Dr. Jonatan Leffler is an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the UWA Medical School, affiliated with the UWA Centre for Child Health Research and The Kids Research Institute Australia. His work spans immunology, autoimmune diseases, and respiratory conditions, with a focus on sex-specific immune responses and early-life environmental influences. University: The University of Western Australia Email: jonatan.leffler@uwa.edu.au Leffler's research explores: B cell and dendritic cell dysfunction in multiple sclerosis Role of sex hormones in immunological diseases Environmental triggers for asthma and wheeze in children Neutrophil extracellular traps in autoimmune pathogenesis His 15 most recent publications highlight trends in neuroimmunology , transgender hormone therapy , and pediatric allergy , with keywords spanning Immunology , Neurology , and Endocrinology . His work frequently examines immune cell subsets , cytokine signaling , and hormonal immunomodulation .
Dr. Melissa Pitman is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, and leads the Ovarian Cancer and Drug Discovery Laboratory. Her research focuses on sphingolipid pathway regulation in ovarian cancer and development of small-molecule inhibitors for therapeutic intervention. PhD in enzymology and protein biochemistry from Flinders University Postdoctoral work at Centre for Cancer Biology Co-founder of Cincera Therapeutics for anti-fibrotic agent development Her recent work spans sphingolipid metabolism, cancer signaling, and preclinical model development. Publications highlight Sphingosine Kinase inhibition, lipid gradient formation, and stress response modulation in cancer cells. Dr. Pitman actively supervises Masters and PhD students as a Co-Supervisor and integrates computational and experimental approaches in drug discovery. Her research bridges biochemical mechanisms with translational applications in oncology.
Kang Lin serves as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the School of Chemical Engineering at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), where she conducts cutting-edge research at the intersection of materials science and biomedical applications. She earned her Master of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Sydney in 2016 and completed her PhD in Material Science and Engineering at UNSW with support from the Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship. Dr. Lin's research program focuses on biomaterials development for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, with particular expertise in hydrogel functionalization, bioceramic scaffolds, and 3D bioprinting technologies. Her work investigates how material properties and surface topographies influence stem cell behavior, differentiation pathways, and tissue formation processes. She has made significant contributions to understanding the relationship between biomaterial design and cellular responses in regenerative contexts. Analysis of her publication record reveals a consistent research trajectory advancing biomaterials science for medical applications, with increasing complexity in material design from structural ceramics to responsive hydrogel systems. Her collaborative approach is evident through co-authorship with prominent researchers like Professor Kilian KA across multiple high-impact journals in materials science and biomedical engineering. Based in the Science and Engineering Building E8 at UNSW, Dr. Lin works within a multidisciplinary research environment that bridges chemical engineering, materials science, and biological applications to address clinical challenges in tissue regeneration and medical device development.
Associate Professor Renee M Whan serves as the Executive Director of the Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre (MWAC) at the University of New South Wales . With over 18 years of experience managing core research facilities, she provides strategic leadership for advanced scientific instrumentation and infrastructure, supporting interdisciplinary research in medicine, materials science, and biotechnology. Research Interests Renee specializes in Fluorescence and lightsheet microscopy Drug delivery and mechanisms of action Spatial proteomics and transcriptomics Data reliability and reproducibility 2D/3D cellular models Rhe leads collaborations with commercial partners to develop innovative imaging technologies for research translation. Recent Publications Her publications highlight expertise in cancer cell biology , fluorescence imaging , and nanomedicine , featuring work on copper chelation in gliomas, cryogenic correlative microscopy, and lipid droplet biogenesis.
Nathalie Dehorter is an Honorary Senior Lecturer in the Division of Neuroscience (Eccles Institute of Neuroscience) at the John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University. She leads the Division of Neuroscience, focusing on neural circuit development, synaptic plasticity, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Her research interests span: Autism spectrum disorder mechanisms using mouse models RNA modification dynamics (m6A/m5C) using single-molecule sequencing Neural circuit dysfunction in Parkinson’s and schizophrenia Striatal cholinergic interneuron regulation of habit formation Genetic influences on cortical interneuron diversity Recent work emphasizes RNA modification co-occurrence discovery (2024), glutamate transport mechanisms (2025), and synaptic plasticity pathways. Her articles reveal cross-disciplinary focus on molecular mechanisms (e.g., myristoylation) and translational applications like neuronal replenishment via hydrogel systems. Dehorter’s lab explores neurodevelopmental timing (2012) and striatal pathology (2014 Parkinson’s work), maintaining strong connections between basic neuroscience and disease modeling.
