease. degree) in the field of respiratory research.

• Ability and willingness to work with mouse and human • Ability and willingness to work with mouse tissues, tissues, sample collection and analysis. sample collection and analysis.

• Experience in culturing of aerobic and anaerobic • Extensive experience in standard lab techniques bacteria, and an understanding of culturing conditions for (immunological, microbiological, molecular and cellular different bacteria, experience in functional genomics and techniques: ELISA, PCR, immunoblot, flow cytometry, standard lab techniques (immunological, microbiological, cell culture, aseptic technique, extraction of genetic molecular and cellular techniques: ELISA, PCR, material) (preference is in the field of respiratory immunoblot, flow cytometry, cell culture, aseptic disease). technique, extraction of genetic material) (preference is in the field of respiratory disease). Project area: Inflammation

Project area: Inflammation

Post-doc Projects for 2020

16 Where to find Centenary Institute

Centenary Institute

OUR OFFICIAL ADDRESS IS Building 93, RPA Hospital Missenden Road Camperdown 2050

BUT THE EASIEST WAY TO FIND US IS Follow Johns Hopkins Drive, off Missenden Road Or, walk through USyd, we’re next to the

Post-Doc Projects for 2020

17 www.centenary.org.au 1800 677 977