The Cellular and Genetic Medicine Unit (CGMU) is engaged in research activities that span from bench to bedside and encompass the disciplines of cell biology, neuroscience, stem cells and regenerative medicine, and genetics.
Projects are focused on understanding and developing:
- cell structure in cancer cell proliferation, neuronal morphogenesis, neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disease
- development of novel chemotherapeutics for the treatment of childhood cancer
- stem cell recruitment and cell-based therapies
- the role of epigenetics in cancer-associated metabolic syndrome
- the genetic and cellular basis of behaviour and anxiety
Our approaches employ state-of-the-art techniques including microscopy (confocal, live cell imaging, TIRF, intracellular intravital, AFM, super resolution STED and PALM), drug design and development, gain-of-function and loss-of-function (siRNA, shRNA, transgenic, knock-out, lenti- and AAV-mediated, CRISPR/Cas), mouse models, behavioural, metabolic and physiological analyses, small animal imaging, stem cell isolation, sorting and transplantation, yeast 2-hybrid, mass spectroscopy, array, RNA-Seq and ChiP analyses.
Major funding is provided by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, the Australian Research Council, The Kids Cancer Project, the Cancer Institute of New South Wales, the Cancer Council NSW, and the Association Francaise contre les Myopathies.