Sam Buckberry is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the John Curtin School of Medical Research (JCSMR), Australian National University (ANU), and Head of Epigenetics at the Telethon Kids Institute. He holds a BSc, BHlthSc (Hons), and PhD. His research focuses on epigenetics, genomics, and bioinformatics with specializations in Indigenous genomics and genetic data privacy. His work bridges computational biology and clinical applications, particularly in understanding epigenetic mechanisms in stem cells. Recent contributions include groundbreaking research on reprogramming hiPS cells to correct epigenetic defects, published in Nature. He leads projects addressing cardiometabolic disease prediction through epigenetic biomarkers and investigates the heritability of human diseases using genomic approaches. Current initiatives include a 2025-2029 project on precision medicine for Indigenous Australians and a 2023-2028 project on genetic screening methodologies. His interdisciplinary approach integrates computational tools with biological systems to advance personalized healthcare solutions.
Dr. James Lloyd is a Research Fellow at the School of Molecular Sciences at The University of Western Australia, with additional affiliation at the ARC Centre for Plant Energy Biology. Based in Perth, Australia, Dr. Lloyd identifies with They/Them or He/Him pronouns and maintains an active research program focused on genome engineering and molecular plant biology. Dr. Lloyd earned a BSc (Hons) in Genetics with a year in industry from the University of York in 2009, followed by a PhD in Molecular Plant Genetics from the University of Leeds in 2014. His doctoral research focused on "The characterisation of SMG1 in the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay pathway of Physcomitrella patens." Prior to his current position, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley, where he worked on computational biology of RNA splicing and decay, and epigenomics. His research program centers on synthetic biology, RNA biology, and epigenetics, with a specific focus on how we can both read and re-write genomes. Dr. Lloyd's work spans multiple plant model systems including Arabidopsis thaliana and Physcomitrium patens (moss), with particular interest in nonsense-mediated mRNA decay, DNA methylation, and plant synthetic gene circuits. Analysis of Dr. Lloyd's recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a strong focus on plant synthetic biology applications, particularly CRISPR-based genetic circuits and tools for controlling gene expression in plants. His work bridges computational approaches with experimental molecular biology to develop novel plant biotechnology solutions. Sainsbury Studentship in Plant Sciences Dr. Lloyd serves as Chief Investigator on the recently completed project "Development of 'climate-smart' plants with improved nutrient acquisition" (February-December 2024), with Prof. Ryan Lister as CoPI. He is actively engaged in the scientific community through peer review activities for leading journals including Plant Biotechnology Journal, The Plant Journal, Genome Biology, and Current Opinion in Plant Biology. His research group maintains strong connections with the ARC Centre for Plant Energy Biology and collaborates extensively on plant synthetic biology projects, particularly in developing genetic tools for stable cell reprogramming and creating climate-resilient plant varieties.
Marck Norret is a Research Fellow at The University of Western Australia's School of Molecular Sciences, where he conducts interdisciplinary research at the intersection of chemistry, pharmacology, and biomedical sciences. His work contributes to several UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to health innovation and scientific advancement. Dr. Norret holds a Doctorate, Master of Science from Manchester (MSc Manc.), and PhD from Sydney (PhD Syd.). His educational background has prepared him for advanced research in molecular sciences and drug development, with an h-index of 16 and 745 citations according to Scopus metrics. His research spans multiple cutting-edge areas in molecular science, with particular expertise in nanoparticle technology, copolymer systems, transfection methods, macrocyclic chemistry, DNA interactions, methacrylate applications, cancer therapeutics, and fullerene chemistry. Dr. Norret's fingerprint analysis reveals strong contributions to pharmacology, toxicology, pharmaceutical science, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and chemistry. Dr. Norret's recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory toward biomedical applications of molecular systems, particularly in cancer therapy, drug delivery mechanisms, and molecular imaging. His work increasingly focuses on translating fundamental chemical discoveries into clinically relevant solutions, with several publications exploring tumor immunity, oligonucleotide delivery, and hydrogel-based therapeutic systems. Optimisation of Kinetic Inhibition of Methane Hydrate Re-Formation (2025) WA Facility for Drug and Biomaterials Discovery and Development (2020) Reprogramming anti-tumour therapy responses by locus selective manipulation of the epigenome in breast cancer (2020-2024) Integrated Process Intensification Facility (2008) His collaborative network extends across multiple institutions and research groups, with particular connections to researchers working on cancer immunotherapy, drug delivery systems, and molecular imaging techniques. Dr. Norret's work appears to be centered in well-equipped research facilities that support both fundamental chemical research and translational biomedical studies.
