Introduction
Health through Discovery Commitment to research, to our students and to serving the community.
The John Curtin School of Medical Research
The John Curtin School of Medical Research (JCSMR) is part of The Australian National University (ANU). It was created in 1948 as a result of the vision of Australian Nobel Laureate Howard Florey and Prime Minister John Curtin. Within 60 years JCSMR scientists have made major discoveries and contributions to world health and won two of Australia’s Nobel Prizes. JCSMR researchers continue to strive towards Florey’s vision of a national medical research school undertaking superlative medical research in fundamental areas.
The School is organised into three major research divisions, Molecular Bioscience, Immunology and Genetics, and Neuroscience, each comprised of independent research groups and laboratories. The High Blood Pressure Research Unit is headed by the School’s Director.
A unique feature and major strength of JCSMR is the diverse nature of the research programs, including genomics, immunity, gene regulation and cell signalling, neuroscience and integrative physiology. These areas benefit enormously from the potential for mutual interaction and collaboration across Divisions, enabling the School to make important contributions to the understanding of many diseases, including diabetes, cancer, asthma and high blood pressure, infectious disease, hearing, vision and memory. The School is committed to carrying out fundamental research in the sciences that underpin the practice of medicine and to bring clinically useful discoveries into application as soon as possible. In addition, we continue our commitment to training medical researchers of the future, from Australia and overseas.
The goals of JCSMR are to: • conduct research of the highest international standard into fundamental life processes and the pathologies of these processes which cause human disease • play a leadership role in medical research in Australia • provide outstanding training in medical research for young scientists and health professionals • apply new knowledge for better health outcomes.
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 1 Table of Contents
Introduction to The John Curtin School of Medical Research From the Director...... 3 Highlights ...... 4 JCSMR Structure...... 6 Boards and Committees ...... 7
Research Programs ...... 9 Division of Immunology and Genetics...... 10 Division of Molecular Bioscience...... 16 Division of Neuroscience...... 24 High Blood Pressure Research Unit...... 28
Staff & Student Achievements ...... 29
Research Collaborations & Visitors ...... 33 Research Collaborations...... 34 Visitors to JCSMR...... 43
Staff, Students & Presentations ...... 45 Division of Immunology and Genetics...... 46 Division of Molecular Bioscience...... 52 Division of Neuroscience...... 56 High Blood Pressure Research Unit...... 58 Students...... 59 School Administration and Services ...... 61
Publications...... 63
Contact with our Community...... 73 Service to Organisations outside JCSMR...... 78
Support...... 83 Grants...... 84 Statistics...... 89 Donors...... 90
2 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 From the Director
I hope you will enjoy the 2007 Annual Review from The John Curtin School of Medical Research, ANU which details some of the highlights of the past year.
With approximately one third of our staff now settled into new laboratories, construction has begun on Stage II of the new JCSMR building. We continue to attract national and international peer reviewed funding and to mentor and guide postgraduate students through their Honours, Masters and PhD studies.
In 2007 many staff and students received significant honours and awards. These included the Ramaciotti Research Award to Professor Chris Goodnow and Dr Anselm Enders, a NSW/ACT Young Tall Poppy award to Dr Carola Vinuesa and the Alan and Elizabeth Finkel Prize to Dr Charani Ranasinghe. A more extensive list of highlights from 2007 can be found on pages four and five of this review.
We were delighted to welcome Professor Bruce Stillman back to JCSMR in March to receive the Curtin Medal for Excellence in Medical Research. Professor Stillman was a student at the school in the 1970s, carrying out his PhD studies in the Department of Microbiology with Dr Alan Bellett. He is now the Director and President of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, USA.
In November, we celebrated the life, work and retirement of Emeritus Professor Frank Fenner, with the 12th Frank and Bobbie Fenner Conference in his honour. Professor Fenner has been with the School since its inception, when he was appointed Professor of Microbiology in 1949. He was Director of The John Curtin School from 1967 to 1973, during which time he was also Chairman of the Global Commission for the Certification of Smallpox Eradication. Included amongst his many honours are the Japan Prize (1988), the Albert Einstein World Award for Science (2000) and the Prime Minsters Prize for Science (2002). He will maintain close ties with the School through our Alumni and Friends Association, and through the annual presentation of The Fenner Medal for the most outstanding thesis submitted in JCSMR each year.
Our staff and students will continue to strive towards Howard Florey’s vision of a national medical research institute carrying out basic fundamental research, excellence in research, and training the medical researchers of the future.
Judith A Whitworth
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 3 Selected Highlights 2007
Building Progress • Stage I of the new JCSMR building, now complete and occupied, received a National Royal Institute of Architects Public Building Award. Following demolition of Wing C of the original building, work began on construction of Stage II. Currently progressing on time, Stage II is expected to be completed late in 2008 for occupation in February 2009. Stage II will house research laboratories and school scientific support units, including histology, microscopy and multimedia facilities. Chair of WHO Global ACHR reappointed • Director of JCSMR, Professor Judith Whitworth was reappointed Chair of the WHO Global Advisory Committee on Health Research (ACHR). Mathison Oration Medal • Professor Judith Whitworth was invited to present the 23rd Mathison Oration at The University of Melbourne, in which she outlined some of the key health research discoveries of the 20th century. Eccles Institute established • During the year, JCSMR scientists were closely involved with the establishment of the Eccles Institute of Neuroscience, an ANU campus-wide virtual neuroscience consortium. Frank Fenner retirement conference • In November, the 12th Frank and Bobbie Fenner Conference celebrated the life, work and retirement of Emeritus Professor Frank Fenner. Professor Fenner was appointed Professor of Microbiology at JCSMR in 1949. He was Director of the School from 1967 to 1973, during which time he was also Chairman of the Global Commission for the Certification of the Eradication of Smallpox. The conference was attended by many of Professor Fenner’s former colleagues, including Nobel Laureates Professor Peter Doherty and Professor Rolf Zinkernagel. Understanding the ageing process • Professor Chris Goodnow and his Oxford University collaborator Professor Richard Cornall were able to demonstrate that ageing results from progressive incorporation of DNA errors into the body’s stem cells, causing these stem cells to gradually lose their regenerative capacity. The study emerged from the team’s discovery of a unique mouse model for a human childhood disorder that causes stunted growth and defects in the immune and blood systems. Neuroscience research receives a boost • Research in the Division of Neuroscience will be significantly boosted by the purchase of a $300,000 long wavelength ‘pulsed’ laser for a new two-photon facility for both in vitro and in vivo live cell imaging. Investigation of genetic mechanisms regulating immunity • JCSMR investigators Professor Chris Goodnow, Dr Carola Vinuesa, Dr Edward Bertram and Associate Professor Guna Karupiah received major five year international grants from the Wellcome Trust and the National Institutes of Health to lead international consortia revealing new mechanisms and genes regulating immunity to infection and autoimmunity. They will employ strategies for genetic analysis of the immune system pioneered at JCSMR in the last 10 years.
4 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Highlights 2007
National Centre for Biosecurity expands • The National Centre for Biosecurity, led by JCSMR researcher Professor Ian Ramshaw, and administered in collaboration with University of NSW, expanded to include 45 members. Ramaciotti Major Research Award • In November, Dr Anselm Enders and Professor Chris Goodnow won a Ramaciotti Foundation Major Research Award of $1M to establish a new Ramaciotti Immunisation Genomics Laboratory which will research genetic issues around vaccines. JDRF Special Program Grant • Professor Christopher Parish and his JCSMR Colleagues Dr Charmaine Simeonovic, Dr Gerard Hoyne, Dr Craig Freeman and Dr Sudha Rao were awarded a $3M Special Program Grant from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the NHMRC. This five year award enables a new line of research into the cause and possible treatment of diabetes. Curtin Medal • The Curtin Medal was presented to Professor Bruce Stillman. Professor Stillman, who completed his PhD studies at JCSMR in 1979, is currently the Director and President of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, USA. His research is focused on the mechanisms and regulation of DNA replication, which is essential in ensuring accurate inheritance of genetic material from one cell generation to the next. The understanding of the DNA replication process in healthy cells has been fundamental to his subsequent studies on how the process goes awry in cancer cells. Arthur E Mills Memorial Oration Medal • Professor Judith Whitworth received the Arthur E Mills Memorial Oration Medal from The Royal Australasian College of Physicians. Finkel Prize • The Alan and Elizabeth Finkel Prize was presented to Dr Charani Ranasinghe for her work on a mucosal HIV AIDs vaccine. This biennial prize acknowledges research which is relevant to health in developing countries. Professor Ada honoured • Professor Gordon Ada’s many contributions to JCSMR were honoured through the naming of the new Gordon Ada Videoconferencing Room in Stage I of the new building. Rowley Medal and Burnet Oration • Professor Chris Parish’s outstanding achievements and contributions in the field of immunology were recognised by the award of the 2007 Rowley Medal and the 2007 Burnet Oration by the Australasian Society for Immunology. Young Tall Poppy Award • Dr Carola de Vinuesa received a NSW/ACT Young Tall Poppy award from the Australian Institute of Policy and Science, and the Biogen Spain International Prize for young scientists.
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 5 JCSMR Structure 2007
ANU College of Medicine & Health Sciences
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Director
Research Groups, Units and Laboratories
Division of High Blood Pressure Division of Division of Immunology & Research Unit Neuroscience Molecular Bioscience Genetics
Administration
Public Affairs & Director’s Office Communications
Services and Support
Animal ACRF Biomolecular Microscopy & Technical Operations Services Resource Facility Cytometry Facility Services
Media & Washup
6 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Boards & Committees 2007
Faculty Board 2007
The Director (Chair), ex officio Professor JA Whitworth The Deputy Director, ex officio Professor MF Shannon Chair of Faculty, ex officio Professor IA Ramshaw Subdean Biomedical Sciences, ANU College of Medicine and Health Sciences, ex officio Dr AI Cowan Head, Division of Immunology and Genetics, ex officio Professor CR Parish (until May) Professor C Goodnow (from June) Head, Division of Molecular Bioscience, ex officio Professor A Dulhunty Head, Division of Neuroscience, ex officio Dr G Stuart Divisional Representatives Associate Professor G Karupiah (Immunology and Genetics) Dr C Raymond (Neuroscience) (until October) Professor T Lamb (Neuroscience) (from November) Dr A Shield (Molecular Bioscience) (until October) Professor P Board (Molecular Bioscience) (from November) Graduate Student Representatives Ms L Coupland Mr I Poon (until October) General Staff Representatives Ms M Townsend Mr B Webb, Business Manager By Invitation Dr MJ Nicol, Public Affairs Manager
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 7 The JCSMR Strategic Advisory Committee The JCSMR Research Advisory Board convenes annually to advise the Director provides advice to the Director regarding on ways of achieving the School’s strategic the advancement of the research programs direction, including administration and currently undertaken within the School and management of the School, and raising on proposals for future projects. the profile of JCSMR nationally and internationally. Members also provide assistance with fundraising activities and advise on commercialisation of research.
Strategic Advisory Committee Research Advisory Board
Director, JCSMR (Chair), ex officio Director, JCSMR (Chair), ex officio Deputy Director, JCSMR, ex officio Deputy Director, JCSMR, ex officio Sir David Akers-Jones, Hong Kong Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), ANU, ex officio Professor Peter Doherty AC, The University of Melbourne, Chair, JCSMR Faculty, ex officio Melbourne, VIC Professor Sam Berkovic, Austin and Repatriation Mr Alan Evans, Strategic Consulting Services, Canberra, ACT Medical Centre, Melbourne, VIC Mr Peter Gordon, Canberra, ACT Professor Ross Coppel, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC Ms Pru Goward, Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Canberra, ACT (resigned May 2007) Professor Tony D’Apice, Department of Clinical Immunology, St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC Professor Colin Johnston AO, Baker Medical Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC Dr Liz Dennis, CSIRO Plant Industry, Canberra, ACT The Hon Dr Barry Jones AO, Melbourne, VIC Professor Robert Graham, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, NSW Dr Denis W King, St George Private Medical Hospital, Sydney, NSW Professor Anne Kelso, WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, Melbourne, VIC Associate Professor Levon Khachigian, Centre for Vascular Research, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Professor Kiaran Kirk, School of Biochemistry and NSW (ASMR President) Molecular Biology, ANU College of Science, Canberra, ACT Mr Andrew Podger AO, Canberra, ACT Professor Jim McCluskey, The University of Dr John Rose AO, Director Australian United Investment Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC Company; Governor, Ian Potter Foundation, Melbourne, VIC Dr George Morstyn, Industry Representative, Mr David Vos, Inspector General of Taxation, Sydney, NSW Melbourne, VIC Dr Cameron Webber, Canberra, ACT Professor Steve Redman, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, ANU College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Canberra, ACT Professor Jonathon Stone, Research School of Biological Sciences, ANU College of Science, Canberra, ACT
8 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Research Programs
The John Curtin School of Medical Research is organised into three Divisions: Immunology and Genetics, Molecular Bioscience, and Neuroscience. The High Blood Pressure Research Unit is headed by the Director.
Within the Divisions, staff and students belong to Groups. Members of these groups collaborate across Divisions within the School and across ANU, as well as with colleagues in other institutions. The following pages provide an overview of the research projects being undertaken within the School.
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Research Programs
Annual Review 2007 Division of Immunology & Genetics
Head of Division Professor Christopher Parish (until May) Professor Christopher Goodnow (from June)
Group Leader
Cancer and Human Immunology Group Dr Hilary Warren
Cancer and Vascular Biology Group Professor Christopher Parish
Cellular Microbiology Group Professor Tim Hirst
Diabetes/Transplation Immunobiology Group Dr Charmaine Simeonovic
Humoral Immunity and Autoimmunity Group Dr Carola Vinuesa
Immune Tolerance and Signalling Group Professor Christopher Goodnow
Infection and Immunity Group Associate Professor Guna Karupiah
Molecular Virology Group Dr Mario Lobigs
Vaccine Immunology Group Professor Ian Ramshaw
Viral Immunology Group Professor Arno Müllbacher
10 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Cancer & Human Immunology Group Division of Immunology & Genetics
Human NK cell biology http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dig/canc-humimm Dr Hilary Natural Killer (NK) cells are essential cells for immunity mechanisms of NK cell migration to tumour sites in Warren to viral infections and cancer. As such NK cells need to an in vivo setting. Studies are continuing to dissect migrate through tissues to effect their function. We the requirements for human NK cell proliferation, are presently investigating the enzymatic processes including an analysis of viral infections on the ability that degrade the extracellular matrix and allow human of cells to stimulate this process. Future studies will NK cells to migrate. We have established a model continue these and other investigations aimed at of human NK cell engraftment in immunodeficient understanding the biology of human NK cells. (NOD/SCID) mice that will allow us to investigate
Cancer & Vascular Biology Group Division of Immunology & Genetics
New approaches to controlling cancer http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dig/canc-vascbiol Professor The Cancer and Vascular Biology Group is particularly Christopher interested in developing new approaches to Parish controlling cancer growth and spread (metastasis). One approach is to develop an understanding of how blood vessels help solid cancers grow and spread to other organs. When primary cancers arise they cannot grow beyond 1-2 millimetres in diameter unless they induce the growth of new blood vessels that supply them with oxygen and nutrients and remove toxic byproducts of metabolism. Similarly, blood vessels play an important role in the spread of cancer cells to other organs, the cancer cells having to use a range of degradative enzymes to digest their way agents. Another approach to controlling cancer that through blood vessel walls, particularly when they is being undertaken by the Group, is to stimulate the lodge in distant organs. The Cancer and Vascular immune system in various ways to recognise cancer Biology Group has been able to develop relatively cells as foreign and eliminate them. One of these simple sugar-based drugs that inhibit blood vessel vaccination approaches involves inducing an immune growth in tumours and block a key enzyme, called reaction to tumours resembling that which occurs in heparanase, that aids cancer spread. One of these the lungs of patients suffering from chronic asthma. drugs, called PI-88, has reached Phase III clinical It is hoped that the combination of these novel trials in cancer patients. Such drugs are also being immunological and drug-based approaches can be investigated as potential new anti-inflammatory used to effectively control many cancer types.
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 11 Cellular Microbiology Group Division of Immunology & Genetics
The nature of cholera toxin http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dig/cellmicro Professor Tim Currently our research is focused on providing an Hirst understanding of the remarkable properties found in cholera toxin (Ctx) and its closely related homologue, E. coli heat-labile enterotoxin (Etx). Both toxins are comprised of a single A-subunit responsible for toxicity and five B-subunits that mediate interaction with cell surface receptors. Until recently, the B-subunits were widely thought of simply as ‘carrier/delivery’ moieties that facilitated entry of the A-subunit into mammalian cells. It is now apparent that the B-subunits in addition to being carriers also exhibit remarkable immunomodulatory properties. These include the capacity to inhibit the development of inflammatory autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and Type I diabetes in animal models, as well as enhancing antibody responses to co-administered vaccine antigens. These broad ranging immunological properties have sparked considerable interest in the possibility of developing them as novel therapeutic anti-inflammatory agents.
Diabetes / Transplantation Immunobiology Group Division of Immunology & Genetics
The role of heparan sulfate & heparanase in islet beta cell survival & death http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dig/tranimm Dr Charmaine Heparanase, an enzyme that degrades heparan normally functions by regulating the turn over of Simeonovic sulfate, plays a critical role in the onset of destructive islet-associated heparan sulfate required for beta cell insulitis and development of Type 1 diabetes in a survival. We suggest that the onset of destructive genetically modified mouse (the NOD mouse). We autoimmunity in NOD mice is marked by degradation have demonstrated that heparan sulfate is present of heparan sulfate in the islet basement membrane, among the islet beta cells and is required for their a process that allows insulitis mononuclear cells survival; Beta cells deprived of heparan sulfate can be to invade the islet cell mass. The production of ‘rescued’ by culturing them on an extracellular matrix heparanase by mononuclear cells in the intra-islet or by providing the cultures with heparin, a highly microenvironment results in degradation of beta cell- sulfated form of heparan sulfate. The extracellular associated heparan sulfate and beta cell death. The matrix may rescue the local production of cytokines could also activate islet- beta cells by providing derived proheparanase which could also contribute a substitute heparan to beta cell demise. The particular sensitivity of islet sulfate proteoglycan. beta cells to damage by heparanase provides an Paradoxically, we have explanation for the selective autoimmune destruction also shown that normal of islet beta cells in NOD mice. islets in situ stain strongly for proheparanase (the inactive precursor of the enzyme). We propose that islet-derived heparanase
12 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Humoral Immunity & Autoimmunity Group Division of Immunology & Genetics
Dangerous liasons between T & B cells http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dig/humimm Dr Carola G Our research studies immune system cells against components of our own body, so-called Vinuesa (lymphocytes), which defend the body against autoimmunity. Germinal centres generate long- diseases. Our work aims to understand diseases such lasting B cells and antibodies against life-threatening
as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes, which infections, however, as B cells mutate and TFH cells occur when the body has an autoimmune response become highly activated there is an increased risk of to a naturally produced substance – like insulin, or germinal centres driving B cells to generate antibodies to our own cell components. There are two types of triggering autoimmune diseases. lymphocytes – T and B. Specifically my group focuses My group has discovered a gene we named roquin, on a subset of T lymphocytes called T follicular helper which appears crucial to repressing TFH cells, especially
(TFH) cells, which help generate ‘memory’ B cells that those with the potential to react against self tissues.
make highly protective antibodies. TFH and B cell Roquin mutations in mice increase susceptibility to encounters occur in diseases resembling lupus, Type 1 diabetes and germinal centres, which rheumatoid arthritis. Roquin appears to utilize the form in spleen and lymph microRNA pathway to repress the expression of genes nodes during infections. encoding proteins that cause disease. Now we are Immunity is a fine balance investigating which proteins and microRNAs help
between generating a Roquin regulate TFH activity, and characterising these protective response to pathways in patients with lupus and diabetes. We infection while avoiding hope this will identify new approaches for treating a deleterious response these diseases.
Immune Tolerance & Signalling Group Division of Immunology & Genetics
Genetic analyses of tolerance & immunological memory http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dig/immunogenomics/people/goodnow Professor In the last year, our group has deepened its focus on the opposite effect, eliciting a state of immunological Christopher C understanding two cardinal features of our immune memory with enhanced immune response to a Goodnow system – tolerance and memory. re-exposure even years later. This primed state underpins the successful control and eradication of Normal body components - self-antigens - impress many scourges of humanity through immunisation, a negative state of tolerance, whereby immune for example smallpox, rabies, and polio. For other responses against these antigens are specifically infections such as HIV, tuberculosis and malaria as repressed. Failure to maintain tolerance results in the well as non-infectious diseases such as cancer, we insidious development of autoimmune diseases such currently lack a way to prime an adequate state of as rheumatoid arthritis, Type 1 diabetes, or multiple immunity and memory. sclerosis, which collectively affect one in every fifteen Australians. An important question we have In 2007 we began expanding multidisciplinary articulated is whether collaborative teams with a network of colleagues at these diseases evolve ANU and around the world, aimed at understanding through normal memory- the intertwined set of cell differentiation steps, priming circuits or evolve biochemical pathways, and gene expression circuits like cancer through that explain tolerance, memory and their failure. outgrowth of mutant cell Central to these efforts is an experimental approach clones. we have pioneered, based on the isolation of new Components of invading mouse strains with single DNA substitutions that alter microbes normally have tolerance or memory.
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 13 Infection & Immunity Group Division of Immunology & Genetics
Understanding virus-host interactions http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dig/infimm Associate Professor Our research is directed towards a better dissecting out the immunological parameters that Guna Karupiah understanding of virus-host interactions and the allow the rapid resolution of virus infection with immune response to infection with a view to develop minimum pathology. These studies are being carried more effective vaccines and selective treatments out in parallel with others that attempt to reveal the that would minimise the damaging effects of an many strategies that viruses have evolved to subvert established infection. We are pursuing this goal using the host immune response. a range of viral (eg pox, influenza A and herpes) and animal models. Our studies allow us to dissect the One example that we have been studying is a protein roles of leukocyte subsets, cytokines, antibody and encoded by orthopoxviruses, including variola virus a number of signalling molecules in viral infection (that causes smallpox) and ectromelia virus (a closely and disease. The immune effector mechanisms related mouse pathogen), which is able to inactivate that are generated to the host cytokine gamma interferon. We have found control and clear virus that this viral protein dampens host innate and instead often cause adaptive immune responses. Deletion of the protein immunopathology that allows generation of an effective host response and has serious, sometimes using several strains of mice, which exhibit differential lethal, consequences degrees of resistance to ectromelia, we have shown that for the host. We have a balance between the host’s ability to produce gamma therefore directed our interferon and the virus’ ability to dampen its effects, research effort toward determines recovery or death from infection.
Molecular Virology Group Division of Immunology & Genetics
Understanding viral virulence http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dig/vi-mv/molecular Dr Mario We study flavivirus host/pathogen interactions at million humans over the past 70 years, has provided Lobigs the molecular, cellular and whole system level with the first insight into molecular determinants and an the aim of devising strategies for the treatment in vivo mechanism for loss of virulence of the vaccine. and prevention of flaviviral diseases. We use genetic We found that high affinity for glycosaminoglycans approaches involving the introduction of mutations (sulfated sugars which are present on extracellular into viral genomes, and analysis of suppressor matrix components and the surface of vertebrate mutations arising during virus growth, to determine cells) mediated by two amino acid residues in the viral how these specific changes impact on replication, envelope protein inhibits viscerotropic spread, the virulence and pathogenesis. The viruses used in these most important attenuated property of the vaccine. investigations, such as yellow fever, dengue, Japanese Importantly, growth in lymphoid tissue was not encephalitis and West markedly reduced by the mutations, consistent with the Nile virus, are the most excellent immunogenicity of the vaccine virus. important viral agents of mosquito-transmitted In other research we have investigated the molecular diseases in humans. events leading to flavivirus morphogenesis by budding at intracellular membranes, and the risks and benefits Our recent studies associated with the use of Japanese encephalitis virus on the vaccine strain vaccines in the Australian context. of yellow fever virus, which has been used effectively in over 500
14 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Vaccine Immunology Group Division of Immunology & Genetics
Development of a mucosal delivery system for HIV-1 vaccines http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dig/vacimmunology Professor Ian The recent STEP HIV-1 preventive trial conducted by elicit strong immunity at mucosal sites. Our Group Ramshaw Merck and Co. using an adenovirus vector delivered is now undertaking a major effort into the factors extremely disappointing results. Not only were that determine good mucosal responses using both vaccinated individuals not protected but also those prime-boost immunisation and cytokine gene co- that had pre-existing immunity to adenovirus were expression technologies. We have demonstrated that more susceptible to HIV infection. There is now general in order to induce strong effective mucosal immunity consensus among AIDS vaccine researchers for the vaccines need to be delivered to a mucosal site as need to return to more basic studies to determine the pure systemic immunisation is inefficient at eliciting factors that govern protection against HIV-1. Infection these responses. The induction of selective cytokines with HIV-1 is primarily a mucosal disease. Worldwide at mucosal sites also seems to influence the quality the majority of HIV infections occur through mucosal of the response. Our future aims will therefore be to surfaces of the genital determine the importance of these cytokines and and intestinal tracts, deliver these through recombinant and the virus in the viral vectors. mucosal tissues induces the earliest and most dramatic immunologic alterations. Protective vaccines against HIV-1 will therefore need to
Viral Immunology Group Division of Immunology & Genetics
Fighting viral disease http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dig/vi-mv/viral Professor Arno The general aims of the group are Müllbacher 1. to generate new knowledge about the fundamental properties of the immune system at the molecular, cellular and whole system level, with particular emphasis on immune responses against viruses 2. to study virus/host interactions at the cellular and molecular level and devise strategies for the A large number of virus models including flaviviruses, prevention of viral disease poxviruses, influenza and parainfluenza viruses, 3. explore the use of gamma-ray inactivated virus alphaviruses and adenoviruses are employed in preparations as inducers of cytotoxic T-cell memory, these studies. The availability and generation by and their efficacy as vaccines for control of our laboratories of gene-targeted mice defective influenza and Flavivirus encephalitis. in immune effector molecules such as perforin, the granzymes, and Fas receptor/ligand has allowed us to Our current investigations focus on: elucidate important host/parasite relationships in the • the functions of cytolytic effector molecules context of the host immune response. • MHC class I antigen presentation We are also exploring the interface between innate • T-cell and natural killer cell responses against and adaptive immune responses, particularly the role infection with viruses, bacteria and fungi of type-I interferon in sequential viral and bacterial • the cytotoxic T-cell memory response infections. Furthermore, we are employing our expertise in cytotoxic T-cell responses and in virus- • virus/host interactions in flavivirus infections inactivation to formulate a broadly virus strain-cross- • viral immune evasion strategies. protective anti-influenza vaccine.
