Dr. Chameera Ekanayake Weeramange is a Research Fellow at Griffith University's Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics, with affiliations to the Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery (2023-2024) and Infectious Diseases & Immunology group (2022-2024). His research focuses on head and neck cancers , HPV-related epigenetic changes , and salivary biomarker discovery for early cancer detection. He has been an Associate Supervisor for six doctoral/masters projects since 2020, including Jaikrishna Balakittnen's PhD on oral cancer miRNA pathogenesis.
Dr Yuchen Feng is a Lecturer (Research and Teaching) in the School of Medical Sciences at the University of Sydney's Faculty of Medicine and Health. They are a member of the Charles Perkins Centre and actively involved in cancer research, focusing on the roles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in tumorigenesis and drug resistance. Their work integrates molecular oncology, RNA biology, and computational approaches to develop novel therapeutic strategies. Research Interests: Dr Feng's lab explores mechanisms of cancer cell survival and metastasis, particularly through lncRNA-mediated regulation of DNA repair pathways, metabolic reprogramming, and interactions with tumor microenvironments. Key areas include noncoding RNA networks in p53/c-Myc signaling, translational control of oncogenes, and drug-resistant cancer cell subpopulations. Grants & Funding: Recent grants include a 2025 NHMRC Investigator Grant for lncRNA-targeted lung cancer therapies and a 2024 Faculty of Medicine & Health start-up grant. Their research also received support from Tour de Cure Ltd for studies on drug-tolerant glioblastoma cells. Advising & Lab: Dr Feng currently supervises Emma KEMPE in a project targeting glioblastoma drug resistance. Their team collaborates on multi-omics approaches to identify actionable targets in solid tumors. Labs/Teams: Active member of the Charles Perkins Centre's Cancer Theme, contributing to interdisciplinary cancer research initiatives.
Archa Fox is a Professor in the School of Human Sciences and the School of Molecular Sciences at the University of Western Australia, and an Honorary Research Fellow at the UWA Medical School and UWA Centre for Medical Research (affiliated with the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research). She is also part of the Australian Centre for RNA Therapeutics in Cancer and serves as Chair of the RNA Network of Australia since 2015. Her research has significantly advanced the understanding of nuclear architecture and RNA biology. Professor Fox earned her Bachelor of Science at the University of New South Wales, majoring in molecular genetics, followed by her PhD at the University of Sydney (awarded in 2000). She completed postdoctoral research in Dundee, Scotland, where she integrated cell biology, microscopy, and molecular biology techniques. In 2006, she established her research group at the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research (now the Harry Perkins Institute), and in 2015, she transitioned to an academic position at the University of Western Australia. Her research centers on paraspeckles, nuclear bodies she discovered in 2002 that play crucial roles in gene expression regulation. Her work has revealed how paraspeckles malfunction in diseases like cancer. In 2009, she identified NEAT1 as the first long noncoding RNA that scaffolds a nuclear body, and in 2015, she demonstrated how intrinsically disordered protein regions contribute to paraspeckle formation. Her current research investigates paraspeckles as a model for understanding gene regulation through long noncoding RNAs and protein aggregation, with collaborations across multiple scientific disciplines. Analysis of Professor Fox's recent publications (2022-2025) reveals a strong focus on nuclear architecture, RNA-binding proteins, and the molecular mechanisms of paraspeckle formation and function. Her work spans structural biology, cancer research, and the emerging field of biomolecular condensates, with particular emphasis on DBHS family proteins (SFPQ, NONO, PSPC1) and their roles in phase separation and nuclear organization. Scientific Awards: Marshall Medal of the Harry Perkins Institute (2012) Emerging Leader Award of the Australian/NZ Society for Cell and Developmental Biology (2017) School of Human Sciences Senior Research Award (2023) Vice Chancellor's Senior Research Award (2023) UWA Student Guild's Students' Choice Awards (2018) Professor Fox has been actively involved in mentoring and research leadership, with 8 supervised works documented. She has secured significant research funding, including 48 grants such as the 'STUNNER for RNA encapsulation quality and deliver' project funded by The Ian Potter Foundation (2024-2025) and the 'WA RNA Salon' project funded by The RNA Society (2024-2025). Her collaborative approach is evident in multi-investigator projects like the 'Broadening assay capabilities with CLARIOstar Plus multimode platereader' (2025-2035). Her laboratory forms part of the Australian Centre for RNA Therapeutics in Cancer and maintains strong affiliations with the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. Professor Fox has also been instrumental in community engagement, participating in the Wembley Primary School Community STEAM program and Pint of Science presentations, demonstrating her commitment to science communication and public outreach.
