Fields of Research

Pharmaceutical sciences
Basic pharmacology
Signal transduction
Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences
Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Neurology and neuromuscular diseases
Ophthalmology
Biologically active molecules
Gastroenterology and hepatology
Biochemistry and cell biology
Systems physiology
Molecular targets
Organic chemical synthesis
Separation science
Central nervous system
Cell development, proliferation and death
Medicinal and biomolecular chemistry
Cancer therapy (excl. chemotherapy and radiation therapy)
Medical biochemistry and metabolomics
Clinical sciences
Metabolic medicine
Sensory systems
Proteins and peptides
Cellular nervous system
Animal physiology - systems
Allergy
Neurosciences
Animal cell and molecular biology
Analytical chemistry
Analytical biochemistry
Enzymes
Gene and molecular therapy
Medical biochemistry - proteins and peptides (incl. medical proteomics)
Oncology and carcinogenesis
Traditional, complementary and integrative medicine
Genetic immunology
Health services and systems
Motor control
Toxicology (incl. clinical toxicology)
Cardiology (incl. cardiovascular diseases)
Cancer cell biology
Cell neurochemistry
Cell metabolism
Peripheral nervous system
Cellular immunology
Optical technology
Autonomic nervous system
Ophthalmology and optometry
Aquaculture
Solid tumours
Behavioural neuroscience
Traditional Chinese medicine and treatments
Chemotherapy
Pharmacogenomics
Cell physiology
Animal physiology - cell
Tumour immunology
Epigenetics (incl. genome methylation and epigenomics)
Immunology

Research Objectives

Clinical health
Expanding knowledge in the health sciences
Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences
Other health
Human pharmaceutical products
Treatment of human diseases and conditions
Public health (excl. specific population health)
Human pharmaceutical treatments
Expanding knowledge in the chemical sciences
Expanding knowledge in the biomedical and clinical sciences
Prevention of human diseases and conditions
Behaviour and health
Preventive medicine
Health policy evaluation
Efficacy of medications
Other environmental management
Fisheries - aquaculture
Health related to ageing
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander determinants of health