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 15 Research Programs
Annual Review 2007 Division of Molecular Bioscience
Head of Division Professor Angela Dulhunty
Group Leader
Asthma and Allergy Group Dr Dianne Webb
Biomolecular Structure Group Dr Marco Casarotto
Chromatin and Transcriptional Regulation Group Professor David Tremethick
Computational Genomics Group Dr Gavin Huttley
Computational Proteomics and Therapy Design Group Professor Jill Gready
Cytokine Molecular Biology and Signalling Group Professor Ian Young
Epigenetics and Genome Stability Group Dr Danny Rangasamy
Gene Expression and Epigenomics Group Professor Frances Shannon
Membrane Physiology and Biophysics Group Dr Louise Tierney
Molecular Genetics Group Professor Philip Board
Molecular Systems Biology Group Dr Rohan Williams
Muscle Research Group Professor Angela Dulhunty
Predictive Medicine Group Professor Simon Easteal
Stem Cell and Gene Targeting Group Professor Klaus Matthaei
16 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Asthma & Allergy Group Division of Molecular Bioscience
Asthma & the immune response http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dmb/asthma Dr Dianne Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airways disease which is found in bronchial epithelial cells, detoxifies Webb that arises from abnormal immune responses to irritating chemicals in pollutants and cigarette smoke. environmental allergens such as pollens, moulds Analysis of diverse population groups suggests that a and dust mite particles. This persistent inflammation different form of this enzyme is more often found in ultimately triggers structural changes to the airways asthmatics. Our studies using Gstp-null mice (mice to cause breathlessness and wheezing. The reason that lack the GSTP gene) are the first to demonstrate why some individuals get asthma when chronically that GSTP1 suppresses allergic airways disease and exposed to allergens seems related to a genetic suggest factors that reduce the efficacy of this predisposition that allows an allergen-induced enzyme would allow the development of more severe immune response to occur more easily. Asthma allergic responses in the asthmatics. susceptibility is also compounded by irritants such as cigarette smoke, pollutants and viruses. How is allergic inflammation controlled? Our research is focused on Much of the airway damage in asthmatics is due two main themes: to factors released by inflammatory cells. We have How does exposure to investigated molecules that control initiation of environmental irritants allergic inflammation and identified a novel molecule enhance the ability (Ym1/2), which regulates the function of immune cells of allergens to induce and their secretion of factors associated with airway airway inflammation? damage. Better understanding of the function of this An enzyme, glutathione molecule may generate new therapeutic approaches transferase Pi: GSTP1, to controlling immune processes in asthmatics.
Biomolecular Structure Group Division of Molecular Bioscience
Structural elucidation of biological molecules in medical research http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dmb/biostruct Dr Marco Our laboratory is interested on how the structure We are exploring the delivery of biologically active Casarotto of molecules can affect biological functions in cargoes such as peptides/proteins, DNA, RNA and both healthy and diseased individuals. To study the drug compounds into a variety of cells including stem structure of biomolecules we employ a range of cells. The enzyme glutathione transferase (GST) has sophisticated biophysical techniques such as nuclear been shown to be an effective vehicle for the delivery magnetic resonance, surface plasmon resonance of these cargo molecules. Currently, our laboratory is and fluorescence spectroscopy. We are particularly involved in the delivery of molecules that may hold the interested in molecules that interact with membranes. key in the effective treatment of diabetes and cancer. One class of membrane protein that we are interested in are viral ion channels that are potential drug targets for diseases such as AIDS, hepatitis C and Ross River fever. Other potential targets for drug intervention are for muscle related proteins involved in the calcium regulation. These are large proteins that play an integral role in skeletal and cardiac muscle function and we have determined the structure of several regions that are considered to be functionally important. As a result of this work, we have designed novel compounds that alter muscle function.
The delivery of biological agents into cells poses one of the modern day challenges of drug design.
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 17 Chromatin & Transcriptional Regulation Group Division of Molecular Bioscience
The epigenetic code: the link between chromatin structure & function http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dmb/chromatin Professor David It is now clearly established that the central regulator in regulating transcription and/or chromatin structure. Tremethick of eukaryotic gene transcription is the organisation However, our recent work has shown that the of the genome into chromatin. Chromatin performs functional readout of specific histone modifications this crucial function by partitioning the genome is also dependent upon the composition of the into functionally specialised domains that differ in underlying nucleosome. their extent of compaction. Chromatin is built from nucleosomes (histones plus DNA), the universal One way the biochemical composition of a repeating protein-DNA complex in all eukaryotic cells. nucleosome can be altered is by the substitution Significantly, the tail of each histone protrudes on of one or more of the core histones with the the outside of the nucleosome and is subject to an corresponding histone variants. Our studies have extensive range of enzyme-catalysed modifications focused on a major essential variant of H2A, H2A.Z, of site-specific amino and have demonstrated that one of its key functions acid residues in response is to maintain the integrity of heterochromatin and to intrinsic and external the centromere, where it is assembles compacted signals. Functionally, domains with both active and inactive histone it has been argued modifications. In an attempt to provide a dynamic that the combination link between chromatin structure and function, our of such modifications in vitro structural studies have discovered a specific is recognised or read macromolecular determinant located on the surface by specific chromatin nucleosome responsible for the ability of H2A.Z to binding proteins involved form compacted chromatin.
The Computational Genomics Group Division of Molecular Bioscience
Making sense of sequence http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dmb/compgen Dr Gavin The integration of data from different levels of capabilities. Among the numerous uses to which Huttley biological organisation — molecular, cellular, PyCogent has already been applied by the lab are: a individual, population and species — provides demonstration that rodents, representative species of invaluable perspective in the quest to understand which constitute the principal model organisms of the basis of human disease. This year the lab, in biomedicine, are more distantly related to primates collaboration with our national and international than previously thought; that triplet repeat genes, colleagues, achieved a significant long-standing goal the cause of many heritable human disorders, have with the release of our genomic analysis software been naturally stabilised throughout evolution by library, PyCogent. This library is arguably the most introduction of a rare mutation type that disrupts comprehensive computational biology software the repeats; and, for the identification of molecular package substantively changes capable of eliminating the pathogenic engineered by an effect of disease variants. We are currently applying Australian laboratory. It PyCogent to identify the characteristic influence of is aimed at enabling the metabolic processes, with a particular focus on the integrative analyses of consequence of epigentic modifications. An important genetic variation and outcome of this work has been the determination functional data through that differences in the rates of DNA repair, rather than provision of sophisticated DNA lesion formation, are the likely cause of spatial novel statistical modelling variation in levels of human polymorphism across and data visualisation the genome.
18 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Computational Proteomics & Therapy Design Group Division of Molecular Bioscience
A conceptual biology approach to understanding protein function in cells http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dmb/cptd Professor Jill Our research aims to understand how proteins carry improved catalytic efficiency and substrate specificity. Gready out their functions in the cell, in terms of their This was achieved by combining our computational molecular structure, interactions and energetics, insights on the enzyme’s mechanism with structural and also how the genes have evolved to enable the and sequence bioinformatics, and phylogenetic proteins to work in this way. Our findings provide analyses. As Rubisco is almost solely responsible for the basic knowledge to understand the proteins’ fixing carbon dioxide into the energy-rich compounds normal functions and their dysfunctions in disease. of life, our method can be used for re-engineering Our approach is unusual as we employ innovative more efficient Rubiscos into crop plants for greater couplings of computation and experiment which can productivity and specific features such as drought take advantage of existing knowledge and the power tolerance, and for biomass and biofuel production, of computational simulation and bioinformatics, and and carbon sequestration. The results are now being also comparative genomics which can exploit publicly developed commercially. available genome data for model organisms, such Using a similar repertoire of methods, we are as mouse, chicken, frog systematically mapping the functional evolution and fish, to see how the of the three prion protein (PrP) family genes (PrP; proteins are evolving. Doppel, Dpl; and Shadoo). We have defined a Using this approach mechanism for regulating co-ordinated transcription we have invented new of the PrP and Dpl genes, which can explain how the technology for the design relative levels of the two proteins are controlled, and of mutants of the plant can be perturbed under certain conditions to induce enzyme Rubisco with apoptosis and cell death in Alzheimers’ disease.
Cytokine Molecular Biology & Signalling Group Division of Molecular Bioscience
Cytokine signalling in health & disease http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dmb/cytomol Professor Ian Cytokines play key roles in regulating responses to of cell culture models of IL-3 differentiation and have Young infections. Our group has had a long term interest studied the role of transcription factors and microRNAs in the cytokines IL-3, IL-5 and GM-CSF which signal in this process. Excessive self-renewal and defective through a common receptor (hβc) and play key roles maturation are the hallmarks of myeloid leukemia. in inducible changes in white blood cell formation IL-3Rα is up-regulated in acute myeloid leukemia and in response to infection. They are also involved in is present on leukemic stem cells although its role is inflammatory and allergic disorders and in some types presently unknown. We are developing new approaches of leukemia. Our goal is to understand how these to investigate the possible role of the IL-3 receptor cytokines regulate blood cell growth and function system in acute myeloid leukemia. by binding to their cell-surface receptors and how the activating signals are transmitted across the cell membrane. We have determined the X-ray structure the complete extracellular domain of hβc and are trying to determine the structures of several other ligand-receptor complexes. We are continuing to use mutagenesis to probe the mechanism of receptor activation. We have recently discovered a new isoform of the IL-3Rα and have evidence that it is involved in a second mode of receptor activation which appears to be relevant to the control of self-renewal and differentiation by IL-3. We have developed a number
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 19 Epigenetics and Genome Stability Group Division of Molecular Bioscience
Exploring the dark matter of the genome: role of transposable elements in cancers http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dmb/epigenstab
Dr Danny Transposable elements are ubiquitous in the genomes pathways to suppress L1 gene activity such as DNA Rangasamy of mammals. About 45 per cent of human DNA methylation, packaging retrotransposons into inactive consists of a subclass of transposable elements termed heterochromatin structures and silencing by repeat- the ‘Long Interspersed Nuclear Elements’, or L1s, which associated small noncoding siRNA pathways. We are are segments of DNA still moving in the mouse and interested in molecular mechanisms by which the human genomes even now. The presence and function L1 retrotransposon is regulated in human cells. Of of these retroelements has long puzzled biologists particular importance is to understand the roles of and often inspired the concept of ‘junk DNA’. Like dark L1 retrotransposons and their epigenetic control in matter in the universe, the true functions of these chromosomal stability and gene regulation, both in transposons are still unclear. normal healthy and diseased tissues.
An unrestrained L1 Our latest studies in cancer have shown that activity can destabilise genomic instability of cancer cells and upregulation the genome, shaping of retrotransposon activity are intimately associated genomic landscapes by with several disease states such as cancer and other insertional mutagenesis, syndromes involving chromosomal instability. We deletion and gene are extending these findings to breast cancer cells rearrangements. Given to investigate how disease states arise and how the the deleterious nature altered expression of transposons regulates of L1 retrotransposon cancer development. activity, normal healthy cells must have multiple
Gene Expression & Epigenomics Group Division of Molecular Bioscience
Gene expression & the immune system http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dmb/cytogene Professor Frances The Gene Expression and Epigenomics Group studies response, triggering autoimmunity or the failure to Shannon the molecular switches that control inducible gene eliminate a pathogen. We focus on the transcription expression in the immune system. The response of factors that drive inducible gene expression in the an organism to environmental signals generally immune system as well as the role of the packaging requires complex changes in gene expression and the of the genes into chromatin (the epigenome) in the immune system is one of the major body systems that nucleus using single gene (especially cytokine respond to external signals, specifically from invading genes) as well as genome-wide (microarray, ChIP-on- pathogens such as viruses, bacteria or parasites. The chip) approaches. cells of the immune system are exquisitely poised to alter gene expression This year we have focused our research on the role of patterns within minutes the transcription factor, c-Rel, in the development of of detecting a signal a specific type of T-cell known as a regulatory T-cell and waves of changes (critical for preventing autoimmune responses). We in gene expression then have also identified a role for the aryl hydrocarbon occur within the next receptor, another transcription factor, in T-cell 24-48hrs to ensure a selection in the thymus. In the area of epigenomics, correct immune response. we have shown that genes which respond very quickly Incorrect activation to an immune signal are marked by specific chromatin or repression of genes features and already have the enzyme that transcribed can lead to an adverse the gene located at the promoter in a poised state.
20 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Membrane Physiology & Biophysics Group Division of Molecular Bioscience
Molecular mechanisms of ion channel function http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dmb/membrane Dr Louise We wish to understand the relationship between the receptors, leading to the co-operative opening of Tierney organisation of ion channels in the membrane and ion channels. The biological significance of such a their function (electrical activity), in particular, how signalling mechanism in the brain, and in other organs
this relates to the differential responses mediated containing GABAA receptors is currently by drugs. being investigated.
Ion channels play a central role in the rapid transmission of electrical signals throughout the central nervous system. Our research focuses on
the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptor, a ligand- gated ion channel found at synapses and extra- synaptically where it is primarily responsible for controlling neuronal excitability. Using a combination of molecular, biochemical and electrophysiological techniques we are examining the influence of protein
interactions on the electrical activity of GABAA receptors. We have proposed a novel mechanism to explain the receptor’s differential response to drugs,
involving direct interactions between adjacent GABAA
Molecular Genetics Group Division of Molecular Bioscience
Medication for the individual patient http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dmb/molgen Professor Philip Although most drugs are prescribed at a level to treat is particularly focused on the investigation of the Board the average individual, drug doses that are effective in structure and function of enzymes called glutathione some individuals can be toxic or ineffective in others. transferases (GSTs). These enzymes exhibit a wide It has been reported that adverse drug reactions are range of genetic variability that has been shown the fifth most frequent cause of death. Drugs that are to impact directly on the metabolism of anticancer effective in most people but are extremely toxic in a drugs and to influence the onset of Parkinson’s and small number of individuals cannot be used unless the Alzheimer’s diseases. patients in whom toxicity is likely to occur can be identified.
The Molecular Genetics Group studies the genetic differences between individuals in their ability to breakdown and detoxify therapeutic drugs. Our ultimate aim is to provide tests that allow the personalised prescription of drugs at safe effective levels. The detoxification of foreign chemicals involves similar processes to those involved in the metabolism of medicines. Our studies are therefore also relevant to the identification of individual susceptibility to toxic chemicals within the environment. The work
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 21 Molecular Systems Biology Group Division of Molecular Bioscience
Exploiting the human genome to understand human disease http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dmb/systemsbio Dr Rohan The genome sequencing projects, including that state that a gene is placed in or where in the nucleus Williams conducted on our own species, have resulted in an the expressed gene is located. In particular, we are unprecedented leap in our understanding of the interested in applying these ideas to form coherent, nature and scope of genetic information. An inherent testable pictures concerning the organisation, part of this advance has been the development of regulation and function of global gene expression new genome-wide technologies, permitting ‘global’ in human disease settings. By nature this work is views of the functional genome to be made on a inherently interdisciplinary, drawing on recent ideas routine basis. While such information represents a and methods from molecular biology, genetics, applied tremendous intellectual and practical advance, the statistics and physiology. clear challenge is to develop ways to exploit this new data to understand human health and disease. We are focused on two major problems within the field of functional genomics: (1) how do genetic differences between individuals result in demonstrable differences at the level of gene expression (2) can we understand the way in which gene expression is controlled? These two problems are examined by using information about regulation of genes, and by using information about the broader context in which gene expression occurs, for example, by examining the chromatin
Muscle Research Group Division of Molecular Bioscience
The focus of the Muscle Research Group http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dmb/muscle Professor Angela The Muscle Research Group studies molecular the dihydropyridine receptor ion channel. In marked Dulhunty interactions between two calcium ion channels that contrast excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal underlie calcium signalling in muscle. The channels are muscle does not depend on external calcium. Instead, the dihydropyridine receptor calcium channel in the a depolarisation-dependent signal is transmitted surface membrane and the ryanodine receptor calcium from the dihydropyridine receptor to the ryanodine release channel in the sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium receptor by conformational coupling between the store. These proteins are essential for movement two proteins. Proper calcium signalling depends on and heart beat. Excitation-contraction coupling is (a) the activity of the ryanodine receptor during broadly defined as the signal transduction process excitation-contraction coupling and (b) on the that links an action potential to contraction, but more amount of calcium available for release within the narrowly encapsulates the processes that intervene calcium store and bound to the calcium binding between depolarisation protein calsequestrin. The factors that set ryanodine of the surface membrane receptor channel activity and the calcium load and calcium release within the store are the focus of our investigations. from the sarcoplasmic Although many of our questions are very basic, the reticulum. Excitation- research is increasingly directed to understanding contraction coupling disease-related mutations in the proteins that are in the heart depends linked to debilitating skeletal myopathies and to fatal on ryanodine receptor cardiomyopathies. The long term goal in this regard is activation by calcium the rational design of drugs that might help alleviate ions that enter through the symptoms of these disorders.
22 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Predictive Medicine Group Division of Molecular Bioscience
The evolution of human diversity & its impact on health & disease http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dmb/predictivemed Professor Simon As humans, we have experienced substantial In our research we ask “Why are people so different Easteal evolutionary change over the past few hundred from each other?” “How have these differences thousand years. Our social and cultural environments between people arisen during human evolution?” have played a predominant role and psychological and “How do these differences affect health and and neurological change has been particularly susceptibility to disease?” Our overall aim is to important. One of the surprising features of this develop better approaches to managing health and process is that it has led, not to an optimal ‘type’ intervening to prevent disease by incorporating of human, but to extensive physical, psychological knowledge about our peculiar evolutionary past, and and cognitive diversity. Some of this diversity has also about the biological and psychological differences evolved through natural selection, but some of it is between people that it has produced. an unintended side effect of the evolutionary process. By studying variation in DNA sequences in human The extensive changes to our biology and psychology genomes we characterize how evolutionary forces, brought about by the such as natural selection, have shaped these changes. complex evolutionary We use this information to design studies to dynamic between our understand how the evolutionary history of genetic ancestors and their variation influences the ways in which it contributes environments have to differences in personality, behaviour and cognition, resulted in vulnerabilities, and affects mental and physical health, particularly in trade-offs and imbalances, old age. which now affect our health and make us susceptible to disease.
Stem Cell & Gene Targeting Group Division of Molecular Bioscience
Mouse models of human disease http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dmb/genetarget Professor Klaus I A major aim of medical research is to understand how original mouse strain except that the function of Matthaei gene function is altered in human disease. However, a single gene has been deleted. Similarly, it is also it is often impossible to perform studies directly in possible to add new genes into the ES cells resulting in the human and it is therefore necessary to work ‘transgenic’ mice that now have overactive genes. with a more manipulable system such as the mouse. We have generated a series of different mouse Given the knowledge of the nucleotide sequence of mutants including mouse models of asthma, a gene, it is now possible to make changes to the gut allergy, nerve re-generation, parasite-host corresponding endogenous gene of an embryonic relationships, hypertension, wound healing, drug de- stem cell and produce a mouse that carries a desired toxification, muscle diseases and cancer. mutation. This procedure is called gene targeting.
Gene targeting involves the use of DNA technology to modify a cloned gene, which is introduced into the ES cells and the normal gene is replaced by the mutated form. The modified ES cells are then micro- injected into a blastocyst and they become integrated. These ‘combination’ blastocysts are re-implanted into pseudo-pregnant mice and give rise to live chimæric offspring that consist of modified cells as well as normal cells. Breeding the chimæra with a normal mouse gives rise to offspring that carry the modified gene, thus creating an animal that is identical to the
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 23 Research Programs
Annual Review 2007 Division of Neuroscience
Head of Division Professor Greg Stuart
Group Leader
Blood Vessel Group Professor Caryl Hill
Cerebral Cortex Group Associate Profesor John Bekkers
Neuronal Signalling Group Professor Greg Stuart
Synapse and Hearing Group Professor Bruce Walmsley
Visual Neuroscience Group Professor Trevor Lamb
24 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Blood Vessel Group Division of Neuroscience
Vascular function in health & disease http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dns/bloodvessel Professor Caryl E The coordinated behaviour of small arteries is to characterize cell coupling and its contribution to Hill fundamental to the regulation of blood flow, normal vascular function and to determine whether blood pressure and adequate tissue perfusion. This alterations to coupling are responsible for vascular coordination occurs because the cells which make up abnormalities. Our past results have implicated cell the blood vessel wall are electrically and chemically coupling in the action of EDHF and established a coupled through membrane channels called gap link between nitric oxide and alterations in cell junctions. In hypertension and diabetes, homeostatic coupling in diabetes. conditions are perturbed and excessive constriction of the muscle cells in the blood vessel wall reduces Over the past year we have continued to amass blood vessel diameter and blood flow to body organs. evidence that coupling amongst the cells in the This imbalance often vascular wall is pivotal to homeostasis. With our results from dysfunction collaborators in Japan, we have found that cell of the endothelial lining, coupling in the renal vasculature is essential to blood decreasing its ability pressure control through regulation of the renin- to release molecules, angiotensin system. We have also identified in two like nitric oxide and different forms of hypertension, changes in common endothelium-derived to three molecules, one of which is expected to lead hyperpolarising factor to reductions in nitric oxide. Finally, we have found (EDHF), which cause that upregulation of the enzyme responsible for vasodilation. The aim the formation of nitric oxide is protective against of our studies has been induction of experimental diabetes.
Cerebral Cortex Group Division of Neuroscience
Nerve cells underlying the sense of smell http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dns/cortex Associate Professor My group studies the olfactory cortex, which is neurotransmitter, GABA. We have completed a John Bekkers the brain region responsible for recognising and detailed classification of GABA neurons based on remembering odours. The olfactory cortex has their morphology, expression of molecular markers, a relatively simple structure compared to other and electrophysiology. These results have allowed sensory brain regions, yet little is known about how it us to formulate hypotheses about the likely roles of assembles olfactory information into unified ‘odour the different types of GABA neurons during olfactory images’ that we might identify as ‘garlic’ or ‘chocolate’. processing. In order to test these hypotheses, we have By studying individual nerve cells (neurons) or small set up new intact preparations that will enable us groups of neurons in the olfactory cortex, we hope to record the responses of identified neurons in the to clarify how this brain region processes information olfactory cortex following the application of odorants and, more generally, how errors in processing might to the nose. lead to disease. In a separate project, we have used a cell culture We have previously system to address fundamental questions about how characterised the main synapses operate in the cortex. By blocking a pump excitatory neurons in found in synaptic vesicles, we have developed a new the olfactory cortex of method for counting the number of vesicles that are mice. This year we have released during synaptic transmission. This helps us to focused on neurons that understand the biological constraints on information release the inhibitory flow in the brain.
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 25 Neuronal Signalling Group Division of Neuroscience
Understanding the brain neuron by neuron http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dns/neurosignal
Professor Greg The Neuronal Signalling Laboratory conducts basic mechanisms underlying this disease in animal models. Stuart research on how nerve cells in the brain process We have found that a particular protein called HCN1, information. This work involves recording activity which plays an important role in regulating excitability from single nerve cells using both electrical and in the cortex, is down-regulated in the cortex of some optical techniques. Over the past year we have been animal models of absence epilepsy but not others. These investigating the following issues: data suggest a possible role of down-regulation of HCN Electrical properties of dendritic spines channels in the generation of absence seizures, but also indicate that other, as yet unidentified, mechanisms are Communication between nerve cells in the brain occurs likely to be important. at specialised regions called synapses. In the cortex, the majority of synapses are made onto small (≤1 µm) Analogue signalling processes called dendritic spines. Due to their small size Nerve impulses, or action potentials, are the primary the function of dendritic spines has not been investigated binary (digital) signal used by nerve cells for directly. We are currently addressing communication within the brain. We now show that the this issue using optical techniques site of action potential initiation in the axon of nerve by recording changes in membrane cells serves as a critical locus where the very same binary potential in single spines using signals can be modified in a graded (analogue) manner. confocal microscopy. This occurs via changes in axonal action potential Cellular mechanisms underlying duration mediated by modulation of a specific subtype absence epilepsy of voltage-gated potassium channels (Kv1 channels). One of the most common forms of Functionally, modulation of axonal action potential epilepsy in children is absence epilepsy. duration via axonal Kv1 channels provides analogue We have been studying the cellular control of synaptic coupling at local cortical networks.
