COVER CENTENARY INSTITUTE HONOURS, MASTERS & PHD STUDENT PROJECTS 2020
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Centenary Institute
Honours, Masters & PhD
Student Projects
2020
Cover
This booklet contains the list of projects that will be supervised at Centenary Institute in 2020. If you have any questions of a general nature, please contact Sonya, our Student Recruitment Officer. Email: student-enquiries@centenary.org.au Phone: 02 9565 6141 Using this booklet Projects listed are run through either of the following Discipline at University of Sydney: ●●Project that is run through the Discipline of Infectious Disease and Immunology, University of Sydney ●●Project that is run through the Discipline of Pathology, University of Sydney ●●Project that is run through the School of Life Sciences, UTS
Contents
Introduction Masters
About Centenary 4 Gene & Stem Cell Therapy – Dr Bijay Dhungel 25
Facilities and Equipment 6 Gene & Stem Cell Therapy – Dr Dannel Yeo 25
Meet our researchers – Program Heads 7 Centre for Inflammation – Dr Jaesung Peter Choi 26
Meet our researchers – Laboratory Heads 11 Molecular Cardiology – A/Prof Jodie Ingles 26
ACRF Translational Cancer Research – Dr Joyce Chiu 26
Honours Liver Enzymes in Metabolism & Inflammation – Prof Mark 27
Gorrell with Dr Emma Zhang
Gene & Stem Cell Therapy – Dr Bijay Dhungel 15
Mycobacterial – Dr Stefan Oehlers 28
Gene & Stem Cell Therapy – Dr Chuck Bailey 15
Gene & Stem Cell Therapy – Dr Ulf Schmitz 29
Gene & Stem Cell Therapy – Dr Dannel Yeo 16
Tuberculosis Research – Prof Warwick Britton, Dr Mainthain 30
Centre for Inflammation – Dr Jaesung Peter Choi 17 Palendira and Dr Diana Quan
Vascular Biology – Prof Jenny Gamble 17
Molecular Cardiology – A/Prof Jodie Ingles 17
PhD
ACRF Translational Cancer Research – Dr Joyce Chiu 17
Gene & Stem Cell Therapy – Dr Dannel Yeo 33
Liver Enzymes in Metabolism & Inflammation – Prof Mark 18
Centre for Inflammation – Dr Jaesung Peter Choi 33
Gorrell with Dr Emma Zhang
Vascular Biology – Prof Jenny Gamble 33
Liver Immunology – A/Prof Patrick Bertolino 19
Molecular Cardiology – A/Prof Jodie Ingles 34
Molecular Cardiology – Dr Richard Bagnall 19
ACRF Translational Cancer Research – Dr Joyce Chiu 35
Centre for Inflammation – Dr Sj Sijie Shen 20
Liver Enzymes in Metabolism & Inflammation – Prof Mark 35
Mycobacterial – Dr Stefan Oehlers 20
Gorrell with Dr Emma Zhang
Gene & Stem Cell Therapy – Dr Ulf Schmitz 21
Centre for Inflammation – Prof Phil Hansbro 36
Tuberculosis Research – Prof Warwick Britton, Dr Mainthain 23
Centre for Inflammation – Dr Sj Sijie Shen 37
Palendira and Dr Diana Quan
Mycobacterial – Dr Stefan Oehlers 37
Gene & Stem Cell Therapy – Dr Ulf Schmitz 38
Student Research Projects for 2020
3
ABOUT CENTENARY
At the Centenary Institute, researchers for those who wish to further develop their research
are bringing renewed health and hope to skills.
Australians and people around the world.
Location
There are other benefits to joining Centenary and the
We are home to world-leading researchers in cancer
first is location. Our building is in the very heart of the
and heart disease. And we are at the forefront of what
Camperdown-Ultimo health and education precinct - this
is arguably the most exciting emerging area of medical
consisting of an active and geographically condensed
research today: inflammation and the host of chronic
hub of research, teaching, training and industry
diseases that it drives.
organisations specialising in medicine and healthcare.
Campus life is also close at hand with Centenary located
Our mission is to increasingly gain a fundamental
on the very border of the University of Sydney and right
understanding of these diseases — the causes and
next door to the newly established ‘Charles Perkins
effects, the intricacies and complexities, the threats
Centre’, a multidisciplinary research centre committed
and predictors. We then look to develop innovative
to improving global health outcomes. This means that
treatments and cures with the goal of improving health
at Centenary you will be at the very center of the latest
outcomes and saving lives.
and most up to date medical research taking place in
Australia, our geography facilitating potential linkages
As an independent and internationally recognised
and collaboration opportunities - plus you’ll be close to all
Medical Research Institute the Centenary Institute
of the advantages that University life has to offer.
has state-of-the-art facilities and researchers at the
top of their field, Centenary offers a perfect balance of
challenge and support that will enable you to expand Affliation
your skills and knowledge as you consider your future in Critically, the Centenary Institute is also closely affiliated
science. with both the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the
University of Sydney. Many of our senior researchers
Notably the Centenary Institute has a long history of are specialist clinicians at the hospital and lecturers at
helping students graduate with 1st Class Honours, an the University. This provides Centenary students and
extensive PhD program and Post-doctorate opportunities post-doctorates with a ready-made network consisting of
Student Research Projects for 2020
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some of the brightest minds in basic, applied and clinical Symposiums. The committee, in addition, assists the
medical research. At Centenary we know that connection Student Committee with any educational initiatives and
and collaboration is key - both to success in the mentoring initiatives that would further enhance student
present and to a successful future too. Benefit from the life at Centenary.
knowledge, the contacts and the professional expertise
that our leading researchers can provide. Inclusion and Gender Equity Program
Our Inclusion and Gender Equity Program provides a
Life at Centenary forum for staff to raise and discuss issues relating to
We have a collegiate approach to student engagement inclusion and gender equity and champions initiatives
and offer a number of initiatives to improve, encourage that will help support and progress equity at the
and support the education of our students. Centenary Institute.
Social Committee Student Committee
The Social Committee organises events to encourage The Student Committee advises on student related
intra-institutional relationships within the Centenary issues, coordinates events and engages with supervisors
Institute. Annual events include a Welcome Reception and potential students to promote student opportunities
for new staff, Harmony Day Potluck Lunch, Winterfest, and recruitment at Centenary.
Trivia Night, Christmas Party and Christmas BBQ.
