Dr Amanda Kijas
Dr

Amanda Kijas

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 64178

Background

I am a passionate biomedical research scientist leading a multidisciplinary research program focused on advancing wound healing. My work spans the full translational spectrum from uncovering fundamental biological mechanisms to developing clinically relevant prototypes to improve outcomes across the healing continuum, from initial bleeding control to tissue regeneration.

My research draws on expertise in materials science, cell biology and signalling to investigate the dynamic reciprocity between cells and the extracellular matrix and how biophysical cues and biochemical signals together instruct cellular responses. This includes studying both the fundamental biology of wound healing and the complex signalling cascades that govern tissue regeneration with the goal of identifying and developing novel therapeutic agents.

By employing reductionist model systems, we dissect key biological processes to enable the rational design of effective therapeutic prototypes to address unmet clinical needs.

A central focus of the wound healing research program is the control, development and application of fibrin-based biomaterials, which serve as the body’s provisional healing scaffold. Serving as proregenerative, resorbable delivery scaffolds. The formulation with innovative active pharmaceutical ingredients, including next-generation RNA therapeutics and bioactive compounds derived from nature, such as venom-based molecules, repurposing natures innovation for therapeutic use to develop targeted prototypes.

Availability

Dr Amanda Kijas is:
Available for supervision

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours), Flinders University
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Uppsala University

Research impacts

I am a passionate biomedical research scientist leading a multidisciplinary research program focused on advancing wound healing. My work spans the full translational spectrum from uncovering fundamental biological mechanisms to developing clinically relevant prototypes that improve outcomes across the healing continuum, from initial bleeding control to tissue regeneration.

My research draws on expertise in materials science, cell biology, and signalling to investigate the dynamic reciprocity between cells and the extracellular matrix and how biophysical cues and biochemical signals together instruct functional cellular responses. This includes studying both the fundamental biology of wound healing and the complex signalling cascades that govern tissue regeneration with the goal of identifying and developing novel therapeutic agents.

By employing reductionist model systems, we dissect key biological processes to enable the rational design of effective therapeutic prototypes to address unmet clinical needs.

A central focus of my program is the control, development and application of biomaterials, especially fibrin-based matrices, which serve as the body’s provisional healing scaffold. These are combined with innovative active pharmaceutical ingredients, including next-generation RNA therapeutics and bioactive compounds derived from nature, such as venom-based molecules, repurposing natures innovation for therapeutic use.

Search Professor Amanda Kijas’s works on UQ eSpace

36 works between 1998 and 2024
All (36) Journal Article (32) Book Chapter (2) Conference Publication (1) Other Outputs (1)

21 - 36 of 36 works

2010

Journal Article

CK2 phosphorylation-dependent interaction between aprataxin and MDC1 in the DNA damage response

Becherel, Olivier J., Jakob, Burkhard, Cherry, Amy L., Gueven, Nuri, Fusser, Markus, Kijas, Amanda W., Peng, Cheng, Katyal, Sachin, McKinnon, Peter J., Chen, Junjie, Epe, Bernd, Smerdon, Stephen J., Taucher-Scholz, Gisela and Lavin, Martin F. (2010). CK2 phosphorylation-dependent interaction between aprataxin and MDC1 in the DNA damage response. Nucleic Acids Research, 38 (5) gkp1149, 1489-1503. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkp1149

CK2 phosphorylation-dependent interaction between aprataxin and MDC1 in the DNA damage response

2010

Book Chapter

ATM mediated signaling defends the integrity of the genome

Lavin, Martin F., Gatei, Magtouf, Chen, Philip, Kijas, Amanda and Kozlov, Sergei (2010). ATM mediated signaling defends the integrity of the genome. Handbook of Cell Signaling. (pp. 2171-2183) edited by Ralph A. Bradshaw and Edward A. Dennis. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-374145-5.00263-1

ATM mediated signaling defends the integrity of the genome

2009

Journal Article

Human RAD50 deficiency in a Nijmegen breakage syndrome-like disorder.

Waltes, R., Kalb, R., Gatei, M., Kijas, A.W., Stumm, M., Sobeck, A., Wieland, B., Varon, R., Lerenthal, Y., Lavin, M. F., Schindler, D. and Dörk, T. (2009). Human RAD50 deficiency in a Nijmegen breakage syndrome-like disorder.. American Journal of Human Genetics, 84 (5), 605-616. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2009.04.010

Human RAD50 deficiency in a Nijmegen breakage syndrome-like disorder.