The Synapse & Hearing Group Division of Neuroscience
Plasticity in auditory pathways of the brain induces changes in synaptic and neuronal properties at a detailed cellular level. Research in the Synapse http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dns/synapse and Hearing Laboratory is aimed at understanding Professor Bruce The key to how the brain works lies in its capacity the role of activity in shaping the pathways in the Walmsley to modify the strength of its connections. During brain related to our sense of hearing. We also aim to development, sensory input to the brain shapes the discover the differences in these pathways following properties of neurons and their synaptic contacts, congenital deafness, in which the brain does not receive so that the network becomes tuned to efficiently the appropriate signals during development. We are interpret the sensory signals. In the mature nervous studying a congenitally deaf strain of mice, called dn/ system, long-term modifications to synaptic dn or deafness. The deafness mice have non-functional connections are thought to provide the basis for hair cells in the cochlea, which results in a lack of learning and memory. auditory nerve impulse activity from the earliest stages The major signal that initiates changes in the properties of development. Our results have already shown that of synapses and neurons is nerve impulse activity. We during early postnatal development, before opening know, for example, that of the ear canal and the onset of hearing, the lack of without the proper visual spontaneous auditory nerve activity leads to significant signals from the eyes abnormalities in the properties of synapses and neurons (as impulses in the optic in the earliest stages of auditory processing in the nerve) during a critical brain. We are also studying the effects of increased period of development, auditory nerve activity by subjecting normal mice the connections in the to a variety of acoustic stimuli. Our recent results brain do not develop demonstrate that dramatic changes may occur within properly. Surprisingly, hours. Our studies may have important implications for very little is known the use of cochlear implants for deafness, and in the about how nerve activity understanding and treatment of tinnitus.
26 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Visual Neuroscience Group Division of Neuroscience
The first stage of vision http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dns/visual Professor Trevor Our laboratory investigates the way that light is measured the behavioural dark adaptation recovery of Lamb detected and processed in the retina of the eye. human observers. We have discovered that rod bipolar Over the last year we have focussed on the cells exhibit the same slow recovery as does the mechanisms by which retinal neurons recover from overall visual system, showing that this behaviour of light exposure, both on a sub-second time-scale and the overall visual system is present at the first synapse. over times up to an hour. In a collaboration with colleagues in Queensland and By recording electrically from single rod photoreceptor Pennsylvania, we have studied the evolution of the cells isolated from transgenic zebrafish, we vertebrate eye, and we have put forward a description have examined the mechanisms that permit the of the sequence of unseen steps that we postulate led photoreceptors to recover rapidly when a light to the emergence of our eye. is extinguished.
Following exposure of our eye to daylight levels of illumination, it can take tens of minutes for our visual system to recover (ie to ‘dark adapt’); this phenomenon results from the slowness of recovery of the rod photoreceptors, and we are examining the cellular basis of the process. By recording the electroretinogram (ERG) from the eyes of human subjects, we have been able to monitor the neural activity of the rod photoreceptors, and also of the retinal bipolar cells that process the signals from the rods, in the living eye. In parallel experiments we have
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 27 Research Programs
Head of Unit Professor Judith Whitworth Annual Review 2007 High Blood Pressure Research Unit
Steroid hormones & blood pressure http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/hbpru
Professor Judith High blood pressure is a leading cause of death in We are also studying the genetic modifications Whitworth Australia, causing heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, induced by glucocorticoids using micro-array and RT- and other complications such as blindness and PCR in collaboration with Professor Frances Shannon Dr Yi premature birth. The High Blood Pressure Research Unit (JCSMR) and Dr Ruby Lin (University of NSW). Zhang (HBPRU) at JCSMR undertakes basic and clinic research Our collaboration with Professor Kevin Croft into hypertension, with a focus on the development (University of Western Australia) has enabled us to of hypertension caused by adrenal glucocorticoid measure markers of systemic oxidative stress and hormones. investigate the role of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Our major finding is that glucocorticoid (steroid acid (20-HETE), a potent constrictor in small arteries, hormone)-induced hypertension relates to altered in glucocorticoid-induced hypertension. Our recent nitric oxide (NO) production and function, and is data showed that inhibition of 20-HETE production associated with elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) prevents and reverses naturally occurring steroid- which act by mopping up vasodilator NO. Our studies induced hypertension. suggest an imbalance of NO (deficiency) and ROS Our studies will aim to elucidate the mechanisms by (excess) is involved in glucocorticoid hypertension due which glucocorticoids induce hypertension, and could to naturally occurring and synthetic steroids. We are have major implications for the treatment of steroid- investigating a range of treatment strategies relevant induced hypertension. and essential hypertension. to this imbalance between NO and ROS.
We have demonstrated that L-arginine, a precursor for the NO producing enzyme NO synthase, arginase inhibitor DFMO and the antioxidants tempol, apocynin, folate, aspirin, N-acetylcysteine and alpha- lipoic acid prevent and reverse steroid-induced hypertension while allopurinol and vitamins C and E had no effect. We are identifying agents that prevent and/or reverse glucocorticoid-hypertension in the rat which are appropriate for use in clinical trials. These clinical trials will be carried out through our ongoing collaboration with Dr George Mangos and Associate Professor John Kelly (St George Hospital, Sydney).
28 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Staff & Student Achievements Degrees, Prizes & Awards
A major strategic goal of JCSMR is to provide outstanding training and mentoring for medical researchers of the future. The majority of our academic staff supervise post-graduate scholars through their studies leading to Honours, Masters and PhD degrees.
JCSMR staff and students continue to be honoured and acknowledged through awards and prizes presented by local, national and international organisations.
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Degrees 2007
Congratulations to our students who graduated in 2007
Dr Andrea Everitt with Honours graduate Kenny Tan
PhD degrees awarded in 2007 LV O’Rance The role of neutrophils in a viral infection T Arsov Genetic and phenotype analysis of Fat Aussie – A VE Prescott mouse model of Alstrom syndrome Genetically modified plants and immunity D Azmanov ZM Prichard Genetics of Hartnup disorder: SLC6A19 and beyond Genetic and environmental determinants of antisocial behavioural patterns in humans KL Bunting Inducible T-cell gene transcription controlled by the LA Socha-Hernandez NF-kB transcirption factor c-rel The NODk iHel transgenic mouse: A new model of spontaneous diabetes due to beta cell failure DA Eichner The role dendritic cells and chemokines play in NT Tran immune responses to virus infection Developing a new transactivator system for plants AB Everitt MR Youssouffian Batten Determinants of GABAA receptor single channel Development and synaptic transmission in the conductance auditory brainstem of normal and congenitally deaf mice EE Forbes Understanding immunopathogenesis of inflammatory D Yu diseases of the gastrointestinal tract Biomarkers of T-cell help to germinal centre B cells NL Harley Patterns of genetic variation in peoples of mainland Honours degrees awarded Papua New Guinea: Studies of Y chromosome, mitochondrial and austosomal genome diversity in in 2007 Papuan-speaking populations S Arnett AM Moore D Chaston The role of protein kinase C theta signalling in interleukin-2 gene expression K Gunaratna T Murase C Gyngell Roles of Notch and NF-kB signalling in allogenic K Janes responses G Jung NJ O’Callaghan J-K Jung Investigation of a novel candidate gene for inflammatory bowel disease at 12q23 S Kumar C Tan Y Tan C Teh (University Medal) WJ Tu R Wong (University Medal) Professor Frances Y Xin (University Medal) Shannon with Dr Anna Moore and Dr Vanessa Prescott
30 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Prizes & Awards 2007
Honours, awards and prizes acknowledging the achievements of our staff and students during 2007
K Bunting National Heart Foundation of Australia Travel Award S Day Vice-Chancellor’s Higher Degree Research Travel Grant to attend the Keystone Conference: Global Challenges of Vaccine Development, Cape Town, South Africa Australasian Society of Immunology Travel Grant to attend the Australasian Society of Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting, Sydney, NSW A de Mestre The Frank Fenner Medal: Most outstanding thesis submitted in JCSMR during 2006 The Inaugural Dewar Milne Prize for the most significant piece of research in the field of immunology during a doctoral candidature at The John Curtin School of Medical Research J Ellyard Australian Academy of Science Award to attend the Meeting of Nobel Laureates, Lindau, Germany Vice-Chancellor’s Higher Degree Research Travel Grant to attend the Meeting of Nobel Laureates, Lindau, Germany Y Foruya CMHS Fieldwork Supplement Award CC Goodnow and A Enders Professor Chris Goodnow accepts the Clive and The Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Foundation Research Award Vera Ramaciotti C Horan research award Young Tall Poppy Award: Best Oral Presentation at Young Investigator’s Forum — ACT Branch of The Australian Society for Medical Research, Canberra, ACT Australian Society for Medical Research Student Poster Award at ASMR National Scientific Conference: Tissue Remodelling: Current Understanding and Future Therapeutic Targets, Katoomba, NSW C Lim First prize for poster entitled — The Epigenomic Marks that Tag Inducible Genes in T-cells at the Epigenetics 2007 Australian Scientific Conference, Perth, WA H Lindsay The Ruth Gani Memorial Travelling Fellowship for Human Genetics M Linterman Travel fellowship to attend the 2007 RIKEN Summer School, Yokohama Japan The Ruth Gani Memorial Travelling Fellowship for Human Genetics to attend the 13th International Congress of Immunology, ImmunoRio 2007, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Award: Best Student Poster presented at Young Investigator’s Forum, ACT Branch of The Australian Society for Medical Research, Canberra, ACT Vice-Chancellor’s Higher Degree Research Travel grant to attend the 13th International Congress of Immunology, ImmunoRio 2007, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Federation of Immunological Societies of Asia-Oceania (FIMSA) Travel Award to attend the 13th Dr Amanda de Mestre International Congress of Immunology, ImmunoRio 2007, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was awarded the Frank E Ng Fenner Medal for her Vice-Chancellor’s Higher Degree Research Travel Grant to attend the 13th International Congress 2006 thesis of Immunology, ImmunoRio 2007, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil S Ong Australia and New Zealand Society of Nephrology: The Jacquot Scholarship
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 31 L-R: Catherine Horan, Michelle Linterman and Dean Yee all recieved awards at the Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) Young Investigator’s Forum
Prizes and Awards 2007
CR Parish C Vinuesa Australasian Society for Immunology: 2007 Burnet Orator NSW and ACT Young Tall Poppy Science Award Australasian Society for Immunology: 2007 Rowley Medal Viertel Senior Medical Research Fellowship I Poon Biogen-Idec Prize for Spanish Young Researchers Overseas Travel fellowship and internship to attend the 2007 RIKEN Summer School, Yokohama, Japan S Weiss Vice-Chancellor’s Higher Degree Research Travel International Society of Heart Research (ISHR) grant to attend the 13th International Congress of Scholarship to attend The Cardiac Society of Australia Immunology, ImmunoRio 2007, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and New Zealand (CSANZ) 55th annual meeting, Australasian Society of Immunology Travel Award Christchurch, New Zealand th to attend the 13 International Congress of JA Whitworth Immunology, ImmunoRio 2007, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil The Royal Australasian College of Physicians: Arthur E Federation of Immunological Societies of Asia- Mills Memorial Oration Medal Oceania (FIMSA) Travel Award to attend The University of Melbourne: Mathison Oration Medal the 13th International Congress of Inclusion in the The National Health & Medical Immunology, ImmunoRio 2007, Rio de Research Council publication: Great Minds in Janeiro, Brazil Australian Research C Ranasinghe Z Wu The Alan and Elizabeth Finkel Prize International Cytokine Society Outstanding Scholar M Regner Award to attend the15th International Cytokine European Union Travel Grant to attend Society Annual meeting, San Francisco, CA, USA the 15th Euroconference on Apoptosis, Vice-Chancellor’s Higher Degree Research Travel Grant Portoros, Slovenia to attend the 15th International Cytokine Society Dr Alan Finkel with the Annual meeting, San Francisco, CA, USA winner of the Finkel Prize I Sakala Australasian Society of Immunology Travel Award to Dr Charani Ranasinghe Vice-Chancellor’s Higher Degree Research Travel attend the 15th International Cytokine Society Annual grant to attend the 13th International Congress of meeting, San Francisco, CA, USA Immunology, ImmunoRio 2007, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Australasian Society of Immunology Travel Award D Yee to attend the 13th International Congress of Australian Society for Medical Research Award: Best Immunology, ImmunoRio 2007, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Student Presentation at Young Investigator’s Forum, ACT A Shield Branch of The Australian Society for Medical Research National Health and Medical Research Council Travel D Yu Award for Research Training Lupus 2007 Young Investigator Award to attend Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Foundation — the 8th International Congress on Systemic Lupus Establishment Gift Erythematosus, Shanghai, China Z-M Song ANU Medical School Excellence in Teaching Award: Best Faculty Teacher Years 1 and 2 E Sutcliffe Australian Society for Medical Research Domestic Travel Award to attend the ASMR National Scientific Conference: Tissue Remodelling: Current Understanding and Future Therapeutic Targets, Katoomba, NSW Dr Carola Vinuesa
32 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Research Collaborations & Visitors to JCSMR
Staff and students of The John Curtin School of Medical Research continue to enjoy close collaborative ties with colleagues across Divisions within the School, and with other scientists at ANU. JCSMR researchers also enjoy close scientific association and collaboration with colleagues throughout Australia and the world. Some of these collaborative research ventures are listed here. In addition, we have the pleasure of welcoming visitors from local, national and international universities and research institutes who come to JCSMR to present seminars or work on collaborative research projects within our laboratories.
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Research Collaborations 2007
Associate Professor JM Bekkers Dr MG Casarotto New techniques for the study of dendritic function Structural studies into the mechanism of Professor Michael Häusser Wolfson Institute for dihydrofolate reductase Biomedical Research, University College, London, UK Professor G Roberts Centre for Mechanisms of Human Toxicity, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK Dr E Bertram Dr J Basran Department of Biochemistry, University Role of LIGHT and 4-1BB in immunity to influenza of Leicester, Leicester, UK Dr S Turner Department of Microbiology and Chitinase and chitin binding proteins Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Dr C Vorgias Biology Department, Athens Melbourne, VIC University, Athens, Greece Dr E Bertram and Professor C Goodnow Peptide activators of the ryanodine receptor Role of CARMA-1 in T-cell regulation and allergy Professor I Toth Pharmacy Department, The Dr M Cook The Canberra Hospital, Canberra, ACT University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD and Phenomix Australia, Canberra, ACT Effects of drugs that block Vpu ion channels Australian Centre For Vertebrate Mutation Detection studied with NMR techniques Professor D Hilton Molecular Medicine Division, Professor T Watts and Dr W Fischer The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Biomembrane Structure Unit, University of Research, Melbourne, VIC Oxford, Oxford, UK Dr E Bertram and Dr P Mana Dr PD Cooper Role of TNF family member LIGHT in EAE Adjuvant activity and formulation of gamma and Dr D Linares and Dr D Willenborg Neurosciences delta microparticulate inulin Research Unit, The Canberra Hospital, Canberra, ACT Professor N Petrovsky Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, SA Dr AC Blackburn Professor M Korbelik British Columbia Cancer Mouse mammary tumour susceptibility loci Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada Professor DJ Jerry Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Dr L Wang Medical School, Monash University, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA Melbourne, VIC Human breast cancer modifier gene discovery Dr N Ravenscroft Department of Chemistry, through the Kathleen Cuningham Foundation University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa Consortium for Research into Familial Breast Professor AF Dulhunty Cancer (kConFab). Dr A Spurdle The Molecular Cancer Epidemiology Various aspects of ryanodine receptor physiology Laboratory, Queensland Institute of Medical Dr D Laver Hunter Medical Research Institute, Research, Brisbane, QLD University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW Dr G Chenevix-Trench Cancer Genetics Laboratory, Identification of novel RyR specific compounds Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, QLD Professor DG Lamb Department of Zoology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC Professor PG Board Role of triadin and calsequestrin in regulating Determination of glutathione transferase structures calcium release from intracellular stores and Professor M Parker St Vincent’s Medical Research Contribution of splicing defects in ryanodine Institute, Melbourne, VIC receptors to myotonic dystrophy Function of Zeta and Omega class GSTs Professor RT Dirksen, Dr JD Lueck and Dr ASP Professor MW Anders Department of Goonasekara Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Centre, Rochester Medical Centre, Rochester, NY, USA Rochester, NY, USA
34 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Professor Angel Lopez, Professor Ian Clark and Professor Shaun McColl Research Collaborations
Regulatory and pore forming domains of calcium Dr C Freeman release channels Roles of VEGF and heparanase in diabetic Professor F Zorzato Department of Experimental retinopathy and the use of HS-mimetics to inhibit and Diagnostic Medicine, General Pathology their actions Section, University of Ferrara Medical School, Dr J Hu Zhongshan University, Guangzhou, China Ferrara, Italy Design of novel HS-mimetics to inhibit uptake, Actions of CLIC and GST family proteins on the heart replication and cell-to-cell spread of HSV, HIV and RSV Dr M Diaz School of Veterinary Studies, The Dr E Trybala Department of Clinical Virology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK Goteborg University, Goteborg, Sweden Role of the Beta subunit of the dihydropyridine Use of HS-mimetics to prevent Alzheimer’s disease receptor in excitation-contraction coupling Professor D Small and Dr M Beckman Department Professor J Abramson Department of Physics, of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA University, Melbourne, VIC Contribution of splicing defects to myotonic dystrophy Novel HS-mimetics that inhibit smooth muscle Professor M Takahashi Department of Neurology, cell proliferation Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Professor L Khachigian and Dr F Santiago Centre Osaka, Japan for Vascular Research, Department of Pathology, The Studies of the molecular nature of calsequestrin University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW Professor M Varsanyi Institut für Physiologische The role of heparanase in rheumatoid arthritis Chemie, Ruhr Universität, Bochum, Germany Dr R Li and Dr P Smith The Canberra Hospital, Structure of ion channel domain peptides Canberra, ACT Professor N Ikemoto Boston Biomedical Research Institute, Boston, MA, USA Dr C Freeman and Dr L Simson Regulation of ion channels by CRISP proteins Use of novel HS-mimetics to mobilise haemopoietic Dr M O’Brien and Dr G Gibbs Monash Institute of progenitor and stem cells into the circulation Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC Professor J-P Levesque Haematopoietic Stem Regulation of ryanodine receptors by Homer proteins Cell Laboratory, Cancer Biotherapies Program, Mater Medical Research Institute, University of Professor I Pessah Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Queensland, Brisbane, QLD University of California, Davis, CA, USA Professor C Goodnow, Dr E Bertram and Professor S Easteal Ms B Whittle Genetic epidemiology of neuroanatomical Hearing Mutations correlates of high prevalence mental disorders Dr H Dahl Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Professor P Sachdev School of Psychiatry, The Melbourne, VIC University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW Professor C Goodnow and Dr G Hoyne Identifying genes that modify athletic performance Role of cbl genes in B and T-cell tolerance Professor K North Neurogenetics Research Unit, Associate Professor W Langdon and Dr C Thien The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Dr LS Jermiin University of Western Australia, Perth, WA University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW Dr M Wakefield Bioinformatics Division, The Professor C Goodnow and Dr C Vinuesa Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, A programme of screening for ENU-mutations Melbourne, VIC affecting lymphocyte response to antigen Dr R Cornall Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Oxford University, Oxford, UK Professor J Bell The Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 35 Professor JE Gready Professor C Hill Computational studies of disulfide bridges Localisation of voltage dependent calcium channels in proteins with caveolae in cerebral and mesenteric arteries Dr M Wouters Victor Chang Cardiac Research using immunoelectron microscopy Institute, Sydney, NSW Dr SL Sandow Department of Pharmacology, Identification of CTLDs in prasinophytes School of Medical Sciences, The University of New Assistant Professor A Worden Rosenstiel School South Wales, Sydney, NSW
of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Identification of IP3 receptor subtypes in arteries Miami, Miami, FL, USA and astrocytes Dr A Zelensky University of Oxford, Oxford, UK Dr RJH Wojcikiewicz Department of Pharmacology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA Professor JE Gready, Dr A Blackburn and Modelling of vasomotion in cerebral arteries Mr N Chakka Professor T Griffith and Dr D Parthemos Assessment of gene dysfunction in human University of Cardiff, Cardiff, UK male infertility Role of T-type calcium channels in control of Dr M O’Bryan Monash Institute of Reproduction cerebrovascular tone and Research, Melbourne, VIC Dr LC Cribbs Cardiovascular Institute, Loyola Professor JE Gready, Mr N Chakka, Ms T University Medical Center, Loyola, IL, USA Vassilieva and Ms C Smith Role of eNOS in connexin expression in renal microvasculature and induction of diabetes Evolution of prion protein and its homologues Professor S Kawashima and M Yokoyama The First in vertebrates Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Dr T Simonic and Dr L Sangiorgio, Department of School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan Animal Pathology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy Professor PL Huang Harvard Medical School, Professor SV Edwards and Dr D Janes, Department Cardiovascular Research Centre, Massachusetts of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA Role of gap junctions in renal autoregulation and Dr J Meers, School of Veterinary Science, University blood pressure of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD Dr T Takenaka and Professor H Suzuki Department of Dr M Harris and Professor J Rodger, School of Nephrology, Saitama Medical College, Saitama, Japan Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Use of function blocking antibodies to investigate Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW the role of TRP channels and voltage dependent calcium channels in vasomotor function. Professor JE Gready, Dr PL Cummins and Dr Professor DJ Beech Institute of Membrane and IV Rostov Systems Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK Application of the ONIOM QM/MM method to Biophysical properties and expression of naturally simulation of enzyme reactions occurring splice variants of the T-type voltage Dr T Vrevren and Dr MJ Frisch GAUSSIAN Inc, New dependent calcium channels Haven, CT, USA Professor E Perez-Reyes Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Professor JE Gready, Dr P Ridgway and Charlottesville, VA, USA Ms T Vassilieva Regulation of prion protein and doppel by FAC1 Professor T Hirst Assistant Professor K Jordan-Sciutto, School Antibody and peptide ligands as probes of of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, protein folding Philadelphia, PA, USA Dr R James Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK Dr M Sack Department of Molecular Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
