Research Focus

WAIMR conducts research across a broad spectrum of diseases, but with a particular focus on the genetic basis of disease. Our research can be broadly categorized into the following areas:

Cancer Diabetes Genetic Epidemiology

LIWA Genetics Unit Molecular Endocrinology Molecular Genetics

Neurotrauma Ageing

Cancer

WAIMR's approach to the broad area of cancer research is to identify specific genetic defects in cancer/leukaemia cells, and environmental factors which cause cancers.

• Leukemia and Blood Disorders
  This research involves studies of genes able to regulate blood cell production, which when mutated cause leukemias.

  - Senior Researchers: Prof Peter Klinken, Dr Robin Scaife, Dr Louise Winteringham

• Hormone-Dependent Cancers
  This research aims to determine the mechanisms that control how hormones act in tumours, particularly breast and prostate carcinomas.

  - Senior Researchers: Prof Peter Leedman, Dr Shane Colley

• Synthetic Biology and Drug Discovery
  This research focuses on re-engineering bacteria and yeast to create microscopic drug factories.

  - Senior Researchers: Dr Oliver Rackham

• Cell Signalling
  This research focuses on the molecule Lyn and its signalling pathways, which has been linked to several specific leukaemias as well as prostate, colon and breast cancer.

  - Senior Researchers: Dr Evan Ingley

• Mitochondrial Medicine and Biology
  This research aims to dissect the oxidative stress pathways that are involved in the progression of tumourigenesis to find new targets for early detection and prognosis of cancer.

  - Senior Researchers: Dr Aleksandra Filipovska

• Cancer Gene Regulation
  This research group is interested in the changes in gene expression that occur in cancer.

  - Senior Researchers: Dr Archa Fox

• Liver Disease and Carcinogenesis
  This research is directed towards the identification of factors which encourage liver progenitor cells to grow, and those which convert them into liver parenchymal cells and bile duct cells. The mechanisms underlying transformation of liver progenitor cells into cancer cells is also under investigation.

  - Senior Researchers: Prof George Yeoh

• Angiogenesis and Tumour Immunology
  This research looks at the remodelling of blood vessels during tumour growth to control the movement and effectiveness of anti-cancer immune cells.

  - Senior Researchers: A/Prof Ruth Ganss

• Cancer Epidemiology
  This research involves studies into the causes and patterns of cancer in human populations, with a particular focus on the occupational causes of cancer.

  - Senior Researchers: A/Prof Lin Fritschi

• National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases (NCARD)
  NCARD is a research centre funded by the federal government as part of the Government's Strengthening Cancer Care package with measures aimed at prevention, treatment and support for cancer patients and their families.

  - Senior Researchers: [NCARD's Principal Investigators]

Diabetes

WAIMR has two groups working on diabetes research.

• The Centre for Diabetes Research
  This research is aimed at understanding and preventing diabetes and its complications, with a particular focus on the genetics of type 1 diabetes.

  - Senior Researchers: [CDR's Principal Investigators]

• The Centre for Food and Genomic Medicine
  This is a new research facility aimed at harnessing the power of plants and genetics in a bid to beat the twin epidemics of diabetes and obesity, known as "diabesity".

  - Senior Researchers: Prof Peter Leedman, Prof Grant Morahan

Genetic Epidemiology

This group comprises a number of studies, resources and centres, all focused on investigating the complex interrelationships between genetics and the environment.

• Genetic Epidemiology
  This research is aimed at developing ways of investigating the determinants of complex human disease and exploring ways of using genetic information to improve human health.

  - Senior Researchers: Prof Lyle Palmer

• Australian Medical Bioinformatics Resource (AMBeR)
  This national medical bioinformatics resource aims to bring together Australia's unique resources for genetic epidemiology and genomics with high level expertise in bioinformatics and statistical science.

  - Senior Researchers: Prof Lyle Palmer

• Western Australian DNA Bank (WADB)
  The WADB aims to enable large scale and cost-effective banking of DNA in Perth and will greatly enhance the capacity of Western Australian research groups to undertake genetic and genomics research.

  - Senior Researchers: Prof Lyle Palmer

• Scott Kirkbride Melanoma Research Centre (SKMRC)
  The SKMRC aims to establish Western Australia as a world leader in melanoma research by providing crucial breakthroughs for improved diagnosis and treatment of the deadly skin cancer.

  - Senior Researchers: Prof Lyle Palmer

LIWA Genetics Unit

• Lung Institute of Western Australia Genetics Unit
  The genetics unit of LIWA is located within WAIMR primarily to study associations between asthma and mutations in asthma candidate genes.

  - Senior Researchers: Dr Carolyn Williams

Molecular Endocrinology

We have two teams conducting research into the action of hormones at the cellular and molecular levels.

• Molecular Endocrinology - GPCR's
  This group studies the molecular function of G-protein coupled receptors, a family of about 1000 different cell surface sensors in the human body responsible for functions as diverse as detection of light (vision), odorants (smell), the regulation of growth, reproduction, and immune responses.

  - Senior Researchers: A/Prof Karin Eidne, Dr Kevin Pfleger

• Molecular Endocrinology - Cell Growth
  This group is working to understand how steroid hormones regulate cell growth, particularly estrogens and androgens, since they are important in cancers of the breast and prostate.

  - Senior Researchers: A/Prof Tom Ratajczak, Dr Bryan Ward

Molecular Genetics

This group conducts research in a variety of fields tied together by the fact that they are looking at the structure and function of genes at a molecular level.

• Neuromuscular Diseases
  This research leads the world in the investigation of the genetic causes of muscle diseases in newborn children, and has helped many families understand the reasons for their children's muscle problems.

  - Senior Researchers: Prof Nigel Laing, Dr Kristen Nowak

• Molecular Genetics
  This team is investigating the genetics of common brain disorders. As part of the Australian Schizophrenia Research Bank, we are studying well-characterised sub-types of schizophrenia in WA patients and families. Research on epilepsy focuses on the Gypsy population, whose unique history can facilitate gene discovery.

  - Senior Researchers: Prof Luba Kalaydjieva, Dr Bharti Morar

• Genetics of Schizophrenia
  The goal of this research is to identify genes underlying the complex genetic disorder, and in particular the genes involved in signaling pathways.

  - Senior Researchers: A/Prof Sibylle Schwab, Prof Dieter Wildenauer

• Medical Genetics
  This research looks at clinical cases that have the potential to provide powerful insights into much more common health problems, with the current focus being Rett syndrome.

  - Senior Researchers: Prof David Ravine, Dr Alka Saxena

Neurotrauma

• Neurotrauma Research Program
  The aim of this research is to prevent and reduce nerve damage through the discovery of therapies to maintain, repair and functionally regenerate damaged nervous system tissue and thereby improve the personal freedom and quality of life of victims of brain and spinal cord injury.

  - Senior Researchers: [NRP's Principal Investigators]

Ageing

• WA Centre for Health and Ageing (WACHA)
  WACHA is dedicated to issues associated with ageing and is made up of scientists investigating common conditions including dementia, falls, depression and immobility. The Centre will focus on building on the collaboration between The University of Western Australia's Schools of Medicine & Pharmacology and Psychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences to foster relationships with scientists of diverse disciplines.

  - Senior Researchers: [WACHA's Principal Investigators]