2007

Journal Article

A subgroup of spinocerebellar ataxias defective in DNA damage responses

Gueven, N., Chen, P., Nakamura, J., Becherel, O.J., Kijas, A.W., Grattan-Smith, P. and Lavin, M.F. (2007). A subgroup of spinocerebellar ataxias defective in DNA damage responses. Neuroscience, 145 (4), 1418-1425. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2006.12.010

A subgroup of spinocerebellar ataxias defective in DNA damage responses

2006

Journal Article

Aprataxin forms a discrete branch in the HIT (Histidine Triad) superfamily of proteins with both DNA/RNA binding and nucleotide hydrolase activities

Kijas, Amanda W., Harris, Janelle L., Harris, Jonathan M. and Lavin, Martin F. (2006). Aprataxin forms a discrete branch in the HIT (Histidine Triad) superfamily of proteins with both DNA/RNA binding and nucleotide hydrolase activities. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 281 (20), 13939-13948. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M507946200

Aprataxin forms a discrete branch in the HIT (Histidine Triad) superfamily of proteins with both DNA/RNA binding and nucleotide hydrolase activities

2003

Journal Article

msh2 separation of function mutations confer defects in the initiation steps of mismatch repair

Kijas, Amanda Wraith, Studamire, Barbara and Alani, Eric (2003). msh2 separation of function mutations confer defects in the initiation steps of mismatch repair. Journal of Molecular Biology, 331 (1), 123-138. doi: 10.1016/S0022-2836(03)00694-6

msh2 separation of function mutations confer defects in the initiation steps of mismatch repair

2003

Journal Article

Crystal structure and biochemical analysis of the MutS dot ADP dot beryllium fluoride complex suggests a conserved mechanism for ATP interactions in mismatch repair

Alani, Eric, Lee, Jae Young, Schofield, Mark J., Kijas, Amanda W., Hsieh, Peggy and Yang, Wei (2003). Crystal structure and biochemical analysis of the MutS dot ADP dot beryllium fluoride complex suggests a conserved mechanism for ATP interactions in mismatch repair. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 278 (18), 16088-16094. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M213193200

Crystal structure and biochemical analysis of the MutS dot ADP dot beryllium fluoride complex suggests a conserved mechanism for ATP interactions in mismatch repair

2003

Journal Article

Systematic mutagenesis of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae MLH1 gene reveals distinct roles for Mlh1p in meiotic crossing over and in vegetative and meiotic mismatch repair

Argueso, Juan Lucas, Kijas, Amanda Wraith, Sarin, Sumeet, Heck, Julie, Waase, Marc and Alani, Eric (2003). Systematic mutagenesis of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae MLH1 gene reveals distinct roles for Mlh1p in meiotic crossing over and in vegetative and meiotic mismatch repair. Molecular and Cellular Biology, 23 (3), 873-886. doi: 10.1128/MCB.23.3.873-886.2003

Systematic mutagenesis of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae MLH1 gene reveals distinct roles for Mlh1p in meiotic crossing over and in vegetative and meiotic mismatch repair

2001

Journal Article

Origins of the many NPY-family receptors in mammals

Larhammar, Dan, Wraith, Amanda, Berglund, Magnus M., Holmberg, Sara K. S. and Lundell, Ingrid (2001). Origins of the many NPY-family receptors in mammals. Peptides, 22 (3), 295-307. doi: 10.1016/S0196-9781(01)00331-X

Origins of the many NPY-family receptors in mammals

2000

Journal Article

Zebrafish genes for neuropeptide Y and peptide YY reveal origin by chromosome duplication from an ancestral gene linked to the homeobox cluster

Söderberg, Charlotte, Wraith, Amanda, Ringvall, Maria, Yan, Yi-Lin, Postlethwait, John H., Brodin, Lennart and Larhammar, Dan (2000). Zebrafish genes for neuropeptide Y and peptide YY reveal origin by chromosome duplication from an ancestral gene linked to the homeobox cluster. Journal of Neurochemistry, 75 (3), 908-918. doi: 10.1046/j.1471-4159.2000.0750908.x