36 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Research Collaborations 2007
E coli heat-labile enterotoxin adjuvant, EtxB, Dr G Huttley antigen trafficking, and MHC class I Molecular dissection of the effects of alpha- antigen presentation actinin-3 deficiency on normal variation in skeletal Professor A Morgan Department of Cellular and muscle function Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK Dr D MacArthur Department of Philosophy, The Professor G Banting Department of Biochemistry, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW University of Bristol, Bristol, UK Dr K North Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Dr G Hoyne Health, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW Delta3-Notch signalling in T-cell development and function and Application of statistical machine learning to predicting nucleosome locations Role of Ikaros in the control of Notch signalling in Professor A Smola National ICT Australia (NICTA), T cell development Canberra, ACT Associate Professor S Dunwoodie and Dr G Chapman Developmental Biology Program, The Evolution of mammals Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, NSW Dr M Wakefield Bioinformatics Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Effects of Lunatic Fringe: a modulator of Notch Melbourne, VIC signalling in T-cell development and tolerance Dr C Guidos Department of Immunology, University Analytical tools for comparative genomics of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Dr R Knight Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA Dr G Hoyne and Dr E Bertram Evolution of mammals Role of CD45 splicing and susceptibility to Dr W Warren Genome Sequencing Center, autoimmune disease in mice Washington University, St Louis, MO, USA Dr David Willenborg The Canberra Hospital, Statistical methods for comparative genomics Canberra, ACT Dr VB Yap Department of Statistics and Applied Dr G Hoyne and Professor C Goodnow Probability, National University of Singapore, Singapore Identification of hnRNPLL target genes in T-cells Dr T Juelich using all exon arrays Elucidation of transcriptional mechanisms for Professor A Aderem and Dr D Zak Institute for the establishment and maintenance of CD8 T-cell Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, USA effector gene function in a mouse influenza A model Dr G Hoyne, Professor C Goodnow and Dr S Turner Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Dr E Bertram Melbourne, VIC Role of hnRNPLL in generating protective immunity to mycobacteria tuberculosis Associate Professor G Karupiah and Dr B Saunders and Professor W Britton Dr G Chaudhri Mycobacterial Research Group, Centenary Institute Pathophysiological significance of reverse of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology, Sydney, NSW signalling through membrane TNF Dr G Hoyne and Professor F Shannon Dr J Sedgwick Bone and Inflammation Research, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Role of c-rel in regulatory T-cell differentiation Indianapolis, IN, USA and homeostasis Dr B Saunders Mycobacterial Research Group, Dr S Gerondakis The Immunology Division, The Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Biology, Sydney, NSW Melbourne, VIC
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 37 Modulation of the immune response by Dr M Lobigs and Dr PD Cooper poxvirusencoded cytokine homologs Flavivirus vaccines based on inulin adjuvants Professor RML Buller Department of Molecular Professor N Petrovsky Department of Diabetes and Microbiology and Immunology, St Louis University, Endocrinology, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, SA St Louis, MO, USA Dr A Alcami Department of Molecular and Cellular Professor KI Matthaei Biology, Centro Nacional De Biotecnologia, Madrid, Spain The role of IL-5 and eosinophils in gut allergy Genetic control of early immune responses Assistant Professor S Hogan Division of Allergy to poxviruses and Immunology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Dr A Scalzo The Lions Eye Institue, Perth, WA Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA Dr W Yokoyama Washington University School of The role of IL-5 and eosinophils in allergy Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA Professor M Rothenberg Division of Pulmonary Investigating the role of dendritic cell subsets in Medicine, Allergy and Immunology, Cincinnati anti-poxviral immunity Children’s Hospital Medical Centre, Cincinnati, OH, Dr G Belz Immunology Division, The Walter and Eliza USA Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC The role of ‘Flightless I’ in wound healing Tracking virus-specific B cells using Blimp-1 Dr A Cowin Skin Biology Laboratory, Child Health transgenic mice Research Institute, Adelaide, SA Dr S Nutt Immunology Division, The Walter and Eliza Parasite infection in gene deficient mice Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC Dr L Dent Eosinophil Biology Laboratory, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Molecular Professor TD Lamb and Biomedical Science, Adelaide University, Evolution of the vertebrate eye Adelaide, SA Professor EN Pugh Jr Department of The role of the ryanodine receptor in vivo Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania, Professor P Allen Department of Anesthesia, Philadelphia, PA, USA Brigham and Womens Hospital, Harvard Medical Professor SP Collin School of Biomedical Sciences, School, Boston, MA, USA The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD New mouse model for interferon action in human Role of G-protein receptor kinases in photoreceptor viral diseases response shut-off Dr M Frese School of Health Sciences, University of Dr Y Fukada Department of Biophysics and Canberra, Canberra, ACT Biochemistry, Graduate School of Science, Japan Dr S Kawamura Graduate School of Frontier The role of the S100 multigene family Bioscience, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan in inflammation Professor C Geczy Inflammatory Diseases Research Dr M Lobigs Unit, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Flavivirus virulence and vaccination New South Wales, Sydney, NSW Dr RA Hall Department of Microbiology and Professor A Müllbacher Parasitology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD Oral induced T-cell tolerance Dr J Chin Elizabeth MacArthur AG Institute, NSW Viral factors involved in flavivirus replication and Department of Agriculture, Camden, NSW virus/host interactions Dr A Khromykh School of Molecular and Microbial Gliotoxin as virulence factor in Aspergillosis Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD Professor M Simon Max Planck Institute für Immunbiologie, Freiburg, Germany Cross-protective value of Chimerivax-JEV against Australian flaviviruses Gliotoxin mediated apoptosis Professor T Monath ACAMBIS Inc, Cambridge, Dr J Pardo Foundation Aragon, University of MA, USA Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
38 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Research Collaborations 2007
Professor A Müllbacher, Dr M Lobigs and Professor C Parish and Dr L Simson Dr M Regner Development of a liposome-based tumor vaccine Pathobiology and immune evasion of Ectromelia virus Associate Professor P Hogg School of Pathology, Dr J Pardo Foundation Aragon, University of The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain Immunosurveillance of MCA-induced sarcomas in Dr E Galvez University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain TH2-immune deficient mice Associate Professor M Smyth Peter Macallum Professor A Müllbacher and Dr M Regner Cancer Center, Melbourne, VIC The granzymes in early defence against viral infection Dr J Trapani and Dr V Sutton Peter MacCallum Professor IA Ramshaw Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC Evaluation of HIV prophylactic and Role of granzymes in cytolytic leukocyte-mediated therapeutic vaccines killing and viral-induced immunopathology Dr S Kent Department of Microbiology and Dr M Simon Max Planck Institute für Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Immunbiologie, Freiburg-Zahringen, Germany Melbourne, VIC Role of granzymes in cytolytic leukocyte-mediated Design of HIV-1 vaccines killing and viral-induced immunopathology Dr D Boyle CSIRO Livestock Industries, Australian Dr J Pardo Foundation Aragon, University of Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, VIC Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain Development of vaccines against genetically The role of poxvirus encoded serpins in cytotoxic modified viruses T-cell induced apoptosis Professor A Ramsay Louisiana State University Dr R Wallich Department of Immunology, Health Sciences Centre, New Orleans, LA, USA University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany Development of a novel TB vaccine Gamma irradiated influenza virus as a vaccine Professor W Britton Mycobacterial Research against bird flu Group, Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Dr D Boyle and Dr T Bowden, CSIRO Livestock Cell Biology, Sydney, NSW Industries, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Evaluation of a nasopharyngeal cancer Geelong, VIC therapeutic vaccine Professor D Moss Division of Immunology, Professor C Parish Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Role of platelets in tumour metastasis Brisbane, QLD Professor M Berndt Department of Immunology, Development of enhanced immune responses to Monash University, Melbourne, VIC HIV vaccines Professor C Chesterman and Professor B Chong Professor P Doherty and Dr S Turner Department School of Pathology, The University of New South of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Wales, Sydney, NSW Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC Professor R Stocker Department of Pathology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW Dr C Ranasinghe Development of dendritic cell targeting vaccines HIV pox-virus vaccines and evaluation of Associate Professor D Jackson Department of CD8 T-cell avidity Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Dr S Turner and Dr J Stambas Department of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Development of a liposome-based TB vaccine Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC Professor W Britton Mycobacterial Research Mucosal vaccines and immunity Group, Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Professor A Ramsay Louisiana State University Cell Biology, Sydney, NSW Health Sciences Centre, New Orleans, LA, USA
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 39 Dr D Rangasamy Dr C Simeonovic LINE-L1 Retrotransposition events in human Local expression of IDO, either alone or in cancer lines combination with CD40Ig, IL10 or CTLA4Ig, inhibits Professor G Schumann Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, indirect xenorejection responses Langen, Germany Professor M Sandrin Department of Surgery, Austin Health and University of Melbourne, Dr S Rao Melbourne, VIC Microarray functional analysis Heparanase as a target for Type 1 Diabetes treatment Associate Professor G Denyer School of Molecular Clinical Associate Professor JD Wilson and Microbial Biosciences, The University of Sydney, Department of Endocrinology, The Canberra Sydney, NSW Hospital, Canberra, ACT Computational promoter analysis Mechanisms for achieving immunological tolerance Dr T Werner Genomatix, Munich, Germany Dr P McCullagh Faculty of Veterinary Science, The HIV and RNAi strategies University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW Associate Professor A Kelleher National Centre in The peri-islet capsule in NOD mice is a basement HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, University membrane protective of immune cell invasion of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW during non-destructive autoimmune disease Regulatory T-cells and transcriptional regulation Dr R Rodgers Department of Obstetrics and Dr N Seddiki HIV Immunovirology Research Gynaecology, The University of Adelaide, Laboratory, Centre for Immunology, Sydney, NSW Adelaide, SA Effector function gene analysis Dr S Turner Department of Microbiology and Dr Z-M Song Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Investigation of the non gut phenotype in Melbourne, VIC Hirschsprung’s disease (HSCR): Changes in the Analysis of ChIP-on-Chip data adrenal glands of a rat model of HSCR Dr T Taya and Dr R McInnes Agilent Technologies, Associate Professor David Croaker Gastrointestinal Tokyo, Japan and Melbourne, VIC Unit, The Canberra Hospital, Canberra, ACT Professor MF Shannon Dr GL Stuart Control of GM-CSF gene transcription in T-cells Interaction of action potentials with inhibitory Dr A Holloway Discipline of Biochemistry, synaptic events University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS Professor M Häusser The Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College, London, UK The role of c-Rel in CD28 signaling and regulatory networks in T-cells Role of HCN channels in absence epilepsy Dr S Gerondakis Immunology Division, The Walter Dr S Petrou The Brain Research Institute, The and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC Melbourne, VIC Professor S Berkovic The Brain Research Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC The role of Foxp3 in regulatory T-cells Dr L Dibbins Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Dr S Barry Department of Paediatrics, The University Adelaide, SA of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA Associate Professor T O’Brien Department of Micro RNAs and control of transcription in Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC cancer metastasis Dr G Goodall Cytokine Research Laboratory, Hanson Dr ML Tierney Institute, Adelaide, SA GABAA receptor expression and function in testis and sperm Professor H Chan Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China Effect of trafficking in 5HT3 receptors Dr SC Lummis Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
40 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Research Collaborations 2007
Professor DJ Tremethick Professor B Walmsley The role of histone variants in modulating Electrical stimulation of the cochlea in congenitally chromatin fibre dynamics deaf mice Dr K Luger Department of Biochemistry and Professor R Shepherd Bionic Ear Institute, Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Melbourne, VIC Collins, CO, USA Mechanisms of central neuronal integration The structure and function of histone variants Professor REW Fyffe Center for Brain Research, during spermatogenesis Wright State University, Dayton, OH, USA Dr C Caron Institut Albert Bonniot, Grenoble, France Membrane properties of auditory neurons Imprinted X inactivation in mammals Professor ID Forsythe The University of Leicester, Dr J Lee Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Leicester, UK MA, USA In vivo recordings of auditory neurons in Chromatin remodelling during X inactivation congenitally deaf mice Dr E Heard Curie Institute, Paris, France Dr AG Paolini La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC Dr S Dimtrov Institut Albert Bonniot, Grenoble, France Dr H Warren Dr CG Vinuesa The interaction between Natural Killer cells and Role of SAP in Follicular Helper cells infected with human coronavirus 229E T-cell (TFH) differentiation Dr L Wilson, Infectious Diseases Research Unit, The Dr J Cannons National Human Genome Research Canberra Hospital, Canberra, ACT Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA Dr DC Webb Regulation of ICOS expression by Roquin Comparative roles of IL-4 and IL-13 in regulating Dr KP Lam Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular dendritic cell function Immunology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, Agency Professor Paul Foster Discipline of Immunology for Science, Technology and Research and Microbiology, The University of Newcastle, (A*STAR), Singapore Newcastle, NSW Role of TFH-expressed Roquin in selection of The development of allergic inflammation in the germinal centre B cells lungs of GSTP-/- mice Dr R Brink Autoimmunity Research Unit, Garvan Professor R Wolf and Dr C Henderson Ninewells Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, UK Identification of ROQUIN allelic variants in patients Expression of the Ym2 protein in a chronic murine with SLE model of allergic pulmonary disease Dr J Harley Arthritis and Immunology Research Associate Professor R Kumar Department of Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Pathology, The University of New South Wales, Oklahoma City, OK, USA Sydney, NSW Role of ICOS in systemic and Identification of Ym-homologous human proteins and organ-specific autoimmunity their relationship to disease severity in asthmatics Dr A Hutloff Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany Professor F Chung Imperial College London, London, UK Dr CG Vinuesa and Dr M Cook Ciliated cell specific expression of GSTP-/- APOSLE study - Identification of susceptibility Dr L Ostrowski University of North Carolina, Chapel alleles in Australian SLE patients Hill, NC, USA Dr S Addlestein Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW Professor JA Whitworth Dr S Riminton Repatriation General Hospital, Mechanism(s) by which glucocorticoids induce Sydney, NSW hypertension in humans Dr D Fulcher Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW Dr J Kelly and Dr G Mangos St George Hospital, Dr S Alexander Children’s Hospital, Sydney, NSW Sydney, NSW Dr P Pavli The Canberra Hospital, Canberra, ACT
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 41 Research Collaborations 2007
Professor JA Whitworth and Dr Y Zhang Systems level analysis of liver transcriptome in Effects of antioxidants and glucocorticoids on Helicobacter infection plasma F2-isoprostane concentrations Associate Professor G Mendz The School of Associate Professor K Croft and Dr T Mori School Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, The of Medicine and Pharmacology, Royal Perth Hospital University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW Unit, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA Visual analytics for Gene Ontology annotations Glucocorticoid receptors in knockout mice Dr K Xu and Dr S Hong National ICT Australia Dr TJ Cole Department of Biochemistry and (NICTA), Sydney, NSW Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Systems level analysis of cardiac hypertrophy Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic transcriptome Hypertension in rats Dr R Lin The School of Biotechnology and Dr R Lin The School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, The University of New South Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW Wales, Sydney, NSW Dr J McMullen Cardiac Hypertrophy, Baker Heart Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC Dr R Williams Systems level analysis of fat-reducing genes in the Expression genetics in multiple tissues human genome Professor P Little The School of Biotechnology and Dr C Cotsapas and Assistant Professor M Daly Biomolecular Science, The University of New South Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts Wales, Sydney, NSW General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA Application of expression genetics in Assistant Professor R Xavier Gastroenterology, biomarker selection Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Professor P Little and Professor M Wilkins The MA, USA School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, Professor IG Young The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW Role of IL-3 receptor in myeloid leukaemia Application of expression genetics in organ Professor Y Chen Fujian Medical University, transplantation models Fuzhou, China Dr A Bishop Faculty of Medicine, The University of Cytokine receptors Sydney, Sydney, NSW Dr J Murphy Molecular Medicine Division, The Systems level analysis of the liver transcriptome in Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, hepatitis C infection Melbourne, VIC Professor G McCaughan Faculty of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW Dr N Shackel The Liver Immunology Laboratory, Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology, Sydney, NSW
42 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Visitors 2007
We have welcomed colleagues from Australia and overseas into The John Curtin School of Medical Research throughout 2007, to share their research findings or to carry out research projects in JCSMR laboratories in collaboration with JCSMR staff and students.
Professor D Adams Associate Professor R Harvey School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Department of Physiology and Biophyics, Case Queensland, Brisbane, QLD Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA Professor A Baxter Comparative Genomics Centre, James Cook University, Dr DL Heymann Townsville, QLD Division of Emerging and Other Communicable Diseases Surveillance and Control, World Health Professor J Bertram Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC Dr KK Hsu Inflammatory Diseases Research Unit, Professor E Blackburn School of Medical Sciences, The University of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, New South Wales, Sydney, NSW San Francisco, CA, USA Professor NA Jenkins Dr J Bourne Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Proteos, Singapore Medical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC Professor Michael Parker Dr A Kallies Dr M Davenport Immunology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Cardiovascular Research Centre, The University of Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC New South Wales, Sydney, NSW Dr R Knight Professor P Doherty Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC Dr D Laver Dr L Faber Hunter Medical Research Institute, Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, University of Newcastle, Brisbane, QLD Newcastle, NSW Professor J Funder Dr R Leão University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC Department of Physiology, School Professor C Geczy of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Inflammatory Diseases Research Unit, School of University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Medical Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Preto, Brazil Sydney, NSW Professor PJ Leedman Dr R Germain Laboratory for Cancer Medicine, Laboratory of Immunology, NIAID, National Institutes Western Australian Institute of Professor Peter Leedman of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA Medical Research, Perth, WA Dr Y Goda Professor H Lester MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neuroscience, College London, UK Division of Biology, The Lester Lab at Caltech, Pasadena, CA, USA Professor J Göetz The Brain & Mind Research Institute, University of Professor Y Liu Sydney, Sydney, NSW Division of Immunotherapy, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 43 Dr David Heymann Visitors 2007
Professor P Little Dr J Phillips School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW Murdoch University, Perth, WA Professor A Lopez Dr J Power Cytokine Receptor Laboratory, Hanson Institute, Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Adelaide, SA Brisbane, QLD Dr Q-Y Lu Professor H Schreiber Yunan Medical University, Yunan, China Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA Dr S Lummis Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Professor P Schwartzberg Cambridge, UK National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA Dr D MacArthur Department of Philosophy, The University of Sydney, Professor S Smith Sydney, NSW Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA Professor S McColl School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, Professor A Smola University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA National ICT Australia (NICTA), Canberra, ACT Professor DA McCormick Dr M Spitzer Department of Neurobiology, Yale University School School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC Professor R McKinnon Professor BW Stillman Sansom Institute, School of Pharmacy and Medical Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA NY, USA Professor N McNaughton Dr D Tarlinton Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Immunology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Programme, University of Otago, Otago, NZ Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC Associate Professor D Minor Dr A Turnley California Institute for Quantitative Biomedical Centre for Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA Melbourne, VIC Dr J Murphy Dr M Wakefield Molecular Medicine Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Bioinformatics Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC Dr H Naora Dr W Warren MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Genome Sequencing Center, Washington University, Houston, TX, USA St Louis, MO, USA Professor M Parker Dr VB Yap Biota Structural Biology Laboratory, St Vincent’s Department of Statistics and Applied Probability, Institute, Melbourne, VIC National University of Singapore, Singapore
44 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Staff, Students & Presentations
The following section provides a directory of staff and students of The John Curtin School of Medical Research during 2007 by Division.
Also listed is a selection of the scientific presentations made by our staff and students at conferences and at other institutes nationally or internationally throughout the year.
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Staff 2007
Division of Immunology & Genetics
