Cell Biology Laboratory (Hill)
Research
My current research in the Cell Biology Laboratory is the cell biology of cell differentiation, development and cell death. In particular how this relates to neural development and the cell cytoskeleton. A key aspect of this research is developing links between concepts in basic sciences and how these relate to clinical diseases.
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Current Projects
Neural Apoptosis and Glaucoma. Loss of sight with glaucoma is associated with retinal ganglion cell death in the retina. We have developed an in vitro assay to model this human disease. This model will allows dissection of the mechanisms of cell death and the testing of possible therapeutic agents.
Neural Apoptosis and Delirium. Is there an association between this neurological condition and cell death?
Neural Cell Line Development . Neural cell lines are a valuable tool in the understanding of neural development, differentiation and death. In our laboratory we are characterising the properties of various cell lines as they can replicate primary neurons without the difficult isolation and property of being terminally differentiated.
Messenger RNA localization within cells. This is a recently discovered biological mechanism to allow positional translation of proteins and is associated with other localized processes and neural disease (eg Fragile X).
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Collaborations
Neural Apoptosis and Glaucoma with Prof. Minas Coroneo (Prince of Wales Hospital)
Neural Apoptosis and Delirium with A/Prof Gideon Caplan (Prince of Wales Hospital)
Neural Cell Line Development Prof. Neraaj Agarawal
Stem Cell Differentiation A/Prof Ali Amini (Razi University)
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Teaching Projects
UNSW Embryology
A comprehensive Embryology teaching program used worldwide since 1997.
UNSW Cell Biology
An online teaching resource for Cell Biology for both Science and Medicine.
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Grants
Ophthalmic Research Institute of Australia (with M Coroneo) (2002)
Allergan Australia (with M Coroneo) (2002)
Australian Research Council (with D Tracey) (1997)
Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Foundation (1996)
National Health and Medical Research Council (1995-97, 2001)
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Publications
Russell, PJ., Bennett, S., Joshua, A, Yu, Y., Downing, SR., Hill, MA., Kingsley, EA., Mason, RS. and Berry, J. (1999) Elevated Expression of FGF-2 does not cause prostate cancer progression in LNCaP cells. Prostate Jun 15;40(1):1-13
Tos, P., Battiston, B., Geuna, S. Giacobini-Robecchi, MG., Hill, MA., Lanzetta, M. and Owen, ER. (2000) Tissue specificity in rat peripheral nerve regeneration through combined skeletal muscle and vein conduit grafts. Microsurgery. 20(2):65-71
Agar, A. Yip, S., Hill, MA. and MT. Coroneo (2000) Pressure related apoptosis in neuronal cell lines. J. Neuroscience Research 15;60(4):495-503.
Amini, A., Cheraghi, E. Safaei, MR. and Hill, M. (2003) The role of eugenol in the reduction of teratogenic effect of retinoic acid on skeletal morphology of mice embryo. Iranian Medical J of Yakhteh, 4(16): 195-200
Moorhouse AJ, Li S, Vickery RM, Hill MA, Morley JW. (2004) A patch-clamp investigation of membrane currents in a novel mammalian retinal ganglion cell line. Brain Res. Apr 2;1003(1-2):205-8.
Hill, MA. (2004) Becoming Human. Science 305(5681): 157c.
Kalapesi FB, Coroneo MT, Hill M.A. (2005) Human ganglion cells express the alpha-2 adrenergic receptor: relevance to neuroprotection. Br J Ophthalmol. Jun;89(6):758-63.
Agar, A., Li S., Agarwal, N., Coroneo, MT. and Hill, MA. (2006) Retinal ganglion cell line apoptosis induced by hydrostatic pressure Brain Res. May 1;1086(1):191-200.
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