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Dr Dannielle Upton
Conjoint Associate Lecturer

Dr Dannielle Upton

  • Bachelor of Science (Biomedical) 2008-2010, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia
  • Honours 2011, University of Technology and Kolling Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
  • PhD (Sydney Medical School) 2013-2016, University of Sydney and ANZAC Research Institute, Sydney Australia
Medicine & Health
School of Clinical Medicine

Dr Dannielle Upton is currently undertaking postdoctoral research at the Children's Cancer Institute (CCI) in the Brain Tumour Research Group under the guidance of Dr Maria Tsoli and A/Prof David Ziegler. Her current research aims to improve treatments for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Gliomas (DIPG). Dannielle has a PhD in Reproductive biology and cancer obtained through the University of Sydney (Sydney Medical School) and the ANZAC Research Institute. During her PhD studies she examined the role of FSH in reproductive aging, health and cancer development. Since completing her PhD in 2017, Dannielle planned and executed an ARC funded project at the Brain and Mind Research Institute as a Graduate Research Assistant investigating the effects of anaesthesia on brain biochemistry.   Dannielle is an experienced teaching associate and casual academic through the University of Technology with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. She was a selected attendee of the highly competitive Frontiers in Reproduction course in 2016 at the Marine Biological Laboratory and has since returned as a Chief Research Facilitator for the course in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
E-mail
dupton@ccia.org.au
Location
Children's Cancer Institute at the Lowy Cancer Research Centre
  • Journal articles | 2022
    Upton DH; Ung C; George SM; Tsoli M; Kavallaris M; Ziegler DS, 2022, 'Challenges and opportunities to penetrate the blood-brain barrier for brain cancer therapy', Theranostics, vol. 12, pp. 4734 - 4752, http://dx.doi.org/10.7150/THNO.69682
    Journal articles | 2021
    Khan A; Gamble LD; Upton DH; Ung C; Yu DMT; Ehteda A; Pandher R; Mayoh C; Hébert S; Jabado N; Kleinman CL; Burns MR; Norris MD; Haber M; Tsoli M; Ziegler DS, 2021, 'Dual targeting of polyamine synthesis and uptake in diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas', Nature Communications, vol. 12, pp. 971, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-20896-z
    Journal articles | 2021
    Ung C; Tsoli M; Liu J; Cassano D; Pocoví-Martínez S; Upton DH; Ehteda A; Mansfeld FM; Failes TW; Farfalla A; Katsinas C; Kavallaris M; Arndt GM; Vittorio O; Cirillo G; Voliani V; Ziegler DS, 2021, 'Doxorubicin-loaded gold nanoarchitectures as a therapeutic strategy against diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma', Cancers, vol. 13, pp. 1 - 20, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/cancers13061278
    Journal articles | 2020
    Upton DH; Popovic K; Fulton R; Kassiou M, 2020, 'Anaesthetic-dependent changes in gene expression following acute and chronic exposure in the rodent brain', Scientific Reports, vol. 10, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-66122-6
    Journal articles | 2019
    Tsoli M; Shen H; Mayoh C; Franshaw L; Ehteda A; Upton D; Carvalho D; Vinci M; Meel MH; van Vuurden D; Plessier A; Castel D; Drissi R; Farrell M; Cryan J; Crimmins D; Caird J; Pears J; Francis S; Ludlow LEA; Carai A; Mastronuzzi A; Liu B; Hansford J; Gottardo N; Hassall T; Kirby M; Fouladi M; Hawkins C; Monje M; Grill J; Jones C; Hulleman E; Ziegler DS, 2019, 'International experience in the development of patient-derived xenograft models of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma', Journal of Neuro-Oncology, vol. 141, pp. 253 - 263, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11060-018-03038-2
    Journal articles | 2019
    Tsoli M; Shen H; Mayoh C; Franshaw L; Ehteda A; Upton D; Carvalho D; Vinci M; Meel MH; van Vuurden D; Plessier A; Castel D; Drissi R; Farrell M; Cryan J; Crimmins D; Caird J; Pears J; Francis S; Ludlow LEA; Carai A; Mastronuzzi A; Liu B; Hansford J; Gottardo NG; Hassall T; Kirby M; Fouladi M; Hawkins C; Monje M; Grill J; Jones C; Hulleman E; Ziegler DS, 2019, 'Correction to: International experience in the development of patient-derived xenograft models of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (Journal of Neuro-Oncology, (2019), 141, 2, (253-263), 10.1007/s11060-018-03038-2)', Journal of Neuro-Oncology, vol. 141, pp. 265, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11060-018-03060-4
    Journal articles | 2018
    Upton DH; Walters KA; McTavish KJ; Holt J; Handelsman DJ; Allan CM, 2018, 'Reproductive failure in mice expressing transgenic follicle-stimulating hormone is not caused by loss of oocyte quality', Biology of Reproduction, vol. 98, pp. 491 - 500, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioy015
    Journal articles | 2016
    Hazra R; Upton D; Desai R; Noori O; Jimenez M; Handelsman DJ; Allan CM, 2016, 'Elevated expression of the sertoli cell androgen receptor disrupts male fertility', American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol. 311, pp. E396 - E404, http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00159.2016
    Journal articles | 2016
    Powell KL; Stevens V; Upton DH; McCracken SA; Simpson AM; Cheng Y; Tasevski V; Morris JM; Ashton AW, 2016, 'Role for the thromboxane A 2 receptor β-isoform in the pathogenesis of intrauterine growth restriction', Scientific Reports, vol. 6, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep28811
    Journal articles | 2016
    Upton DH; Walters KA; Allavena RE; Jimenez M; Desai R; Handelsman DJ; Allan CM, 2016, 'Global or Granulosa Cell-Specific Pten Mutations in Combination with Elevated FSH Levels Fail to Cause Ovarian Tumours in Mice', Hormones and Cancer, vol. 7, pp. 316 - 326, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12672-016-0272-3