Professor and Head Technical Officers Parish CR, BAgrSc (UMelb), PhD (UMelb) (until May) Browne A, BA Goodnow, CC, BVSc(Hons)(USyd), BScVet(Hons)(USyd), Glidden M (from May) PhD (USyd), FAA (from June) Laboratory Technician Divisional Administrator Jian P (part-time) Weil ETF Editorial/Administrative Assistant Cancer and Human Immunology Group Parish B, BSc (Madras), BSc, MSc, GradDipCompStudies (UC) (part-time) NHMRC Senior Research Fellow and Leader Warren HS, BSc(Hons), PhD (QLD) Cellular Microbiology Group Visiting Fellow Professor and Leader Wilson LE, DipBiolSci (CIT), BSc, PhD (from July) Hirst T, BSc(Hons) (Kent), DPhil (York) Senior Technical Officer Postdoctoral Fellow Jackson RJ, BSc(Hons) (Monash), PhD (Edin) (part-time) Johnson-Saliba M, BSc(Hons), MSc (Cape Town), PhD (from February) Visiting Technical Officer Ng J (until August) Research Technician Sharma D, BSc, MSc (India) (from November) (part-time) Cancer and Vascular Biology Group Diabetes/Transplantation Professor and Leader Parish CR, BAgrSc (UMelb), PhD (UMelb) Immunobiology Group Fellow and Leader Fellow Simeonovic CJ, BSc(Hons), PhD Freeman C, BSc(Hons) (Adel), PhD (Adel) Visiting Fellows Research Fellows McCullagh P, MBBS (UMelb), DPhil (Oxon), MRCP (Lond), Hindmarsh EJ, BSc(Hons) (USyd), PhD MD (UMelb) Rao S, BSc(Hons) (Keele), PhD (Kings College Lond) Wilson JD, BSc(Hons), MBBCh, BAO(Hons), MD (Queens, NHMRC Peter Doherty Postdoctoral Fellows Belfast), MRCP (UK), FRACP Quah B, BSc, PhD Technical Officers Simson L, BSc (UC), PhD (until May) Brown D, AssDipAppPath (CIT) (part-time) Postdoctoral Fellow Hamilton P, Certificate II (Animal Tech) (CIT) Juelich T, BSc(Hons) (Stuttgaart), PhD (from January) Popp SK, BSc, AssDipAppSci (Biol) (CIT) Visiting Fellows Immunogenomics Group Ada GL, DSc (USyd), FAA Professor and Laboratory Head Altin J, BSc, GradDipSci, PhD Goodnow CC, BVSc(Hons) (USyd), BScVet(Hons) (USyd), Burch WM, BSc (UMelb), MSc (UMelb) PhD (Lond) PhD (USyd), FAA Chesterman C, MBBS (USyd), DPhil (Oxon), FRACP, FRCPA Fang Y-Y, BMed (Shanghai Second Medical), PhD (Adel) Executive Assistant to Professor Goodnow Li R, MD (China Medical University), PhD (Southern Cross) Vitler L (until October) Mims C, BSc, MD (Lond) Laboratory Manager Price J, BSc(Hons) (UMelb), PhD (UMelb) Townsend M, PathTech Cert (TAFE), AssDipAppPath (Bruce Simson L, BSc (UC), PhD (from May) TAFE) Staykova M, PhD (USofia) School Associates Immune Tolerance and Signalling Group Eschler B, BSc(Hons) (USyd), DipEd (USyd), MSc (USyd), Professor and Leader PhD (Wollongong) (from February) Goodnow CC, BVSc(Hons) (USyd), BScVet(Hons) (USyd), March D, BSc(Hons) (Adel), PhD (UQ) PhD (USyd), FAA Senior Technical Officer Senior Research Fellow Bezos A, BSc (USyd), MSc (USyd) Hoyne G, BSc(Hons) (UWA), PhD (UWA)
46 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Divsion of Immunology & Genetics – Staff 2007
Research Fellow Laboratory Technical Staff Bertram E, BSc(Hons) (Adel), PhD (Adel) Angelucci C, BSc(Hons) (Deakin), PhD (until April) CJ Martin Fellow Hogan J, BMedSci, GradDipGenCouns (Newcastle) Hu X, BSc (Beijing Institute of Technology) (from March) Papathanasiou P, BSc(Hons), LLB(Hons), PhD (from Srivastava M, MSc (Rewa) (from June) September) Postdoctoral Fellows Research Assistant Daley S, BVSc (UQ), DPhil (Oxon) Wilson A, BSc(Hons) (UC), RN (part-time) Horikawa K, MD (Chiba), PhD (Tokyo) Infection and Immunity Group Mana P, PharmD, MPharm, PhD (Santiago de Compostela) DFG, German Research Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow Associate Professor and Leader Enders A, MD (Freiburg) Karupiah G, BSc(Hons), MSc (Malaya), PhD NHMRC Peter Doherty Postdoctoral Fellow Research Fellow Tze L, BSc (Beloit), PhD (Minnesota) Chaudhri G, BSc(Hons), PhD Visiting Fellows CJ Martin Fellow Athanasopoulos V, PhD (UMelb) Wang Y, MB (Beijing Medical), MM (USyd), PhD Cornall R, PhD Visiting Fellows Fahrer A, BSc(Hons) (UMelb), PhD (UMelb) Belz G, BVBiol (UQ), BVSc(Hons) (UQ), PhD (UQ) Jenne C, BSc(Hons) (Guelph), PhD (Calgary) Panchanathan V, MBBS, MPhil (Malaya) Laboratory Technical Staff Scalzo A, BSc(Hons) (UMelb), PhD (UMelb) In charge of pre-immune serology Saunders BM, BSc(Hons) (UMelb), PhD (UMelb) Domaschenz H, PathTechCert (TAFE) Technical Officer In charge of immune serology Tan A, BBioTech(Hons) Kucharska E, BSc, MSc (Warsaw) Laboratory Technician Research Technicians Jian P (part-time) Emmett S, BSc(Hons) (Monash) (until August) Howard D, BSc Vaccine Immunology Group Koffler J, BAppSc (UC) Professor and Leader Pulsford K, DipAppSci (CIT) Ramshaw IA, MSc (Brunel), PhD Roots C, BAppSci (UC) Research Fellow Laboratory Assistants Ranasinghe C, BSc (Rouen), MPhil (Colombo), PhD (UWA) Hoyne R (casual) NHMRC Peter Doherty Postdoctoral Fellow Humoral Immunity and Autoimmunity Amyes E, DPhil (Oxon) (until February) Group Visiting Fellows Viertel Senior Medical Research Fellow and Leader Enemark C, BA, LLB, PhD Vinuesa CG, LMS(MBBS) (Madrid), DRCOG (Lond), MSc, Jackson RJ, BSc(Hons) (Monash), PhD (Edin) PhD (Birmingham) Kerr P, BVSc (UMelb), GradDipSci, PhD (from March) Ramsay AJ, BSc, PhD (Otago) Research Fellow Silva D, MBBS (Colombia), PhD Laboratory Manager Medveczky CJ, AssocDipTechBiol (TAFE) Postdoctoral Fellows Rigby R, BSc (Sheffield Hallam), PhD (Imperial College Senior Technical Officer Lond) McArthur C, BSc (Flinders), MSc (February-August) Yu D, BSc (Wuhan), PhD (March - October) (part-time) Visiting Fellows Visiting Technical Officers Walter G, BA (Cantab), MBChB (Edinburgh), MRCP (UK), MD Beaton S, HNC (Scotland) (until May) Buchanan A, BHealthSci (UC) (from May) Woodhams CE, BAppSc (CCAE), GradDipInfSyst (UC) (from March)
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 47 Division of Immunology & Genetics - Staff 2007
Viral Immunology and Chin J, MSc(Hons) (UQ), PhD (UQ) Molecular Virology Group Cooper PD, DSc, PhD (Lond) Waring P, BSc(Hons) (UQ), MSc, PhD Professor and Joint Leader Müllbacher A, BSc, MSc (Auck), PhD Senior Technical Officers Koskinen A, AssocDipMedSci Fellow and Joint Leader Pavy M, AssDipAppSc (CIT) Lobigs M, BSc(Hons), PhD Technical Officers Research Fellows Lobigs M, AssocDipMedSci Bettadapura J, MSc, PhD (Bangalore) (from May) Pavlinovic L Lee E, BSc(Hons), PhD Smyth V (until October) Regner M, PhD Postdoctoral Fellow Alsharifi M, BBioMedSci(Hons) (Monash), PhD Visiting Fellows Alleva LM, BSc(Hons), PhD Bettadapura J, MSc, PhD (Bangalore) (until May) Blanden RV, MDS (Adel), PhD, FAA Budd AC, BSc (USyd), BSc(Hons), PhD
48 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Presentations 2007
Division of Immunology & Genetics
Professor GL Ada Innate and adaptive immune responses to Macfarlane Burnet and The Clonal Selection Theory poxvirus infection The Power of One Idea: The Golden Anniversary NIAID Poxvirus Workshop, Bethesda, MD, USA of Burnet’s Clonal Selection Theory Conference, Influence of viral and host genes on the immune Melbourne, VIC response to viral infection Combating infectious diseases: An historical perspective The 12th Frank and Bobbie Fenner Conference in The 12th Frank and Bobbie Fenner Conference in Medical Research, ‘Medical Research Breakthroughs Medical Research, ‘Medical Research Breakthroughs Then and Now’, Canberra, ACT Then and Now’, Canberra, ACT Professor C Parish Dr EM Bertram Antigen receptor sharing: A new paradigm Large scale ENU variation of the mammalian in immunology genome: linking causal relationships between genes Burnet Oration, 37th Annual Scientific Meeting of the and disease Australasian Society for Immunology, Sydney, NSW Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Heparan sulfate mimetics: A new class of Beijing, China therapeutic agents Large scale ENU variation of the mammalian XIX International Symposium on Glycoconjugates, genome: linking causal relationships between genes Cairns, QLD and disease A potential role for eosinophils in tumour Model Animal Research Centre, Nanjing University, immune surveillance Nanjing, China 13th International Congress of Immunology, Large scale ENU variation of the mammalian ImmunoRio 2007, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil genome: linking causal relationships between genes From sugar-based drugs to vaccines: A multifaceted and disease approach to cancer control Institute of Molecular Medicine and Development, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, Fudan University, Shanghai, China New Zealand The Australian Phenomics Facility: Deciphering the Heparan sulfate: A key regulator of phenome-genome code inflammatory responses The 4th China-Australia Academy of Sciences Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, Symposium, Health and Environment Workshop, New Zealand Beijing, China Anti-matrix and anti-angiogenesis molecules: therapeutic possibilities Dr C Freeman ANU and University of Sydney Liver Forum, Canberra, ACT The roles of heparanase and heparan sulfate in From sugars to vaccines: New approaches to Type 1 diabetes cancer control 5th International conference on Proteoglycans: Australian Council of Stoma Associations Annual Proteoglycans at the beginning of the 21st century, Conference, Canberra, ACT Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Fighting infectious diseases in the twenty first Associate Professor G Karupiah century with new vaccines Immunity to viral infections: lessons from smallpox Public Lecture, World Day of Immunology, Canberra, ACT and mousepox From sugar-based drugs to vaccines: A multifaceted th 13 International Congress of Immunology, approach to cancer control ImmunoRio 2007, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Functional Genomics Workshop, Canberra, ACT
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 49 Division of Immunology & Genetics – Presentations 2007
Emerging cancer therapies Dr M Regner Public Lecture, The Australian National University, Unlike granzymes A and B, the granzyme processing Canberra, ACT enzyme, dipeptidyl peptidase I, is not required for mice Heparan sulfate mimetics: A new class of to recover from the natural mouse pathogen ectromelia anti-cancer drugs The European Cell Death Organization, Histotechnology Group of NSW Annual Meeting, 15th Euroconference on Apoptosis, Portoroz, Slovenia Canberra, ACT Rapid and efficient in vivo killing by Natural killer From sugar-based drugs to vaccines: A multifaceted cells lacking granzymes A and B approach to cancer control 37th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australasian MS McLeod Research Seminar Series, University of Society for Immunology, Sydney, NSW Adelaide, Adelaide, SA Ms E Sutcliffe BCR sharing: A novel mechanism of B cell Chromatin regulatory mechanisms involving two clonal expansion histone variants control inducible gene expression in The Power of One Idea: The Golden Anniversary human T-cells of Burnet’s Clonal Selection Theory Conference, Keystone Conference ‘Epigenetics: Regulation of Melbourne, VIC Chromatin Structure in Development and Disease’, Immune regulation: Historical perspective Boulder, CO, USA The 12th Frank and Bobbie Fenner Conference in A signal transduction kinase physically associates Medical Research, ‘Medical Research Breakthroughs with chromatin structure of inducible genes in T-cells Then and Now’, Canberra, ACT ASMR National Scientific Conference: Tissue Heparan sulfate mimetics as therapeutic agents Remodelling: Current Understanding and Future The 12th Frank and Bobbie Fenner Conference in Therapeutic Targets, Katoomba, NSW Medical Research, ‘Medical Research Breakthroughs Then and Now’, Canberra, ACT Heparan sulfate mimetics: A new class of anti- inflammatory agents 15th Annual Conference of the Immunology Group of Victoria, Beechworth, VIC From angiogenesis to platelets and eosinophils: A multifaceted approach to cancer control Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Melbourne, VIC
50 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Division of Immunology & Genetics – Presentations 2007
Dr CG Vinuesa Dysfunction of The RNA interference machinery in Roquin represses autoimmunity by limiting T-cell the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease Inducible CoStimulator (ICOS) mRNA via a conserved 43rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian and microRNA target site New Zealand Society of Nephrology, Broadbeach, QLD 13th International Congress of Immunology, Roquin es un potente supresor de patología autoimmune ImmunoRio 2007, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina ‘López- Roquin is required for microRNA-mediated mRNA Neyra’, Granada, Spain decay of costimulatory receptors to prevent TFH- Roquin represses autoimmunity by limiting T-cell driven autoimmunity Inducible CoStimulator (ICOS) mRNA 37th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australasian MRC Centre for Immune Regulation, The University of Society for Immunology, Sydney, NSW Birmingham, Birmingham, UK From a complex disease phenotype to a novel Roquin the T-cell boat: a new bearing on autoimmunity molecular mechanism of immunological tolerance James Cook University, Townsville, QLD Centenary Colloquium III ‘Opportunities in Systems Biology’ Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology, Sydney, NSW Control of autoimmunity through the Roquin- microRNA pathway 12th Frank and Bobbie Fenner Conference in Medical Research, ‘Medical Research Breakthroughs Then and Now’, Canberra, ACT
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 51 Staff 2007
Division of Molecular Bioscience
Professor and Head of Division Ridgway P, BSc (McMaster), MSc (Queens, Canada), PhD Dulhunty AF, BSc (USyd), PhD, DSc (UNSW) Postdoctoral Fellows Divisional Administrator Greaves I, PhD (until October) Mastoris R Soboleva T, MSc (MSU), PhD Allergy and Inflammation Research Group Technical Officer Devoy M, BSc(Hons) (until September) Professor and Leader Foster P, BSc(Hons) (UWA), PhD Laboratory Technician Young S (casual) (until October) Laboratory Technician Cai Y, BMed (Beijing Med) Computational Genomics Group Asthma and Allergy Group Fellow and Leader Huttley G, BSc(Hons) (MacqU), PhD (UC Riverside) Fellow and Leader Webb DC, DipMedLabSc (RMIT), BAppSc (UC), PhD (UC) Research Fellow Schranz, H, BSc(Hons) (USyd), PhD (USyd) Postdoctoral Fellow Zhou J, BMed (Guangxi Med), MMed (Guangxi Med), PhD Computational Proteomics and Therapy Technical Officer Design Group Cai Y, BMed (Beijing Med) Professor and Leader Gready JE, BSc(Hons), PhD (USyd) FRACI Biomolecular Structure Group Research Officers Fellow and Leader Cummins PL, BSc(Hons), PhD (USyd) Casarotto MG, BSc(Hons) (UMelb), PhD (UMelb) Rostov IV, BSc (Kazan), PhD (Karpov Institute) (part-time) Research Fellow Postdoctoral Fellow Harvey P, BSc(Hons) (Griffith), PhD (Griffith) (until May) Kannappan B, BSc (Madras), MSc, PhD (Pune) Postdoctoral Fellows Research Assistant Cui Y, MA (Central China), PhD (Chinese Academy of Science) Smith C, BSc (UQ), BSc(Hons) (UQ) (until October) Craig S, BSc(Hons) (UNSW), PhD (UNSW) (until October) Visiting Fellows Technical Officer Armarego WLF, PhD, DSc (ULond), FRSC, FRACI Weaver L, DipLabTech (CIT) Bliznyuk A, BSc, PhD (Novosibirsk) Cancer and Molecular Immunology Group Graves JAM, BSc, MSc (Adel), PhD (UC Berkeley) Fellow and Leader Cytokine Molecular Biology and Hulett M, BSc(Hons) (UMelb), PhD (UMelb) Signalling Group Senior Technical Officers Professor and Leader Hornby J, BSc(Hons) (Queens, Belfast) Young IG, MSc (UMelb), PhD Pagler E, BSc (Santo Tomas) Postdoctoral Fellow Postdoctoral Fellow Chen J, BSc (China), MMed (China), PhD (Flinders) Wood R, BSc(Hons) (JCU), PhD Visiting Fellow Research Assistant Murphy J, BSc, PhD Smith C, BSc(Hons) (from September) Technical Officers Chromatin and Transcriptional Olsen J, BSc Regulation Group Walker A, BSc(Hons) (from March) Professor and Leader Dai J, BSc (from September) Tremethick DJ, BSc(Hons) (USyd), PhD (MacqU) Ewens C (from September) Young S, BSc (from September) Research Fellows Fan J, BSc (Fudan), MSc (Fudan), PhD (Auckland) Rangasamy D, BSc, MTech (India), PhD (Hull) (until October)
52 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Division of Molecular Bioscience – Staff 2007
Epigenetics and Genome Stability Group Molecular Genetics Group (from October) Professor and Leader Leader Board P, BSc(Hons), PhD (UNE) Rangasamy D, BSc, MTech (India), PhD (Hull) Research Fellow Postdoctoral Fellow Blackburn A, BSc(Hons) (UNSW), PhD Greaves I, PhD Postdoctoral Fellows Technical Officer Craig S, BSc(Hons), PhD (UNSW) (until October) Eldi P, MBBS, MSc Liu D, PhD (USyd) Shield A, BBiotech(Hons) (Flinders), PhD (Flinders) Gene Expression and Epigenomics Group Visiting Fellow Professor and Leader Dahlstrom J, MBBS(Hons), FPAC, PhD, FRCPA, Shannon MF, BSc(Hons), PhD (National University of Ireland) GradCertEdSt Postdoctoral Fellows Senior Technical Officer Bunting K, BSc(Hons) (Adel), PhD (from September) Coggan M, BSc(Hons) Hardy K, BSc(Hons) (USyd), PhD (USyd), Masters(EScience) Wang J, BSc (Xinjiang), MSc (Weizmann Institute), PhD Laboratory Technicians Senior Technical Officer and Laboratory Manager Cappello J, BSc (UC), AD AppSciAnSci (CIT) Murray T, BSc(Hons), BMedSci (USyd) Palmer S, BSc(Hons), GradDip (Tech Management) Rooke M, BMedSci (Pharm Sci) (CSU) (Monash) (until June) Peile M, DipAnTech (CIT) Technical Officer Ma L, MAppSci (Horticulture) (NZ) Molecular Systems Biology Group (from August) Fellow and Leader Stem Cell and Gene Targeting Group Williams R, BAppSc, PhD Professor and Leader KI Matthaei, BSc(Hons) (UNSW), PhD Muscle Research Group Professor and Leader Visiting Fellows Dulhunty AF, BSc (USyd), PhD, DSc (UNSW) Hopkinson K, DipAppSc (UC), BSc App (UC), Dip APMA (Monash) Senior Research Advisor Frese M, BSc (Osnabrück), PhD (Freiburg) Gallant E, PhD (Minnesota) Megirian D, PhD (Rochester) Postdoctoral Fellow Su Y-C, PhD (UNSW) Beard N, BAppSci(Hons) (LaTrobe), PhD Laboratory Technicians Damcevski W, AssocDipAppSci (CIT) Research Fellow Taylor HI Pouliquin P, BSc(Hons) (Ferrara) Ward J, BSc(Hons) Visiting Fellow Gibson P (part-time) Laver D, BSc(Hons), PhD (UNSW) Membrane Physiology and Biophysics Group Senior Technical Officer Research Fellow and Leader Pace S, BSc (UTS) Tierney ML, BSc, MSc (Otago), PhD Laboratory Technicians Postdoctoral Fellow Stivala J Lu T, BSc(Hons), PhD (until April) Culley D, BSc (until July) Visiting Fellow Predictive Medicine Group Everitt A, PhD (from October) Professor and Leader Research Assistant Easteal S, BSc (St Andrews), MBA, PhD (Griffith) Curmi J, BOptom(Hons) Visiting Fellows Technical Officers Mack H, BSc, PhD (Penn State) Osborn K (October-December) Cherbuin N, DipNursing (Lausanne), BA (UNSW), Wei B, BMed (China) BSc(Hons), PhD Prichard Z, BSc(Hons) The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 53 Division of Molecular Bioscience – Staff 2007
Senior Technical Officer Divisional Visiting Fellows Tan X, BSc, (Shandong), MSc (China Pharmaceutical) Armarego WLF, PhD, DSc (ULond), FRSC, FRACI Visiting Scholar Baker RT, BSc(Hons) (UNSW), PhD Mather K, BSc(Hons) (La Trobe), BSc(Hons), GradDipPsy (CSU) Barlin G, PhD, DSc (USyd), FRANC Cox G, BSc, PhD (UMelb), FAA Ubiquitin Laboratory (until February) Denborough M, MD, ChB (Cape Town), MD (UMelb), DPhil Fellow and Leader (Oxon), DSc (UMelb), FRCP Baker RT, BSc(Hons) (UNSW), PhD Gibson FEW, BSc, DSc (UMelb), MA, DPhil (Oxon), FAA, FRS Morrison JE, BSc (USyd), MSc (UQ), DPhil (Oxon), DSc Technical Officer Spinner E, MSc Tech, PhD, DSc (Manchester), FRACI (until McIntyre M, BSc(Hons) (UWA), GradDipEd (UC) February) (deceased)
Dulhunty Professor A Presentations 2007 Calcium signalling proteins in muscle Department of Physiology, University of Auckland, Dr K Bunting Auckland, NZ c-Rel controls a program of inducible gene Calcium signalling proteins in muscle transcription in T-cells Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University Lorne Genome Conference, Lorne, VIC of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada NF-kappaB/Rel transcription factors: specifying the The variably spliced ASI region of RyR1 contains a T-cell cytokine response basic α-helix domain that modifies EC coupling Cytokines and Chemokines Symposium, Canberra, ACT Australian Physiological Society and Australian Society for Biophysics Joint Meeting, Newcastle, NSW c-Rel controls a program of inducible gene transcription in T-cells Professor S Easteal Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Meeting: Mechanisms of Emerging Technologies Eukaryotic Transcription, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) Dr N Beard Conference, Edinburgh, SA Control of skeletal RyR channels by proteins in the Huttley Dr G SR lumen A probabilistic method to identify compensatory Australian Physiological Society and Australian substitutions for pathogenic mutations Society for Biophysics Joint Meeting, Newcastle, NSW Asia Pacific Bioinformatics Conference, Hong Kong Dr MG Casarotto The evolutionary dynamics of mC in mammal genomes ‘The Biological Black Box’ A Structural View USA-Australia Academies of Science Workshop on Department of Pharmacy, University of Queensland, Vertebrate Genomics, Irvine, CA, USA Brisbane, QLD The evolutionary dynamics of mC in mammal genomes Molecular recognition of the disordered Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University dihydropyridine receptor II-III loop by a conserved of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA domain in the type 1 ryanodine receptor Evolutionary dynamics of mC Australian Physiological Society and Australian Bioinformatics Australia Conference, Brisbane, QLD Society for Biophysics Joint Meeting, Newcastle, NSW Differential repair underlies spatial variation in CpG variation in mammal genomes International Society for Evolution, Christchurch, New Zealand
54 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Division of Molecular Bioscience – Presentations 2007
Evolutionary dynamics of mC The Chromatin Environment of inducible genes in T-cells D’Umont-Durville Workshop on Applied Evolutionary Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Meeting: Mechanisms of Bioinformatics, University of Canterbury, Kaikoura, Eukaryotic Transcription, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA New Zealand The epigenomic marks that tag inducible genes CpG substitution rate variation in mammalian genomes in T-cells Genetics Society of Australia, Sydney, NSW Epigenetics Scientific Conference, Perth, WA Gene-environment interactions: explicable by epigenetics Professor KI Matthaei Proteomics in the Courts: From Genes to Proteins Tissue and temporal control of gene expression in vivo Federal Court, Sydney, NSW 7th Transgenic Technology Meeting, Brisbane, QLD Australian contribution to the genome revolution Reversible control of eosinophil function in vivo The Treasury, Canberra, ACT 5th Biennial Symposium of the International Inducible gene transcription in immune cells Eosinophil Society, Snowbird, UT, USA Hanson Institute, Adelaide, SA Genetically manipulated mice: A powerful tool with unsuspected caveats Mr H-S Tae Transgenic Core Mouse Facility, Wake Forest University The RyR1 SPRY2 domain binds to the DHPR 1S II-III loop School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA and to the RyR1 binding site for the DHPR β1a subunit Genetically manipulated mice: A powerful tool with Australian Physiological Society and Australian unsuspected caveats Society for Biophysics Joint Meeting, Newcastle, NSW Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, and the UW Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin Dr ML Tierney Medical School, Madison, WI, USA Function of the conserved cystine loop in Cys-loop ligand-gated ion channels Dr P Pouliquin Australian Physiological Society and Australian In vitro modulation of the cardiac ryanodine receptor Society for Biophysics Joint Meeting, Newcastle, NSW (calcium release channel) activity by human homer 1b Potentiation of the GABA response by diazepam, Australian Physiological Society and Australian pentobarbital and etomidate is mediated by the Society for Biophysics Joint Meeting, Newcastle, NSW conserved Cys-loop structure of the GABAA receptor International Brain Research Organisation World Dr D Rangasamy Congress of Neuroscience meeting, Melbourne, VIC Partitioning of LINE-1 retrotransposons into silent heterochromatin Dr S Weiss Asia-Pacific Transcription & Transcriptional Assembly, Arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death following a Bangalore, India heart attack Annual Cardiovascular Research Group Meeting, Shannon Professor MF Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW Regulation of microRNA gene transcription Comparison of the anti-arrhythmic effects of Workshop on Opportunities in microRNA Research, lidocaine and riluzole immediately post coronary The Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell artery occlusion in pigs. The Cardiac Society of Biology, Sydney, NSW Australia and New Zealand 55th Annual Scientific Role of chromatin in inducible gene transcription in Meeting, Christchurch, NZ T-cells? Riluzole in early stage heart attack 13th International Congress of Immunology, Department of Physiology, University of Auckland, ImmunoRio 2007, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Auckland, NZ Symposium Chair: Transcriptional regulation of gene expression 13th International Congress of Immunology, ImmunoRio 2007, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 55 Staff 2007
Division of Neuroscience
Head of Division Synapse & Hearing Group Stuart GJ, BSc(Hons) (Monash), PhD Synapse and Hearing Laboratory Divisional Administrator Professor and Leader Eluga M Walmsley B, BE, PhD (Monash), DSc (UNSW) Senior Technical Officer Postdoctoral Fellows Rodda GR, PTC Berntson A, BA (Minnesota), PhD Leao R, BSc, MD (UFU), PhD (until August) Blood Vessel Group Research Assistant Professor and Leader Webb D, BSc (NTU), MSc(Prelim) (Syd) Hill CE, BSc, PhD, DSc (UMelb) Neuronal Network Laboratory Postdoctoral Fellow Associate Professor and Leader Ellis A, BSc (Monash), BApplSc (RMIT), PhD (RMIT) Stricker C, MD (Zurich), PhD (Bern) Visiting Fellow Research Fellow Grayson TH, BSc (UTas), MSc, PhD (Plymouth) Cowan AI, BSc(Hons), PhD Research Officer Belfrage KR, BSc(Hons) (La Trobe) Visual Neuroscience Group Professor and Leader Cerebral Cortex Group Lamb TD, BE (UMelb), ScD (Cambridge), FRS, FAA Associate Professor and Leader Postdoctoral Fellows Bekkers JM, BSc(Hons) (Griffith), MSc (Manchester), Cameron AM, BPsych(Hons) (JCU), PhD (UQ) PhD (Cambridge) Ruseckaite R, BSc (Vytautas Magnus), MSc (Vytautas Postdoctoral Fellow Magnus), PhD Suzuki N, BSc (Tsukuba), MMedSci (Tsukuba), PhD (Tokyo) Vogalis F, PhD (Monash) Research Assistant Visiting Fellows Chen MM, MSc (Liaoning), PhD (Shanghai) (part-time) Corless RM, BSc(Hons) (U British Columbia), MMath Neuronal Signalling Group (UWaterloo), PhD (U British Columbia) Reinholz F, PhD (URostock) Neuronal Integration Laboratory Pianta MJ, BSc (UMelb), MOpt (UMelb), PhD (UMelb), Grad Professor and Leader Cert Optical Theraputics (UMelb) Stuart GJ, BSc(Hons) (Monash), PhD Research Officer Postdoctoral Fellows Miao L, BEng (Tongii), MEng (part-time) Kole MHP, MSc, PhD (Groningen) Ilschner S, MD, PhD (Erlangen) (casual) Divisional Visiting Fellows Breton J-D, MSc, PhD (Strasbourg) Hirst GDS, BSc, PhD (Leeds), FAA Edwards FR, BE, PhD (Monash) Brain Development Laboratory University Fellow and Emeritus Professor Leader Curtis DR, AC, MBBS (UMelb), PhD, FRACP, FAA, FRS Song Z-M, MMSc (Jiamusi), PhD (Flinders) Divisional Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow Movement & Memory Laboratory Kaasinen SK, MSc, PhD (Kuopio) Leader Raymond C, BSc(Hons) (Otago), PhD (Otago)