Career Best Publications

Research Publications

In-vitro suppression of IL-6 and IL-8 release from human pulmonary epithelial cells by non-anticoagulant fraction of enoxaparin; PLoS One
A novel form of ataxia oculomotor apraxia characterized by oxidative stress and apoptosis resistance; Cell Death and Differentiation
A novel profluorescent nitroxide as a sensitive probe for the cellular redox environment; Free Radical Biology & Medicine
A Novel Role for hSMG-1 in Stress Granule Formation; Molecular and Cellular Biology
A subgroup of spinocerebellar ataxias defective in DNA damage responses; Neuroscience: An International Journal
Adenylosuccinic acid therapy ameliorates murine Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy; Scientific reports
Age-dependent antinociception and behavioral inhibition by morphine; Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior
Alzheimer's Disease and NQO1: is there a link?; Current Alzheimer Research
Amide linked redox-active naphthoquinones for the treatment of mitochondrial dysfunction; MedChemComm
Analyzing the regulation and function of ATM; Methods in Molecular Biology
Anti-inflammatory activity of fucoidan extracts in vitro; Marine Drugs
Aprataxin, a novel protein that protects against genotoxic stress; Human Molecular Genetics
Asperuloside enhances taste perception and prevents weight gain in high-fat fed mice; Frontiers in Endocrinology
ATM signaling and genomic stability in response to DNA damage
ATM-dependent phosphorylation of MRE11 controls extent of resection during homology directed repair by signalling through Exonuclease 1; Nucleic Acids Research
ATM-Dependent Phosphorylation of RAD50 regulates DNA repair and cell cycle control; Journal of Biological Chemistry
ATP activates ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) in vitro. Importance of autophosphorylation; Journal of Biological Chemistry
Benzoquinone Derivatives as Modulators of Mitochondrial Function
Bioactivity profiles of cytoprotective short-chain quinones; Molecules
Bitter melon protects against ER stress in LS174T colonic epithelial cells; BMC Alternative Medicine
Border between natural product and drug: comparison of the related benzoquinones idebenone and coenzyme Q₁₀; Redox Biology
Capillary electrophoresis for automated on-line monitoring of suspension cultures: Correlating cell density, nutrients and metabolites in near real-time; Analytica Chimica Acta
Characterisation of colonic dysplasia-like epithelial atypia in murine colitis; World Journal of Gastroenterology
Characterization of the amino acids essential for the photo- and radioprotective effects of a Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor -derived nonapeptide; Protein Engineering
CK2 phosphorylation-dependent interaction between aprataxin and MDC1 in the DNA damage response; Nucleic Acids Research
Comparative in vitro toxicology of novel cytoprotective short-chain naphthoquinones; Pharmaceuticals
Copper transporter 1 in human colorectal cancer cell lines: Effects of endogenous and modified expression on oxaliplatin cytotoxicity; Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry
Current and potential therapeutic strategies for the treatment of ataxia-telangiectasia
Data on prolonged morphine-induced antinociception and behavioral inhibition in older rats; Data in Brief
Defective responses to DNA single- and double-strand breaks in spinocerebellar ataxia
DeltaNp63 transcriptionally regulates ATM to control p53 Serine-15 phosphorylation; Molecular Cancer
Development of a high-throughput agar colony formation assay to identify drug candidates against medulloblastoma; Pharmaceuticals
Dimethyl fumarate and its esters: a drug with broad clinical utility?
Direct amidation to access 3-Amido-1,8-naphthalimides including fluorescent scriptaid analogues as HDAC inhibitors; Cells
Down-regulation of ATM protein sensitizes human prostate cancer cells to radiation-induced apoptosis; Journal of Biological Chemistry
Dramatic extension of tumor latency and correction of neurobehavioral phenotype in Atm-mutant mice with a nitroxide antioxidant; Free Radical Biology and Medicine
Effect of Combination L-Citrulline and Metformin Treatment on Motor Function in Patients With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Randomized Clinical Trial; JAMA Network Open
Epidermal Growth Factor Sensitizes Cells to Ionizing Radiation by Down-regulating Protein Mutated in Ataxia-Telangiectasia; Journal of Biological Chemistry
Exposure of colonic epithelial cells to oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress causes rapid potassium efflux and calcium influx; Cell Biochemistry and Function
Expression of copper transporters in colorectal cancer cells and its relation to oxaliplatin; ASCEPT-MPGPCR 2014
Factors influencing the quality of Myrmecia pilosula (Jack Jumper) ant venom for use in in vitro and in vivo diagnosis of allergen sensitization and in allergen immunotherapy; Clinical and Experimental Allergy
Features of idebenone and related short-chain quinones that rescue ATP levels under conditions of impaired mitochondrial complex I; PLoS One
Fucoidan extracts ameliorate acute colitis; PLoS One
Functional consequences of sequence alterations in the ATM gene
Functional link between BLM defective in Bloom's syndrome and the ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated protein, ATM; Journal of Biological Chemistry
Heparins in ulcerative colitis: proposed and potential reasons for inconsistent clinical outcomes; Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology
Idebenone as a novel therapeutic approach for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy; European Neurological Review
Idebenone as a Novel Therapeutic Approach for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Idebenone for Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy; Drugs of today
Idebenone Protects against Acute Murine Colitis via Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms; International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Idebenone protects against retinal damage and loss of vision in a mouse model of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy; PLoS One