    Journal articles | 2015
    Upton DH; Fuller ES; Colvin EK; Walters KA; Jimenez M; Desai R; Handelsman DJ; Howell VM; Allan CM, 2015, 'Granulosa Cell-Specific Brca1 Loss Alone or Combined with Trp53 Haploinsufficiency and Transgenic FSH Expression Fails to Induce Ovarian Tumors', Hormones and Cancer, vol. 6, pp. 142 - 152, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12672-015-0222-5
    Journal articles | 2014
    Hazra R; Upton D; Jimenez M; Desai R; Handelsman DJ; Allan CM, 2014, 'In vivo actions of the sertoli cell glucocorticoid receptor', Endocrinology, vol. 155, pp. 1120 - 1130, http://dx.doi.org/10.1210/en.2013-1940
    Journal articles | 2013
    Hazra R; Corcoran L; Robson M; McTavish KJ; Upton D; Handelsman DJ; Allan CM, 2013, 'Temporal role of sertoli cell androgen receptor expression in spermatogenic development', Molecular Endocrinology, vol. 27, pp. 12 - 24, http://dx.doi.org/10.1210/me.2012-1219
  • Conference Abstracts | 2022
    Ung C; Upton DH; Venkat P; Pandher R; Curnis F; Corti A; Nicolazzo J; Mayoh C; Tsoli M; Ziegler DS, 2022, 'DIPG CELLS ALTER THE PERMEABILITY OF THE BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER IN THE BRAINSTEM LEADING TO TREATMENT FAILURE', in NEURO-ONCOLOGY, OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC, Vol. 24, pp. 22 - 22, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/noac079.078
    Conference Abstracts | 2022
    Upton D; George S; Liu J; Cai DD; Su SY-C; Rayner B; Tsoli M; Ziegler D, 2022, 'DIPG-08. The development of ACT001 as a novel therapeutic for diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas', in Neuro-Oncology, Oxford University Press (OUP), Vol. 24, pp. i19 - i19, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/noac079.065
    Conference Abstracts | 2021
    Khan A; Gamble L; Upton D; Yu D; Pandher R; Mayoh C; Burns MR; Norris MD; Haber M; Tsoli M; Ziegler DS, 2021, 'POLYAMINE PATHWAY INHIBITION IS A POTENT NOVEL THERAPEUTIC STRATEGY AGAINST DIFFUSE INTRINSIC PONTINE GLIOMA', in NEURO-ONCOLOGY, OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC, Vol. 23, pp. 40 - 41, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/noab090.163
    Conference Abstracts | 2021
    Ung C; Upton D; Tsoli M; Ziegler D, 2021, 'HGG-10. THE BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER IN DIPG: INVESTIGATING REGION-SPECIFIC DIFFERENCES IN PERMEABILITY', in Neuro-Oncology, Oxford University Press (OUP), Vol. 23, pp. i19 - i19, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/noab090.076
    Conference Abstracts | 2021
    Upton D; George S; Liu J; Cai D; Su SY-C; Manoharan N; Foresto S; Hassall T; Tsoli M; Ziegler D, 2021, 'ACT001-A PROMISING THERAPEUTIC FOR DIFFUSE INTRINSIC PONTINE GLIOMAS', in NEURO-ONCOLOGY, OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC, Vol. 23, pp. 20 - 20, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/noab090.080
    Conference Abstracts | 2021
    Upton D; Valvi S; Liu J; Yeung N; George S; Ung C; Khan A; Franshaw L; Ehteda A; Shen H; Orienti I; Farruggia G; Reynolds P; Tsoli M; Ziegler D, 2021, 'POTENTIAL NEW THERAPIES FOR DIFFUSE INTRINSIC PONTINE GLIOMAS IDENTIFIED THROUGH HIGH THROUGHPUT DRUG SCREENING', in NEURO-ONCOLOGY, OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC, Vol. 23, pp. 42 - 42, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/noab090.169
    Conference Abstracts | 2020
    Ehteda A; Franshaw L; Liu J; Joshi S; Simon S; Pang CNI; Giorgi F; Pandher R; Ung C; Tolhurst O; Mayoh C; Khan A; Hayden E; Gopalakrishnan A; Trebilcock P; Upton D; Lehmann R; George S; Vittorio O; Tsoli M; Gurova K; Gudkov AG; Norris MD; Haber M; Ziegler DS, 2020, 'DIPG-27. TARGETING FACILITATES CHROMATIN TRANSCRIPTION (FACT) AS A NOVEL STRATEGY FOR DIFFUSE INTRINSIC PONTINE GLIOMA (DIPG) THAT ENHANCES RESPONSE TO HISTONE DEACETYLASE (HDAC) INHIBITION', in Neuro-Oncology, Oxford University Press (OUP), Vol. 22, pp. iii292 - iii292, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/noaa222.076
    Conference Abstracts | 2020
    Khan A; Gamble L; Upton D; Yu D; Ehteda A; Pandher R; Mayoh C; Burns M; Norris M; Haber M; Tsoli M; Ziegler D, 2020, 'DIPG-15. POLYAMINE PATHWAY INHIBITION IS A POTENT NOVEL THERAPEUTIC STRATEGY AGAINST DIFFUSE INTRINSIC PONTINE GLIOMA', in Neuro-Oncology, Oxford University Press (OUP), Vol. 22, pp. iii289 - iii290, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/noaa222.065
    Conference Abstracts | 2020
    Ung C; Tsoli M; Liu J; Cassano D; Upton D; Ehteda A; Mansfield F; Failes T; Kavallaris M; Arndt G; Vittorio O; Voliani V; Cirilo G; Ziegler DS, 2020, 'DDEL-12. NANOPARTICLE DELIVERY OF DOXORUBICIN FOR THE TREATMENT OF DIFFUSE INTRINSIC PONTINE GLIOMA (DIPG)', in Neuro-Oncology, Oxford University Press (OUP), Vol. 22, pp. iii286 - iii286, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/noaa222.047
    Conference Papers | 2020
    Ung C; Tsoli M; Liu J; Cassano D; Upton D; Ehteda A; Mansfield F; Failes T; Kavallaris M; Arndt G; Vittorio O; Voliani V; Cirilo G; Ziegler DS, 2020, 'NANOPARTICLE DELIVERY OF DOXORUBICIN FOR THE TREATMENT OF DIFFUSE INTRINSIC PONTINE GLIOMA (DIPG)', in NEURO-ONCOLOGY, OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC, pp. 286 - 286, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000606080100048&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Abstracts | 2020
    Upton D; Valvi S; Liu J; Yeung N; George S; Ung C; Khan A; Franshaw L; Ehteda A; Shen H; Orienti I; Farruggia G; Nath C; Reynolds P; Tsoli M; Ziegler D, 2020, 'DIPG-07. HIGH THROUGHPUT DRUG SCREENING IDENTIFIES POTENTIAL NEW THERAPIES FOR DIFFUSE INTRINSIC PONTINE GLIOMAS (DIPGs)', in Neuro-Oncology, Oxford University Press (OUP), Vol. 22, pp. iii288 - iii288, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/noaa222.058