Centenary Postgraduate Network
Education Committee The Centenary Postgraduate Network (CPN) is a group
The Education Committee’s general purpose is to built by, and for, Centenary Institute PhD students that
provide advice on the education strategy for the Institute. aims to identify issues and activities of importance
It also plans, coordinates and implements activities that to postgraduate students, and to find and generate
assist in the continuing education and development of resources. Meeting once a month to share information,
Centenary researchers and support staff. discuss technical, organisational, and other issues,
and to offer support to members. Masters and Honours
The Education Committee coordinates the regular students pursuing PhD studies are invited to participate.
seminar series within the Institute, develops and delivers
public lectures and also helps organise Colloquia and
Student Research Projects for 2020
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ABOUT CENTENARY
Facilities systems are equipped with high precision stages, high
At the Centenary Institute you will be able to access quality objectives, and some are equipped with cameras.
state-of-the-art research equipment, some of which are
the only ones available in the southern hemisphere. Intravital Microscopy
Hands-on as well as theory training is provided to all Our most advanced microscopes available are the three
Honours, Masers and PhD students by experienced LaVision Biotech multi-photon imaging stations that can
facility staff. be used for deep tissue image in vitro or in vivo. These
systems are the only ones in Australia that can utilise up
Flow Cytometry to three different femto-second laser sources.
Our many BD Analysers allow you to take quantitative
measurements of thousands of individual cells or Software
particles. The 10-Laser LSR you can even differentiate For the analysis of flow cytometry data, we provide
up to 20 different parameters within a single cell, which is access to the FlowJo Single Cell Analysis Software.
something only very few labs in the world are able to do. Images are used to analyse and observations quantified
We also have the CyTOF is a mass cytometer, which is in order to generate meaningful outcomes. We provide
the first instrument of its kind in Australia. access to a wide range of Image Analysis softwares.
Imaging Cytometry Animal House
The advantage of using the Imaging Cytometry is to The Animal Facility is responsible for providing quality
analyse a large amount of cells (high throughout) in a animals for research. Comprised of the Animal Facility
consistent and unbiased manner. The newly installed Manager, the Animal Facility Officer, Animal Technicians
AMNIS ImageStream X Mk2 allowing many hundreds of and Animal Attendants, the staff perform routine
cell images can be captured per second. husbandry and welfare checks, as well as procedures
training and researcher service requests.
Microscopy
Our imaging systems include the Leica SP5 Confocal, Zebrafish Facility
the LAS Matrix Screener software and a water immersion Our 100 tank zebrafish facility is stocked with a range
pump allow for high content screening even when of transgenic and mutant zebrafish concentrated on the
performing long-term live cell imaging. The other imaging investigation of inflammation and vascular biology.
Student Research Projects for 2020
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MEET OUR RESEARCHERS
Program Heads His work has made internationally important contributions
and led to the identification of novel avenues for therapy
that are under further study. This is being achieved
Professor Philip Hogg through the development of novel mouse models that
recapitulate the hallmark features of human disease,
Head of ACRF Centenary including infections, asthma and COPD and now
Cancer Research Centre lung cancer. He employs these models in integrated
Additional roles:
approaches, with particular expertise in lung function
analysis, to understand human diseases, and to develop
Sydney Catalyst Chair in Translational Cancer Research
new treatment strategies. Research outcomes have
Philip Hogg has received many accolades in his a translational goal and his studies are conducted in
distinguished research career – including the 2009 parallel with collaborative human studies with clinical
Premier’s Award for Outstanding Cancer Researcher. researchers.
In partnership with the Australian Cancer Research
Foundation and Sydney Catalyst, the ACRF-Centenary
Cancer Research Centre expands the capabilities Dr Justin Wong
of Centenary’s cancer research stream. Its goal is to Head of Epigenetics and RNA
understand the link between diet, metabolism and
Biology Program
tumour initiation and development at a molecular level,
and to design new therapies using this knowledge. It has Justin Wong currently holds a fellowship awarded by the
four core strategic aims: i) making key discoveries about Cancer Institute of NSW. He completed his PhD in the
disease mechanisms; ii) their effective translation into the area of cancer epigenetics in the laboratory of Professor
clinic; iii) catalyzing medical research by collaborations Robyn Ward at the UNSW Sydney. He is an active
and iv) local and international recognition. member of the Australasian Genomics Technologies
Association (AMATA) and the RNA Society.
Prof Philip Hogg graduated with a PhD in biochemistry
from the University of Queensland in 1987. Following His program focuses on deciphering novel gene
post-doctoral training in the USA and Sweden he returned regulation mechanisms in normal biology and cancer. He
to UNSW as a NHMRC RD Wright Fellow. He is now a is passionate about determining the control of processes
NHMRC Senior Principle Research Fellow and was the such as alternative splicing and RNA modification in
inaugural director of the Lowy Cancer Research Centre cells. His vision is to acquire knowledge concerning
at UNSW. He has won several national and international epigenetic changes, alternative splicing and RNA
awards for his research, which focuses on a fundamental modification, which may be useful for the development of
chemical modification of proteins he has discovered. This novel therapies for human diseases, especially cancers.
research has led to a potential new cancer diagnostic and
a therapeutic that are currently in clinical testing.
Professor John Rasko AO
Head of Gene and Stem Cell
Professor Philip Hansbro
Therapy Program
Director of Centenary UTS
John Rasko AO is a clinical hematologist, pathologist
Centre for Inflammation
and scientist with a productive track record in gene
Philip Hansbro is an internationally recognised research and stem cell therapy, experimental haematology and
leader in the study of respiratory diseases, such as molecular biology.
asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD,
aka emphysema) and infections and is developing In over 150 publications he has contributed to the
interests in lung cancer. His work is substantially understanding of stem cells and haemopoiesis,
contributing to understanding the pathogenesis and the gene transfer technologies, oncogenesis, human
development of new therapies for these diseases. aminoacidurias and non-coding RNAs.
Student Research Projects for 2020
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MEET OUR RESEARCHERS
His program is focused on better understanding his research as is investigating how we can manipulate
regenerative medicines to develop effective treatments the immune system for more infective strategies against
for cancer, heart disease and genetic diseases. melanoma and common skin infections, for example
Regenerative medicine is the process of replacing or caused by “golden staph”.
regenerating human cells, tissues or organs to restore or
establish normal function.