Idebenone protects against spontaneous chronic murine colitis by alleviating endoplasmic reticulum stress and inflammatory response; Biomedicines
Idebenone treatment in Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy: rationale and efficacy
Idebenone: when an antioxidant is not an antioxidant; Redox Biology
Identification of key pro-survival proteins in isolated colonic goblet cells of Winnie, a murine model of spontaneous colitis; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Identification of pro-and anti-proliferative oligosaccharides of heparins; Integrative Biology
Improved muscle function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy through L-arginine and metformin: an investigator-initiated, open-label, single-center, proof-of-concept-study; PLoS One
Low dose ionizing radiation-induced activation of connexin 43 expression; International Journal of Radiation Biology
Metabolic stability of new mito-protective short-chain naphthoquinones; Pharmaceuticals
Micro RNA expression after ingestion of fucoidan; a clinical study; Marine Drugs
Mitochondrial dysfunction in a novel form of autosomal recessive ataxia; Mitochondrion
Mixed alkoxy/hydroxy 1,8-naphthalimides: expanded fluorescence colour palette and in vitro bioactivity; Chemical Communications
Molecular mechanisms of intestinal inflammation leading to colorectal cancer; AIMS Biophysics
Morphine dosing strategy plays a key role in the generation and duration of the produced antinociceptive tolerance; Neuropharmacology
Non-anticoagulant fractions of enoxaparin suppress inflammatory cytokine release from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of allergic asthmatic individuals; PLoS One
Non-Anticoagulant Oligosaccharides of Enoxaparin Relieve Chemical-Induced Acute Colitis; Advances in Medicine and Biology
Novel Benzoquinone Derivatives and Use Thereof as Modulators of Mitochondrial Function
Novel short-chain quinones to treat vision loss in a rat model of diabetic retinopathy; International Journal of Molecular Sciences
NQO1 protects against clioquinol toxicity; Frontiers in Pharmacology
NQO1-Dependent Redox Cycling of Idebenone: effects on cellular Redox potential and energy levels; PLoS One
On-line sequential injection-capillary electrophoresis for near-real-time monitoring of extracellular lactate in cell culture flasks; Journal of Chromatography A
Opioid analgesia and opioid-Induced adverse effects: A review
Opioid receptor-dependent modulation of insulin-release in pancreatic beta-cells; UK Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biosciences
Opioids in Depression: Not Quite There Yet
Opioids in depression: not quite there yet; UK Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biosciences
Opposing effects of low molecular weight heparins on the release of inflammatory cytokines from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of asthmatics; PLoS One
Optic Neurodegeneration: Time to Act
Orally Administered Enoxaparin Ameliorates Acute Colitis by Reducing Macrophage-Associated Inflammatory Responses; PLoS One
Pathway analysis of fucoidan activity using a yeast gene deletion library screen; Marine drugs
Peptide with radio protective effect
Pilosulins: A review of the structure and mode of action of venom peptides from an Australian ant Myrmecia pilosula; Toxicon
Pressurized hot water extraction as a viable bioprospecting tool: isolation of coumarin natural products from previously unexamined Correa (Rutaceae) species; ChemistrySelect
Profiling the effects of repetitive morphine administration on motor behavior in rats; Molecules
Protection of cells in connection with treatment with chemical agents
Senataxin, defective in ataxia oculomotor apraxia type 2, is involved in the defense against oxidative DNA damage; The Journal of Cell Biology
Short-chain naphthoquinone protects against both acute and spontaneous chronic murine colitis by alleviating inflammatory responses; Frontiers in Pharmacology
Site-directed mutagenesis of the ATM promoter: Consequences for response to proliferation and ionizing radiation; Genes, Chromosomes and Cancer
Standard of care versus new-wave corticosteroids in the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy: Can we do better?; Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases
Stress-based animal models of depression: Do we actually know what we are doing?; Brain research
T-type calcium channel inhibitors induce apoptosis in medulloblastoma cells associated with altered metabolic activity; Molecular Neurobiology
Targeting CTR1 to enhance the uptake and cytotoxicity of oxaliplatin in colorectal cancer cells; ASCEPT-APSA 2016
Targeting mitochondrial function to protect against vision loss; Expert Opinion on Emerging Therapeutic Targets
Targeting mitochondrial function to treat optic neuropathy; Mitochondrion
Targeting Nrf2 for the treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy; Redox Biology
The complexity of p53 stabilization and activation; Cell Death and Differentiation
The orally active melanocortin-4 receptor antagonist BL-6020/979: a promising candidate for the treatment of cancer cachexia; Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle
Therapeutic strategies for Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy: A current update
Time-Resolved Pharmacological Studies using Automated, Online Monitoring of Five Parallel Suspension Cultures; Scientific Reports
Towards complete identification of allergens in Jack Jumper (Myrmecia pilosula) ant venom and their clinical relevance: An immunoproteomic approach; Clinical and Experimental Allergy
Transcriptional down-regulation of Ataxia-Telangiectasia Mutated protein (ATM) radiosensitizes human prostate cancer cells; 12th Quadrennial Congress of the International Association for Radiation Research
Treatment with L-citrulline and metformin in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: study protocol for a single-centre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial; Trials
Tumour expression of copper transporters in colorectal cancer patients; ASCEPT 2017
WO2018/191789 A1: Therapeutic compounds and methods
Zebrafish - on the move towards ophthalmological research; Eye