Emily Golden is a Research Fellow at The University of Western Australia Medical School and the UWA Centre for Medical Research, affiliated with the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. She works in the Cancer Epigenetics laboratory under the Blancafort Cancer Epigenetics group, focusing on developing small molecules and peptides for targeted treatment of breast and ovarian cancer. Dr. Golden completed her PhD in structural biology at UWA in 2016, where she studied the detailed chemistry of proteins using neutron and X-ray diffraction crystallography. This strong foundation in structural biology has informed her current research trajectory. Her primary research interests center on protein structure and function with applications to rational structure-based drug design and biomarker discovery for cancer subtyping. She specializes in applying structural biology techniques to cancer research, particularly in breast and ovarian cancers. Her work bridges the gap between fundamental protein chemistry and clinical applications, with a focus on targeted therapies that minimize side effects while maximizing efficacy. Analysis of Dr. Golden's publication record reveals a strong focus on cancer therapeutics, particularly in breast cancer subtypes. Her research spans from basic protein structure analysis to translational studies exploring novel therapeutic approaches, including designer peptides and natural compounds like honeybee venom. A recurring theme in her work is the identification of molecular targets and the development of precision medicine approaches for specific cancer subtypes. Dr. Golden is actively involved in multiple research grants, including projects targeting metastatic breast cancer resistant to anti-hormonal therapies, reprogramming cellular signaling in ovarian cancer, and identifying new subtypes of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Her collaborative approach is evident in her work across multiple institutions and research groups. She conducts her research within the Cancer Epigenetics laboratory at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, part of a larger collaborative team led by Dr. Blancafort. This laboratory environment provides the interdisciplinary setting necessary for her work spanning structural biology, cancer research, and drug development.
Brendan Kidd serves as an Adjunct Research Fellow at the School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, with an ORCID identifier (0000-0003-1770-1404) and institutional affiliation at M310, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, Australia. His research profile indicates active collaboration within plant molecular biology and synthetic biology frameworks. His primary research interests focus on plant-pathogen interactions and synthetic genetic circuit development , particularly examining defense mechanisms against pathogens like Rhizoctonia solani in Arabidopsis. His work integrates ethylene and jasmonate signaling pathways with CRISPR-based technologies to engineer plant immune responses and genetic computation systems. The fingerprint analysis reveals deep expertise in plant molecular biology (100% Rhizoctonia solani research), infectious agents (76%), ethylene biochemistry (60%), and Arabidopsis genetics (52%). Publication trends over the last three years demonstrate a strategic shift toward synthetic biology applications in plant systems, with significant contributions to CRISPRi-based genetic circuits (2022-2024) and cellular reprogramming techniques. His collaborative work with the Lister group has produced high-impact publications in journals like Nature Biotechnology, focusing on stable cell reprogramming and protoplast transfection methodologies. Kidd led the completed project 'Development of novel transcriptional regulators and synthetic logic gates for sophisticated control of plant activity and production' (2017-2020), which generated substantial academic attention including 69 Scopus citations, 85 Mendeley readers, and coverage by 9 news outlets. His dataset contributions through Zenodo demonstrate commitment to open science in plant genetic engineering. His research contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to life sciences and environmental protection, with active supervision of research projects and extensive collaboration networks spanning multiple international institutions.
Dr. Ernest Moles Meler is a multidisciplinary researcher at the Children's Cancer Institute (CCI) and University of New South Wales (UNSW), specializing in precision nanomedicine, immunotherapy, and oncology since 2017. His work focuses on developing targeted nanotherapeutics for aggressive paediatric cancers, including DIPG, glioblastoma, and leukaemia, with infrastructure development funded by UNSW-RIS grants ($923k). He collaborates with institutions like the University of Queensland and Moderna Global program. Research Leadership: Key projects include mRNA-based T-cell reprogramming for brain cancer therapy, RNAi nanomedicines for neuroblastoma, and bispecific antibody-conjugated nanoparticles for leukaemia. His innovations in PEGylated lipid nanoparticles have improved targeting efficacy by >4.5-fold. Awards & Recognition: Moderna Global Fellowship (2023) Nature Biomedical Engineering editorial contributor (2019) Highly cited in Adv Drug Delivery Reviews and Nature Nanotechnology Education: PhD in Biochemistry (University of Barcelona, 2015), MSc with Honours (2010), and BSc (2009).
