Department of Pathology Honours Projects
Dr Mark Dziegielewski
Application of computers and multimedia in Pathology education.
Prof Nick Hawkins
Molecular changes which drive the process of development or colorectal cancer. Emphasises on the correlation between microscopic appearances of cancer and the key genetic and epigenetic changes that underpin cancer development.
Dr Mark Raftery
Proteomic analysis of cells/tissues using protein separation mass spectrometry techniques. Provides an opportunity to apply state-of-the-art techniques in proteomics to a disease condition, working in collaboration with the researchers listed above and below.
A/Prof Gary Velan
Multimedia and education in Pathology.
Infection and Inflammation Research Group
A/Prof Minote Apte / Dr Phoebe Phillips
Project 1: Molecular mechanisms of pancreatic inflammation and pancreatic fibrosis.
Project 2: Pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer, in particular the role of tumour-stromal interactions in cancer progression.
Skills Learnt: Cell culture techniques, protein chemistry (immunoblotting, ELISA, enzyme assays), and immunostaining, RNA and DNA isolation, RT-PCR, working with animal models of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
Prof Carolyn Geczy / Dr Ken Hsu
Project 1: Characterisation of novel S100 calcium binding proteins in chronic disease. These novel proteins act like cytokines and affect neutrophil and macrophage functions, and mast cell activation. We have found novel anti-oxidant functions of these proteins indicating critical roles in asthma and atherosclerosis.
Project 2: Regulating cancer cell growth and invasion by S100 proteins.
Using gene manipulation, S100 proteins in cancer cells will be knocked-down or over-expressed. Analysis of the influence of this on cell survival and invasion in cell-based assays and in animal models will be performed.
Project 3: Transcriptional regulation of S100 genes in myeloid cells and cancer cells. How S100 genes are turned-on in particular environments (eg in a tumour) will be studied, with emphasis on particular signaling pathways and transcription factors.
Skill acquired: Gene manipulation and protein analysis, gene analysis at molecular levels, cell-based assays for apoptosis and migration, and assessment of animal models.
A/Prof Nick Di Girolamo
Inflammation and eye disease. Tissue breakdown and injury repair of the eye. The effects of UV light on the eye.
Project 1: Characterizing human conjunctival stem cells in vitro for clinical applications
Project 2: Developing non-cellular treatment strategies for patients with persistent corneal epithelial defects
- e.g. discovering and applying wound healing factors to hydrogel polymers and determining whether they are appropriate slow release devices to clinical application
Project 3: Understanding how transplanted corneal SC maintain a healthy cornea long-term.
- organotypic, ex vivo models using pig, bovine and human corneas
Project 4: Understanding the developmental processes of the human eye with a particular focus on corneal, retinal and lens development.
Project 5: Understanding how benign and malignant tumours (pterygium and Conjunctival SCCs develop in man.
- Search for p53 mutations in pterygium tissue
- Search for abnormal stem cell activity in pterygia
- Search for viral infection (e.g. human papillomavirus) in ocular surface tumours
Prof Michael Grimm
Mechanisms of inflammation and leucocyte recruitment in inflammatory bowel disease.
Project 1: Examination of regulatory and effector mechanisms involved in protection against intestinal inflammation following appendicectomy.
Project 2: Chemokine and chemokine receptor determinants of leucocyte migration to the intestine in health and disease.
Skills learnt: Flow cytometry, ELISpot, cytokine production, immunohistochemistry, real time PCR and microarrays. Mouse studies: abdominal surgery, inducing colonic inflammation, clinical assessments. Human studies: health questionnaire studies, tissue disaggregation, cell isolation and tissue culture.
Dr John Hunt / Prof Patrick McNeil
Project 1: Mast cells: genetics of novel mast cell proteases and role of mast cells/mast cell proteases in inflammation, including in rheumatoid arthritis.
Project 2: Leucocyte immunoglobulin-like receptors in rheumatoid arthritis.
Project 3: Autoantibodies against CRP, SAA and lipoproteins in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Skills learnt: Cell culture, recombinant protein production, molecular biology techniques including PCR, qRT-PCR, immunoblot and immunohistochemistry, and microarrays. Some projects involve animal studies (knock-out mice), and others involve studying patient samples.
