Address: Department of Biochemistry, Monash University, Clayton, 3168.
* Molecular biology (in association with the Centre for Molecular Biology and Medicine) Application of recombinant DNA technology to gene expression and protein engineering, in relation to protein structure and assembly of protein complexes. Molecular biology of membrane formation: biosynthesis of the mitochondrial organelle. Mitochondrial disorders in human disease. Molecular biology of the ageing process. Bioenergy, cell signalling and apoptosis. Mechanism of action of interferons: molecular and clinical studies in cancer and viral diseases. Human mucinous cancers: molecular, developmental and clinical diagnostic aspects. Analysis of the cause and expression of autoimmune diseases: diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and primary biliary cirrhosis.
* Structure and function of connective tissue Mechanism of synthesis and degradation of proteoglycans and structural proteins in cartilage and ligament. Pathological changes in cartilage leading to arthritis. Biophysical investigations into cell-extracellular matrix interactions in connective tissue. Biochemical and biophysical mechanisms of glomerular basement membrane ultrafiltration.
* Macromolecular structure and function (in association with the Centre for Bioprocess Technology) Biochemistry and molecular endocrinology of growth, fertility and insulin action. Mechanisms of tumour-dependent cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Mechanism of action of viral proteins. Analytical biotechnology. Separation and purification of macromolecules: applications of peptide design and synthesis in biomedical research and biotechnology. Mechanism of action of growth factors, oncogenes and their receptors in gonadal function and embryogenesis. Biochemical and biophysical studies in biorecognition, protein folding and protein-ligand interactions.