Current Funding

  • 2019-2021: Mark Hughes Foundation Innovation Grant: Upton D (CIA) Developing new treatments for childhood brain cancer.

Dr Dannielle Upton was awarded a University Postgraduate award scholarship during her PhD studies.

She has been awarded travel scholarships including:

  • the International Mammalian Genome Society Student Travel Scholarship (2015)
  • Concord Repatriation General Hospital Travel Award (2015)
  • Society for Reproductive Biology Travel Scholarship (2014, 2015)
  • Endocrine Society Australia Travel Scholarship (2015)

She was also awarded the Frontiers in Reproductive Biology Scholarship (2016), James Kentley Memorial Scholarship (2016) and Royston George Brooker Scholarship (2016) to attend the Frontiers in Reproductive Biology Course.

During her research career she was been awarded presentation awards such as:

  • Kids Cancer Alliance (KCA) - Early Career Researcher Oral Presentation Finalist (2020)
  • Cancer-Lifespan Research symposium – Best Postgraduate Presentation Award (2015)
  • Endocrine Society Australia Annual meeting – ESA Novartis Junior Scientist Award Finalist (2015)
  • Society of Reproductive Biology Annual meeting – Oozoa Award Finalist (2015)
  • Women’s Health and Maternal Medicine Conference - Best Undergraduate Presentation Award (2011).

  1. High Throughput screening approaches to find new treatments for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Gliomas

  2. Utilizing single cell RNA sequencing to examine Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Gliomas and the blood brain barrier

  3. Levi's Project: A future for kids with DIPG