CURRENT STUDENT PROJECTS
Student Project
Investigating the therapeutic potential of ciclopirox olamine for treatment of metastatic melanoma
Student Project
Investigating the therapeutic potential of ciclopirox olamine for treatment of metastatic melanoma
Project Outline
This project will assess the effects of CPX on melanoma growth, survival and cell cycle. Gene expression profiling will be used to delineate the mechanism by which CPX acts on melanoma cells. One or more of the key genes identified will be further characterised in melanoma cells as potential drivers of the CPX effect. Additionally the project will utilize xenografts as a model of melanoma to assess whether CPX can inhibit tumour growth in vivo.
This project provides an opportunity to work with enthusiastic scientists in a laboratory with a strong track record, use exciting techniques and identify novel pathways regulated by a drug that can potentially be rapidly translated to the clinic to treat metastatic melanoma.
Contact
Professor Peter Leedman – [email protected]
Chief supervisor
Professor Peter Leedman
Other supervisor
Rikki Brown
Project suitable for
Honours
Essential qualifications
BSc with a background in some molecular biology
Start date
Late 2021
Student Project
Characterising the role of mirR-7 in therapeutic sensitivity in liver cancer
Student Project
Characterising the role of mirR-7 in therapeutic sensitivity in liver cancer
Project Outline
This project aims to investigate the effects of miR-7 in combination with sorafenib and other agents, such as erlotinib (an EGFR inhibitor) and miR-34a (a tumour suppressor miR), on liver cancer cell growth and therapeutic resistance. Initially, this will involve several in vitro assays to determine whether miR-7 works in combination with these agents to inhibit key processes and signalling pathways. Following this, the best combinations will be investigated further in multiple complementary in vivo approaches to assess the effect on tumour growth. An additional aspect of the project will be to investigate whether miR-7 can restore sensitivity in sorafenib-resistant liver cancer cells which we have generated in the laboratory.
This project provides an opportunity to work in the area of microRNAs and cancer in a laboratory with a strong track record in the functional biology of these molecules, utilise a broad range of exciting in vitro and in vivo techniques, and characterise a novel approach to overcoming therapeutic resistance (arguably one of the highest priority areas in cancer biology today).
Contact
Professor Peter Leedman – [email protected]
Chief supervisor
Professor Peter Leedman
Other supervisor
Dr Tasnuva Kabir
Project suitable for
PhD
Essential qualifications
BSc with a background in molecular biology
Start date
Late 2021
Student Project
Synthetic lethal screeens to identify microRNAs that rescue therapeutic sensitivity in liver cancer
Student Project
Synthetic lethal screeens to identify microRNAs that rescue therapeutic sensitivity in liver cancer
Project Outline
This project aims to use a technique called synthetic lethal screening to identify miRNAs that are involved in the rescue of sensitivity to liver cancer cells treated with sorafenib. This will involve screening of a miRNA library for specific miRNAs that rescue sensitivity of liver cancer cells to sorafenib. This would be followed by further studies investigating the functional biology of the miRNA(s) in liver cancer, one or more of which could become additional novel targets for therapy.
This project provides an opportunity to work in the area of microRNAs and cancer in a laboratory with a strong track record in the functional biology of these molecules, perfect a technique that involves cutting edge technology and identify novel regulators of therapeutic resistance (arguably one of the highest priority areas in cancer biology today).
Contact
Professor Peter Leedman – [email protected]
Chief supervisor
Professor Peter Leedman
Other supervisor
Dr Tasnuva Kabir
Project suitable for
Honours
Essential qualifications
BSc with a background in molecular biology
Start date
Late 2021
Student Project
Assessing the role of thyroid receptor beta in breast cancer
Student Project
Assessing the role of thyroid receptor beta in breast cancer
Project Outline
A student joining our laboratory will be involved in pursuing our hypothesis that THB is inhibitory to breast cancer development and that patients may ultimately be treated with TRB drugs to inhibit tumour growth. Further, that manipulation of TRB activity may influence cell sensitivity to current chemotherapeutic agents used to treat patients. Interestingly, small molecule activators of TRB are available for clinical use which were developed to reduce cholesterol. They offer significant potential to be repurposed to treat women with TNBC.
Our research utilises a broad range of molecular and cellular techniques, histological assessment and high end in vivo imaging. By using systems and agents that closely model the clinical scenario we aim for our findings to be more quickly translated into improvements in clinical practice.
Contact
Professor Peter Leedman – [email protected]
Dr Andrew Woo – [email protected]
Chief supervisor
Professor Peter Leedman
Other supervisor
Dr Andrew Woo
Project suitable for
Honours, Masters, PhD
Essential qualifications
BSc in Biological Sciences to do honours, BSc with honours or equivalent for PhD or Masters
Start date
Late 2021