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- Higher degree by research (PhD) student & Postdoctoral Research FellowInstitute for Molecular Bioscience
- Research AssistantInstitute for Molecular Bioscience
- PhD studentInstitute for Molecular Bioscience
Genomics in Health Team
Group Leader
Associate Professor Sonia Shah
National Heart Foundation Future Leader FellowNational Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellow, Senior Principal Research Fellow –Group LeaderInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:Researcher biography:My group's research uses large-scale genomic data to address knowledge gaps in disease, with a particular focus on cardiovascular disease.
Research programme
1. Cardiovascular disease research using big-data and genomics: with the goal of improving prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. By focusing on underrepresented groups, including women, my research aims to also address inequity in cardiovascular outcomes. I am the lead of the South Asian Genes and Health in Australia (SAGHA) study, which aims to increase representation of Australian South Asians in cardiovascular and genomics research. See saghaus.org for further details.
2. Drug genomics: I'm interested in using genomic approaches to predict drug effects, including identification of drug repurposing opportunities as well as identifying unknown adverse effects of medication.
3. Liver transplant research: In this collaboration with the QLD Liver Transplant Unit, we are using genomics to understand the effect of normo-thermic perfusion (a new organ storage method) on liver function, with the long-term goal of improving our ability to predict transplant outcomes.
Career summary: I was awarded my PhD from University College London (UK) in cardiovascular genetics. I began my post-doctoral fellowship under the mentorship of Prof Peter Visscher at the Queensland Brain Institute in 2013. Between 2016-2018, I was the lead analyst for the International Heart Failure Genetics Consortium (HERMES). In 2018, I was awarded an NHMRC Early Career Researcher Fellowship to investigate the relationship between cardiovascular and brain-related disorders using large-scale genetic and genomic data, under the mentorship of Prof Naomi Wray. I currently hold a National Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellowship.
Recognition:
2024 Australian Academy of Science Ruth Stephens Gani Medal for outstanding contribution to genetics research
2023 1 of 5 global finalists for the Nature Inspiring Women in Science (Scientific Achievement Award)
2023 Lifesciences QLD Rose-Anne Kelso Award
2023: Named in Australia's Top 25 Women in Science by Newscorp
2022 Queensland Young Tall Poppy Award
2022 UQ Foundation Research Excellence Award
2021/2022 Australian Superstar of STEM,
2020 Genetic Society of Australasia Early Career Award
2020 Women in Technology Rising Star Science Award
Researchers
Dr Clara Jiang
Postdoctoral Research FellowInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:Researcher biography:Clara Jiang is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, the University of Queensland. Clara’s research focuses on using genomic and transcriptomic analysis to investigate the genetic basis of cardiovascular and psychiatric disorders, with a particular focus on female health, as well as using statistical genomic approaches to explore possible opportunities for drug repurposing. Clara graduated from the University of Queensland with Bachelor of Advanced Science (First Class Honours) in 2017, and was awarded the University Medal. Clara was awarded her PhD at the University of Queensland in 2021, where she utilised bioinformatic approaches and molecular experiments to decipher the genetic aetiology of breast cancer, specifically the regulatory role of transposons or ‘jumping genes’ in modulating the transcriptional landscape in the cancer state. Clara is also a UQ Wellness ambassador and an advocate for promoting equity, diversity and inclusion in academia.
Students
Ms Zoe Hunter
PhD studentInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:Mr Utpala Nanda Chowdhury
Researcher profile is public:0Supervisor:- PhD studentInstitute for Molecular Bioscience
Parton Group
Group Leader
Professor Robert Parton
Group Leader, Centre for Cell Biology of Chronic DiseaseARC Laureate Fellow - Group LeaderInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:Researcher biography:Our research focuses on understanding how cells work and what goes wrong in disease. We are studying the role of cellular organelles in defence against pathogens, the molecular changes underlying muscle disease, and optimising methods to deliver therapeutics to specific cell types in whole animals.
Professor Robert Parton is an ARC Laureate Fellow, a group leader in the IMB Centre for Cell Biology of Chronic Disease, and Deputy Director of the Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and an Associate Member of EMBO.
Body:Highlights
Professor Rob Parton studies cells - the building blocks of life. His unique methodology uses electron microscopy to create 3D models of cells, which he then explores interactively with virtual reality.
As a cell biologist, Professor Parton has always been fascinated by the cell and captivated by the beauty that visualising a cell through microscopy reveals. He is the only researcher using this technique. Following his degree in Scotland and PhD in England, he went on to participate in fundamental science at The European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg, Germany. It was a pivotal chapter in his career.
He is best known for understanding how the plasma membrane of cells works, and particularly the crater-like indents in the cell membrane called Caveolae. By revealing how the cell structure works, and most importantly what goes wrong in disease, Professor Parton is identifying the drug targets of the future. The range of techniques that he uses, working at the cellular level right through to using animals in cell biology, sets his research apart.
Professor Parton is Chief Editor of Traffic and Associate Editor for Molecular Biology of the Cell. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.
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Researchers
Mr Charles Ferguson
Manager, Scientific Services/OutputsInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:0Supervisor:Dr Tom Hall
Senior Research OfficerInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:Dr Ye-Wheen Lim
Higher degree by research (PhD) student & Postdoctoral Research FellowInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:Dr Harriet Lo
Research FellowInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:Mr Nick Martel
Research AssistantInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:0Supervisor:Dr Susan Nixon
Laboratory ManagerInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:0Supervisor:Mr James Rae
Senior Principal ResearcherInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:0Supervisor:Dr Yeping Wu
Postdoctoral Research FellowInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:Dr Thai Duong Luong
Postdoctoral Research FellowInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:Dr Igor Bonacossa Pereira
Postdoctoral ScientistInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:Dr Dominic Hunter
Senior Research AssistantInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:0Supervisor:Students
Ms Le Nguyen
PhD StudentInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:Mr Lucas Thor
PhD StudentInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:Ms Navia John
PhD StudentInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:0Supervisor:Miss Haolan Sun
PhD StudentInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:0Supervisor:
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