CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS
Project
Urea synthesis defect resulting from OTC deficiency
Project
Urea synthesis defect resulting from OTC deficiency
Project Outline
Projects on offer follow from recent progress we have made:
We have generated LPC lines from the Spf-ash mouse. These have to be extensively characterised to confirm their LPC status and their ability to differentiate into hepatocytes and cholangiocytes.
We have preliminary evidence to suggest that mESC maintained in culture medium that supports LPCs can assume an LPC phenotype.
Research area
Liver disease
Laboratory
Liver disease and carcinogenesis
Contact
Professor George Yeoh
[email protected]
Project
Characterising wild type LPCs, Spf-ash LPCs and LPCs generated from mESC
Project
Characterising wild type LPCs, Spf-ash LPCs and LPCs generated from mESC
Project Outline
LPC lines have been established from p53 -/- and p53 +/+ mice. LPC lines from both mice grow in soft agar and produce tumours when injected subcutaneously into nude mice; some do not. We are defining the differences between these cell lines at the molecular and cellular level to identify features which are causative and those which are consequential in terms of cancer. Specifically we are documenting chromosomal changes and focusing on oncogene candidates identified by gene profiling. Two anti-apoptotic genes IAP and Yap are prime suspects and their expression at the mRNA level (through qPCR) and protein level (by Western Blot) are increased in a range of cell lines correlating with tumorigenesis during culture. In contrast, expression of tumour suppressor proteins from the INK4a/ARF locus, p16INK4a and Arf respectively is lost. Current studies follow changes in LPCs as they are passaged and progressively become tumorigenic. We also document changes in expression of p53, p16 and Arf to determine if changes in their expression are causal or consequential to the process of transformation.
Research area
Liver cancer
Laboratory
Liver disease and carcinogenesis
Contact
Professor George Yeoh
[email protected]
Project
Understanding the cellular dynamics that underlie the conversion of a non-tumorigenic LPC line into a tumorigenic line
Project
Understanding the cellular dynamics that underlie the conversion of a non-tumorigenic LPC line into a tumorigenic line
Project Outline
Research area
Liver cancer
Laboratory
Liver disease and carcinogenesis
Contact
Professor George Yeoh
[email protected]
Project
Understanding interactions between LPCs and inflammatory cells in the liver
Project
Understanding interactions between LPCs and inflammatory cells in the liver
Project Outline
Research area
Liver cancer
Laboratory
Liver disease and carcinogenesis
Contact
Professor George Yeoh
[email protected]
CURRENT STUDENT PROJECTS
Student Project
Understanding the cellular and molecular basis of liver progenitor cell transformation to cancer
Student Project
Understanding the cellular and molecular basis of liver progenitor cell transformation to cancer
Project Outline
Chief supervisor
Professor George Yeoh
Project suitable for
Honours
Essential qualifications
BSc with major in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology or Genetics
Start date
Semester 1 or Semester 2