Professor Mark Gorrell
In the laboratory, he is identifying the triggers that Head of Liver Enzymes in
switch genes on and off in cancer cells with the long- Metabolism and Inflammation
term goal of developing new cancer therapies. By Program
integrating Centenary’s bioinformatics expertise into
targeted research areas, he has significantly increased Mark Gorrell trained in cell biology, virology, immunology
the outcomes of his research in the laboratory. His and protein biochemistry at ANU, the University of
research has discovered new ways to target blood Melbourne and Johns Hopkins University.
cancer. It has also identified key nutrient pumps, which
are vital to the growth of prostrate cancer cells. Using His research is focussed upon liver scarring and
these discoveries and the knowledge of how cancer cancer prevention and treatment, chronic liver
cells work, he is striving towards better therapeutics for disease pathogenesis, diabetes, protein and enzyme
the treatment of cancer. biochemistry and cell biology related to the proteases
DPP4, DPP9 and fibroblast activation protein (FAP).
His research experience also includes small RNA
Professor Wolfgang Weninger viruses, transcriptomics, proteomics and cell biology. His
Head of Immune Imaging research was important in the development of DPP4-
Program targetted therapies for type 2 diabetes, which are now
used to treat millions of patients. Inside the Centenary
Additional roles: Institute, he chairs the postgraduate research and
Honorary Professor of Dermatology, Dermatology, Central Clinical equipment grants committees, is Academic Advisor
School, University of Sydney
for postgraduate research and is a Commercialisation
Chair of Dermatology at MedUni Vienna
Committee member. Outside the Centenary Institute,
Wolfgang Weninger is a preeminent clinician scientist in he is active in the International Proteolysis Society,
the fields of dermatology and immunology. the Gastroenterological Society of Australia, NHMRC
grant reviews, and editorial boards of Journals including
He is a pioneer in the uncovering of immune cell Scientific Reports.
behaviour during anti-pathogen and anti-tumour immune
responses in the skin using intravital imaging technology.
He is recognised for discovering several unique immune Associate Professor Patrick
cell subsets and determining their function in the context Bertolino
of immune-mediated pathology. Joint Head of Liver Immunology
Program
His ongoing work is aimed at understanding the
mechanisms underlying skin allergies, and the pathways Patrick Bertolino is considered one of the leading experts
resulting in successful immunity against skin infections in Liver Immunology internationally, and is acknowledged
as well as melanoma. He is also using high end imaging as the leader in this field in Australia.
technologies, like multi-photon microscopy, to dissect in
real-time the working of the immune system in the skin. He has worked in the same field for the last 20 years
The Centenary Institute houses one of Australia’s leading in internationally recognised research institutes, and
imaging facilities to enable this research. has been trained by first class immunologists. During
this time, he has developed unique transgenic mouse
The pathogenesis of several inflammatory skin diseases models and has acquired a leading reputation in liver
such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis is also a target of immunology. This reputation derives from original
Student Research Projects for 2020
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landmark papers that have transformed the field, and are Upon completion of his postdoctoral training at the
now part of current paradigms. These include the first University of Oxford in 1986 as a CJ Martin Fellow,
demonstration of naïve CD8 T cell activation in the liver, he returned to Sydney where he developed the basic
the first evidence of direct interaction between circulating research program for the AW Morrow Gastroenterology
T cells and hepatocytes, the role of intrahepatic T and Liver Centre at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital of
cell activation in tolerance, and the discovery that which he is now the Director.
liver-activated T cells are deleted in the lysosomes of
hepatocytes. His current research interests include the
immunopathogenesis of human chronic liver disease,
liver autoimmunity, liver transplant tolerance and
molecular analysis of hepatitis C virus. His clinical
Dr David Bowen research interests include treatment of hepatitis B and
Joint Head of Liver C, management of hepatocellular cancer and long term
Immunology Program outcomes of liver transplantation.
Addtional roles:
His overaching goal is to understand the pathways at the
Associate Professor Medicine, Central Clinical School, University
cellular and molecular levels that drive liver injury and
of Sydney
cancer.
David Bowen is a Gastroenterologist and Associate
Professor of Medicine, Central Clinical School at the
University of Sydney.
Professor Peter Hersey
His research program is helping to improve our Head of Melanoma Oncology
understanding of the liver and its impact on immune
and Immunology
responses, both wanted and unwanted. Although the
liver’s tolerance effect leads to better outcomes in Peter Hersey has extensive experience in both clinical
transplantation, it can be detrimental during infections and laboratory based research on melanoma. He has
such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and malaria. These held positions as a staff specialist and as Research
diseases can use the liver as a means of persisting, Director at the Newcastle Melanoma Unit and Conjoint
which can often lead to chronic infection. Professor of Oncology in the University of Newcastle
and the Inaugural Chair of Melanoma Biology at the
Dr Bowen is also providing some important clues to University of Sydney from 2011.
improve the success of human gene therapy. Having
already shown that the liver, like the lymph nodes, can His translational research activities have involved
activate T cells, a key cell of the immune system, he is phase I-III trials of immunotherapy in melanoma, with
now investigating how the liver induces immune tolerance modified peptide antigens and dendritic cell vaccines.
and how immunity can be enhanced in this organ. He has taken a leading role in studies on properties of
melanoma cells that make them resistant to treatment
and devised new treatment approaches to overcome
these properties.
Professor Geoff McCaughan
Head of Liver Injury and He is generally recognized as a pioneer of
Cancer Program immunotherapy for melanoma in Australia and in
focusing on properties of melanoma cells that make
Additional roles:
them resistant to apoptosis. He has participated in most
A W Morrow Professor in Medicine
of the key clinical trials on immunotherapy with immune
Medicine, Central Clinical School
checkpoint inhibitors. He is a member of the Melanoma
Geoff McCaughan leads the Liver Injury & Cancer Research Institute of Australia and has received
Program at the Centenary Institute, which covers continuous funding from the NHMRC for his research.
Molecular Hepatology, Liver Cell Biology and Alcoholic Current interest centers on the role of epigenetic
Liver Disease. regulators in progression and treatment of melanoma.