Associate Professor Daniel Wallace is affiliated with Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health. He holds a PhD in Genetics from University College London (1999) and a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry from Sheffield University (1994). His research focuses on iron homeostasis, haemochromatosis genetics, iron metabolism, and cancer biology, particularly how cancers exploit iron regulatory pathways. He leads the Chronic Disease Genomics research program and has secured grants such as 'SARA: Delineating its Association with Liver Fibrosis' (2016) and 'Role of GNPAT in Iron-Overload Disorders' (2015). Research interests include defining genetic causes of iron overload, liver-hepcidin interactions, and cancer-driven iron utilization. He has contributed to over 150 peer-reviewed publications, with recent work exploring miRNA-based diagnostics for oral cancer and maternal iron regulation during pregnancy. He is a member of the Australian Society for Medical Research and the International Bioiron Society. Teaching roles include coordinating units like Genes, Genomes and Genetics (LQB280) and Cytogenetic and Molecular Pathology (LQB490). His grants and projects emphasize translational research in liver disease, peroxisomal disorders, and iron metabolism. He collaborates internationally on genetic studies of iron-related pathologies.
Dr. Rachel Gormal is a Research Fellow at the Queensland Brain Institute , affiliated with the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences at The University of Queensland. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy from Griffith University and is available for supervision. Her research focuses on super-resolution microscopy techniques , nanobody applications in cell biology , and structural biology with in silico modeling . Recent publications highlight her work on nanoscale protein clustering , synaptic vesicle recycling , and neurotoxin targeting mechanisms . Her studies explore the interplay between membrane trafficking , neurodegenerative disease proteins , and structural modeling using advanced imaging and computational tools. She collaborates extensively with researchers like Prof. Frédéric A. Meunier on projects involving synaptic organization , neuroplasticity , and neurotoxin interactions . Her work has been published in high-impact journals such as Nature Protocols , The EMBO Journal , and Nature Communications .
Elizabeth Dennis is a Visiting Professor at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) in the School of Life Sciences, part of the Faculty of Science. She previously held roles as Chief Research Scientist at CSIRO’s Division of Plant Industry and CSIRO Fellow. Her research focuses on plant molecular biology, including gene expression regulation, epigenetics, plant stress responses, and flowering mechanisms. She has made groundbreaking contributions, such as identifying haemoglobin’s role in plant metabolism and elucidating vernalization’s role in flowering. Education: BSc (Hons 1st Class) in Chemistry, University of Sydney (1964) PhD in Molecular Biology, University of Sydney (1968) Postdoctoral Fellowship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York (1968–1970) Research Interests: Her work spans plant gene regulation, epigenetic modifications, stress responses, and developmental biology. Notable achievements include: Discovering haemoglobin’s protective role against low oxygen stress in plants Mapping flowering time regulation via the FLC gene and vernalization pathways Advancing crop biotechnology through studies on hybrid vigour and stress tolerance Awards & Leadership: 2000 Inaugural Prime Minister’s Prize for Science (shared) Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science (1995) and Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (1987) President, Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (1992–1994) Leadership roles in global initiatives like the Multinational Coordinated Arabidopsis Genome Project Grants & Funding: Hybrid vigour and hybrid mimics in lentils (2017–2022) Australian Research Council-funded genome analysis facility (2009) CSIRO/Bayer Research Alliance projects Labs & Collaborations: Her research group at UTS collaborates widely, focusing on plant genomics and biotechnology applications to improve agricultural resilience and nutrition.
Marcel Dinger is a Professor of Genome Biology and Dean of Science at the University of Sydney. He holds a PhD from the University of Waikato and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA) and the Royal Society of New South Wales. His career spans over 22 years in genomics, combining academic leadership with entrepreneurial ventures in biotechnology and IT. **Education**: PhD in 2003, University of Waikato, New Zealand **Research Interests**: Professor Dinger’s work focuses on genomics, noncoding RNAs, and clinical applications of genomic medicine. He has pioneered studies on long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and their roles in development, disease, and therapy. His research integrates computational biology, clinical genomics, and translational science. **Awards & Honors**: 2023 Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales 2019–2022 Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researcher 2016 Fellow of the RCPA 2010 NHMRC Career Development Award **Advising & Grants**: Led major initiatives like the Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics and Australian Genomics. His teams have secured funding for projects on genomic diagnostics, cancer transcriptomics, and mitochondrial diseases. Collaborations include startups like Genome.One and Pryzm Health. **Labs & Teams**: Previously directed the Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics at the Garvan Institute and the National Centre for Indigenous Genomics. Current leadership includes the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Sydney.
