Fields of Research

Basic pharmacology
Cancer cell biology
Molecular targets
Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences
Signal transduction
Cancer therapy (excl. chemotherapy and radiation therapy)
Biochemistry and cell biology
Pharmaceutical sciences
Oncology and carcinogenesis
Cardiology (incl. cardiovascular diseases)
Genomics and transcriptomics
Separation science
Cellular nervous system
Clinical sciences
Medical genetics (excl. cancer genetics)
Tumour immunology
Cell neurochemistry
Haematological tumours
Radiation therapy
Metabolic medicine
Cell physiology
Sport and exercise nutrition
Nanobiotechnology
Metal organic frameworks
Cancer genetics
Gene expression (incl. microarray and other genome-wide approaches)

Research Objectives

Expanding knowledge in the health sciences
Clinical health
Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences
Other health
Expanding knowledge in the biomedical and clinical sciences
Expanding knowledge in the chemical sciences
Treatment of human diseases and conditions
Health related to ageing
Health policy evaluation
Diagnosis of human diseases and conditions
Human pharmaceutical products

Career Best Publications

Research Publications

A new selective pharmacological enhancer of the Orai1 Ca²⁺ channel reveals roles for Orai1 in smooth and skeletal muscle functions; ACS Pharmacology and Translational Sciences
A potential role for Janus protein tyrosine kinases in the regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in a model of epidermal growth factor induced breast cancer epithelial-mesenchymal transition [Poster]; 37th Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium
A role for calcium in the regulation of ATP-binding cassette, sub-family C, member 3 (ABCC3) gene expression in a model of epidermal growth factor-mediated breast cancer epithelial-mesenchymal transition; Biochemical and biophysical research communications
A targeted siRNA based screen to identify calcium transporters involved in the calcium-dependent regulation of ABCC3 gene expression in a model of breast cancer epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) [Poster]; Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists Annual Scientific Meeting (ASCEPT2013)
Activation of the ion channel induces epithelial to mesenchymal transition in breast cancer cells; International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Altered purinergic receptor calcium signalling associated with hypoxia in MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells [Poster]; Joint ASCEPT-APSA 2012 Conference, Medication Safe
Altered purinergic receptor-Ca²⁺ signaling associated with hypoxia-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer cells; Molecular oncology
An SAR study of hydroxy-trifluoromethylpyrazolines as inhibitors of Orai1-mediated store operated Ca²⁺ entry in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells using a convenient Fluorescence Imaging Plate Reader assay; Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry
Assessment of calcium responses induced by the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 4 (TRPV4) activator GSK1016790A in MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells using automated epifluorescence microscopy; APSA-ASCEPT Joint Scientific Meeting 2017
Assessment of CXC ligand 12-mediated calcium signalling and its regulators in basal-like breast cancer cells; Oncology Letters
Assessment of Janus kinase family and Src family kinase signalling pathway involvement in epidermal growth factor-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells [Poster]; ESMO Asia 2015 Congress
Assessment of Janus protein tyrosine kinases as potential regulators of epithelial-mesenchymal transition using a model of epidermal growth factor induced breast cancer epithelial-mesenchymal transition [Poster]; ASCEPT-MPGPCR Joint Scientific Meeting
Assessment of ORAI1-mediated basal calcium influx in mammary epithelial cells; Bmc Cell Biology
Assessment of TRPV4-mediated calcium influx induced by receptor activation in MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells; ASCEPT-MPGPCR Joint Scientific Meeting 2016: Therapeutic targeting: right place, right time, right effect
Ca²⁺mediates extracellular vesicle biogenesis through alternate pathways in malignancy; Journal of Extracellular Vesicles
Calcium influx pathways in breast cancer: opportunities for pharmacological intervention; British Journal of Pharmacology
Calcium signaling in brain cancers: roles and therapeutic targeting; Cancers
Calcium signalling in hypoxia-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer cells [Poster]; 13th International Meeting of the European Calcium Society (ECS2014)
Calcium signalling in medulloblastoma: an in silico analysis of the expression of calcium regulating genes in patient samples; Genes
Calcium signalling in progression of Groups 3 and 4 medulloblastomas [Poster]; 31st Lorne Cancer Conference
Characterisation of the redox changes in the HIV envelope glycoprotein during cell entry
Comparative in vitro toxicology of novel cytoprotective short-chain naphthoquinones; Pharmaceuticals
Consequences of pharmacological inhibition of store-operated calcium entry on calcium signalling in MDA-MB- 468 breast cancer cells; APSA-ASCEPT Joint Scientific Meeting 2017
Control of mature protein function by allosteric disulfide bonds; Antioxidants and Redox Signaling
Development of a fluorescent imaging plate reader (FLIPR TETRA) based screen to identify regulators of store operated calcium entry in breast cancer cells; 2nd Annual Conference & Exhibition of the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS2013)
Development of a high-throughput agar colony formation assay to identify drug candidates against medulloblastoma; Pharmaceuticals
Differential engagement of ORAI1 and TRPC1 in the induction of vimentin expression by different stimuli; Laboratory Investigation
Differential gene expression of calcium regulators in distinct subgroups and molecular subtypes of medulloblastoma from publicly available clinical datasets and their correlation with patient survival; 4th Brain Tumours Conference 2018: From Biology to Therapy
Distinct pharmacological profiles of ORAI1, ORAI2, and ORAI3 channels; Cell Calcium