Student Research Projects for 2020
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MEET OUR RESEARCHERS
His Program is interested in obtaining a detailed 3D
structural and functional understanding of the proteins
Professor Chris Semsarian AM
involved in human iron distribution. By determining the
Head of Molecular Cardiology structures of proteins involved in these processes, he
Program aims to be able to provide a scaffold for the development
of drugs that can effectively ‘tune’ their function and thus
Additional roles:
provide new treatments for patients. In particular he is
Professor of Medicine, University of Sydney
interested in new therapeutics for patients with Anemia of
Cardiologist, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH), Sydney
Chronic Disease.
NHMRC Practitioner Fellow
Chris Semsarian leads the Molecular Cardiology In humans the acquisition and distribution of iron is
Program and is a cardiologist with a specific research required for a range of vital cellular processes, such
focus in the genetic basis of cardiovascular disease. as generation of red blood cells. Errors in the proteins
involved in iron distribution can cause a range of disease
He trained at the University of Sydney, Royal Prince states, such as cancer and anemia (reduced levels of
Alfred Hospital, and Harvard Medical School. A red blood cells). By understanding membrane protein
focus area of his research is in the investigation and anatomy, structure and function, A/Prof Jormakka hopes
prevention of sudden cardiac death in the young, to facilitate a structure-based drug discovery.
particularly amongst children and young adults. He
has an established research program at the Centenary Studies have also shown that 30-80% of cancer patients,
Institute and is at the interface of basic science, clinical 25-50% of chronic kidney disease patients, and between
research and public health, with the ultimate goal to 20-90% of acute and chronic infections are associated
prevent the complications of genetic heart diseases in with anemia. Every day his research comes one step
our community. closer to finding a cure. He is progressing his aim for
the “perfect” drug to treat ACD, with the development of
He has published over 150 peer-reviewed scientific pharmaceutical compounds.
publications, in the highest-ranking cardiovascular and
general medical journals. He is also been the primary
supervisor of over 30 PhD, honours, and medical
honours students since 2003, and is an active member Professor Warwick Britton AO
of the mentoring program at the University of Sydney. Head of Tuberculosis Research
Program
He uses an integrated translational approach in human
families, murine models, and cell culture systems. Additional roles:
His research has elucidated the genetic causes of Bosch Professor of Medicine and Professor of Immunology
cardiomyopathies and sudden death, identified key Medicine Central Clinical School, University of Sydney
signaling pathways involved in development of disease, Research Director, Sydney Local Health District
and provided a platform for this knowledge to be directly Warwick Britton has been an international leader in the
translated to cardiovascular medicine by improved study of mycobacterial infections, he has built a thriving
diagnostic and risk stratification strategies. His research research and teaching program at the University of
has led to the reduction of both mortality and morbidity in Sydney and has been at the forefront of clinical research,
families with genetic heart diseases. education and clinical care for more than four decades.
Recently, he initiated new collaborative research
Associate Professor Mika programs in Vietnam on improving the control of
Jormakka tuberculosis and on immunogenetics of tuberculosis.
Head of Structural Biology
Program Since 1997 his group has used an aerosol model of
infection with virulent M. tuberculosis in a dedicated
Mika Jormakka is widely recognised as a leader in the PC3 facility in the Centenary Institute. This has allowed
field for membrane proteins. them to analyse the cellular and cytokine control of
Student Research Projects for 2020
10M. tuberculosis infection in the lungs using genetically Laboratory Heads
modified mice and to develop novel subunit and
recombinant BCG vaccines to prevent infection with M.
Dr Renjing Liu
tuberculosis. In addition his group has identified a new
secreted enzyme of M. tuberculosis, which is a novel Head of Agnes Ginges
target for drug development. He also has a longstanding Laboratory for Diseases of the
research interest in the epidemiology and immunology Aorta
of asthma, and established a long running cohort on
childhood asthma in 1982. Renjing Liu has held many prestigious Fellowships
and Awards from the USA and Australia in the field of
cardiovascular research.
Professor Jennifer Gamble Her laboratory has identified a new stem cell mediated
Head of Vascular Biology pathway in the regulation of smooth muscle cells. She
is focused on the epigenetic regulation of miRNAs in
Program
cardiovascular diseases, looking at the identification
Additional roles: of a novel biomarker for the earlier detection of
Wenkart Chair of Endothelium cardiovascular events and deciphering the role of a novel
Medicine, Central Clinical School, University of Sydney gene in protecting against aortic aneurysms.
Jennifer Gamble is an internationally recognised
research leader in the field of endothelial cell function Recent advanced work demonstrating the ability to
and holds the Inaugural Wenkart Chair of the turn adult cells to stem cells has opened up exciting
Endothelium and leads the Vascular Biology Program. avenues for disease modelling. This is particularly true
for the study of diseases where tissue samples are
Her interests lie in understanding endothelial cell near-impossible to obtain for research. Utilising this
function particularly in the area of inflammation and how technique, she will derive patient-specific stem cells to
dysfunction can influence disease. Her initial publication study complex diseases in the cardiovascular system.
in this area established the endothelium as a dynamic These resultant cell lines will represent a unique cellular
organ, central to the control of inflammatory processes. source for modelling complex diseases that can faithfully
Diseases being investigated by her program include capture human disease and provide the first steps to
cancer, atherosclerosis, metabolic disease, oedema and improved understanding of the cause of many disease
thoracic aortic aneurysms. and its potential treatments.
The current studies in the Vascular Biology Program are
Clinical Associate Professor
under four broad areas: Understanding ageing of the
endothelium and its impact on vascular function; Novel Devanshi Seth
regulators of angiogenesis; MicroRNA regulation of Head of Alcoholic Liver
oedema and angiogenesis; and Diseases of the Disease Laboratory
Aorta focussing on thoracic aortic aneurysms which
Additional roles:
affect 1:500 to 1:1000 people and which can result in
Principal Scientist, Drug Health Services, Royal Prince Alfred
sudden death. Hospital
Clinical Associate Professor, Clinical Medicine & Addiction Medi-
cine, University of Sydney (USYD)
Devanshi Seth established this liver diseasea research
program as a response to this often neglected area
of human health. She is an internationally known leader
in the alcohol/liver field, and she leads the
NIH/NIAAA-funded study on genetics of alcoholic liver
cirrhosis (ALC) using genome/exome sequencing.
