Research Activities

Biomedical Science is the application of the natural sciences (biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, biophysics, etc) to the study of medicine.  As such, this important and expanding field provides the underlying basis for all clinical science and medicine.

The School of Biomedical Sciences undertakes high quality, innovative, fundamental and applied research. The principal aims of this research are to create new knowledge which will contribute to the well being of the community, thereby achieving international recognition as a quality research centre.

Contributing to the well being of the community entails providing knowledge, techniques, and resources useful to the community's present and future needs. Such knowledge is an important potential source of new wealth by directly or indirectly facilitating the commercialisation of this scholarship. The School is fortunate in being well supported by highly qualified staff with commitment, dedication, and enthusiasm for its research endeavours.

FACILlTIES

The School is equipped with up-to-date facilities for macromolecular separation and analysis, nucleic acid separation, sequencing and synthesis, cell culture, cell separation and identification, microscopy, animal house facilities and molecular biology containment facilities.

There is a wide range of sophisticated and specialised scientific equipment which includes a transmission electron microscope, DNA sequencer, peptide and oligonucleotide synthesisers, HPLC and gas-liquid chromatographs, liquid scintillation and gamma counters, a a fluorescence flow cytometer, ultra and high speed centrifuges and cell counting equipment with the general range of microscopes, spectrophotometers, tissue processing, cutting and staining equipment, coagulation and electrophoresis equipment including pulse field units, laminar flow units, C02 incubators, autoclaves and sterilisation oven/incubators, microscopes, balances, pH-meters, and bench top lab equipment. The School is also well equipped with computer and photographic facilities for data analysis and presentation.

A recent grant from the Lotteries Commission brought an additional $463,000 worth of equipment to the School.
 

RESEARCH

1. Epidemiology and mechanisms of drug resistance in the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus


2.  Endocrine mimetics


3. Molecular and Behavioural Immunology


4. DNA profiling and molecular genetics


5. Clinical aspects of medical laboratory science including structural studies of tissues


6. Role of sex steroids in human cancer


7.  Teaching and learning research in the biomedical sciences


8.  Epidemiology and social issues of health


9. Cytogenetics

Where possible, the School encourages research activities which utilise molecular procedures in order to maximise the use of equipment and foster collective laboratory skills. This policy seeks to encourage over the long term the development of a strong research profile based on communal activities while also facilitating associated applied research which is derived from the more fundamental activities. The School is cognisant that research which addresses societal problems in an integrated manner will result in maximum utilisation of resources.

From the most recently available data the School ranks first in the Division in terms of total annual reseach funding with more than twice the income of our nearest competitor. A similar picture is seen with total research funding per FTE staff member, with National Competitive Grant funding and with National Competitive Grant funding per FTE staff member. In terms of industry and other funding, the School receives nearly ten times the total funding of its next competitor and six times the funding per FTE staff member of its next competitor.

THE CENTRE FOR MOLECULAR TECHNOLOGY AND THERAPEUTICS

The Centre for Molecular Technology and Therapeutics (CMTT) is a valuable resource for the state of Western Australia which will provide a high quality research, development, teaching, and learning focus for the benefit industry, government, and the wider community.
At Curtin, a number of independent research groups have come together from the School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Pharmacy to form the new CMTT, as the Curtin Node of WABRI.  Over the last five years these researchers have attracted some $12.7 million in research funding from various sources.  These groups include:

1. Rational Drug Design

The research team led by Associate Professor Helmerhorst is developing an insulin-like drug that can be taken orally.  This will eliminate the need for daily injections of insulin in diabetics and hopefully make it easier to control the disease.  The research involves mining of pharmaceutical databases using high-powered computational chemistry approaches.  Already, the research team has discovered several new classes of compounds that are providing some important clues needed to tailor design and synthesise the drug.  The research is internationally recognised and has included collaborations with the University of California, San Fransisco and Eli Lilly and Co, Indianapolis - one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies.   The research is funded by Inovax Ltd - a publicly listed Australian pharmaceutical development company that undertakes joint venture development of promising technologies and products in conjunction with Australian Universities and research institutions. Curtin University, the scientific team and Inovax Ltd, each holds equity in the project which is run under the umbrella of Insulin Mimetics Pty Ltd.  If successfully developed and registered, the drug will be a new and unique method of treating diabetics.  It will also serve as a prime example of how basic research from a dedicated team of university professionals can have far reaching and important implications in the community.

2. Molecular Mycology

Associate Professor John Warmington, School of Biomedical Sciences is Director of the Candida Research Unit.  Associate Professor Warmington's research involves:

• Molecular basis of interaction between pathogens and their hosts, particularly of the pathogenic yeast, Candida.  The major objectives being in the improved diagnosis of Candida infections, and the development of anti-Candida drugs/vaccines.
• The development and use of novel genetic engineering technologies/systems for the synthesis of foreign proteins (Biopharmaceuticals) in microbes, particularly yeasts and fungi.

3. Functional Genomics

Associate Professor John Wetherall, School of Biomedical Sciences.  In conjunction with Dr David Groth, Professor Wetherall's research involves DNA analysis in the following three broad areas:

DNA markers for individual identification.

• Human parentage testing and identification by DNA profiling.