Research Projects

Bi-functional opioids as a novel cancer treatment; Cancer Council of Tasmania (CCT)
Can idebenone be used to reduce severity of stroke?; Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation (RHHRF)
Development of a therapeutic agent for a chemotherapy-induced neuropathy; Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation (RHHRF)
Fucoidan and gut health; Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (DISER)
Generating and characterizing a reliable rodent model type 2 diabetes; University of Tasmania (UTAS)
HDAC6 inhibition to rescue axon degeneration in ALS; FightMND (FMND)
Investigation into an overlooked pathway towards anti-cancer immunity. Inhibitory motifs in the extracellular domains of immune checkpoint molecules; University of Tasmania Foundation Inc (UTF)
Marine Bioproducts Cooperative Research Centre; Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (DoIIS)
Neuroprotective function of novel short chain-quinones; Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation (RHHRF)
Non anticoagulant molecules of heparin for the management of ulcerative colitis; Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation (RHHRF)
Novel short-chain quinones against inherited blindness; Rebecca L Cooper Medical Research Foundation (RLCMRF)
Pre-clinical toxicity assessment to select drug development candidates against mitochondrial dysfunction; National Foundation for Medical Research and Innovation (NFMRI)
Repurposing of FDA approved drugs against medulloblastoma; Cancer Council of Tasmania (CCT)
Special delivery to the brain: Using cutting-edge ultrasound to increase drug delivery to reduce brain damage after a stroke; Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation (RHHRF)
Supporting healthy aging with fucoidan; Marine Bioproducts CRC (MBCRC)
Targeting Lin28 for the control of the most aggressive subgroups of medulloblastoma; University of Tasmania (UTAS)
Anti-inflammatory efficacy of Marinovas Fucoidan & interactions with microbiota
Chiesi Consultancy
Comparison of idebenone and CoQ10
Fucoidan and cell cycle regulation
Fucoidan and stem cell mobilisation
Fucoidan extract in the treatment of ulcerative colitis in an animal model
Isolation and synthesis of potential new therapeutic agents from Hemp (Cannabis sativa) and their biological evaluation
Pre-clinical toxicity assessment of test compounds
Short chain quinones against diabetic retinopathy
Functional Role of Aprataxin: Mutated in Ataxia with Oculomotor Apraxia
Protection against spontaneous and radiation-induced intestinal cancer by the novel antioxidant CTMIO
Role of ATX/hSMG1 protein in responding to DNA damage and maintaining genome stability
Senataxin, a novel protein involved in the DNA damage response
Use of the novel nitroxide antioxidant CTMIO in a GAA repeat mouse model of Friedreich’s Ataxia

Research Candidate Supervision

An Investigation of Heavy Metals and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Different Drugs and Herbal Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms from the Local Market
Analgesic and Pharmacokinetic Studies of the Bifunctional Opioid UFP-505
Analysis of Fucoidan and Its Potential Utility in Diabetes Management
Copper Transporter 1 as a Cellular determinant of the Sensitivity of Colorectal Cancer to Oxaliplatin Chemotherapy
Develop and validate zebrafish cardiac and muscle physiology models of beta2 agonist effects and pharmacokinetics
Effect of Agmatine in a Mouse Model of Mitochondrial Optic Neuropathy.
In Vivo Investigation of Behavioural Influence of Six Bifunctional Opioid Ligands
In Vivo Pharmacological Characterization of the Bifunctional Opioid (UFP-505)
Pharmaceutical Studies on Jack Jumper Ant Venom Immunotherapy Products
Secondary Metabolites from Tasmanian Plants
Synthesis of New Derivatives Targeting Mitochondrial Disease
The Role of Mitochondria in the Visual Function of Zebrafish (Danio. rerio)
Therapeutic Potential of Heparin in the Management of Ulcerative Colitis