Masters Projects with the Department of Pharmacology at Oxford University, UK

 

Oxford University, UK, Masters Projects with The School of Biomedical Sciences

 

 

 
 
 
The Department of Pharmacology at Oxford University and the School of Biomedical Sciences (SBMS) at the University of Queensland have entered a consultative process which has the aim of providing postgraduate students the opportunity and the support to be trained cooperatively by high quality international research institutions.
The projects summarized below are offered to students currently enrolled in MSc (Pharmacology) at Oxford. Our intention is to provide in the future similar opportunities for SBMS postgraduates to experience research at Oxford.
This program will be coordinated by Dr. Rachel Ingram (Oxford) and Associate Professor Conrad Sernia (SBMS). Students with an interest in a research project should first consult with Dr. Ingram, rachel.ingram@pharm.ox.ac.uk, and, if deemed suitable, are welcome to contact the supervisor directly for details of projects.
 

Projects offered to students enrolled in the MSc (Pharmacology) at Oxford University

 
Professor Wally Thomas
 
Project 1. Chemosensory receptors in cardiovascular tissues – We have made the novel discovery that the cells in our heart express members of the taste and olfactory receptor families.  Why these sensory G protein-coupled receptors are expressed in heart cells remains unclear and we have projects, based on molecular and cellular pharmacology approaches, to investigate their function.  The project will express cloned taste receptors in cultured cells and screen a panel of potential ligands for binding, affinity, and signalling.  
 
Project 2. Signalling mediators of heart growth.  Exaggerated growth of the heart (hypertrophy) is a primary predictor of early death but the cellular mechanisms that control cardiac cell growth are poorly defined.  Angiotensin promotes growth and remodelling of the heart and there is some evidence that angiotensin receptors crosstalk to epidermal growth factor receptors to mediate cardiac cell growth.  We recently performed an unbiased, genome-wide siRNA knockdown screen to determine potential mediators of angiotensin mediated EGFR activation and we have identified several interesting candidates.  Projects to further study these candidates  are available.
See http://www.uq.edu.au/sbms/staff/professor-walter-thomas.
 
Dr. Simon Phipps
Research Interests: Innate immune processes that underlie the pathogenesis of allergic asthma, emphysema and bronchiolitis. See http://www.uq.edu.au/sbms/staff/dr-simon-phipps
Professor Peter Thorn
 The Thorn laboratory investigates the control of insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells. We image secretion in real-time from intact islets of Langerhans in healthy animals and from animals with diabetes.  See http://ilc00t.facbacs.uq.edu.au/SBMS/secretorycontrol/.
 
 Dr. David Simmons.
Research Interests: Implantation and Placental Development. For details see http://www.uq.edu.au/sbms/staff/dr-david-simmons
 Dr. Garrie Arumugam
Research interests: Mechanisms of Ischaemic Stroke. A primary focus of our laboratory is to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms and to study therapeutic targets to treat ischaemic stroke injury. Toward this end, we have developed in vitro and in vivo models of ischaemic stroke. http://www.uq.edu.au/sbms/staff/dr-thiruma-garrie-arumugam.
 Dr. David Pennisi

This research group explores the molecular and genetic basis of heart development and disease. They use genetically engineered mouse models and state-of-the-art molecular and imaging techniques to understand the role of growth factor signalling pathways in these processes. Some of the processes focus on formation of the coronary vasculature; interactions between the epicardium and the myocardium; and the role of BMPs and TGFbetas in heart development and disease. See http://www.uq.edu.au/sbms/staff/dr-david-pennisi.

 Dr. Aaron Smith

Research interests involve skin cancer (melanomas). Understanding the transcriptional and signalling networks that regulate normal melanocyte function and the role these regulatory hierarchies play in melanoma development and progression. See http://www.uq.ued.au/sbms/staff/dr-aaron-smith.  

 Dr. Ethan Scott

Research Interests: The role of the cerebellum in coordinating complex movements and in driving motor learning.  See  http://www.uq.edu.au/sbms/staff/dr-ethan-scott.
 Dr. Tamara Paravicini
Research interests: The role of the Innate Immune system in Vascular Function and remodelling. See http://www.uq.edu.au/sbms/staff/dr-tamara-paravicini.
  
Dr. Bradley Launikonis.
Research Interests: Calcium homeostasis in skeletal muscle fibres and mechanisms  of calcium release during muscle activity. The focus is on the roles of ion channels, pumps and membrane lipid composition; and changes that occur in disease states (eg. muscular dystrophy). See http://uq.edu.au/sbms/staff/dr-bradley-launikonis.
 
 
 
 
 

 

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