Student Research Projects for 2020
11MEET OUR RESEARCHERS
She is the founder and leader of the multinational Associate Professor Jodie
GenomALC Consortium which has established the
world’s largest database and bio-bank of thousands of
Ingles
chronic heavy drinkers, a signficant resource for current Head of Clinical Cardiac
and future research in the field of alcohol/liver research. Genetics Laboratory
Additional roles:
Recently she was elected as Treasurer of the Research
National Coordinator, Australian Genetic Heart Disease Registry
Society on Alcoholism (RSoA), a unique association
in the world on alcohol research. Dr Seth is also an Jodie Ingles is an NHMRC Career Development
Executive member of the University of Sydney Human Fellow and is a cardiac genetic counsellor, Cardiology
Research Ethics Committee (HREC 1). She is also on Department Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Sydney, and
the Research Executive Committee at the Drug Health, Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Health,
RPAH and is the lead investigator on a UK Biobank University of Sydney.
project with access to UK Biobank one of the largest
databases of genetic and clinical information on 500,000 She has more than 15 years experience working with
patients. patients and families with genetic heart diseases.
Her research focuses on the clinical, genetic and
psychosocial aspects of care of these families, and she
has more than 100 publications in these areas. She
Dr Xiangjian Zheng co-leads two important national initiatives, the Australian
Head of Cell Signalling Genetic Heart Disease Registry and the Australian
Cardiac Genetic Testing Network. She was recently
Laboratory
awarded the Cardiovascular Research Network (CVRN)
Xiangjian Zheng is a member of the Faculty of Medicine Rising Star Ministerial Award and an NHMRC Excellence
at the University of Sydney and obtained his PhD in Award for the top ranked career development fellowship
Molecular Medicine from Medical College of Georgia, in 2018 (clinical, level 1).
where he studied lipid signalling in skin biology and
endocrine control of blood pressure control.
Dr Ulf Schmitz
He continued his research in lipid signalling as a
Research Fellow, then used the combination of zebrafish Head of Computational
modelling and lipidomics approaches to investigate BioMedicine
lipid-mediated signalling in angiogenesis and cancer
biology. After that he became more focused on human Ulf Schmitz has an appointment as Conjoint Senior
vascular diseases. Lecturer at the Sydney Medical School.
His current research focuses on molecular mechanisms His laboratory develops integrative workflows combining
of cardiovascular development and diseases. His various computational disciplines with experimentation
laboratory in exploring how blood vessels and hearts to address questions around non-coding RNAs, post-
form and how they maintain their function at molecular transcriptional gene regulation and cancer biology.
and cellular levels.
Using machine learning, mathematical modelling,
This has important implications in many human disease and molecular dynamics simulations he investigates
states such as congenital vascular diseases, stroke, mechanisms of post-transcriptional gene regulation. He
cancer, wound healing, diabetic complications, coronary found that synergistic target regulation by microRNAs
artery diseases and vascular dementia. is a widespread phenomenon of post-transcriptional
gene regulation – a mechanism that can be exploited to
sensitize aggressive tumour cells to chemotherapy.
He also develops multi-omics data analysis pipelines
to investigate patterns of alternative splicing and other
Student Research Projects for 2020
12forms of gene regulation in normal biology and in moving to Sydney to start an independent laboratory at
various cancers. the Centenary Institute.
He has also identified intron retention as a well He primarily seeks to understand how pathology-
conserved form of alternative splicing that mediates associated changes to the vasculature affect
cell-specific gene regulation. Aberrant intron retention inflammation. He has an extensive publication record in
has been described in multiple human cancers. He the fields of mycobacterial infection and inflammatory
aims to identify regulators and consequences of intron bowel disease, with additional interests in atherogenesis
retention as well as cross-talk with other forms of post- and diseases with a shared granuloma-like pathotype.
transcriptional gene regulation.
Associate Professor Anthony
Dr Mainthan Palendira Don
Head of Human Viral Head of Lipid Metabolism and
and Cancer Immunology Neurochemistry Laboratory
Laboratory
Anthony Don leads has an interest in the modern field of
Mainthan Palendira is a Senior Lecturer in the chemical biology. After completing a PhD in biochemistry
Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology at and molecular pathology at UNSW Sydney in 2004,
the University of Sydney. he then undertook postdoctoral research at Scripps
Research Institute, California.
His laboratory focuses on human immunology research
with a particular interest in cancers and viral infections. His laboratory uses sophisticated mass spectrometry
He is interested in understanding how the human methods in combination with genetic models to
immune system normally controls Epstein Barr Virus, investigate how lipid signalling molecules control
and to what extent it contributes to disease. Effective myelination in normal development and normal
control of infections and cancers relies on coordinated ageing, and how these processes are dysregulated
trafficking of T cells into tissues. in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s
Disease, Frontotemporal Dementia, and Multiple
His recent work has not only identified resident Sclerosis. Modern research is increasingly showing
memory T cells in different human tissues, but has also that changes to brain lipid metabolism are causative
demonstrated that there is strategic retention of these in age-related dementia. His research is generating a
cells at sites of possible reinfection. Understanding greater understanding of how lipid signalling molecules
how T cells are retained within tissues, at the sites of and myelin lipid metabolism regulates healthy brain
continuing exposure to viruses, is critical not only for function and how the signalling metabolite sphingosine
future vaccine strategies, but also for the prevention of T 1-phosphate will drive the development of new
cell mediated immunopathology. therapeutics to promote remyelination and restore brain
function in neurodegenerative conditions.
His research group is the first in the world to have
Dr Stefan Oehlers developed potent and specific inhibitors of specific
Head of Immune-vascular ceramide synthase enzymes, which are the enzymes
Interactions Laboratory that catalyse ceramide synthesis. He is creating
these inhibitors to open up the international research
Stefan Oehlers is currently a University of Sydney Fellow community’s understanding of a key aspect of
with the Marie Bashir Institute and a holder of a NSW physiological metabolism, and with a view to creating
Health Early-Mid Career Fellowship. new drugs to treat obesity and diabetes.