56 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Presentations 2007
Division of Neuroscience
Associate Professor JM Bekkers Dr C Raymond Cellular neurophysiology: the essentials Action potentials and long-term potentiation: Plenary lecture, IBRO International Advanced Hebbian plasticity is only part of the memory story Neuroscience School, University of Melbourne, School Seminar Series, JCSMR, Canberra, ACT Melbourne, VIC A spatial mechanism for calcium signaling specificity: evidence from the induction of Professor C Hill long-term potentiation Voltage dependent calcium channels in the cerebral School of Medical Sciences, The University of New circulation: subtype specific functions South Wales, Sydney, NSW ‘Voltage dependent calcium channels and the The role of action potentials in the induction of microcirculation revisited’, 8th World Congress for different forms of LTP Microcirculation, Milwaukee, WI, USA International Brain Research Organization World Location of voltage dependent calcium Congress of Neuroscience meeting, Melbourne, VIC channel subtypes controls different aspects of cerebrovascular function Professor GJ Stuart ‘Calcium channels, microdomains and vascular Role of dendrites in synaptic plasticity function’, Australian Physiological Society and Howard Florey Institute, Melbourne, VIC Australian Society for Biophysics Joint Meeting, The other dendrite: Neuronal computation in Newcastle, NSW the axon Voltage dependent calcium channels and Bert Sakmann Festschift, Max Planck Institute, cerebrovascular function: more to life than Heidelberg, Germany L-type channels Differential interaction of action potentials with The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW somatic and dendritic IPSPs International Brain Research Organization World Professor TD Lamb Congress of Neuroscience meeting, Melbourne, VIC From photopigment spectral sensitivities to colour The action potential matching functions, and back 12th Frank and Bobbie Fenner Conference, ‘Medical Summer Colour Conference, The National Vision Research Breakthroughs Then and Now’, Canberra, ACT Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC Human rods, cones, and bipolar cells: their responses, Professor B Walmsley adaptation, and role in vision The effects of congenital deafness on central FASEB Summer Research Conference, Biology and auditory pathways Chemistry of Vision, Snowmass Village, CO, USA Wright State University, Dayton OH, USA
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 57 Staff 2007
High Blood Pressure Research Unit
Professor and Head Technical Officers Whitworth JA, AC, DSc, MD, PhD, BS (UMelb), MD Vickers JJ, BMedSc (UC), RN, RM, GradCert (UC) (Honoris causa) (USyd), MD (Honoris causa) (UNSW), Sutton M FRACP, FAICD Visiting Fellows Research Fellow Kelly JJ, MBBS(Hons), MD (UNSW) Zhang Y, BMed (Beijing), PhD (Adel) Mangos GJ, MB BS, MD (UNSW), FRACP Schyvens C, BSc (USyd), PhD (UNSW) Clinical Research Assistant Williamson PM, SRN (seconded to St George Hospital, Sydney, NSW) Senior Technical Officer Langton LK, BSc, AssDipAppSci (Path) (CIT)
Presentations 2007
Professor JA Whitworth What do governments find persuasive Progress of women in the workforce 6th Asian-Pacific Congress of Hypertension, Beijing, China Australian Public Service Commission, International Guidelines development: Some experiences Women’s Day Seminar, Sydney, NSW 6th Asian-Pacific Congress of Hypertension, Beijing, China Research and evidence for global health policy The importance of evidence and research in shaping 23rd Mathison Oration, University of Melbourne, health policy Melbourne, VIC 6th Asian-Pacific Congress of Hypertension, Research and Evidence for Policy Manila, Philippines Lindon Wing Festschrift, Adelaide, SA Speed and Sustainability of the Policy Response – Focus on leadership Challenges and Solutions The National Library of Australia, Canberra, ACT Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, India Health policy: ideology or evidence Dr Y Zhang Arthur E Mills Memorial Oration, Royal Australasian 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid inhibitor reverses College of Physicians, Canberra, ACT adrenocorticotrophic hormone-induced hypertension. Glucocorticoids and reactive oxygen species The High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia th 4 Franco Australian Meeting on Hypertension, 29th Annual Scientific Meeting, Adelaide, SA Darwin, NT Blood pressure – the silent killer Canberra Sunrise Rotary Club, Canberra, ACT
58 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Research Programs McNaughton E,BSc(Hons) (Otago) McCuaig R,BSc(UC),GradDipSciMolBiol, BSc(Hons)(UTas) Mapp S,MBBS(UMelb),FRACP, FRCPA (from February) Linterman M,BBMEDS(Victoria,Wellington) Lindsay H,BMathSci(Newcastle),BSc(Hons) Lim PS,BBiomedSci(Hons) Letzkus J,DipBiol(Mainz) Leffler M,BMedSc(Hons)(MacqU) Lee S-H Lee S Leao K,BSc,MSc(Gothenburg) Leang S,BSc(Hons)(Monash)(untilJuly) Kuo I,BSc(BioMed)(UWA), BSc(Hons) Ji J,BSc(Hons)(USyd)(from February) Karunasekara Y, MD(USSR) Ikeda K,BA(UCBoulder) Hewawasam RP, BSc(Hons)(Peradeniya), MPhil (Ruhuna) Horan C,BMedSci(Hons) He Y, MSc(SunYat-Sen) Hashem R,BPharm(Cairo), GradDipBiotech (Alexandria) Furuya Y, BSc(Hons)(Auck) French H,BSc(Hons)(Otago) Forbes E,BSc Feng J Farnsworth M,BSc(Wollongong), BSc(Hons) Ellyard J,BAs, BSc(Hons) Ellis L,BAppSci(UC) Day S,BBioTech(Hons) Coupland L,BSc(Hons),RN Correcha M,MBBS(Cauca) Corley S,LLB(UQ),LLM(USyd),BSc(Hons)(USyd) Choy J,BSc(Hons)(from October) Cheung S,BSc(Hons) Chen X,BSc(Hons) Chen G Chang PP, BSc(Malaya),MSc(Malaya)(from December) Chakka N,BDS(Bangalore) MSc(Bioinformatics)(EastAnglia) Brew J,BMedSci(Hons) Azmanov D,MD(Thracian) Addis S,BMedSci(Hons)(Malaya) Abraham MJ,BSc(UTas), MPhil PhD Scholars Students 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Ziolkowski A,BMedSci(Hons) Yu D,BSc(Wuhan)(untilAugust) Ying H,BBiol(Nanjing),MSc(Nanjing) (from September) Yee D,BSc(Hons)(Auck) Wu Z,MSc(UNSW),BM(Zhongshan) Wong W, BSc(Hons) Wood R,BSc(Hons)(JCU) Wen B Weiss S,BAppSc(Swinburne),PhD (USyd),MFinMgt, Wei L Wong W, BSc(Hons)(Adel) Wang Z,MSc(Wollongong) Vassilieva T, MSc(Russia) Vardili N,BSc(Hons)(UMelb)(from March) Townsend D,BAppSci(Hons)(UC),BForensicSci (UC) Tan E,BMedSci(Hons) Tahiliani V,BSc(SUNYAlbany),GradDipBiochem (from February) Tae HS,BSc(Hons)(Malaysia) Sutherland D,BMedSci(Hons) Sutcliffe E,BSc(NTU),BSc(Hons) Sun R,BTech(Hons) Sontani Y, BSc(Murdoch), BSc(Hons) Socha L,MD(ColombianNational), Singhal S,BSc(Hons)(Delhi),MSc(BioTech) (Punjab) Simpson N,MBBS(USyd),MPH(UNSW) Sheahan D,BSc(Hons) Seymour V,BSc(Hons)(Otago) Sammut R,BAppSc(Monash),BEc(Hons)(Monash) Sakala I,BMedSci(Zambia) Rosenberg M,BSc(Hons)(Canterbury) Randall K,MBBS(UNSW),BSc(UNSW),FRACP, FRCPA Palmer L,BSc(UMelb),BAMSc(Minnesota) Poon I,BBiomedSci(Hons)(Monash) Ong S,MBBS(UNSW),BScFRACP Ng E,BMedSci(Hons) Navarro-Gonzalez M,BVSc(Caldas) Morris M,BBiomedSci(Hons)(JCU) Mirza S,BSc(Hons)(Dhaka),MSc(BioTech) (UNSW) Md NorN,MSc(Nottingham) Grad CertCommercialisation (from February) GradCertClinicalTrialsManagement (UC) Annual Review 2007 59 Students 2007
Honours Scholars Medical Student Arnett S Fagir A Chaston D Gunaratna K International and Gyngell C Vacation Scholars Janes K Chan S-Y, BBioTech Jung G Chieng J, BSc Jung J-K Downton T, BMedSci Kumar SA Feng A Tan CYO Hanna A, BSc Tan Y Jiang K, BMedSci Teh CEY Joseph S, BSc Tu WJ Kim A-R, BMedSci Wong R Koevoet M, BLabSci Xin Y Lee CM, BSc Li J, BMedSci Undergraduate Lim PY, BSc Research Students Linterman K, BSc Bannister – Tyrrell M Parry L, BA, BSc(Hons), DipModLang Blake M Thompson A, PhB Chew L Wenming X, (until September) Fairweather S Wood E, BA, BSc Feng A Fitch J MPhil Gallagher C Brown K, BSc(Hons) Golding S Cho E, BSc (Auck), GradDipSci (Auck) Kim A Hu X, BSc (Beijing Institute Tech) Kumar R Kwok A, BSc(Hons) Li J Leang S, BSc(Hons) (Monash) (from July) Needham K Luo J, BEng (Bioinformatics)(Hons) (UNSW) Priest C Ying H, BBiol (Nanjing), MSc(Nanjing) (until September) Thida M Thompson J Visiting Scholars Tu WJ French H, BSc Wiesundara D Ping C-P Wilson L Wu Y Wirasinha R Wong HJ Wong LF Yeganathan M Zevon E
60 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Research Programs Macklin JA,PhotCert(from October)(casual) Multimedia Officer Edwards K,PhotCert Senior MultimediaOfficer Nicol MJ,BSc(Wollongong), BSc(Hons),PhD Public Affairs Manager (from April) Public Affairs andCommunicationsUnit Rathbone GK Functions Assistant Morales D Administrative Assistant Vitler L(from October) Jacobsen AJ,CertFrontline Management(untilAugust) Executive Assistant toDirector DTM, HonMd,Drhonoriscausa(Liege),FRACP, FRCP(ULond) Fenner EmeritusProfessor F, AC,CMG,MBE,FRS,FAA,MD, School Visitor Webb B,BRTC (CIT),AdvDipBusMan(CIT) Business Manager Shannon MF, BSc(Hons),PhD(NationalUniversity ofIreland) Deputy Director FRACP, FAICD (Honoris causa)(USyd),MD(UNSW), Whitworth JA,AC,DSc,MD,PhD,BS(UMelb),MD and Director Howard Florey Professor ofMedicalResearch School Administration School Administration &Services Staff 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Wilson JA,AssocDipAppSci(AnimalSci) Richardson J Gooding DC Section Supervisors Bain SAF, BVSc(USyd),MACVSc(part-time) Divisional Veterinarian Mapletoft TJ(untilJuly) Benson AA(from August) Divisional Administrators McMath H,MIAT (UK),HNCBiology Deputy Head Reid ADG,MIAT (UK),HNCBiologicalSciences Head Animal Services School Services Fowlie C Forgie IM Cover GC Calvert G(untilMarch) Material SupportTechnicians Porritt TE(untilDecember) Material SupportSupervisor Walker K(untilMay) Tutt-Lyons S(from December) Talbot S Suttor J(from December) Spencer C O’Sullivan EM Nicholson P(from December) Kite J(untilNovember) Frost H(from December) Fook N Figueroa S Earl MK(untilOctober) Cox S(untilJune) Burke JB Bowes VL Bolton S(untilMarch) Bermanseder BL(June–October) Animal Technicians Williams N Sutton M(onsecondmenttoHBPRU) Peile M(untilMay) Glidden M(untilMay) Faucett TL(untilAugust) Burke HL Bowditch K Technical Officers Annual Review 2007 61 School Services – Staff 2007
Gooding DG (from March) Operations Hamilton RJ Operations Manager Hogan P Metcalfe C, DipBus, Cert IV Management, Cert IV Vet Jarvis L Nursing Rodwell N (until February) Santrac C Operations Assistant Sibley BD Ciuffetelli L Sparrow M Senior Storeperson Violante O Clements R Young SA Storeperson Australian Cancer Research Foundation Talbot A Biomolecular Resource Facility (ACRF BRF) Safety and Training Advisor Manager McKenzie K, AssDipAppSci (Animal Sci) (CIT), IT Cert III Palmer S, BSc(Hons), GradDip (Tech Management) (CIT) (Monash) (part-time until June) Technical Services Technical Specialist Manager Milburn P, BSc(Hons), PhD (Sheffield) Coombes D (until September) (on secondment to JCSMR Microarray Coordinator Redevelopment Project) Peng K, PhD (Wuhan) McGuinness T, DipBusMan (CIT), DipBusHR (CIT) CertAsst&Trng (CIT) CertMechEng (Lond) (from Bioinformatics Analyst September) Ohms S, MBChB, ME, PhD (Auckland) Deputy Manager DNA Sequencing Emans P (until November) McCrae C, BiolTech Cert (CIT) Technical Officers Peptide Synthesis Best N McAndrew K, AssDipAppSci (UC) Champion G Tetramer Synthesis Commons R (until November) Zhang K, MSc (Fudan), PhD Cremer P Administrative Assistant Ellison J (until November) Moore S Gair L Jakubaszek R Media and Wash-up Section Jordan T Manager Kelly D Metcalfe C, DipBus, Cert IV Management, Cert IV Vet Nursing Keys B (on secondment) Technicians Lang P Percival M Gilmartin L, Cert III Lab skills (CIT) Pillans J Munday K Rhall G Thileebhan S Robertson A Borrett D Tempra D Microscopy and Cytometry Resource Ying L Facility (MCRF) Apprentices Head Backhouse B Gillespie CM Kynoch M Histology Unit Administrative Assistant Prins AS, BAppSci (RMIT) McGann J Flow Cytometry Unit Vohra H, MSc(Hons) (Punjab), PhD (PGIMER) Dawson S, BAppSci (UC) 62 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Publications
A full list of publications, including peer reviewed journal articles, invited reviews and book chapters authored by JCSMR staff and students in 2007 appears on the following pages.
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Publications 2007
Abdellatif, Y, Liu, D, Gallant, EM, Gage, PW, Board, PG and Anders, MW (2007) Glutathione Board, PG and Dulhunty, AF (2007) The Mu class transferase omega 1 catalyzes the reduction of glutathione transferase is abundant in striated S-(Phenacyl)glutathiones to acetophenones. muscle and is an isoform-specific regulator of Chemical Research in Toxicology 20(1):149-154 ryanodine receptor calcium channels. Cell Calcium Booth, H, Burden, CJ, Hegland, M, Santoso, L (2007) 41(5):429-440 A stochastic model of gene regulation using the Ada, G (2007) The importance of vaccination. Frontiers chemical master equation. In: Mathematical in Bioscience 12:1278-1290 modeling of biological systems, Eds. A Deutsch, L Alitheen, N, McClure, S and McCullagh, PJ (2007) Brusch, H Byrne, and G de Vries: Birkhauser Verlag, Detection and quantification of IgM(+) lymphocytes pp. 73-84 in fetal lamb spleen, liver and lymph nodes by Budd, A, Alleva, L, Alsharifi, M, Koskinen, A, Smythe, V, flow cytometry. Immunology and Cell Biology Mullbacher, A, Wood, J, and Clark, I (2007) Increased 85(5):391-393 survival after gemfibrozil treatment of severe mouse Anstey, KJ, Mack, HA, Christensen, H, Li, SC, Reglade- influenza. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy Meslin, C, Maller, J, Kumar, R, Dear, K, Easteal, S and 51(8):2965-2968 Sachdev, P (2007) Corpus callosum size, reaction Buller, RML and Fenner, F (2007) Mousepox. The Mouse time speed and variability in mild cognitive disorders in Biomedical Research: Elsevier. pp 67-91 and in a normative sample. Neuropsychologia Bunting, K, Rao, S, Hardy, K, Woltring, D, Denyer, 45(8):1911-1920 GS, Wang, J, Gerondakis, S, and Shannon, MF Azmanov, DN, Rodgers, H, Auray-Blais, C, Giguere, R, (2007) Genome-wide analysis of gene expression Bailey, C, Broer, S, Rasko, JEJ, and Cavanaugh, JA in T-cells to identify targets of the NF-kappa B (2007) Persistence of the common Hartnup disease transcription factor c-Rel. Journal of Immunology D173(N)under-bar allele in populations of European 178(11):7097-7109 origin. Annals of Human Genetics 71(6):755-761 Burden, CJ, Pittelkow, Y, Wilson, S, (2007) Statistical Bannister, ML, Hamada, T, Murayama, T, Harvey, PJ, Analysis and Physical Modelling of Oligonucleotide Casarotto, MG, Dulhunty, AF and Ikemoto, N (2007) Microarrays. In: Mathematical modeling of biological Malignant hyperthermia mutation sites in the Leu systems, Eds. A Deutsch, L Brusch, H Byrne, and G de 2442-Pro 2477 (DP4) region of RyR1 are clustered Vries: Birkhauser Verlag, pp. 333-346 in a structurally and functionally definable area. Burden, CJ and Oakley, AJ (2007) Anisotropic atomic Biochemical Journal 401(1):333-339 motions in high-resolution protein crystallography Bekkers, JM and Häusser, M (2007) Targeted molecular dynamics simulations. Physical Biology dendrotomy reveals active and passive contributions 4(2):79-90 of the dendritic tree to synaptic integration and Cheung, A, Zhang, S, Stricker, C, and Srinivasan, MV neuronal output. Proceedings of the National (2007) Animal navigation: the difficulty of moving in Academy of Sciences (USA) 104(27):11447-11452 a straight line. Biological Cybernetics 97(1):47-61 Bertram, CM, Baltic, S, Misso, NL, Bhoola, KD, Chipman, P, Jorm, AF, Prior, M, Sanson, A, Smart, D, Foster, PS, Thompson, PJ, and Fogel-Petrovic, M Tan, X, and Easteal, S (2007) No interaction between (2007) Expression of kinin B1 and B2 receptors in the serotonin transporter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) immature, monocyte-derived dendritic cells and and childhood adversity or recent stressful life bradykinin-mediated increase in intracellular Ca2+ events on symptoms of depression: results from and cell migration. Journal of Leukocyte Biology two community surveys. American Journal of 81(6):1445-1454 Medical Genetics Part B-Neuropsychiatric Genetics Board, PG (2007) The use of glutathione transferase- 144B(4):561-565 knockout mice as pharmacological and toxicological models. Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism and Toxicology 3(3):421-433
64 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Publications 2007
Clark, DC, Lobigs, M, Lee, E, Howard, MJ, Clark, K, De Rose, R, Batten, CJ, Smith, MZ, Fernandez, CS, Peut, Blitvich, BJ, and Hall, RA (2007) In situ reactions V, Thomson, S, Ramshaw, IA, Coupar, BEH, Boyle, of monoclonal antibodies with a viable mutant of DB, Venturi, V, Davenport, MP, and Kent, SJ (2007) Murray Valley encephalitis virus reveal an absence Comparative efficacy of subtype AE simian-human of dimeric NS1 protein. Journal of General Virology immunodeficiency virus priming and boosting 88:1175-1183 vaccines in pigtail macaques. Journal of Virology Cowin, AJ, Adams, DH, Strudwick, XL, Chan, H, Hooper, 81(1):292-300 JA, Sander, GR, Rayner, TE, Matthaei, KI, Powell, Dulhunty, AF, Beard, NA, Pouliquin, P and Casarotto, BC, and Campbell, HD (2007) Flightless I deficiency MG (2007) Agonists and antagonists of the cardiac enhances wound repair by increasing cell migration ryanodine receptor: Potential therapeutic agents? and proliferation. Journal of Pathology 211(5):572-81 Pharmacology and Therapeutics 113(2):247-263 Cromer, BA, Gorman, MA, Hansen, G, Adams, Dyer, KD, Czapiga, M, Foster, B, Foster, PS, Kang, JJ, Coggan, M, Board, PG and Parker, MW EM, Lappas, CM, Moser, JM, Naumann, N, Percopo, (2007) Expression, purification, crystallization CM, Siegel, SJ, Swartz, JM, Ting-De Ravin, S, and and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of Rosenberg, HF (2007) Eosinophils from lineage- chloride intracellular channel 2 (CLIC2). Acta ablated Delta dblGATA bone marrow progenitors: Crystallographica Section F-Structural Biology and the dblGATA enhancer in the promoter of GATA-1 is Crystallization Communication 63:961-963 not essential for differentiation ex vivo. Journal of Cromer, BA, Gorman, MA, Hansen, G, Adams, JJ, Immunology 179(3):1693-1699 Coggan, M, Littler, DR, Brown, LJ, Mazzanti, M, Easton, B, Isaev, A Huttley, GA and Maxwell, P (2007) Breit, SN, Curmi, PMG, Dulhunty, AF, Board, PG A probabilistic method to identify compensatory and Parker, MW (2007) Structure of the Janus substitutions for pathogenic mutations. Proceedings protein human CLIC2. Journal of Molecular Biology of the 5th Asia-Pacific Bioinformatics Conference. 374(3):719-731 In: Advances in Bioinformatics and Computational Cummins, PL, Rostov, IV and Gready, JE (2007) Biology, Eds. D Sankoff, L Wang, and F Chin: Imperial Calculation of a complete enzymic reaction surface: College Press 5:195-204 Reaction and activation free energies for hydride- Ellyard, JI, Simson, L, Bezos, A, Johnston, K, Freeman, ion transfer in dihydrofolate reductase. Journal of C and Parish, CR (2007) Eotaxin selectively binds Chemical Theory and Computation 3(3):1203-1211 heparin - An interaction that protects eotaxin de Jersey, J, Snelgrove, SL, Palmer, SE, Teteris, SA, from proteolysis and potentiates chemotactic Mullbacher, A, Miller, JFAP, and Slattery, RM activity in vivo. Journal of Biological Chemistry (2007) ß Cells cannot directly prime diabetogenic 282(20):15238-15247 CD8 T-cells in nonobese diabetic mice. Proceedings Ellyard, JI, Simson, L and Parish, CR (2007) of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) Th2-mediated anti-tumour immunity: friend or foe? 104(4):1295-1300 Tissue Antigens 70(11):1-11 de Mestre, AM, Soe-Htwe, T, Sutcliffe, EL, Rao, Fan, JY, Zhou, J and Tremethick, DJ (2007) S, Pagler, EB, Hornby, JR and Hulett, MD (2007) Quantitative analysis of HP1 binding to nucleosomal Regulation of mouse heparanase gene expression in arrays. Methods 41(3):286-290 T lymphocytes and tumor cells. Immunology and Cell Faux, NG, Huttley, GA, Mahmood, K, Webb, GI, Garcia Biology 85(3):205-14 de la Banda, M, and Whisstock, JC (2007) RCPdb: An de Mestre, AM, Staykova, MA, Hornby, JR, evolutionary classification and codon usage database Willenborg, DO and Hulett, MD (2007) Expression of for repeat-containing proteins. Genome Research the heparan sulfate-degrading enzyme heparanase is 17(7):1118-1127 induced in infiltrating CD4(+) T-cells in experimental Fenner, F and Ada, G (2007) Frank MacFarlane Burnet: autoimmune encephalomyelitis and regulated at the two personal views. Nature Immunology 8(2):111-113 level of transcription by early growth response gene 1. Journal of Leukocyte Biology 82(5):1289-1300
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 65 Fogel-Petrovic, M, Long, JA, Misso, NL, Foster, PS, Grassi, G and Whitworth, JA (2007) Resistant Bhoola, KD, and Thompson, PJ (2007) Physiological hypertension and aldosterone excess: new insights concentrations of transforming growth factor beta1 from ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Journal selectively inhibit human dendritic cell function. of Hypertension 25(10):2006-2007 International Immunopharmacology 7(14):1924-33 Grayson, TH, Ohms, SJ, Brackenbury, TD, Meaney, Franklin, A and Blanden, RV (2007) Potential inhibition KR, Peng, K, Pittelkow, YE, Wilson, SR, Sandow, SL of somatic hypermutation by nucleoside analogues. and Hill, CE (2007) Vascular microarray profiling in Molecular Immunology 44(4):666-669 two models of hypertension identifies caveolin-1, Gaul, S, Ozsarac, N, Liu, L, Fink, RHA and Gage, PW Rgs2 and Rgs5 as antihypertensive targets. (2007) The neuroactive steroids alphaxalone and BMC Genomics 8:404 pregnanolone increase the conductance of single Gready, JE, Rostov, I and Cummins, PL (2007) GABA(A) channels in newborn rat hippocampal Simulations of enzyme reaction mechanisms in active neurons. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and sites: accounting for an environment which is much Molecular Biology 104(1-2):35-44 more than a solvent perturbation. In: Modelling Golubchik, T, Wise, MJ, Easteal, S and Jermiin, LS (2007) Molecular Structure and Reactivity in Biological Mind the gaps: Evidence of bias in estimates of Systems, Eds: KJ Naidoo, M Hann, J Gao, M Field and multiple sequence alignments. Molecular Biology and J Brady, Royal Society of Chemistry, London, pp. 101-118 Evolution 24(11):2433-2442 Greaves, IK, Rangasamy, D, Ridgway, P and Goodnow, CC (2007) Nossal and Pike 1975: A Tremethick, DJ (2007) H2A.Z contributes to the turning point in the effort to define self- unique 3D structure of the centromere. Proceedings tolerance mechanisms. Journal of Immunology of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) 179(9):5617-5618 104(2):525-30 Goodnow, CC (2007) Multistep pathogenesis of Gulledge, AT, Park, SB, Kawaguchi, Y and Stuart, GJ autoimmune disease. Cell 130(1):25-35 (2007) Heterogeneity of phasic cholinergic signaling in neocortical neurons. Journal of Neurophysiology Goodnow, CC, Campbell, JA, Rui, L and Vinuesa, CG 97(3):2215-2229 (2007) Tolerance mechanisms in the late phase of the antibody response. Advances in Experimental Harju, TH, Peltoniemi, MJ, Rytila, PH, Soini, Y, Medicine and Biology 596:163-168 Salmenkivi, KM, Board, PG, Ruddock, LW and Kinnula, VL (2007) Glutathione S-transferase omega Goonasekera, SA, Beard, NA, Groom, L, Kimura, T, in the lung and sputum supernatants of COPD Lyfenko, AD, Rosenfeld, A, Marty, I, Dulhunty, AF and patients. Respiratory Research 8:48-48 Dirksen, RT (2007) Triadin binding to the C-terminal luminal loop of the ryanodine receptor is important Haworth, NL, Gready, JE, George, RA and Wouters, for skeletal muscle excitation-contraction coupling. MA (2007) Evaluating the stability of disulfide Journal of General Physiology 130(4):365-378 bridges in proteins: a torsional potential energy surface for diethyl disulfide. Molecular Simulation Gosling, KM, Makaroff, LE, Theodoratos, A, Kim, YH, 33(6):475-485 Whittle, B, Rui, L, Wu, H, Hong, NA, Kennedy, GC, Hegland, M, Burden, CJ, Santoso, L, MacNamara, S and Fritz, JA, Yates, AL, Goodnow, CC and Fahrer, AM Booth, H (2007) A solver for the stochastic master (2007) A mutation in a chromosome condensin equation applied to gene regulatory networks. II subunit, kleisin b, specifically disrupts T-cell Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics development. Proceedings of the National Academy 205(2):708-724 of Sciences (USA) 104(30):12445-12450 Henneberger, C, Redman, SJ and Grantyn, R (2007) Goto, K, Edwards, FR and Hill, CE (2007) Cortical efferent control of subcortical sensory Depolarization evoked by acetylcholine in mesenteric neurons by synaptic disinhibition. Cerebal Cortex arteries of hypertensive rats attenuates endothelium- 17(9):2039-2049 dependent hyperpolarizing factor. Journal of Hypertension 25(2):345-359
66 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Publications 2007