Dr. Sandro Fernandes Ataide is a Professor at the School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, and leads the Ataide Lab. His research focuses on structural biology, RNA interactions, and seekRNA gene editing technology. He holds postdoctoral fellowships from ETH Zurich and UC Berkeley, and has pioneered tools like seekRNA for precise genome manipulation. Dr. Ataide teaches courses such as Proteins in Cells (BCMB2002/2902) and supervises PhD students including Jameel ABDULJALIL and Rezwan SIDDIQUEE. Education: PhD in Biochemistry from The Ohio State University (USA), under Prof. Michael Ibba. Postdoctoral work with Prof. Jennifer Doudna (UC Berkeley) and Prof. Nenad Ban (ETH Zurich). Research interests include structural and biochemical characterization of ncRNAs/RNPs, drug design targeting RNA-protein interactions, and development of seekRNA for gene editing. His lab collaborates with industry and receives grants from NHMRC, ARC, and strategic partnerships. Awards: American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship, Phi Kappa Phi Honors, ETH Postdoctoral Fellowship. Grants include funding for seekRNA plant genome applications (2024), SRP structural studies (2013), and equipment grants for biophysical instruments (2014-2012). Labs/Teams: Ataide Lab focuses on structural biology, RNA interactions, and seekRNA technology. Collaborates with Sydney Drug Discovery Initiative and USyd RNA Network.
Dr. Alex Cristino is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Environment and Science - Bioscience at Griffith University, specializing in systems biology, genetics, and epigenetics. He is affiliated with the Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery and the Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics. His research integrates computational and experimental approaches to uncover disease-associated gene networks for precision medicine, focusing on neurological disorders and cancers. Dr. Cristino currently supervises doctoral students in areas such as chronic CHIKV disease, synthetic virology, microRNA roles in oral cancer, and schizophrenia epigenetics. He has led or co-led multiple grants totaling over $2 million, including projects on Alzheimer’s disease models, NK cell dysfunction in Hodgkin lymphoma, and drug discovery for schizophrenia using patient-derived stem cells. His work spans molecular mechanisms in neurodegeneration, cancer biology, and honeybee developmental genetics. Notable recent projects include circular RNA applications in neurological conditions and IRE1α/XBP1 signaling in immune cells. Dr. Cristino’s lab contributes to drug discovery initiatives and translational research, leveraging patient-derived cell models to design novel therapies targeting dysfunctional pathways. He collaborates widely, with cross-disciplinary projects in systems biology, genomics, and clinical applications.
Dr. Fran Evesson is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, affiliated with the Kids Neuroscience Centre. Her research focuses on understanding inherited neuromuscular disorders using cell and animal models to develop precision therapies for conditions lacking treatments. She coordinates courses including AMED3888 and contributes to SOMS4102 and AMED3003/3903 instruction. Her core research investigates protein dysfunction in skeletal muscle, genetic disease mechanisms (particularly splicing abnormalities), and therapeutic interventions. Key areas include neuromuscular pathology, molecular biology of muscle repair, and genotype-phenotype correlations in muscular dystrophies. Methodologies span cellular/molecular approaches, pathogenesis studies, and protein trafficking analysis. Her publications (2019-2025) demonstrate consistent focus on genetic basis of muscle disorders, with recurring themes in RNA splicing defects, animal model validation, and diagnostic genomics. Recent work emphasizes novel gene-disease associations and therapeutic target identification through advanced sequencing technologies. Dr. Evesson mentors Honours/PhD students and junior researchers at Kids Neuroscience Centre. She has secured research funding including: 2019 NHMRC Ideas Grant: 'A new class of genetic splicing variant underlying inherited disorders and cancer' 2018 Muscular Dystrophy Association grant: 'PYROXD1; a novel cause of congenital myopathy'
John Stanley Mattick is the SHARP Professor of RNA Biology in the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences at UNSW Sydney. Previously, he served as Executive Director of Genomics England (2018-2019) and Director of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research (2012-2018). He holds leadership roles in genomic research, establishing key facilities like the HiSeq X10 sequencing platform. His career includes foundational roles at the University of Queensland, including founding the Institute for Molecular Bioscience and the Australian Genome Research Facility. Education: BSc (First Class Honours, Biochemistry) from the University of Sydney (1972) PhD in Biochemistry from Monash University (1978) DSc from the University of Queensland (2024) Research focuses on regulatory RNAs, noncoding DNA functions, and their roles in development, disease, and evolution. Key areas include RNA structure-function relationships, lncRNA roles in cognition, and the epigenetic trajectories of development. His work challenges traditional views of genomic 'junk' DNA, emphasizing the centrality of RNA in genetic regulation. Publications span over 300 peer-reviewed articles, cited over 100,000 times. Notable contributions include co-authoring RNA, the Epicenter of Genetic Information (2022), which won awards for Best Science Open Access Book. Awards and Honors: Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) Fellowships in the Australian Academies of Science, Health & Medical Sciences, and Technology & Engineering Recipient of the IUBMB Medal and HUGO Chen Medal Ranked #1 globally in noncoding RNA research (2023) Leadership and Service: Chaired major international genome conferences and advisory boards Contributed to ethical frameworks for genomic research and healthcare Member of the Queensland Studies Authority (2004-2007) Current research explores RNA modification dynamics, lncRNA functions in brain plasticity, and the genomic basis of complex traits.