Prof Rakesh Kumar / Dr Cristan Herbert
Project 1: Macrophages and inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of asthma
Project 2: Role of subsets of T helper cells in asthma
Project 3: Early-life environmental injury and infection in the development and progression of childhood asthma
Skills learnt: Laboratory studies utilise animal models (inbred mice) and a variety of quantitative histopathology and immunology assays e.g. immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, RT-PCR, multiplex cytokine assays.
Prof Andrew Lloyd / Dr Ute Vollmer-Conna / Dr Barb Cameron
Project 1: Determinants of the severity and course of acute infection: genetic, immunological and neurobehavioural factors contributing to illness outcomes.
Project 2: Making leucocytes move: the role of chemokines and their receptors in the regulation of trafficking of effector and regulatory T lymphocytes into the liver in hepatitis C infection.
Project 3: Protective immunity against hepatitis C: defining the characteristics of cellular immune responses against the virus in high risk individuals with good outcomes, including those who remain uninfected and those who clear infection.
Skills learnt: Laboratory studies: flow cytometry, ELISpot, cytokine production, immunohistochemistry, real time PCR and microarrays. Neurophysiological studies: autonomic function and exercise performance studies. Epidemiology: qualitative and quantitative data collection methods in the field; mathematical modeling and multivariate statistical analyses of population data
Dr Patsie Polly
Project: The research theme of this group is cancer mediated inflammation and its role in causing cachexia or body wasting. Impact of systemic and metabolic changes on muscle due to: altered cytokine levels; presence of tumours and cachexia are focus areas of clinical importance. Our studies particularly focus on characterising regulatory molecules, such as transcription factors, that play a role in the pathogenesis of muscle wasting, fatigue and weakness. Molecular mechanisms that underlie muscle loss and compromised contractile function are being examined in both mouse and cell culture models.
A/Prof Nicodemus Tedla / Dr Katherine Bryant
Modulation of immune responses with novel immune regulatory receptors (leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptors). Regulation of the threshold and amplitude of cellular activation in rheumatoid arthritis and allergic inflammations. The mechanisms of viral and tumour immune evasion.
Project 1: Identification and characterization of novel ligands for LILRs
Project 2: The role of LILRA2 in bacterial phagocytosis and killing in neutrophils
Skills learnt: Flow cytometry, ELISA, immunohistochemistry, immunoblots, ligand binding assays, subcloning, phagocytosis and bactericidal assays, protein expression and real time PCR.
Prof Paul Thomas
Project 1: Nitric oxide, oxidative stress and the lung. Projects include: the role of NO in airway inflammation; oxidative-antioxidative balance, and functional studies on how these mediators affect airway cells.
Project 2: Exhaled breath condensate and breath analysis in smoking-related lung diseases and asthma-this rapidly progressing area of research is leading to new advances in how we can monitor lung diseases such as lung cancer, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Skills learnt: Working with patients in a hospital setting, and laboratory skills including cell biology studies and protein detection assays.
Prof Denis Wakefield
Project 1: Role of molecular mimicry in the pathogenesis of HLA B27 related diseases.
Project 2: Clinical features and treatment of chronic anterior uveitis.
Project 3: Clinical features and long term follow up of HLA B27 uveitis.
Skills learnt: Data handling including collection of clinical information and databasing. T cell response assays including flow cytometry and ELISpot.
Dr Amany Zekry
Pathogenesis of liver injury in chronic hepatitis C virus infection and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Project 1: Role of the innate and cellular immune responses in mediating liver injury in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
Project 2: Role of microRNA in the liver in the regulation of host responses to obesity and hepatitis C infection.
Project 3: The hepatitis C cell culture model: examining the interactions between lipids, cytokines, and hepatitis C virus.
Project 4: Novel approach to characterise metabolic and effector CD8+ T cells function during chronic HCV infection. This study is examining the role of various metabolic and interferon signalling molecules on the effector function of cytotoxic CD8+ T-cells during HCV infection
Skills learnt: Real time PCR and microarray techniques, flow cytometry, ELISpot, immunohistochemistry, cell culture, quantitative PCR, phos-flow cytometry, ELISA, multiplex cytokine assay, cell sorting, target gene knockdown and proteome analysis.