Honorary Professor Jean-Pierre Levesque is affiliated with the Mater Research Institute-UQ under the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Queensland. His research spans hematopoietic stem cell biology , macrophage-driven bone pathologies , and neurogenic heterotopic ossification following spinal cord injury. Key Research Themes: Hematopoietic Stem Cells and their regulation in inflammatory and injury contexts. Macrophage Biology in disease progression and stem cell niche dynamics. Spinal Cord Injury mechanisms and secondary complications like heterotopic ossification. Publication Trends: Recent work focuses on glucocorticoid signaling , inflammatory mediators , and cell surface markers (e.g., CD201) in stem cell and bone pathogenesis studies. His 2025 review on endocrine dysregulation in traumatic ossification highlights evolving molecular targets. Funding History: Continuous support from the NHMRC and Cancer Council Queensland , including Mechanisms and prophylactic treatments of neurogenic heterotopic ossification (2025-2028) and Stem cell niches: Biology and therapeutic applications (2018-2022). Laboratory Collaborations: Works with researchers like Dr. Kylie Alexander and Dr. Ingrid Winkler on projects integrating bone marrow niche analysis , stem cell mobilization , and inflammatory disease models .
Cyril Seillet is an Associate Professor in the Department of Immunology at Monash University, where he leads the Integrated Mucosal Immunity (IMI) Laboratory. He is also affiliated with the Alfred Hospital and is an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow. His research bridges immunology, neuroscience, and metabolism, focusing on how physiological cues regulate immune function at barrier sites. Research Interests: Mucosal Immunology and Tissue Homeostasis: Investigates immune cell roles in gut and lung barrier integrity, host-microbe balance, and diseases like IBD and asthma. Neuroimmune Interactions: Explores how sympathetic and sensory neurons communicate with immune cells using chemogenetic and biosensing tools to regulate inflammation. Physiological Regulation of Immunity: Studies how dietary lipids, circadian rhythms, hormones, and metabolites reprogram immune metabolism to maintain balance and combat chronic inflammation. His recent publications (2020–2025) highlight a strong focus on innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), neuropeptides (e.g., VIP), circadian control, and transcriptional regulation in mucosal and lung immunity. These works, published in Nature Immunology and Science Immunology , reveal novel mechanisms linking neural and metabolic signals to immune function, offering therapeutic avenues for inflammatory diseases. Scientific Awards: Burnet Prize for outstanding discovery research (2020) NHMRC R.D. Wright Biomedical Career Development Fellowship (2016) NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow Dr Seillet is actively involved in research leadership and supervision, currently accepting PhD and honors students. He is the Primary Chief Investigator on the NHMRC-funded project Circadian Control of Innate Immunity: Strategies for Treatment of Chronic Diseases (2022–2026). His lab fosters interdisciplinary collaboration at the interface of immunology, metabolism, and neuroscience. He is affiliated with research efforts contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and well-being. Laboratory: Integrated Mucosal Immunity (IMI) Laboratory at Monash University.
Thierry Jarde is a Senior Research Fellow in Anatomy & Developmental Biology at Monash University, specializing in cancer biology, stem cell research, and therapeutic development. He leads and collaborates on projects focused on organoid modeling, intestinal regeneration, and personalized medicine approaches for metastatic breast and colorectal cancers. Currently active in 7 research projects (2023–2028), including investigations into druggable vulnerabilities in cancer and fertility preservation post-immunotherapy. Recipient of 14 scientific awards, including the Best PhD award from the University of Auvergne (France) and multiple presentation/poster prizes. His research interests bridge molecular mechanisms (e.g., Wnt/ERBB3 signaling) and translational medicine. Key themes include tumor microenvironment dynamics, stem cell aging, and preclinical drug testing using organoid cultures. Publications span topics like organoid-based therapy, niche signaling in regeneration, and drug synergy in colorectal cancer. He actively participates in conferences, grant reviews, and educational workshops, such as the ‘Emerging technologies in organoid research’ symposium.
Dr. Katherine Zulak is a Lecturer at Curtin University's School of Molecular and Life Sciences within the Faculty of Science and Engineering. Her research focuses on molecular plant pathology, particularly fungicide resistance in agricultural crops. She develops innovative tools using third-generation DNA sequencing (e.g., Oxford Nanopore) for real-time monitoring of pathogen resistance. Her work emphasizes barley phytopathogens like Pyrenophora teres and wheat stripe rust, with applications in sustainable agriculture and disease management. Her research also extends to plant-microbe interactions, including studies on aphid-legume interactions and conifer defense mechanisms. She has contributed to understanding terpenoid biosynthesis pathways in sandalwood and opium poppy, exploring metabolic reprogramming in elicitor-treated cultures. Her methodologies include proteomics, metabolomics, and next-generation sequencing technologies. Key Contributions: Development of portable DNA sequencing for field-based resistance monitoring Characterization of fungal secretomes and pathogen virulence factors Metagenomic analysis of crop microbiomes Integration of omics data for plant defense studies Dr. Zulak collaborates with industry partners to translate molecular insights into practical solutions for crop protection. Her work bridges fundamental research and agricultural applications, addressing global challenges in sustainable crop production.