John Mattick is an Honorary Professor at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland. His research focuses on non-coding RNAs, epigenetics, and their roles in development, cognition, and disease. He has contributed extensively to understanding RNA's regulatory functions and their implications in fields like neuroscience and cancer biology. Mattick's work integrates genomic, transcriptomic, and computational approaches to explore the complexity of the transcriptome. He has co-authored over 200 journal articles, including studies on long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), RNA editing, and epigenetic mechanisms. His research spans collaborations across disciplines, from molecular biology to computational genomics. Key areas of investigation include the role of lncRNAs in neural plasticity, the regulatory networks governed by non-coding RNAs, and the application of high-throughput sequencing technologies. His lab has also explored the clinical relevance of non-coding RNAs in diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.
Dr. Katelin Haynes is an academic researcher at the UQ Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland. She completed her PhD in 2016, focusing on regulatory RNAs underlying genetic associations with ankylosing spondylitis. Her research spans immunology, genetics, and molecular biology, with a focus on autoimmune diseases and bone disorders. Key research areas include the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of ankylosing spondylitis, the role of Wnt signaling in bone pathology, and the functional analysis of noncoding RNAs. Her work employs mouse models and advanced genomic techniques such as RNA sequencing. Her publications from 2012–2017 demonstrate a strong focus on translating genetic associations into mechanistic insights, particularly in immune-mediated disorders and bone-related pathologies. While no scientific awards are explicitly mentioned, her contributions to understanding autoimmune disease mechanisms are evident through her peer-reviewed outputs. Advising and grants information is not detailed here, though her involvement in collaborative projects (e.g., with Professors Brown and Thomas) suggests active participation in research networks. Her affiliation with the UQ Diamantina Institute places her within a multidisciplinary environment focused on translational medical research.
Dr. Sarah Sandaradura is a Clinical Associate Lecturer in Paediatrics & Child Health at the Children's Hospital, Westmead. Her research focuses on genetic and genomic approaches to diagnosing rare pediatric diseases, particularly mitochondrial disorders, neuromuscular conditions, and congenital anomalies. She specializes in ultra-rapid genomic sequencing for critically ill infants and children, contributing to national healthcare systems' implementation of these technologies. Her work bridges clinical practice and research, emphasizing diagnostic efficiency and workforce training in genomic medicine. Key research interests include: Ultrarapid genomic testing protocols in acute pediatric care Multi-omics integration for rare disease diagnosis Genetic variants associated with neurofibromatosis and congenital myopathies Health economics of genomic diagnostic pipelines Recent publications highlight advancements in: Boosting neuromuscular diagnosis rates through RNA sequencing Expanding allelic heterogeneity understanding in autosomal recessive ataxias National scaling of critical care genomic testing Genotype-phenotype correlations in NF1 variants She co-led the 2022 RNA-4RD grant project developing clinical RNA diagnostics pipelines. Her work emphasizes translating genomic discoveries into actionable clinical strategies for pediatric patients.
Dr. Min-Xia Wang is a Senior Lecturer in Medicine at the University of Sydney's Central Clinical School, affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine and Health. She specializes in clinical neurology, medical genetics, and drug-related muscle disorders. Her work focuses on diagnostic methodologies for neuromuscular conditions, including nerve biopsy techniques and genetic analyses. Education: Not explicitly listed in provided text. Research Interests: Combines clinical practice with translational research, addressing challenges in diagnosing complex conditions like hydroxychloroquine-induced myopathy and muscular dystrophy through advanced genomic and pathological approaches. Her studies bridge immunology, pharmacology, and genetics to improve diagnostic precision. Grants: 2008: autoMACS Pro Separator Equipment Grant (NHMRC) 2008: The Mechanism of Action of IVIg in Inflammatory Neuropathy (NHMRC Project Grant) Labs/Teams: Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams in neuropathology and genetic diagnostics, contributing to projects involving nerve biopsy protocols and genomic diagnostic frameworks.