He trained with zebrafish as a model of human immunity
at the University of Auckland (PhD) and Duke before
Student Research Projects for 2020
13Honours Projects Take your first step into a career in medical research with Centenary. Housing state of the art imaging, cytometry and animal facilities, you will hone new skills and learn the latest techniques from internationally renowned researchers whilst building the foundations for a future that could see you make breakthroughs that save lives. “You go into the lab not knowing what’s going to work. Nine times out of 10 it doesn’t work, but then the one time it does, it really hits you and it’s what keeps you hooked. But even when it’s wrong, that helps steer you in the right direction.” Stuart Cook Former Honours Student Research Assistant, Melanoma Oncology & Immunology Program Stuart started at Centenary at the beginning of 2017 as an Honours Student, and is now a Research Assistant in Professor Peter Hersey’s Melanoma Oncology & Immunology Program. centenary.org.au/students
genetically deleted at high rates in the most aggressive
Dr Bijay Dhungel and deadly types of endometrial cancer (Marshall,
Gene & Stem Cell Therapy: John Rasko et al., 2017). CTCF deletion predominantly occurs in
b.dhungel@centenary.org.au the Type II serous subtype of endometrial cancer and
0404867910 is associated with poorer overall survival in patients
with serous tumours. Additionally we have shown that
●●Identification of host factors involved in CTCF deletions also occur in the clear cell subtype
and this may be associated with tumour relapse and/
AAV transduction
or metastasis. Our culturing of endometrial cancer
Adeno associated viruses are the most widely used gene cell-lines as 3D spheroids has shown that a functional
therapy vectors at the moment with approval for use in consequence of CTCF deletion in results in a loss of cell
humans from multiple regulatory authorities. Although polarity – an early event in endometrial cancer pathology.
we have a basic understanding of how AAV interacts Analysis of gene expression data in CTCF heterozygous
with the host and expresses encoded transgene, there endometrial tumours has revealed a widespread
are lots of unanswered questions. This project will be dysregulation of transcription. In this project we will
undertaken in the lab of Australian gene therapy pioneer those examine genes and biochemical pathways that
Prof John Rasko and will be aimed at filling the gaps are dysregulated in CTCF mutant endometrial cancers
in our current understanding of the process of AAV including tumour suppressor genes and hormone-
transduction. responsive genes.
Multiple genome-wide gain and loss of function studies School at USyd: Pathology
have identified several host factors that play an essential
role in AAV transduction. Using a range of molecular Keywords: Mammalian cell culture, spheroid culture,
and cell biological techniques, this project will identify retroviral gene transfer, RT-qPCR, cell biology assays,
what step of AAV transduction is affected by these shRNA knockdown or CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, flow
host factors. Additionally, strategies will be designed to cytometry, Western blotting, mouse work (Ctcf+/- mice),
modulate expression levels of these factors and effect on immunofluorescence
AAV transduction will be examined. Furthermore, novel
genome-wide screening approaches will be applied in a
range of cell types to identify novel determinants of AAV
●●The role of MGA mutation in chronic
transduction. lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is the most
School at USyd: Pathology common leukaemia in senior Australians. Every year
nearly 1000 Australians are diagnosed with CLL and
Keywords: Gene therapy, Adeno associated virus, typically 80% of all new diagnoses are in patients over
the age of 60 years. CLL is a slow developing cancer
affecting B cells. Genetic mutations acquired in these
B cells result in their transformation into cancerous
cells that can live longer and grow faster than normal B
cells. Genetic alterations in CLL can be heterogeneous,
and include point mutations, chromosomal deletions,
Dr Chuck Bailey amplifications and rearrangements. Recent reports have
Gene & Stem Cell Therapy: John Rasko identified the gene encoding the transcription factor Max
c.bailey@centenary.org.au Gene Associated (MGA) to be recurrently deleted in
02 95656171 CLL. MGA inactivation through chromosomal deletion
(del15q15) or point mutation occurs in 4% of CLL, but
●●Understanding the role of CTCF genetic this increases to 16% as CLL disease progresses to
chemotherapy resistance. Our hypothesis is that genetic
deletion in aggressive endometrial cancer
inactivation of MGA promotes chronic lymphocytic
CTCF is an essential gene for the normal organisation leukaemia disease progression. We will test this
of DNA in cells. Our team has discovered that CTCF is hypothesis by analysing how acquired genetic lesions in
Research Projects for 2020
15HONORS PROJECTS
MGA alter the proliferation, differentiation and survival of
CLL cells and contribute to cellular transformation and Dr Dannel Yeo
chemoresistance. Gene & Stem Cell Therapy: John Rasko
d.yeo@centenary.org.au
School at USyd: Pathology 95656286
Keywords: Cloning, mammalian cell culture, ●●Circulating Tumour Cells in Cancer Patients
retroviral gene transfer, cell biology assays, flow
Our Program is focused on new cell therapies (CAR-T
cytometry, Western blotting, immunofluorescence,
cell immunotherapies) for two of the most deadly
immunoprecipitation, CRISPR/Cas9, RT-qPCR, next
cancers, pancreatic cancer and mesothelioma, which
generation sequencing, mouse handling
have 5-year survival rates of less than 10%. Circulating
tumour cells (CTCs) are cells that have been released
●●Receptor identification of AAV capsids from the primary tumour tissue into the bloodstream
used in gene therapy and undergo a migratory process to form metastases.
Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) has Capturing and analysing these rare cells is now possible
gained widespread use as a gene delivery vector for using our newly established RareCyte® platform. We
corrective gene therapies due to its ability to safely are able to identify, isolate and culture CTCs. Hence, this
and efficiently deliver a genetic payload into a broad platform has the potential to provide ‘real-time’ cancer
range of tissues. World-first clinical trials, conducted by monitoring throughout all stages of a patient’s cancer
a team of clinicians including Professor Rasko, used journey and identify potentially effective treatments.
rAAVs carrying the Factor IX gene to successfully infuse
haemophilia B patients (George, et al., 2017). Recent Possible research topics: Characterising CTCs using
efforts have improved the transduction efficiency of genetic, cellular and imaging techniques; Evaluating
rAAV vectors by engineering capsids with higher affinity the ability of circulating tumour cells to predict patient
or cell-specific tropism and increased resistance to the response; Evaluating cellular therapies to patient-derived
host immune system. Yet, a third avenue for increasing CTC cultures; Evaluating circulating ‘precursor tumour’
AAV-mediated therapeutic efficacy remains unexplored: cells as a possible diagnostic marker to improve early
modulation of the receptors to increase AAV entry. It is detection.
this third approach with vast potential that we will focus
on in this project. We will use structural, biochemical, Skills/tools: Mammalian cell culture (3D), cell biology
genetic and proteomic strategies to functionally assays, western blot, microscopy, single cell sequencing,
characterise the host determinants that permit entry drug assay/screening, mouse models.
