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Engineering new tools to improve energy metabolism

Aleksandra Filipovska FAA, FAHMS BSc PhD Louis Landau Chair in Child Health Research; NHMRC Leadership Fellow; Deputy Director, ARC Centre of

Mitochondrial Gene Therapy

Aleksandra Filipovska FAA, FAHMS BSc PhD Louis Landau Chair in Child Health Research; NHMRC Leadership Fellow; Deputy Director, ARC Centre of

Anaesthesia, suicide prevention and rare disease research supported by Telethon 2022

The generous support of West Australians through Channel 7’s Telethon Trust will help support vital child health research at The Kids Research Institute Australia in 2023.

Ideas Grants to support innovative research

Two research teams, led by The Kids Research Institute Australia, have been awarded more than $2 million to fund innovative projects.

Control of mitophagy initiation and progression by the TBK1 adaptors NAP1 and SINTBAD

Mitophagy preserves overall mitochondrial fitness by selectively targeting damaged mitochondria for degradation. The regulatory mechanisms that prevent PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) and E3 ubiquitin ligase Parkin (PINK1/Parkin)-dependent mitophagy and other selective autophagy pathways from overreacting while ensuring swift progression once initiated are largely elusive. 

Mutational rescue of the activity of high-fidelity Cas9 enzymes

Programmable DNA endonucleases derived from bacterial genetic defense systems, exemplified by CRISPR-Cas9, have made it significantly easier to perform genomic modifications in living cells. However, unprogrammed, off-target modifications can have serious consequences, as they often disrupt the function or regulation of non-targeted genes and compromise the safety of therapeutic gene editing applications. 

Copy number variation in tRNA isodecoder genes impairs mammalian development and balanced translation

The number of tRNA isodecoders has increased dramatically in mammals, but the specific molecular and physiological reasons for this expansion remain elusive. To address this fundamental question we used CRISPR editing to knockout the seven-membered phenylalanine tRNA gene family in mice, both individually and combinatorially.

Multi-omic profiling reveals an RNA processing rheostat that predisposes to prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the third leading cause of cancer deaths. GWAS have identified variants associated with prostate cancer susceptibility; however, mechanistic and functional validation of these mutations is lacking.

Mitochondrial gene expression is required for platelet function and blood clotting

Platelets are anucleate blood cells that contain mitochondria and regulate blood clotting in response to injury. Mitochondria contain their own gene expression machinery that relies on nuclear-encoded factors for the biogenesis of the oxidative phosphorylation system to produce energy required for thrombosis.

Frankenstein Cas9: engineering improved gene editing systems

The discovery of CRISPR-Cas9 and its widespread use has revolutionised and propelled research in biological sciences.