Horikawa, K, Martin, SW, Pogue, SL, Silver, K, Peng, KM, Kelly, JJ, Tam, SH, Williamson, PM and Whitworth, JA Takatsu, K, and Goodnow, C (2007) Enhancement (2007) Decreased threshold for the nitric oxide donor and suppression of signaling by the conserved tail of glyceryl trinitrate in cortisol-induced hypertension IgG memory-type B cell antigen receptors. Journal of in humans. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology Experimental Medicine 204(4):759-769 and Physiology 34(12):1317-1318 Horvat, JC, Beagley, KW, Wade, MA, Preston, JA, Kimura, T, Pace, SM, Wei, L, Beard, NA, Dirksen, RT Hansbro, NG, Hickey, DK, Kaiko, GE, Gibson, PG, and Dulhunty, AF (2007) A variably spliced region Foster, PS, and Hansbro, PM (2007) Neonatal in the type 1 ryanodine receptor may participate in chlamydial infection induces mixed T-cell responses an inter-domain interaction. Biochemical Journal that drive allergic airway disease. American 401(1):317-24 Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Knight, R, Maxwell, P, Birmingham, A, Carnes, J, 176(6):556-564 Caporaso, JG, Easton, BC, Eaton, M, Hamady, Huttley, GA, Wakefield, MJ, andEasteal, S (2007) M, Lindsay, H, Liu, Z, Lozupone, C, McDonald, D, Rates of genome evolution and branching order Robeson, M, Sammut, R, Smit, S, Wakefield, MJ, from whole genome analysis. Molecular Biology and Widmann, J, Wikman, S, Wilson, S, Ying, H, and Evolution 24(8):1722-1730 Huttley, GA (2007) PyCogent: a toolkit for making Ikin, JF, Sim, MR, McKenzie, DP, Horsley, KWA, Wilson, sense from sequence. Genome Biology 8(8):R171 EJ, Moore, MR, Jelfs, P, Harrex, WK, and Henderson, Knott, ML, Matthaei, KI, Giacomin, PR, Wang, H, S (2007) Anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and Foster, PS, and Dent, LA (2007) Impaired resistance depression in Korean War veterans 50 years after the in early secondary Nippostrongylus brasiliensis war. British Journal of Psychiatry 190:475-483 infections in mice with defective eosinophilopoeisis. Jorm, AF, Mather, KA, Butterworth, P, Anstey, KJ, International Journal for Parasitology 37(12): Christensen, H, and Easteal, S (2007) APOE genotype 1367-1378 and cognitive functioning in a large age-stratified Koch, J, Gu, X, Han, Y, El-Naggar, A, Olson, M, Medina, population sample. Neuropsychology 21(1):1-8 D, Jerry, D, Blackburn, A, Peltz, G, Amos, C, and Kampa, BM, Letzkus, JJ and Stuart, GJ (2007) Dendritic Lozano, G (2007) Mammary tumor modifiers in BALB/ mechanisms controlling spike-timing-dependent cJ mice heterozygous for p53. Mammalian Genome synaptic plasticity. Trends in Neurosciences 18(5):300-309 30(9):456-463 Kole, MHP, Braeuer, AU, and Stuart, GJ (2007) Kantorovitz, M, Booth, H, Burden, CJ, Wilson, S (2007) Inherited cortical HCN1 channel loss amplifies Asymptotic behaviour of k-Word matches between dendritic calcium electrogenesis and burst firing in two uniformly distributed sequences. Journal of a rat absence epilepsy model. Journal of Physiology- Applied Probability 44:788-805 London 578(2), 507-525 Karupiah, G and Chaudhri, G (2007) Kole, MHP, Letzkus, JJ, and Stuart, GJ (2007) Axon Immunopathogenesis of infectious disease: injury initial segment Kv1 channels control axonal action and death from friendly fire. Immunology and Cell potential waveform and synaptic efficacy. Neuron Biology 85(1):5 55(4):633-647 Karupiah, G, Panchanathan, V, Sakala, IG, and Korbelik, M and Cooper, PD (2007) Potentiation of Chaudhri, G (2007) Genetic resistance to smallpox: photodynamic therapy of cancer by complement: lessons from mousepox. In: Novartis Foundation the effect of g-inulin. British Journal of Cancer Symposium 281: Decoding the Genomic Control of 96(1):67-72 Immune Reaction. Chichester, Wiley, UK, pp. 129-136 Lamb, TD, Collin, SP, and Pugh, EN (2007) Evolution of the vertebrate eye: opsins, photoreceptors, retina and eye cup. Nature Reviews Neuroscience 8(12):960-975
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 67 Letzkus, JJ, Kampa, BM, and Stuart, GJ (2007) Does McCaughan, GW, Shackel, NA, Williams, RBH, Seth, D, spike timing-dependent synaptic plasticity underlie Haber, PS, and Gorrell, MD (2007) Genomics, gene memory formation? Clinical and Experimental arrays and proteomics in the study of liver disease. Pharmacology and Physiology 34(10):1070-1076 In: The Textbook of Hepatology: From Basic Science Li, GC, Vega, R, Nelms, K, Gekakis, N, Goodnow, C, to Clinical Practice, Eds. J Rodés, JP Benhamou, A McNamara, P, Wu, H, Hong, NA, and Glynne, R (2007) Blei, J Reichen, and M Rizzetto, Blackwell, New York A role for Alstrom syndrome protein, Alms1, in kidney Mendis, S, Lindholm, LH, Mancia, G, Whitworth, JA, ciliogenesis and cellular quiescence. PLoS Genetics Alderman, M, Lim, S, and Heagerty, T (2007) World 3(1):e8 Health Organization (WHO) and International Liston, A, Hardy, K, Pittelkow, Y, Wilson, SR, Makaroff, Society of Hypertension (ISH) risk prediction charts; LE, Fahrer, AM, and Goodnow, CC (2007) Impairment assessment of cardiovascular risk for prevention of organ-specific T-cell negative selection by and control of cardiovascular disease in low and diabetes susceptibility genes: genomic analysis by middle income countries. Journal of Hypertension mRNA profiling. Genome Biology 8(1):R12 25(8):1578-1582 Liston, A, Siggs, OM, and Goodnow, CC (2007) Miao, Y, Zhang, Y, Lim, PS, Kanjanapan, Y, Mori, Tracing the action of IL-2 in tolerance to islet- TA, Croft, KD, Earl, J, Lee, SY, McKenzie, KUS, Hu, specific antigen. Immunology and Cell Biology 85(4), L and Whitworth, JA (2007) Folic acid prevents 338-342 and partially reverses glucocorticoid-induced hypertension in the rat. American Journal of MacArthur, DG, Seto, JT, Raftery, JM, Quinlan, KG, Hypertension 20:304-310 Huttley, GA, Hook, JW, Lemckert, FA, Edwards, MR, Berman, Y, Hardeman, EC, Gunning, PW, Easteal, S, Mikkelsen, TS, Wakefield, MJ, Aken, B, Amemiya, CT, Yang, N, and North, KN (2007) Loss of ACTN3 gene Chang, JL, Duke, S, Garber, M, Gentles, AJ, Goodstadt, function alters mouse muscle metabolism and shows L, Heger, A, Jurka, J, Kamal, M, Mauceli, E, Searle, evidence of positive selection in humans. Nature SM, Sharpe, T, Baker, ML, Batzer, MA, Benos, PV, Genetics 39(10):1261-1265 Belov, K, Clamp, M, Cook, A, Cuff, J, Das, R, Davidow, L, Deakin, JE, Fazzari, MJ, Glass, JL, Grabherr, M, President, M, Hollenbach, Mather, KA, Easteal, S, Greally, JM, Gu, W, Hore, TA, Huttley, GA, Kleber, H, Klitz, W, Huttley, GA, and Thomson, G (2007) M, Jirtle, RL, Koina, E, Lee, JT, Mahony, S, Marra, Long distance linkage disequilibrium between MA, Miller, RD, Nicholls, RD, Oda, M, Papenfuss, AT, hla microsatellites in two human populations. In: Parra, ZE, Pollock, DD, Ray, DA, Schein, JE, Speed, TP, Immunobiology of the Human MHC: Proceedings of Thompson, K, VandeBerg, JL, Wade, CM, Walker, JA, th the 13 International Histocompatibility Workshop Waters, PD, Webber, C, Weidman, JR, Xie, X, Zody, MC, and Congress. Ed. JA Hansen, IWHG Press, Seattle Broad Institute Genome Sequencing Platform, Broad USA, 2:33-36 Institute Whole Genome Assembly Team, Graves, JA, Mattes, J, Yang, M, and Foster, PS (2007) Regulation Ponting, CP, Breen, M, Samollow, PB, Lander, ES and of microRNA by antagomirs: A new class of Lindblad-Toh, K (2007) Genome of the marsupial pharmacological antagonists for the specific Monodelphis domestica reveals innovation in non- regulation of gene function? American Journal of coding sequences. Nature 447(7141):167-177 Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology 336(1):8-12 Nijnik, A, Woodbine, L, Marchetti, C, Dawson, S, Lambe, Matthaei, KI (2007) Genetically manipulated mice: a T, Liu, C, Rodrigues, NP, Crockford, TL, Cabuy, E, powerful tool with unsuspected caveats. Journal of Vindigni, A, Enver, T, Bell, JI, Slijepcevic, P, Goodnow, Physiology-London 582(2):481-488 CC, Jeggo, PA, and Cornall, RJ (2007) DNA repair is Matthews, CA, Shaw, JE, Hooper, JA, Young, IG, limiting for haematopoietic stem cells during ageing. Crouch, MF, and Campbell, HD (2007) Expression Nature 447(7145), 686-U9 and evolution of the mammalian brain gene Ttyh1. Nordon, RE and Craig, S (2007) Hollow-fibre affinity Journal of Neurochemistry 100(3):693-707 cell separation. Cell Separation: Fundamentals, Analytical and Preparative Methods 106:129-150
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Ong, SLH, Vickers, JJ, Zhang, Y, McKenzie, KUS, Quah, BJC and O’Neill, HC (2007) Mycoplasma Walsh, CE and Whitworth, JA (2007) Role of contaminants present in exosome preparations xanthine oxidase in dexamethasone-induced induce polyclonal B cell responses. Journal of hypertension in rats. Clinical Experimental Leukocyte Biology 82(5):1070-1082 Pharmacology and Physiology 34(5-6):517-519 Quah, BJC, Warren, HS and Parish, CR (2007) Pardo, J, Wallich, R, Ebnet, K, Iden, S, Zentgraf, H, Monitoring lymphocyte proliferation in vitro Martin, P, Ekiciler, A, Prins, A, Müllbacher, A, Huber, and in vivo with the intracellular fluorescent dye M, and Simon, MM (2007) Granzyme B is expressed carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester. in mouse mast cells in vivo and in vitro and causes Nature Protocols 2(9):2049-2056 delayed cell death independent of perforin. Cell Ranasinghe, C, Turner, SJ, McArthur, C, Sutherland, Death and Differentiation 14:1768-1779 DB, Kim, JH, Doherty, PC and Ramshaw, IA (2007) Parthimos, D, Haddock, RE, Hill, CE and Griffith, TM Mucosal HIV-1 pox virus prime-boost immunization (2007) Dynamics of a three-variable nonlinear induces high-avidity CD8(+) T-cells with regime- model of vasomotion: Comparison of theory and dependent cytokine/granzyme B profiles. Journal of experiment. Biophysical Journal 93(5):1534-1556 Immunology 178(4):2370-2379 Phipps, S, Lam, CE, Foster, PS and Matthaei, KI Randall, KL, Yong, J, Steele, RH, Spicer, ST, Howlin, KJ, (2007) The contribution of toll-like receptors to and Quin, J (2007) Severe intimal hyperplasia with the pathogenesis of asthma. Immunology and Cell ischaemic colitis in two patients with hepatitis C. Biology 85(6):463-470 Internal Medicine Journal 37(5):326-329 Phipps, S, Lam, CE, Mahalingam, S, Newhouse, M, Raymond, CR (2007) LTP forms 1, 2, and 3: Different Ramirez, R, Rosenberg, HF, Foster, PS and Matthaei, mechanisms for the ‘long’ in long-term potentiation. KI (2007) Eosinophils contribute to innate anti-viral Trends in Neurosciences 30(4):167-175 immunity and promote clearance of respiratory Rockendorf, N, Bade, S, Hirst, TR, Gorris, HH, and Frey, syncytial virus. Blood 110(5):1578-1586 A (2007) Synthesis of a fluorescent ganglioside Popp, SK, Mann, DA, Milburn, PJ, Gibbs, AJ, G(M1) derivative and screening of a synthetic McCullagh, PJ, Wilson, JD, Tonjes, RR and peptide library for G(M1) binding sequence motifs. Simeonovic, CJ (2007) Transient transmission of Bioconjugate Chemistry 18(2):573-578 porcine endogenous retrovirus to fetal lambs after Rollman, E, Smith, MZ, Brooks, AG, Purcell, DFJ, Zuber, pig islet tissue xenotransplantation. Immunology and B, Ramshaw, IA, and Kent, SJ (2007) Killing kinetics Cell Biology 85(3):238-248 of simian immunodeficiency virus-specific CD8(+) Preston, JA, Essilfie, AT, Horvat, JC, Wade, MA, T-cells: implications for HIV vaccine strategies. Beagley, KW, Gibson, PG, Foster, PS and Hansbro, Journal of Immunology 179(7):4571-4579 PM (2007) Inhibition of allergic airways disease Rosenberg, HF, Phipps, S, and Foster, PS (2007) by immunomodulatory therapy with whole Eosinophil trafficking in allergy and asthma. killed Streptococcus pneumoniae. Vaccine Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 25(48):8154-8162 119(6):1303-1312 Prichard, ZM, Jorm, AF, Mackinnon, A and Easteal, Ruggeberg, JU, Gold, MS, Bayas, JM, Blum, MD, S (2007) Association analysis of 15 polymorphisms Bonhoeffer, J, Friedlander, S, Brito, GD, Heininger, U, within 10 candidate genes for antisocial behavioural Imoukhuede, B, Khamesipour, A, Erlewyn-Lajeunesse, traits. Psychiatric Genetics 17(5):299-303 M, Martin, S, Makela, M, Nell, P, Pool, V and Simpson, Prichard, ZM, Mackinnon, AJ, Jorm, AF and Easteal, N (2007) Anaphylaxis: Case definition and guidelines S (2007) AVPR1A and OXTR polymorphisms are for data collection, analysis, and presentation of associated with sexual and reproductive behavioural immunization safety data. Vaccine 25(31):5675-5684 phenotypes in humans. Human Mutation 28(11):1150
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 69 Sadowski, M, Mawson, A, Baker, R, and Sarcevic, Stanford, MM, McFadden, G, Karupiah, G and B (2007) Cdc34 C-terminal tail phosphorylation Chaudhri, G (2007) Immunopathogenesis of poxvirus regulates Skp1/cullin/F-box (SCF)-mediated infections: forecasting the impending storm. ubiquitination and cell cycle progression. Immunology and Cell Biology 85(2):93-102 Biochemical Journal 405:569-581 Sugui, JA, Pardo, J, Chang, YC, Müllbacher, A, Sakala, IG, Chaudhri, G, Buller, MR, Nuara, AA, Bai, H, Zarember, KA, Galvez, EM, Brinster, L, Zerfas, P, Chen, N, and Karupiah, G (2007) Poxvirus-encoded Gallin, JI, Simon, MM, and Kwon-Chung, KJ (2007) gamma interferon binding protein dampens the host Role of laeA in the regulation of alb1, gliP, conidial immune response to infection. Journal of Virology morphology and virulence in Aspergillus fumigatus. 81(7):3346-3353 Eukaryotic Cell 6(9):1552-1561 Schyvens, CG, Andrews, MC, Tam, R, Mori, TA, Sugui, JA, Pardo, J, Chang, YC, Zarember, KA, Nardone, Croft, KD, McKenzie, KUS, Whitworth, JA G, Galvez, EM, Müllbacher, A, Gallin, JI, Simon, MM, and Zhang, Y (2007) Antioxidant vitamins and and Kwon-Chung, KJ (2007) Gliotoxin is a virulence adrenocorticotrophic hormone-induced hypertension factor of Aspergillus fumigatus: gliP deletion in rats. Clinical and Experimental Hypertension attenuates virulence in mice immunosuppressed with 29(7):465-478 hydrocortisone. Eukaryotic Cell 6(9):1562-1569 Siggs, OM, Miosge, LA, Yates, AL, Kucharska, Sutton, VR, Waterhouse, NJ, Browne, KA, Sedelies, K, EM, Sheahan, D, Brdicka, T, Weiss, A, Liston, A Ciccone, A, Anthony, D, Koskinen, A, Müllbacher, and Goodnow, CC (2007) Opposing functions of A and Trapani, JA (2007) Residual active granzyme the T-cell receptor kinase ZAP-70 in immunity B in cathepsin C-null lymphocytes is succicient for and tolerance differentially titrate in response to perforin-dependent target cell apoptosis. The Journal nucleotide substitutions Immunity 27(6):912-926 of Cell Biology 176(4):425-433 Siiskonen, H, Oikari, S, Korhonen, V-P, Pitkänen, A, Suzuki, N and Bekkers, JM (2007) Inhibitory Voikar, V, Kettunen M, Hakumäki J, Wahlfors T, interneurons in the piriform cortex. Clinical and Pussinen R, Penttonen, M, Kiehne K, Kaasinen, SK, Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology Alhonen L, Jänne J, and Herzig, K-H (2007) Diazepam 34(10):1064-1069 binding inhibitor overexpression in mice causes Takahashi, H, Matsumoto, H, Kumon, Y, Ohnishi, T, hydrocephalus, decreases plasticity in excitatory Freeman, C, Imai, Y, and Tanaka, J, (2007) Expression synapses and impairs hippocampus-dependent of heparanase in nestin-positive reactive astrocytes learning. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience in ischemic lesions of rat brain after transient middle 34:199–208 cerebral artery occlusion. Neuroscience Letters Simson, L, Ellyard, JI, Dent, LA, Matthaei, KI, 417(3):250-254 Rothenberg, ME, Foster, PS, Smyth, MJ and Parish, Tremethick, DJ (2007) Higher-order structures CR (2007) Regulation of carcinogenesis by IL-5 and of chromatin: the elusive 30nm fibre. Cell CCL11: A potential role for eosinophils in tumor 128(4):651-654 immune surveillance. Journal of Immunology Tumes, DJ, Cormie, J, Calvert, MG, Stewart, K, 178(7):4222-4229 Nassenstein, C, Braun, A, Foster, PS and Dent, LA Simson, L, Ellyard, JI, Dent, LA, Matthaei, KI, (2007) Strain-dependent resistance to allergen- Rothenberg, ME, Foster, PS, Smyth, MJ and induced lung pathophysiology in mice correlates Parish, CR (2007) Potential role for eosinophils in with rate of apoptosis of lung-derived eosinophils. th tumor immune surveillance. In: Proceedings 13 Journal of Leukocyte Biology 81(6):1362-1373 International Congress of Immunology. Eds. J Kalil, E Cinha-Neto, and L Vicente Rizzo. Medimond, Bologna, Italy pp. 161-165
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Tupanceski D, Zaid A, Rulli NE, Lidbury BA, Matthaei KI, Weckmann, M, Collison, A, Simpson, JL, Kopp, MV, Wark, Ramirez R and Mahalingam S (2007) Ross River virus: PAB, Smyth, MJ, Yagita, H, Matthaei, KI, Hansbro, N, An arthritogenic alphavirus of significant importance Whitehead, B, Gibson, PG, Foster, PS and Mattes, J in the Asia Pacific. In: Emerging Viral Diseases (2007) Critical link between TRAIL and CCL20 for the in Southeast Asia. Ed. SK Lal Issues in Infectious activation of T(H)2 cells and the expression of allergic Diseases, Basel Karger, 4:94-111 airway disease. Nature Medicine 13(11):1308-1315 van den Buuse, M, Martin, S, Holgate, J, Matthaei, Wells, R and Whitworth, JA (2007) Assessing outcomes K and Hendry, I (2007) Mice deficient in the of health and medical research: do we measure what alpha subunit of G(z) show changes in pre-pulse counts or count what we can measure? Australia and inhibition, anxiety and responses to 5-HT1A receptor New Zealand Health Policy 4:14 stimulation, which are strongly dependent on Wells, R and Whitworth, JA (2007) Equitable access: the genetic background. Psychopharmacology Good intentions are not enough. Global Forum 195(2):273-283 Update on Research for Health 4:151-153 Vinuesa, CG and Cook, MC (2007) The molecular Whitworth, JA (2007) Overview of assessment and basis of lymphoid architecture in the mouse. In: The investigation of hypertension: A pragmatic practical Mouse in Biomedical Research Vol IV Immunology. approach. In: Comprehensive Hypertension. Eds. GYH Eds. J Fox, S Barthold, M Davisson, C Newcomer, F Lip, JE Hall, Elsevier, pp. 515-520 Quimby, and A Smith, Elsevier Whitworth, JA (2007) World Health Organization/ Vinuesa, CG and Cook, MC (2007) Genetic analysis International Society of Hypertension (WHO/ of systemic autoimmunity. In: Novartis Foundation ISH): Hypertension Guidelines and Statements. In Symposium 281: Decoding the Genomic Control of Comprehensive Hypertension. Elsevier, pp. 1157-1172 Immune Reactions. Chichester, Wiley, UK, pp. 103-120 Whitworth, JA (2007) Who said that? The Lancet Wagstaff, KM, Glover, DJ, Tremethick, DJ and Jans, 370(9593):1128 DA (2007) Histone-mediated-transductions as an Whitworth, JA and Pang, T (2007) Using research to efficient means for gene delivery. Molecular Therapy inform health policy: A perspective from the World 15(4):721-731 Health Organization’s Advisory Committee on Health Wang, HB, Ghiran, I, Matthaei, KI and Weller, PF (2007) Research. Harvard Health Policy Review 8(1):107-113 Airway eosinophils: Allergic inflammation recruited Williams, RBH, Chan, EKF, Cowley, MJ, and Little, PFR professional antigen-presenting cells. Journal of (2007) The influence of genetic variation on gene Immunology 179(11):7585-7592 expression. Genome Research 17(12):1707-1716 Wang, J and Young, IG (2007) Eosinophilic Wilson, JM, Cowan, AI, and Brownstone, RM inflammation: mechanisms regulating IL-5 (2007) Heterogeneous electrotonic coupling and transcription in human T lymphocytes. Allergy synchronization of rhythmic bursting activity in 62(10):1131-1138 mouse Hb9 interneurons. Journal of Neurophysiology Webb, DC, Cai, YP, Matthaei, KI and Foster, PS (2007) 98(4): 2370-2381 Comparative roles of IL-4, IL-13, and IL-4R alpha Woywodt, A, Matteson, E and Whitworth, JA (2007) in dendritic cell maturation and CD4(+) Th2 cell Should eponyms be abandoned? British Medical function. Journal of Immunology 178(1):219-227 Journal 335(7617):424-425 Webb, DC, Otczyk, DC, and Cripps, AW (2007) Youssoufian, M and Walmsley, B (2007) Brain-derived Investigation of the potential of a 48 kDa protein as neurotrophic factor modulates cell excitability in a vaccine candidate for infection against nontypable the mouse medial nucleus of the trapezoid body. Haemophilus influenzae. Vaccine 25(20):4012-4019 European Journal of Neuroscience 25(6):1647-1652
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Yu, D, Tan, AH-M, Hu, X, Athanasopoulos, V, Zhang, Y, Miao, Y and Whitworth, JA (2007) Aspirin Simpson, N, Silva, D, Hutloff, A, Giles, PJ, Leedman, prevents and partially reverses adrenocorticotropic KP, Lam, N, Goodnow, CC and Vinuesa, CG hormone-induced hypertension in the rat. American (2007) Roquin represses autoimmunity by limiting Journal of Hypertension 20(11):1222-1228 inducible T-cell costimulator messenger RNA. Nature Zhou, JS, Fan, JY, Rangasamy, D and Tremethick, D 450(7167):299-330 (2007) The nucleosome surface regulates chromatin Zhang, J, Kawashima, S, Yokoyama, M, Huang, P and compaction and couples it with transcriptional Hill, CE (2007) Protective effect of endothelial nitric repression. Nature Structural and Molecular Biology oxide synthase against induction of chemically- 14(11):1070-1076 induced diabetes in mice. Nitric Oxide-Biology and Chemistry 17(2):69-74
72 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Our Community
The John Curtin School of Medical Research is committed to maintaining contact with our past staff and students through our Alumni and Friends network. We strive to strengthen our ties with our local Canberra community through visits and speaking engagements.
For information about joining this growing network of friends and supporters, please contact our Public Affairs Manager:
Dr Madeleine Nicol E: [email protected] T: +61 2 6125 2577 F: +61 2 6125 2337
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Our Community 2007
Ada Conferencing Room
Professor Judith Whitworth took great pleasure in naming the Gordon Ada Videoconferencing Room in honour of Professor Gordon Ada in February.
With his family present, Professor Whitworth spoke of Professor Ada’s many contributions to the life of The John Curtin School of Medical Research, and his current involvement with students in the region through National Youth Science Forum and an education program on the importance of vaccination.
National Youth Science Forum (NYSF)
In January every year, NSYF brings to Canberra Visit from a large group of highly motivated senior high Senator Kate Lundy school students who wish to follow careers in science, engineering and technology. They Labor Senator for the are introduced to research and researchers, and Australian Capital Territory, encouraged to achieve excellence in all Kate Lundy, visited The John their undertakings. Curtin School of Medical Research in August. She joined Top: Associate Professor John Bekkers (far right) Professor Whitworth on a sharing his research findings with a group of NYSF students in January. tour of the modern open-plan laboratories, public foyer, and Bottom: Medical researchers of the future – NYSF students visit JCSMR. 200 seat Finkel Lecture Theatre in Stage 1 of the new JCSMR building, before inspecting plans for Stage 2 construction.
74 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Go Red for Women
Staff and students of JCSMR attended a ‘Go Red for Women’ morning tea in the foyer in support of the Heart Foundation. This nationwide campaign aims to raise funds for research into heart disease, and to increase awareness of the prevalence of heart disease amongst Australian women.
The JCSMR event was also attended by Tony Stubbs, CEO of the ACT Division of the Heart Foundation, and a group of students visiting from the USA.
Community Contact 2007
Thank You Day
Research Australia hosted the Canberra launch of the fifth Thank You Day celebrations in the JCSMR foyer on Wednesday 31 October. Thank You Day provides the opportunity to send a message of goodwill and appreciation to all those involved in the fields of medical research, or to a specific organisation or individual. The theme for 2007 was Healthy Planet, Healthy People.
Left and centre: Professor Judith Whitworth prints and signs the 2007 Thank You Day card. • Right: The Hon Bob McMullan MP, Member for Fraser (left) and Dr Mark Hulett, President of the Australian Society for Medical Research and leader of the Cancer and Molecular Immunology Group, JCSMR sign the 2007 Thank You Day card.
Town & Gown
Each year JCSMR celebrates successful research and endeavour in the ACT by bringing together members of the University, Government and Business communities from Canberra and the surrounding region.
Top: Bishop George Browning, Mr John O’Neill and Mr John McKay Bottom: Mr Brian Acworth, Professor Judith Whitworth and Dr and Mrs Graham Durant
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 75 Open Day 2007
Next Open Day Friday 22 August 2008 10am–5pm
On Open Day, the School is open to all members of the public. • Students interested in medical research are particularly invited to attend. • Researchers in fields as diverse as asthma, diabetes, hearing, HIV and cancer open the doors of their laboratories to demonstrate their work and answer questions.
The School is open during National Science Week as part of the Australian Science Festival. • The John Curtin School of Medical Research annual Open Day gives you the opportunity to talk to scientists in their working laboratories.
Join us on Open Day 2008 Bookings essential for school groups only
Please contact Dr Madeleine Nicol on T: 02 6125 2577 or E: [email protected]
76 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Fenner Conference 2007
In November, JCSMR hosted The 12th Frank and Bobbie Fenner Conference: ‘Medical Breakthroughs Then and Now’, celebrating the life, work and retirement of Emeritus Professor Frank Fenner.
Professor Frank Fenner opens the Conference
At the Conference ...
Professor Rolf Zinkernagel and Professor Peter Doherty presenting ...
During the day ...
Professor Chris Parish, Professor Frank Fenner, Professor Bill Levick, Dr Gwen Woodroofe, Professor Gordon ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Chubb and Ada and Professor Frank Fenner at the Conference Lunch Professor Judith Whitworth
Relaxing afterwards ....
Professor Peter Doherty, Professor Judith Whitworth, Professor Frank Fenner and Professor Rolf Zinkernagel and Professor Chris Parish Professor Frank Fenner
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 77 Commitment to Serving our Community
Staff and students of the JCSMR are involved in many activities which extend beyond their laboratory work. JCSMR staff and students speak with community groups and interested members of the public through such activities as National Youth Science Forum and JCSMR Open Day, act as referees for many scientific publications and act as expert assessors for a wide range of national and international granting bodies. Some of the activities undertaken by JCSMR researchers are listed below.