of human liver-specific AAV capsids. The overall goal
is to test the hypothesis that modulation of receptor School at USyd: Pathology
expression can improve gene transfer efficiency in
clinically relevant circumstances. Keywords: Cancer, Liquid Biopsy, Circulating Tumour
cells, CAR-T cell therapy
School at USyd: Pathology
Keywords: Mammalian cell culture, retroviral gene
transfer, cell biology assays, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing,
flow cytometry, confocal imaging, Western blotting,
immunofluorescence, RT-qPCR, mass spectrometry
Research Projects for 2020
16ageing and the age-associated genes on the function of
Dr Jaesung Peter Choi endothelial cells and on the initiation and progression of
Centre for Inflammation: Phil Hansbro Alzheimer’s Disease.
j.choi@centenary.org.au
0410588161 Techniques: High resolution imaging, animal models,
molecular and cell biology techniques, isolation of cells
●●Finding safe and effective therapies from brain blood vessels, single cell transcriptomics,
single cell proteomics
targeting sex hormones and the microbiome
for stroke in cerebral cavernous malformation School at USyd: Pathology
Cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) is a disease
of the brain blood vessels and is one of the major Keywords: Alzheimer’s Disease, Heart Disease,
causes of stroke in young individuals. Interestingly, CCM Vascular, Single cell RNA sequencing
burden is greater in the male population, suggesting a
previously under-appreciated role of sex hormones in its
pathogenesis. My research program aims to understand
the role of sex hormones in CCM pathogenesis and
identify new druggable targets for patients with CCM.
School at UTS: School of Life Sciences A/Prof Jodie Ingles
Molecular Cardiology: Jodie Ingles
Keywords: Stroke, sex hormones, microbiome, j.ingles@centenary.org.au
inflammation, mouse 02 95656293
●●Genotype-phenotype correlations in
inherited heart diseases
Genetic testing for inherited heart diseases is
increasingly used. The current knowledge of the full
Prof Jenny Gamble phenotype-spectrum of inherited heart diseases is
Vascular Biology: Jenny Gamble incompletely understood. The Agnes Ginges Centre for
j.gamble@centenary.org.au Molecular Cardiology is a world-leader in understanding
02 9565 6225 clinical, genetic and psychosocial aspects of these
diseases. This project seeks to define the clinical
characteristics of patients with certain underlying genetic
●●Alzheimer’s Disease and Endothelial Cell
diagnoses, including describing the clinical course,
Ageing interpretation of genetic variants, analysis of the location
The evidence is now strong, both from animal and of the variant and familial inheritance. The project will
human studies, that breakdown of the Blood Brain involve contact with patients and families enrolled in
Barrier (BBB) is a causative factor in Alzheimer’s the Australian Genetic Heart Disease Registry, learning
Disease, with the disruption of the BBB and changes in principles of interpreting genetic variants and clinical
the blood vessels preceding cognitive decline. data analysis.
Endothelial cells are the first-line of the BBB and are also School at USyd: Pathology
essential for maintaining the barrier integrity of blood
vessels. When we age, endothelial cells change their Keywords: genetic, heart disease, inheritance,
barrier characteristics. We have identified major changes genotype, phenotype.
in the genes of ‘aged’ endothelial cells, with many of
these genes linked to Alzheimer’s Disease.
The project will involve understanding the impact of
Research Projects for 2020
17HONORS PROJECTS
●●Patient-Centred approaches to care for to thrombosis. Understanding how platelet activation is
families with inherited heart diseases controlled will lead to development of novel therapies for
treatment of thrombosis and related diseases. We have
Uncertainty is a key aspect of cardiac genetics at present.
discovered a novel redox switch in a platelet receptor
While in many cases we aim to minimise uncertainty,
that controls platelet activation and clot formation.
increasingly there is greater need for improved ways
Using cell-based assays, flow cytometry, fluorescence
to communicate with patients allowing more informed
microscopy and mass spectrometry, this project will
decision making. The Agnes Ginges Centre for Molecular
determine how this redox switch controls protein-protein
Cardiology is a world-leader in understanding clinical,
interactions and signaling events in clot formation.
genetic and psychosocial aspects of these diseases. Two
important areas of clinical importance at present are:
School at USyd: Pathology
(1) communicating genetic information to patients and
facilitating subsequent communication to at-risk relatives,
Keywords: blood clot, cardiovascular diseases,
and (2) for those deemed to be an increased of sudden
inflammation, platelet, cell signaling, proteomics, flow
cardiac death, conveying this risk information in a way
cytometry, FRET/BRET analysis
that allows balanced discussion of the benefits and harms
of treatment options can be a challenge. This project
will involve contact with patients and families enrolled in ●●Live imaging the effects of an integrin
the Australian Genetic Heart Disease Registry, learning disulphide switch in whole animal models of
principles of shared-decision making and assessing thrombosis
interventions in the clinical setting, and clinical data
(Joint supervision with Dr Elinor Hortle from the Oehlers lab)
analysis.
Our body relies on cell surface receptors to convey
external stimuli to cellular responses. Integrins are cell
School at USyd: Pathology
surface adhesion molecules that connect extracellular
environment to intracellular signalling. Integrins are
Keywords: Heart disease, cardiac genetics, cardiology,
crucial in virtually all biological processes including
clinical data analysis
wound healing, inflammation, cell migration, and
embryonic development. Therapeutics have been
developed to block integrin function for treatment of
cancer, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and heart
diseases. However, many of these therapeutics are toxic
with severe side effects Understanding how integrin
Dr Joyce Chiu function is regulated will enable precision targeting of
specific integrins. We have identified a disulphide bond
ACRF Translational Cancer Research: ACRF
in an integrin that controls its activation and subsequent
Phil Hogg cell adhesion. Using zebrafish genetics, intravital
joyce.chiu@sydney.edu.au microscopy and mass spectrometry, this project will
02 8627 4852 elucidate how this disulphide bond controls cell adhesion
in zebrafish thrombocytes. You will also have the
●●Redox regulation of platelet receptors in opportunity to perform drug screen that target integrin
clot formation function in zebrafish embryos using the thrombocyte
adhesion assay developed in this project.
The formation of blood clots is a physiological process
essential for wound healing upon injury. However,
School at USyd: Pathology
in thrombosis, clot formation inside a blood vessel
can obstruct blood flow to the downstream tissue.