• Isolation of genomic or cDNA and construction of various plasmid, cosmid or other libraries on a contract basis.  Development of DNA probes for advanced cytogenetic testing (FISH etc).

• Uses molecular methods to identify and sequence MHC genes associated with parasite resistance in sheep and other livestock thereby providing a means of identifying immunogenic peptides of parasite origin which may be used in vaccines for the prevention of parasite infestation.  A cognate project identifies homologues of the complement C4 gene in vertebrate species.
• Population genetics of bone marrow donors investigates MHC gene frequencies in a bone marrow donor registry with a view to identifying haplotypes which will improve the matching of donors and recipients of bone marrow transplants.

4. Molecular Microbiology

Professor Warren Grubb, School of Biomedical Sciences.  Professor Grubb's research involves:

• Identification of the genes and proteins involved in the epidemicity and pathogenicity of bacteria, particularly Staphylococcus aureus, and identification of strategies for controlling and containing the spread of organisms.  The plan is to develop a national and a South East Asian Centre for the control and monitoring of infectious diseases.  This will generate computer data bases on organisms.  It is planned that these studies will lead to the development of vaccines and eventually link up with industry for the manufacture of vaccines here in WA.
  
• Understanding how antibiotic resistance genes are transferred between bacteria.  It is important to find ways to intervene to stop the spread of antibiotic resistance genes.  For example, it is already known that a substance incorporated in many pharmaceutical products actually aids the dissemination of resistance genes and that this substance should not be used.  There may be substances which we can use which will inhibit transfer.  This obviously has possibilities for collaboration with the pharmaceutical companies.

5. Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Asthma

Professor Colin Sanderson, School of Biomedical Sciences, has an established international reputation in the field of asthma immunology.  He was instrumental in the establishment of the Anti-Asthma Drug R & D syndicate, which involved Bankers Trust Australia, Coles Myer Ltd and AMRAD Natural Products.

Professor Sanderson's more recent research has focussed on the study of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of asthma and in particular on the lymphokine proteins which mediate these reactions.  This work includes a strong focus on the identification of those portions of these molecules which are directly involved in their biological function.  Professor Sanderson had a central role in the discovery and development of interleukin-5.  This molecule has become a major pharmaceutical target for a new generation of anti-asthma drugs.  This work will provide a pathway for the development of therapeutics which can modulate the disease process; it therefore both complements and extends in an important way the main objectives of the IMTT.

6. Pharmacogenetics

Professor Michael Garlepp heads the Pharmacogenetics Research Group in the School of Pharmacy.  Professor Garlepp's group carries out work in the following areas:

•  Gene therapy of cancer.  In this program transfection and transduction of immunologically relevant genes into mesothelioma cells is being used to render them more capable of generating protective anti-tumour immune responses.  This work has shown that the correct choice of modifying genes enables such responses to be generated.  These approaches have provided the first evidence that immunity can be generated against even very aggressive tumours such as malignant mesotheliomas, a tumour of some significance in Western Australia.  This work has and will provide information which forms the basis upon which present and future clinical trials of gene therapy are based.
  
•  Identification of tumour antigens.  Using genetically modified mesothelioma cells it has been demonstrated that tumour-reactive antibodies can be produced.  These antibodies are being used to identify potential target molecules for anti-tumour immune responses.  Such molecules are being identified with a view to determining their value as immunising agents.
  
•  Genetic factors in auto immune muscle disease.  An extremely strong association between markers on chromosome 6 and the muscle disease inclusion body myositis has been demonstrated.  Candidate genes are being investigated.  The results of this work will provide information on the mechanisms of muscle disease and muscle cell death.
  
•  Genetic factors which determine drug activity and side effects.  These experiments are aimed at defining the variants of genes which control the metabolism and efficacy of a range of drugs in individual patients.  These data will lead to the possibility of predicting the likelihood of effective drug action in individual patients.  The capacity to guide the use of appropriate anti-hypertensives and antidepressants, for example, will lead to saving of millions of dollars from the health budget.  The effects of these drugs are often determined by more than one gene product.  Since each of these genes may be polymorphic it will be necessary to define polymorphic combinations which influence drug activity.  The test to detect such combinations of genetic variants will be marketable.

7. Behavioural Immunology

Following initial collaborative research involving Dr Norman Gare and Professor Maurice King, Director of The Institute for Behavioural Research in Health (IBRH) a well defined base has been established in psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) and behavioural immunology. Various studies are at varying stages of progress or development. In one system it has been demonstrated that Pavlovian conditioning of the immune system of inbred mice can result in reduced infections with the pathogenic yeast, Candida albicans. Conditioning involves the coadministration of a protein antigen isolated from the Candida cells via an injection and the oral administration of saccharin, a neutral substance which provides a sweet taste without any effects on the immune system itself. Mice given the saccharin following an injection of the infectious Candida cells show reduced levels of infection compared to control animals.

In another study changes induced in the immune system by stress has been investigated. Stress induced in students by an academic examination resulted in changes in immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations in saliva. IgA was assayed in a sensitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay developed and characterised as part of the project.

Research in the planning stage at the moment will show that hypnosis can be used as an alternative to immunotherapeutic treatments for patients with asthma or autoimmune disease. These studies are facilitated via collaboration between Dr Gare and Dr J Horton-Hausknecht, a psychologist interested in PNI research.