Disulfide bond that constrains the HIV-1 gp120 V3 domain is cleaved by thioredoxin; Journal of Biological Chemistry
EMT and drug resistance: calcium and the regulation of ATP binding cassette, subfamily c, member 3 (ABCC3) gene expression [Poster]; 6th International Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Meeting (TEMTIA 2013)
EMT signaling: potential contribution of CRISPR/Cas gene editing
Endogenous anti-cancer candidates in GPCR, ER stress, and EMT; Biomedicines
Evaluation of known and novel inhibitors of Orai1-mediated store operated Ca²⁺ entry in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells using a fluorescence imaging plate reader assay; Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry
Expression and role of LIN28B in medulloblastoma [Poster]; 33rd Lorne Cancer Conference
Hypoxia-induced reactive oxygen species mediate N-cadherin and SERPINE1 expression, EGFR signalling and motility in MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells; Scientific reports
Identification of TRPC1 as a modulator of AKT phosphorylation in HCC1569 breast cancer cells; ASCEPT-MPGPCR Joint Scientific Meeting 2016: Therapeutic targeting: right place, right time, right effect
Immune checkpoints in targeted-immunotherapy of pancreatic cancer: new hope for clinical development
Induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in breast cancer cells is calcium signal dependent; Oncogene
Inhibition of T-type calcium channels suppresses cell proliferation and invasion and promotes apoptosis in human medulloblastoma cell lines [Poster]; 33rd Lorne Cancer Conference
Inhibition of T-type Calcium Channels Suppresses Cell Proliferation and Invasion of Medulloblastoma Cells via Alterations in Cell Metabolic Activities [Poster]; ANZCHOG Virtual21 Annual Scientific Meeting
Interview - Nine News Queensland
Interview for University of Queensland News
Investigating the activity and role of store operated calcium entry (SOCE) in a cellular model of senescence; Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists 2021 Virtual Annual Scientific Meeting
Janus kinases and Src family kinases in the regulation of EGF-induced vimentin expression in MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells; The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology
Oncosis and apoptosis induction by activation of an overexpressed ion channel in breast cancer cells; Oncogene
ORAI1 and ORAI3 in breast cancer molecular subtypes and the identification of ORAI3 as a hypoxia sensitive gene and a regulator of hypoxia responses; Cancers
Pharmacological inhibition of store-operated calcium entry in MDA-MB-468 basal A breast cancer cells: consequences on calcium signalling, cell migration and proliferation; Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences
Plasma membrane calcium channels in the regulation of hypoxia events in breast cancer cells; ASCEPT-MPGPCR Joint Scientific Meeting 2016: Therapeutic targeting: right place, right time, right effect
Plasma membrane ion channels and epithelial to mesenchymal transition in cancer cells; Endocrine-related cancer
Reactive oxygen species alters the expression of specific calcium channels during hypoxia-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer cells; Joint 8th International Human Peroxidase Meeting & 6th Meeting of the Societies for Free Radical Research Australasia and Japan
Reactive oxygen species and calcium signalling in the induction of hypoxia-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition; ASCEPT-BPS Joint Scientific Meeting: Tomorrow’s medicines: pharmacology, patients and populations
Reduced monomeric CD4 is the preferred receptor for HIV; Journal of Biological Chemistry
Role of hypoxia-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in calcium signalling in breast cancer cells (Poster); 24th EORTC - NCI - AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics
Role of reactive oxygen species in calcium signalling in hypoxia-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition [Poster]; Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists Annual Scientific Meeting (ASCEPT2013)
Role of reactive oxygen species in hypoxia-mediated cellular responses in breast cancer cells; 7th Biennial Meeting of Society for Free Radical Research-Asia: Advanced Oxidative Stress Research for Health Benefits and Well beings
Stepwise Degradable Nanocarriers Enabled Cascade Delivery for Synergistic Cancer Therapy; Advanced Functional Materials
T-type calcium channel inhibitors induce apoptosis in medulloblastoma cells associated with altered metabolic activity; Molecular Neurobiology
Targeting calcium signalling pathways to control medulloblastoma; 16th Meeting of Asian Society for Neuro-Oncology
The interplay between HIF-1 and calcium signalling in cancer; International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology
TRPC1 in the regulation of pathways involved in breast cancer metastasis; ASCEPT-MPGPCR Joint Scientific Meeting 2016: Therapeutic targeting: right place, right time, right effect
TRPC1 is a differential regulator of hypoxia-mediated events and Akt signalling in PTEN-deficient breast cancer cells; Journal of Cell Science
TRPC1 regulates hypoxia associated events in PTEN-deficient breast cancer cells; Calcium Signalling Gordon Research Conference: Intracellular calcium signals: Generation, Function and Therapeutic Intervention
Tumour microenvironment factors and the promotion of epithelial to mesenchymal transition in MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells [Poster]; ASCEPT-MPGPCR Joint Scientific Meeting
University of New South Wales Graduate Research Student News, November 2010

Research Projects

A novel tool to enhance Orai1 ; CSIRO-Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
Characterisation and targeting of Lin28 for the control of paediatric medulloblastoma; Brain Foundation (BrainF)
Identifying shared mechanisms in response to radiotherapy; Cancer Council of Tasmania (CCT)
Repurposing of FDA approved drugs against medulloblastoma; Cancer Council of Tasmania (CCT)
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)
Identification of novel therapeutic targets for paediatric medulloblastoma
Novotech consultancy

Research Candidate Supervision