Amy Baxter

Dr. Amy Baxter is a Tracey Banivanua Mar Research Fellow at La Trobe University's Biochemistry & Chemistry Department, leading a team focused on cardiovascular disease mechanisms. She also leads the 'Dying Cell Communication and Clearance' division at the Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research (CCBDR). Previously, she held an NHMRC Peter Doherty Early Career Fellowship (2018-2021), studying extracellular vesicles from dying cells under Dr. Ivan Poon. Her research explores apoptosis, extracellular vesicle biology, and their roles in diseases like atherosclerosis and cancer.

Education:

• BSc(Hons)
• PhD (Completed 2017)

Research Interests:

• Cell death mechanisms (apoptosis, ferroptosis)
• Extracellular vesicle biology and disease roles
• Cardiovascular disease pathogenesis
• Defensin-mediated cancer cell lysis
• Apoptotic metabolite signaling

Her recent work emphasizes the role of heparanase in atherosclerosis progression and EV-mediated inflammatory signaling. She co-developed MISEV2023 guidelines for extracellular vesicle research standardization.

Awards:

• ASBMB Fred Collins Award (2020)
• ISEV Young Investigator Award (2020)
• Australasian Cell Death Society Career Development Award (2021)

Her lab investigates how dying cells communicate via vesicles and metabolites, with applications in developing novel therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular and immune disorders.