Cellular and Genetic Medicine Unit
About the CGMU
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 genetics. Projects are focused on understanding:
- cell structure in cancer, neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disease, and diabetes;
- stem cell recruitment and cell-based therapies;
- the genetic basis of behaviour and anxiety.
Our approaches include molecular cell biology, microscopy (confocal, live cell imaging, TIRF), drug design, gain of function and loss of function (siRNA, transgenic, knock-out), mouse models of human disease, behavioural, metabolic and physiological analyses, lentiviral transduction, small animal imaging, stem cell isolation, sorting and transplantation, and self-assembling gel delivery systems, yeast 2-hybrid, mass spectroscopy, array and ChiP analyses.
Research Groups
The CGMU consists of 4 interactive research groups: the
Neuromuscular and Regenerative Medicine Unit (NRMU), Oncology Research Unit (ORU), Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory (NRL) and Tissue Repair Unit (TRU).
Research Themes
NRMU: 1)
Metabolism and the Cytoskeleton - the study of the role of the cell’s cytoskeleton in metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes (
Dr Anthony Kee and
Prof Edna Hardeman); 2)
Stem Cell Biology - the investigation of adult stem cell recruitment in regeneration and muscle stem cell transplantation strategies in pre-clinical animal models (Dr Antonio Lee and
Prof Edna Hardeman); and 3)
Molecular Neuroscience - the investigation of the cause of the neurodevelopmental disease Williams-Beuren syndrome with the aim of developing insights into the genetic basis of human mood and behaviour (
Dr Stephen Palmer and
Prof Edna Hardeman).
ORU: 1) Drug Development - the development of compounds which target the cell cytoskeleton for the treatment of proliferative diseases such as cancer (Dr Justine Stehn and Prof Peter Gunning); and 2) Anti-cytoskeletal Drug Target Validation - the investigation of the molecular mechanisms by which a specific component of the cell’s cytoskeleton impacts on the cell cycle (Dr Galina Schevzov and Prof Peter Gunning).
NRU: Neurodegeneration and Repair - the investigation of the role of the actin cytoskeleton during neuronal development and regeneration and its involvement in the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases (Dr Thomas Fath).
TRU: Tissue Repair - improving repair of tissue damage during ageing, disease or congenital abnormalities. Current projects focus on angiogenesis, muscle stem cells and skin wound healing (Dr Nalini Pather).
Back: Josephine Joya, Renee Szolokai, Dr Antonio Lee, Dr Justine Stehn, Dr Stephen Palmer, Jeff Hook, Shane Whittaker, Prof. Peter Gunning,
Kylie Taylor, Jason Coombes, Dr Thomas Fath. Front: Dr Galina Schevzov, Jocelyn Widagdo, Dr Christine Lucas, Melissa Desouza, Julie Ward,
Claire Martin, Teresa Bonello, Prof. Edna Hardeman, Nicky Curthoys