Research in the School of Molecular & Biomedical Sciences

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The School of Molecular & Biomedical Science brings together the fundamental disciplines of Biochemistry, Genetics, Microbiology and Immunology, and Physiology. The School supports a large number of active researchers in these fields of research, providing excellent research opportunities for Honours and PhD students.

The School offers a dynamic research environment, encompassing the complete spectrum of research activities from the gene through to its phenotypic function in the intact organism. The School is home for a number of world-class scientists, working on a wide range of experimental systems, including several of the most
important model systems used in international science. The research conducted in the School is well funded and the School is equipped with state of the art facilities. School researchers attracted almost $12 million in grant funding in 2007.

The School houses the Special Research Centre for Molecular Genetics of Development and the University Research Centre for Human Movement Control. A new Research Centre for Infectious Diseases is currently being established, as well as the new Adelaide Neurosciences Research Institute in which the School is a major partner. The School is an integral part of the Australian Centre for Hepatitis and HIV Research and coordinates the federal Network in Genes and Environment in Development.

Research Areas:

• Biochemistry
• Genetics
• Microbiology & Immunology
• Physiology

• Institutions with Affiliated Researchers

Biochemistry

Visit the Biochemistry website for more information about research laboratories.

Structural Biology and Drug Design
Dr Grant Booker

Protein Structure and Cell Signalling During Mouse Development
Dr Bryan Haines

Protein and Proteome Analyses
Dr Peter Hoffmann

Molecular and Cell Biology of ReproductiveTissue Differentiation
Professor Richard Ivell, Dr Ravinder Anand-Ivell

Post-Transcriptional Gene Regulatory Mechanisms and the Control of Development
Dr Kirk Jensen

Molecular Control of Pluripotent Stem Cells
Dr Rebecca Keough

Cell Signalling: The Regulation of Cell-Cell Adhesion and How It Impacts Upon Developmental Mechanisms, Cancer Progression and Inflammatory Processes
Dr Yeesim Khew-Goodall

Molecular Components of Cellular Oxygen Sensing and the Hypoxic Response
Dr Dan Peet

Sphingolipid-Mediated Signal Transduction Pathways and How They Contribute To Cancer, Inflammatory Diseases, Hypertension and Other Conditions
Dr Stuart Pitson

Biological Switches: Molecular Mechanisms in the Utilisation of Alternative Developmental States
Dr Keith Shearwin

Molecular Genetics of Brain Development in Mice and Man
Dr Paul Thomas

The Structure, Function and Regulation of Biotin Enzymes and Insulin-Like Growth Factors
Professor John Wallace

Signal Regulated Transcription Factors
Associate Professor Murray Whitelaw

Genetics

Visit the Genetics website for more information about research laboratories.

Bioinformatics and Computational Genetics
Professor David Adelson

Therapies for Bone and Brain in Lysosomal Storage Disorders
Dr Sharon Byers

Evolution of Australian Fauna – Speciation and Population Structure
Dr Steven Cooper

Science Education Research and Development
Dr Michelle Coulson

Control of Blood Formation and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Leukaemia
Associate Professor Richard D’Andrea

Computational Evolutionary Genetics
Dr Jack da Silva

Identification of Genes and Understanding of Molecular Mechanisms Leading to Intellectual Disability
Associate Professor Jozef Gecz

Genome Organisation, Chromosome Evolution and Sex Determination in Vertebrates
Dr Frank Grutzner

Genetic Dissection of Gene Regulatory Networks
Dr Joan Kelly

Using Zebrafish Embryos to Investigate the Normal Development of the Nervous System, the Genetics of Dementia, and Transgenic Technology
Dr Michael Lardelli

Use of Animal Model Genetic Systems (Drosophilia and Zebrafish) to Dissect the Normal and Pathogenic Molecular Pathways Influenced by Genes Associated with Human Diseases Such as Huntington’s Disease and Cancer
Associate Professor Robert Richards

Eukaryotic Genome Evolution (Genetic Interactions Between Cytoplasmic Organelles and the Nucleus) and Biotechnology and Genetic Manipulation to Enhance Cotton Fibre Quality
Professor Jeremy Timmis

Microbiology and Immunology

Visit the Microbiology and Immunology website for more information about research laboratories.

