The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway is a master regulator of numerous cellular phenotypes associated with cancer including cell survival, proliferation, growth, altered metabolism and malignant transformation.
Squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) are amongst the most common cancer types afflicting man. SCCs most frequently arise from stratified squamous epithelia such as the epidermis or the mucosae of the head and neck.
A critical step in the gene expression pathway that is altered in cancer is nuclear export of mRNA. We have demonstrated that mRNA export is not constitutive, but highly selective and can regulate distinct biological processes through poorly understood mechanisms.
Many of the major risks factors for developing liver cancer such as alcohol, obesity, smoking and toxin exposure share in common a role for oxidative stress.
Undertake interdisciplinary, postgraduate research for a PhD degree at Australia's top life science laboratories. Successful students will receive generous scholarships and travel grants while undertaking their PhD at an EMBL Australia laboratory in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra or Adelaide.