Keywords: integrin, cancer, inflammation, drug screen,
Thrombosis is the precipitating event in heart attacks,
zebrafish, live imaging, proteomics
ischaemic stroke and coronary heart syndrome. Platelets
are effector cells for blood clotting. Upon injury, resting
platelets become active and aggregate to form a clot at
the site of injury. Hyperactivation of platelets can lead
Research Projects for 2020
182. Pathogenesis of chronic liver injury from any cause.
Prof Mark Gorrell with Dr Emma Zhang
Liver Enzymes in Metabolism & 3. Understanding and better treatment of liver cirrhosis
Inflammation: Mark Gorrell and cancer.
m.gorrell@centenary.usyd.edu.au
61295656152 4. Protein biochemistry and inhibitors of DPP4 family
proteases.
●●Liv DPP9 in Liver Disease and Cancer.
TRAINING: We use sophisticated techniques in
Primary liver cancer is the 3rd leading cause of cancer immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, qPCR,
related deaths and there is an urgent need to develop immunoblotting, protease assays, ELISA and confocal
improved medical therapy. Proteases are important microscopy. Projects can be in mouse models or with
in cancer pathogenesis and suit drug development. specimens from RPA hospital.
Dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) 9 is a rapidly emerging
cancer associated protease that is expressed in School at USyd: Pathology
hepatocytes and macrophages. DPP9 inhibition has
shown anti-cancer actions in AML[1] and lung cancer. Keywords: cirrhosis, NASH, cancer, liver, DPP4,
We made the first DPP9 gene knockout mice and we fibrosis, mouse, human
use liver cancer models [2]. We will use new ways to
understand, treat and study liver cancer [3].
TRAINING: The student will use sophisticated
techniques in immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry,
qPCR, immunoblotting, protease assays and confocal
microscopy. A/Prof Patrick Bertolino
Liver Immunology: Patrick Bertolino
REFERENCES: p.bertolino@centenary.org.au
02 9565 6186
1. Johnson et al 2018 DPP8/DPP9 inhibitor-induced
pyroptosis for treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. Nat
Med 24:1151-6
●●Role of CD4 help in shaping the response
of CD8 T cells recognising a liver-expressed
2. Henderson et al 2018 Multiple liver insults synergize antigen
to accelerate experimental hepatocellular carcinoma. Sci Our group is recognised internationally for its
Rep 8:10283 contributions to liver immunology. Using a variety
of transgenic mouse models, we were the first to
3. Wilson et al 2019 Non-invasive fluorescent monitoring demonstrate that high affinity naïve CD8 and CD4 T
of ovarian cancer in an immunocompetent mouse model. cells can be directly activated in the liver independently
Cancers 11:E32 of lymphoid tissues, a unique process that promotes
tolerance. This property might explain why liver
School at USyd: Pathology transplants are spontaneously accepted in many
animal models and why pathogens infecting the liver,
Keywords: Liver diseases, inflammation, cancer, mice such as the hepatitis B and C viruses evade immune
responses, leading to chronic infection and inflammation.
●●Liver and Enzymes To understand how CD4 and CD8 T cells recognising
We discuss with each student their interests, skills and an antigen in the liver “talk” to each other and whether
aspirations in order to design a suitable project within low affinity CD8 T cells are more dependent on CD4
these topics. help than high affinity CD8 T cells, we have generated
several recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors
1. Liver complications of diabetes and chronic fatty liver. (rAAV) specifically targeting different proportions of
hepatocytes to express wild type and mutant forms of the
Research Projects for 2020
19HONORS PROJECTS
model antigen ovalbumin (OVA) with or without a CD4
epitope. The aim of this project is to use these vectors Dr Sj Sijie Shen
to determine how cognate CD4 help and CD8 T cell Centre for Inflammation: Phil Hansbro
affinity influence the development of CD8 T cells towards s.shen@centenary.org.au
tolerance or memory 0295656198
School at USyd: Pathology ●●Modulating microbiome during lung
inflammation
Keywords: T cells, CD4 T cell help, T cells, immunity,
liver pathogens, hepatocytes, tolerance. A full understanding of the immune responses and
progressions of many lung diseases, including severe
steroid resistant (SSR) asthma, and lung cancer is still
lacking. Recent studies suggest the bacterial community
in the gut (gut microbiome) and lungs (lung microbiome)
may play important roles in modulating inflammatory
diseases. Indeed, there is growing interest in the gut-lung
Dr Richard Bagnall axis, and how modulating the gut environment can alter
Molecular Cardiology: Bioinformatics and the progression of lung diseases. However, the specific
changes in microbiome and whether certain bacteria can
Molecular Genetics
alter disease progression is yet to be fully elucidated.
r.bagnall@centenary.org.au
0422141374
Prof Phil Hansbro recently established the Centre for
Inflammation at Centenary Institute. He has extensive
●●Genetic Basis of Inherited Heart Disease expertise in using a clinically relevant smoking model to
The inherited heart diseases are a collection of heart recapitulate lung cancer pathology in mice, in addition to
muscle diseases and electrical rhythm disorders. They the use of a mouse model of SSR asthma. Our research
can affect people of any age and can lead to heart aims to improve diagnostics and treatments for lung
failure or even sudden cardiac death. The inherited heart inflammation. The project examines: 1) changes to the
diseases are caused by changes, or variants, in our DNA gut and lung microbiome following lung inflammation; 2)
that can be passed from parent to child. While major interplay between the microbiome and immune cells in
advances have been made in identifying the genetic lung inflammation; and 3) modulating the gut microbiome
causes of inherited heart diseases, current genetic to influence the progression of lung diseases.
testing approaches fail to identify a cause of disease for
many families. School at UTS: School of Life Sciences
This project seeks to identify novel genetic causes of Keywords: allergy, asthma, cancer, gut, lung,
inherited heart disease. Computational approaches will inflammation, microbiome, mucosal immunity
be used to search genome sequencing data for variants
that directly cause the disease. Identified variants will
be validated in the laboratory using standard clinical
genetic testing approaches. The genetic findings will be
interpreted in the context of available clinical data on
family members. You will learn the basic principles of
how clinical genetic testing is performed, from bench to
bedside, within the world-leading Molecular Cardiology
Program.
School at USyd: Pathology
Keywords: Genetic Testing; Bioinformatics; Cardiac
Disease
Research Projects for 2020
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