Stress Response in Pathogenic Bacteria
Dr Stephen Kidd

Tuberculosis and Other Mycobacterial Infections
Dr Ivan Bastian

Replication and Pathogenesis of Hepatitis C Virus
Dr Michael Beard

Pathogenesis of HIV/AIDS and Dengue Haemorrhagic Shock Syndrome
Dr Li Peng, Dr Jill Carr, Professor Chris Burrell

Immunopathology of Parasitic Infections and Asthma
Dr Lindsay Dent

Medical Mycology
Associate Professor David Ellis

Molecular Mechanisms in Bacterial Pathogenesis
Dr Mike Heuzenroeder

Gastroenteritis Virus Infections of Humans
Dr Geoff Higgins

Pathogenesis and Prevention of Infection with Hepatitis B-Like Viruses
Dr Allison Jilbert

Respiratory Virus Infections
Dr Tuckweng Kok

Cellular Immunology and Autoimmune Diseases
Associate Professor Graham Mayrhofer

Role of Chemokines in Immunity and Disease Processes
Professor Shaun McColl

Pathogenesis of Enteric Bacterial Infections
Dr Renato Morona

Pathogenesis and Prevention of Pneumococcal and E. coli Infections
Professor James Paton

Enteric Virus Infections
Dr Rodney Radcliffe

Food Microbiology and Food Borne Bacterial Infections
Dr Connor Thomas

Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
Professor John Turnidge

Physiology

Visit the Physiology website for more information about research laboratories.

Rhythmicity and Neuroeffector Control of Visceral Smooth Muscle
Dr Elizabeth Beckett

Sensory Function and Control of the Gastrointestinal Tract
Professor Ashley Blackshaw, Dr Stuart Brierley

Diet, Exercise and Cardiovascular Risk
Professor Peter Clifton

Discovery and Characterisation of Tumor Markers for Colorectal Cancer as Diagnostic and Therapeutic Targets
Dr Jennifer Hardingham

Novel Tests of Gut Function and Treatments for Gastrointestinal Disease
Associate Professor Gordon Howarth

Nutritional Physiology, Exercise and Metabolic Fitness
Professor Peter Howe, Associate Professor Jon Buckley

Molecular and Cell Biology of Reproductive Tissue Differentiation
Professor Richard Ivell, Dr Ravinder Anand-Ivell

Cardiovascular Health and Disease
Dr Lorraine Mackenzie, Professor Prash Sanders

Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Sleep-Disordered Breathing
Professor Doug McEvoy

Visual Physiology of Motion Detection
Dr Karin Nordstrom

Cortical Inhibition and Neuroplasticity in Fine Control of Human Jaw and Finger Movements
Associate Professor Mike Nordstrom

Visual Physiology, Biomedical Engineering and Computational Neuroscience
Dr David O’Carroll, Dr Russell Brinkworth

The Hormonal Regulation of Calcium Metabolism and Bone Metabolism
Dr Peter O’Loughlin, Dr Paul Anderson, Professor Howard Morris

Sensory Function and Control of the Gastrointestinal Tract
Dr Amanda Page

Neurophysiological Investigation of Human Motor Cortical Plasticity
Dr Mike Ridding

Molecular and Cellular Physiology of Ion Channel Function
Dr Grigori Rychkov

Cardiac Electrophysiology and Biophysics
Associate Professor David Saint

Cortical and Spinal Control of Movement with Exercise and Training and the Effects of Ageing
Dr John Semmler

Neurophysiology and Human Movement
Dr Gabrielle Todd

Micronutrient as Potential Therapy for Gastrointestinal Diseases and Infections
Dr Cuong Tran

Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Laboratory
Dr Scott Willoughby

Molecular Physiology of Vascular Smooth Muscle
Dr David Wilson

Children’s Bone Growth and Injury Repair
Associate Professor Cory Xian

Aquaporin Channel Physiology and Drug Discovery
Professor Andrea Yool

Institutions with Affiliated Researchers

Child Health Research Institute

CSIRO

Evolutionary Biology Unit of the SA Museum

Hanson Institute

Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science

Repatriation General Hospital

Royal Adelaide Hospital

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital

University of South Australia

Women’s and Children’s Hospital

More Information

Further details are available, please contact the Faciulty of Sciences office.