Professor GL Ada Member: Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee Scientific Patron: Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC Presenter and Participant: National Youth Science Forum: The Importance of Vaccination, JCSMR, Canberra, ACT Associate Professor JM Bekkers Director: Australian Course in Advanced Neuroscience (ACAN), Moreton Bay Research Station, North Stradbroke Island, QLD Member: NHMRC Grant Review Panel 4e - Neuroscience Presenter and Participant: National Youth Science Forum, JCSMR, Canberra, ACT Dr EM Bertram Member: Australasian Society of Immunology Treasurer: Australasian Society of Immunology - ACT Branch Dr A Blackburn Coordinator and Chair: Cancer Biology Workshop, JCSMR, Canberra, ACT Professor PG Board Member: Pharmaceutical subcommittee of Australian Drug Evaluation Committee Member: ACT Gene Technology Advisory Council Advisory Board Member: Parkinson’s NSW Inc Member: Promotions panel for the University Putra Malaysia Editorial Board Member: The Biochemical Journal Editorial Board Member: The Open Drug Metabolism Journal Professor RV Blanden Editorial Board Member: Immunology and Cell Biology Editorial Board Member: Asia-Pacific Journal of Biotechnology Professor AF Dulhunty Member: International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS) Commission VI: Molecular and Cellular Physiology Board of Directors: ACT Orthopaedic Foundation Vice President and President Elect – Australian Society for Biophysics Editorial Board Member: Calcium Binding Proteins Editorial Board Member: Ion Channels Editorial Board Member: Biochemical Journal AusReader for ARC Professor S Easteal Scientific Advisory Committee Member: Genetic Technologies Ltd Research Committee Head: JDRLegal Pty Ltd Advisory Board Member: ARC Bioinformatics Centre of Excellence, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD
78 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Service to Organisations Outside JCSMR 2007
Dr C Freeman ACT representative Matrix Biology Society of Australia and New Zealand ACT convenor: The Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) Planning Committee Member: ASMR Young Investigator Forum Advisor for ACT cancer website: http://www.hotkey.net.au/~string/listing Professor CC Goodnow Member: Australian Academy of Science Special Elections Committee Medical Science Review Board Member: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Member: Infection and Immunity Strategic Advisory Committee, The Wellcome Trust, UK Editorial Board Member: Immunity, The Journal of Experimental Medicine, Mammalian Genome, Journal of Autoimmunity, BMC Biology Communicating Editor: International Immunology Member: Australian Society of Immunology Member: American Association for the Advancement of Science Member: American Association of Immunologists Professor J Gready Presenter and Participant: National Youth Science Forum, JCSMR, Canberra, ACT Editorial Board Member: Computer Physics Communications (Biophysics) and Bioinformatics and Biology Insights Convenor: Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Bioinformatics Special Interest Group Advisory Board Member: APAC Grid Program, Grid Resource Management System for Computational Molecular Science Applications Panellist: Selection for New Zealand Centres of Research Excellence — Genetics, Biology and Biotechnology Professor C Hill ACT Representative: ANZ Microcirculation Society Editor: Journal of Physiology (London) Editor: Journal of Vascular Research Committee Member: Representation of cardiovascular interests for Australian Physiological and Pharmacological Society meetings Professor T Hirst Editorial Board Member: International Journal of Medical Microbiology Editorial Board Advisor: Molecular Membrane Biology Board Director: Hunter Immunology Ltd Board Director: Cryptopharma Pty Ltd Board Director: Warm Contact Pty Ltd Board Director: Dosimetry & Imaging Pty Ltd
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 79 Dr G Huttley Guest Lecturer: Advances in Human Genetics Session Chair: Asia Pacific Bioinformatics Conference, Hong Kong Session Chair: Evolution Meeting, Christchurch, New Zealand Organising Committee Member: Lorne Genome Conference 2008 Organising Committee Member: COMBIO 2008 General consultant: NHMRC IT services Editorial Board Member: The Open Genetics Journal (Bentham Science Publishers) Associate Professor G Karupiah ACT Councillor: The Australasian Society for Immunology Inc Councillor: The Federation of Immunological Societies of Asia-Oceania Australian Delegate: International Union of Immunological Societies Professor T Lamb Presenter: Medical and Health Sciences Careers Day, JCSMR, Canberra, ACT Professor KI Matthaei Consultant: Australian Quarantine Inspection Service Member: Stem Cell Ethics Australia Advisory Committee Member: ANU Equity Diversity Consultative Group Deputy Chair: ANU Institutional Recombinant DNA Biosafety Committee Reviewer: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, UK Reviewer: Royal Institute International Research Awards Reviewer: Australian Cystic Fibrosis Society Affiliate Member: Centre for the Molecular Genetics of Development Member: ARC Centre for Network in Genes and Environment in Development Professor CR Parish Editor-in-Chief: Immunology and Cell Biology Medical Research Advisory Committee Member: The Australian Cancer Research Foundation Council Member: The International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS) Ms A Prins Presenter and Participant: National Youth Science Forum, ANU, Canberra, ACT Coordinator and Instructor: Histology Workshop for ACT High School Science Teachers Professor IA Ramshaw Scientific Advisory Panel Member: Westmead Institute for Cancer Research Editorial Board Member: Viral Immunology Editorial Board Member: Microbes and Infection Dr C Ranasinghe Presenter: Viruses - The good, bad and the ugly. Canberra Girls Grammar School, Canberra, ACT Volunteer Assistant: Holy Family Care Centre for HIV/AIDS orphans, Ofcolaco, Limpopo, South Africa
80 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Service to Organisations Outside JCSMR 2007
Dr D Rangasamy Editorial Board: Biotechnology Letters Local Ethics Sub committee Member: ANU College of Medicine and Health Sciences Dr C Raymond Master of Ceremonies ACT regional finals: Australian Brain Bee Challenge, JCSMR, Canberra, ACT Co-Organiser: Kioloa Neuroscience Colloquium, Kioloa, NSW Instructor and presenter: Australian Course in Advanced Neuroscience (ACAN), Moreton Bay Research Station, North Stradbroke Island, QLD Dr M Regner Presenter and Participant: National Youth Science Forum, JCSMR, Canberra, ACT Professor MF Shannon Editorial Board member: FEBS Letters (The Journal of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies) Management Committee Member: Centre for Vascular Research, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW President: Lorne Genome Inc ACT Council Representative: Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Organizing Committee Chair: COMBIO 2008 Assessor: First Yr PhD student (Rubicon), School of Molecular Bioscience, Adelaide University, Adelaide, SA Chair: NHMRC Grant Review Panel 1a - Biochemistry Associate Professor C Stricker Instructor and presenter: Australian Course in Advanced Neuroscience (ACAN), Moreton Bay Research Station, North Stradbroke Island, QLD Professor G Stuart State Coordinator: ACT Brain Bee Challenge, JCSMR, Canberra, ACT Instructor and presenter: Australian Course in Advanced Neuroscience (ACAN), Moreton Bay Research Station, North Stradbroke Island, QLD Presenter: The mechanics of memory, Medical and Health Sciences Careers Day, JCSMR, Canberra, ACT Dr H Warren Editorial Board Member: Immunology and Cell Biology Professor JA Whitworth Patron: TADACT, Technical Aid to the Disabled Patron: Wesley Institute, QLD Honorary Ambassador for Women (Commonwealth) Ambassador for Canberra Trustee: High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia Director: Research Australia Board Member: Menzies Research Institute, Hobart, TAS Co-Chair: NSW Health Care Advisory Council
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 81 Service to Organisations Outside JCSMR 2007
Professor JA Whitworth cont. Chair: Research and Development Advisory Committee, The George Institute, Sydney, NSW Chair: Global Advisory Committee on Health Research, WHO Member: WHO Expert Advisory Panel on Health Science and Technology Policy Member: WHO/ISH Liaison Committee Writing Committee Co-Chair: WHO/ISH Guidelines Chair: Selection Panel for the Commonwealth Health Minister’s Award for Excellent in Health and Medical Research Director: Australian Science Festival Ltd (ASF) Ambassador: Heart Foundation (ACT Division) Associate Director: Menzies Centre for Health Policy, ANU, Canberra, ACT Member: Scientific Advisory Board, Ear Science Institute Australia (ESIA) Professor I Young Awards Committee Member: Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
82 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Support to the School 2007
• Grants • Statistics • Donors
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Grants 2007
Australian Research Council Centre of Professor CE Hill Excellence for Integrative Involvement of cell coupling in vascular function: Legume Research Development of a computational model Professor P Gresshoff, Professor C Beveridge, Dr B $85,000 Carroll, Professor B Rolfe, Professor C Parish, Dr M Professor MF Shannon and Dr P Georgel Djordjevic, Dr G Weiller, Dr U Mathesius, Dr R Rose, New models for the role of chromatin in controlling Professor M Singh and Dr P Bhalla inducible gene expression Integrated Legume Research $105,000 $2,000,000 Professor D Tremethick The dynamic control of chromatin structure Australian Research Council Centre of $90,000 Excellence in Vision Science Professor T Pogge and Professor JA Whitworth Just rules for incentivizing pharmaceutical research Professor TD Lamb and for disseminating its benefits Research Director $358,000 $2,200,000 Australian Research Council Australian Research Council Linkage Grant Federation Fellowships Professor AF Dulhunty, Professor CJ Easton and Dr Professor C Goodnow MG Casarotto Discovering genes and mechanisms regulating Refinement and delivery of synthetic compounds that immune responses specifically alter muscle contraction $316,222 $45,000 Professor T Lamb The first stage of vision: transduction and adaptation BUPA Foundation Specialist in retinal photoreceptors $300,000 Research Funding Professor T Pogge, Professor JA Whitworth, Australian Research Council Professor D Schroeder and Dr M Selgelid Discovery Grants Just rules for incentivizing pharmaceutical research and for disseminating its benefits Professor PG Board and Dr M Casarotto $369,190 Cellular uptake of glutathione transferases and their development as cell transfection agents The Canberra Hospital Private $90,000 Professor AF Dulhunty and Professor R Dirksen Practice Fund Structural determinants of an intracellular calcium Associate Professor JD Wilson, Professor C Parish store and Dr C Simeonovic $100,000 Heparanase as a target for Type 1 Diabetes treatment Professor AF Dulhunty, Dr DR Laver and Dr MG $50,000 Casarotto Dr HS Warren and Dr L Wilson Intrinsic properties of the pore forming domain of the The interaction between Natural Killer cells and cells ryanodine receptor calcium channel infected with human coronavirus 229E $105,000 $84,995 Professor JE Gready and Dr PL Cummins Importance of conformational and electrostatic contributions in simulations of enzyme reaction mechanisms $93,300
84 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Type I Diabetes Research Grant Professor Chris Parish from The John Curtin School of Medical Research has been awarded a NH&MRC/JDRF program grant of $3 million for work on Type I diabetes, over five years from 2008. The team (pictured from left to right) for this project is comprised of Dr Charmaine Simeonovic, Professor Chris Parish, Dr Craig Freeman and Dr Gerard Hoyne.
Grants 2007
The Cancer Council of NSW Multiple Sclerosis Society Project Grant Dr C Vinuesa, Dr D Silva and Dr D Linares Associate Professor George Mendz, Associate Elucidating the role of the autoimmune modulator Professor H Mitchell, Dr R Williams, Dr J O’Rourke Roquin and follicular helper T-cells in the prevention and Associate Professor S Riordan of experimental autoimmune encephalitis The role of pathogenic bacteria in hepatocarcinoma $55,000 $311,000 National Breast Cancer Foundation of Department of Education, Science Australia Novel Concept Award and Training/National Collaborative Dr AC Blackburn and Professor PG Board Research Infrastructure Strategy Chemoprevention of breast cancer with a non- Professor MF Shannon and Dr E Dennis hormonal, non-toxic anticancer agent Establishment of an Epigenomics node of Genomics $98,746 Australia in the ACT $270,000 National Health & Medical Research Council Capacity Building Grant in European Commission Grant Population Health Research Professor C Goodnow Professor S Easteal, Professor H Christensen, Dr K EURAPS: Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome Anstey, Dr K Griffiths, Professor A Mackinnon and Dr type 1 – a rare disorder of childhood as a model for P Butterworth autoimmunity Translating population-based mental health and EUR 15,000 (Combined grant with National Health & ageing research into evidence-based prevention and Medical Research Council) policy $1,955,550 Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA Associate Professor G Karupiah National Health & Medical Research Immune response to viral infection Council Enabling Grant $50,000 Dr D Hilton, Dr E Bertram, Dr P Currie, Dr S Forrest, Dr J Heath, Dr B Kile, Dr G Lieschke and Associate Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Professor M O’Bryan Professor C Goodnow and Dr GF Hoyne Australian Centre For Vertebrate Mutation Detection Identifying genes that oppose type 1 diabetes $320,000 USD$500,000 Dr C Vinuesa and Dr D Silva National Health & Medical Research Roquin prevents autoimmune diabetes through a Council Equipment Grants novel tolerance pathway Professor DJ Tremethick $206,840 Fluorescence resonance energy transfer imaging and analysis system The Menzies Foundation $142,710 Professor S Leeder, Mr R Wells and Professor JA Dr D Linares, Professor C Nolan, Dr N Teoh, Professor Whitworth G Farrell and Dr H Warren The Menzies Centre for Health Policy MicroBeta microplate scintillation/luminescence counter $125,000 $54,613 Dr D Webb Ergonomic light microscope $6,439
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 85 National Health & Medical Research Professor P Board Council Peter Doherty (Biomedical) Pharmacogenetic investigations of glutathione Fellowships transferases Dr B Quah $154,500 $67,250 Professor P Board, Dr RT Baker and Dr A Oakley Dr A Shield Pharmacogenetic and structural analysis of Omega $67,250 class glutathione transferases Dr R Williams $160,000 $64,000 Professor P Board, Professor KI Matthaei, Dr A Blackburn, Dr A Shield, and Dr J Dahlstrom National Health & Medical Research Glutathione transferase deficient mice to probe for Council Program Grants adverse drug reactions $180,500 Professor PS Foster, Dr J Mattes, Professor KI Professor P Board, Professor KI Matthaei, Dr Matthaei, Dr PI Thompson and Professor IG Young A Blackburn, Dr A Shield, Dr J Dahlstrom and Molecular mechanisms in the regulation of allergy Professor C Goodnow and inflammation EURAPS: Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome $970,000 type 1– a rare disorder of childhood as a model Professor C MacKay, Professor J Sprent, Professor C for autoimmunity Goodnow, Dr F MacKay, Dr C Vinuesa, Professor A $169,000 (Combined Grant with European Commission) Basten, Professor B Fazekas de St Groth, Dr S Tangye Professor S Easteal, Dr K Anstey, Professor H and Dr R Brink Christensen, Dr K Griffiths, Professor A Mackinnon Molecular and cellular studies of the adaptive and Dr P Butterworth immune response in health and disease A longitudinal study of depression, anxiety, substance $707,000 use and cognitive change: PATH Through Life Wave 3 Dr M Berndt, Professor C Chesterman, Professor $1,974,550 B Chong, Professor P Hogg, Associate Professor L Professor C Goodnow Khachigian, Professor C Parish and Dr R Stocker Genetic and biochemical mechanisms dysregulating Vascular Biology CD4 T-cell tolerance in organ-specific autoimmunity $2,903,000 $205,000 Professor P Doherty, Professor IA Ramshaw, Professor C Goodnow, Dr C Vinuesa, Dr M Cook Professor D Cooper and Associate Professor S Kent and Dr G Huttley Studies of HIV-1 infection and vaccination Translational study of the genetics of systemic $350,000 autoimmunity based on mouse mutagenesis Professor S Leeder, Associate Professor R Colagiuri, Dr $180,000 J Gillespie, Professor N Glasgow, Dr S Jan, Mr R Wells Associate Professor G Karupiah and Professor JA Whitworth Role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells and neutrophils Optimising prevention and management and care for in the generation of antiviral immunity Australians with, or at risk of serious and continuing $154,000 chronic illness Professor TD Lamb, BA Patterson and FN Reinholz $703,000 Properties of human cone photoreceptors measured using a scanning laser ophthalmoscope to illuminate National Health & Medical Research and image the retina Council Project Grants $135,800 Dr E Bertram Dr M Lobigs Costimulatory mechanisms for enhancing CD8 T-cell Viral factors involved in flavivirus replication and host-pathogen interactions responses during an acute respiratory infection $72,250 $144,250
86 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Grants 2007
Dr M Lobigs and Dr E Lee Casarotto Role of cell surface glycosaminoglycans in flavivirus Functional analysis of the Ym2 chitinase-like lectins biology in allergic airways disease $161,974 $112,250 Professor A Müllbacher and Dr M Regner Dr Y Zhang and Professor J A Whitworth Role of granzymes in innate immunity Nitroso-redox imbalance in glucocorticoid-induced $175,000 hypertension Professor C Parish and Dr B Quah $327,750 Antigen receptor sharing by lymphocytes during an immune response National Health & Medical Research $91,750 Council RD Wright Biomedical Career Dr S Turner, Dr S Rao and Professor D Tremethick Development Awards Chromatin remodeling and transcriptional regulation Dr A Blackburn of CD8 T-cell effector function gene expression $87,250 $170,000 Dr D Rangasamy Dr SC Barry, Professor MF Shannon, Dr H Zola and $89,000 Dr R D’Andrea Molecular identification of FoxP3 +ve regulatory National Health & Medical Research T-cells Council Senior Research Fellowships $472,750 Associate Professor G Karupiah Professor MF Shannon $116,750 The role of NF-kB transcription factors in regulating Dr HS Warren T-cell transcription networks $116,750 $175,500 Professor MF Shannon National Health & Medical Research The role of c-Rel in controlling chromatin architecture Council Urgent Research Grants and transcription networks in T lymphocytes Professor I Clark and Professor A Müllbacher $172,333 Screening of anti-inflammatory compounds in Professor GJ Stuart influenza infections Cellular mechanisms underlying absence epilepsy $238,000 $94,000 Professor A Müllbacher and Dr M Lobigs Dr A Gulledge and Professor GJ Stuart Gamma-ray inactivated influenza virus vaccine for Mechanisms and consequences of cholinergic cross-protective T-cell immunity signaling in neocortical pyramidal neurons $240,000 $84,750 Dr ML Tierney National Institute of Allergy and Structural determinants underlying high conductance GABA–A channels Infectious Disease, National Institutes $130,000 of Health, USA Professor D Tremethick and Dr J Fan Professor C Goodnow A fast, high performance liquid chromatography Genes for Tolerance and Immunity Consortium protein purification system $718,553 $32,311 Professor R Ulevitch, Dr A Aderem, Dr B Beutler, Professor D Tremethick and Dr D Rangasamy Professor L Teyton, Professor C Goodnow, Dr G Mechanisms that underpin chromosome stability Nolan, Dr E Bertram, Dr D Tscharke, Associate $164,000 Professor G Karupiah and Dr I Schmulevitch Dr D Webb, Professor R Kumar and Dr MG Systems approach to immunity and inflammation USD$795,000
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 87 Grants 2007
National Institutes of Health (USA) Sylvia and Charles Viertel Senior Program Grant Medical Research Fellowship Associate Professor G Karupiah Dr C Vinuesa $245,000 The Roquin tolerance pathway: biology, pathology, and therapeutic strategies National Institutes of Health (USA) $195,000 Project Grants Associate Professor G Karupiah The Wellcome Trust Strategic CD8+ T-cell responses in mouse models of smallpox Programme Grant vaccination and challenge Professor RJ Cornall, Professor JI Bell, Professor C $105,000 Goodnow, Dr M Lathrop, Professor W Britton and Dr Dr M Lobigs C Vinuesa Flavivirus vaccines based on inulin adjuvants Immunity and Infection Genomics Consortium $75,000 $755,845 Professor REW Fyffe and Professor B Walmsley Integrative mechanisms in the central nervous system $USD80,000
Roche Organ Transplantation Research Foundation (ROTRF)/ Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) (Switzerland) Dr C Simeonovic and Professor C Parish Roles of heparanase and its inhibitor PI-88 in the destruction and protection of islet grafts $103,000
88 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Statistics 2007
Staff Numbers 2007 2006 2005 Academic staff 92 91 95.9 General Staff — administration, technical & support 203 195 219 Postgraduate students 81 88 84
Income Base Allocation $14,205,000 Special Purpose Funds (SPF) $10,212,000 IGS, RTS, RIBG $4,381,000 Other Income $2,293,000 Adjustments -$1,439,000 TOTAL INCOME $29,652,000
Expenditure Staff Costs $11,277,000 Special Purpose Funds (SPF) $10,212,000 Other $3,258,000 Expendable Research Material (ERM) $2,390,000 Scholarships $911,000 Equipment $733,000 Travel $539,000 TOTAL EXPENDITURE $29,320,000
Special Purpose Funds Government Grants $8,431,000 Other $1,781,000 TOTAL $10,212,000
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 89 Donors 2007
The Director, staff and students of The John Curtin School of Medical Research are extremely grateful for the continued generosity of our friends and donors.
We would like to thank the following donors for their generous support in 2007
Professor Gordon Ada Mr ME and Mrs J Donnolley
Ms Ida S Adamczewski Professor Angela Dulhunty
Ms B Alwast Mr Anthony Eastaway
Mr Tom and Mrs Sheila Anderson Mr Richard and Mrs Margaret Evans
Dr and Mrs Wilfred Armarego Professor Frank Fenner
Mrs Vera Bailey Dr Joyce Fildes
Ms Janet Bainford Dr Alan and Dr Elizabeth Finkel
Mr Donald Baker Mr Eric J Fitzsimmons
Mr Bruno and Mrs Anne Bisson Mr Allan and Mrs Jackie Freeman
Ms Kate Bond Mrs Ruth Freeman
Brisbane City Council Mr John Gale
Mr Phil and Mrs Sue Bunyan Professor Joe Gani
Family and Friends of B Garland Mr Christopher Byrne Mr Jess and Mrs Hellen Genes Mrs Karen Byrne Ms Betty Genes Ms Pat Cable Ms Teresa Gerula Ms Marie Carter Mrs Margaret Gibb Mr Jackie Chan Mr Michael and Mrs Cherie Grace Mr ME Chatfield Ms Julia H Graczyk Mr Peter and Mrs Judy Cluse Mrs Margot Grant Mr L and Mrs A Corbo Ms Honora Green Mr Rene Cremonese Family and Friends of Ms Christine Davis Mr Norman Grylls
Mr Fernando de Mello Barreto Mr Tim Gurney
Defence Support Group, Ms Victoria Harrington Department of Defence Mr David Heim The Diplomatic Club of Canberra
90 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Donors 2007
Mr and Mrs Colin Heine Mr B and Mrs E McLean
Mr and Mrs Peter Henderson Mr and Mrs Ian McLeod
Mr Bill and Mrs Marg Highmore Mr RT and Mrs HM Nelson
Mr I and Mrs M Hodgkinson Mr Philip and Mrs Margaret O’Rourke
Mr DE Holgate and family Mr ZJ Opoczynski
Mr and Mrs Mark J Hulse Mr Scott and Mrs Marie Parsons
Huntly Station – Australian Open The Pharmacy Guild of Australia Gardens Scheme (ACT Branch)
Mr WN and Mrs DH Hurst Pharmacy Services (ACT) Pty Ltd
Mrs Joan Jackson PMKeyS Customer Support Centre, Department of Defence Mr Michael Johnson The Polish Women’s Association Mr Richard A Johnson Mr Ian and Mrs Bev Porteous Family and Friends of Mrs Barbara Kitney The Probus Club of Gungahlin
Mr Ian Kitney Mr and Mrs Michael Pye
Mr Neil Kitney Mr Bryan Ramos
Mr Bernard and Mrs Marg Reddy Mrs Robynne Knowler Colonel and Mrs Peter Richards Mr H and Mrs AM Koestlin Mr AR and Mrs PE Roberts Mr LJ and Mrs CM Krimmer Mr Ian Rodges Mr Anthony La Vella Ms Deborah Rollings Ms Judith Lawrence Mr and Mrs Peter Routh Mr B and Mrs J Le Mesurier Mr EB and Mrs BS Rudge Mr Patrick Leonard Mr GM and Mrs FL Salom Mr John and Mrs Donna Maiolo Ms M Sant Mr Russell McCaskie Ms Sue Saunders Mr and Mrs Patrick McGlade
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 91 Donors 2007
Ms S Scales Ms Suzie Thomson
Mr A Schmocker Mr J and Mrs T Trotter
Dr and Mrs David Shaw Mr KJ Tuckwell
Family and Friends of Mr Robert and Mr M Smith Mrs Valerie Tupper
Social Statistics Division, Ms L Vidovic The Australian Bureau of Statistics Ms Gail Vincent Family and Friends of Dr Ernest Spinner Ms Sue Welbourn
Ms Sue Sullivan Professor Judith Whitworth
Mr Ray and Mrs Donna Sunderland Mr I Wiesemann
Ms Daphne Supel Mrs Barbara Wild
Family and Friends of Ms E Targ Mr M and Mrs R Williams
Family and Friends of Ms Jeanne Worth Mrs Catherine Fiona Targett Dr Michael and Ms Heather Tasker Mrs Margaret Yeung
Ms Patricia Taylor Mrs LJ Zawartko
Family and Friends of Mr Brian Thomson
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Needs Your Support
Gifts and bequests to the School are used to fund vital research projects in areas such as asthma, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, hearing loss and vision, as well as providing scholarships and purchasing specialised equipment. Your support can be provided in a number of ways including a gift or bequest that may assist in funding a particular area of research, or a scholarship or prize.
If you would like to discuss options for supporting The John Curtin School of Medical Research, please contact:
Dr Madeleine Nicol T: +61 2 6125 2577 F: +61 2 6125 2337 M: 0407 278 913 E: [email protected]
The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 92