Zebrafish genes for neuropeptide Y and peptide YY reveal origin by chromosome duplication from an ancestral gene linked to the homeobox cluster

2000

Journal Article

Evolution of the neuropeptide Y receptor family: gene and chromosome duplications deduced from the cloning and mapping of the five receptor subtype genes in pig

Wraith, Amanda, Törnsten, Anna, Chardon, Patrick, Harbitz, Ingrid, Chowdhary, Bhanu P., Andersson, Leif, Lundin, Lars-Gustav and Larhammar, Dan (2000). Evolution of the neuropeptide Y receptor family: gene and chromosome duplications deduced from the cloning and mapping of the five receptor subtype genes in pig. Genome Research, 10 (3), 302-310. doi: 10.1101/gr.10.3.302

Evolution of the neuropeptide Y receptor family: gene and chromosome duplications deduced from the cloning and mapping of the five receptor subtype genes in pig

1999

Journal Article

Characterization of the cloned Atlantic cod neuropeptide Y-Yb receptor: peptide-binding requirements distinct from known mammalian Y receptors

Sharma, Parul, Arvidsson, Ann-Kristin, Wraith, Amanda, Beck-Sickinger, Annette G., Jönsson-Rylander, Ann-Cathrine and Larhammar, Dan (1999). Characterization of the cloned Atlantic cod neuropeptide Y-Yb receptor: peptide-binding requirements distinct from known mammalian Y receptors. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 115 (3), 422-428. doi: 10.1006/gcen.1999.7332

Characterization of the cloned Atlantic cod neuropeptide Y-Yb receptor: peptide-binding requirements distinct from known mammalian Y receptors

1999

Journal Article

Neuropeptide Y receptor subtype with unique properties cloned in the zebrafish: the zYa receptor

Starbäck, P., Lundell, I., Fredriksson, R., Berglund, M. M., Yan, Y. L., Wraith, A., Söderberg, C., Postlethwait, J. H. and Larhammar, D. (1999). Neuropeptide Y receptor subtype with unique properties cloned in the zebrafish: the zYa receptor. Molecular Brain Research, 70 (2), 242-252. doi: 10.1016/S0169-328X(99)00152-7

Neuropeptide Y receptor subtype with unique properties cloned in the zebrafish: the zYa receptor

1998

Journal Article

Cloning of a neuropeptide Y/peptide YY receptor from the Atlantic cod: the Yb receptor

Arvidsson, Ann-Kristin, Wraith, Amanda, Jönsson-Rylander, Ann-Cathrine and Larhammar, Dan (1998). Cloning of a neuropeptide Y/peptide YY receptor from the Atlantic cod: the Yb receptor. Regulatory Peptides, 75-76, 39-43. doi: 10.1016/S0167-0115(98)00051-2

Cloning of a neuropeptide Y/peptide YY receptor from the Atlantic cod: the Yb receptor

1998

Journal Article

Neutrophils induce damage to respiratory epithelial cells infected with respiratory syncytial virus.

Wang, S. Z., Xu, H., Wraith, A., Bowden, J. J., Alpers, J. H. and Forsyth, K. D. (1998). Neutrophils induce damage to respiratory epithelial cells infected with respiratory syncytial virus.. European Respiratory Journal, 12 (3), 612-618. doi: 10.1183/09031936.98.12030612

Neutrophils induce damage to respiratory epithelial cells infected with respiratory syncytial virus.

1998

Journal Article

FISH mapping of the porcine NPY5 gene to chromosome 8p11

Törnsten, A., Wraith, A., Larhammar, D. and Chowdhary, B. P. (1998). FISH mapping of the porcine NPY5 gene to chromosome 8p11. Mammalian Genome, 9 (3), 262-263. doi: 10.1007/s003359900742

FISH mapping of the porcine NPY5 gene to chromosome 8p11

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2026
    SerpenSeal, next generation wound management
    Australia's Economic Accelerator Ignite Grants
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2027
    Motor Accident Insurance Commission Research Fellowship
    Motor Accident Insurance Commission
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2025
    Venom driven wound healing
    Metro North Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2025
    Unveiling the modulators of scarless wound healing
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    Expediting wound repair for burns and trauma patients with biomaterials conducive to issue driven repair.
    Metro North Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Amanda Kijas is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

  • Next generation wound healing

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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