
Overview
Background
Professor Brandon Wainwright AM is Co-Director of the Children’s Brain Cancer Centre and leads a laboratory within the UQ Diamantina Institute focused on understanding the genetic pathways behind medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumour that occurs predominantly in children. He is Chair of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Australia, Chair of the Advisory Board of the Robinson Research Institute and Chair of the Board of the South Australian Immunogenomics Cancer Institute (SAIGENCI), and serves on the boards the Australian Genome Research Facility as well as several national and international scientific review committees, including the MRFF Brain Tumour Roadmap Committee.
Professor Wainwright completed his undergraduate and postgraduate studies at The University of Adelaide, after which he secured a postdoctoral fellowship with St Mary's Hospital at Imperial College London. During his six years at Imperial he worked on the first human genome project and also became a Medical Research Council Senior Research Fellow. He returned to Australia in 1990 to join UQ's Centre for Molecular and Cellular Biology (now IMB) and led the Institute for Molecular Biology until 2019.
Professor Wainwright is a geneticist, renowned for discovering the genetic pathway that causes most human cancer. He is skilled in molecular genetics, where he is using genetic approaches to dig through DNA and find the genes that cause disease. He commenced using these skills to locate the cystic fibrosis gene, but it was when isolating a gene responsible for a rare form of brain cancer called Medulloblastoma, that he discovered the role of the ‘Hedgehog Pathway' in common human cancer.
Availability
- Professor Brandon Wainwright is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Research interests
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Cancer and cell signalling
Skin cancer is a major public health issue in Australia, with the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer costing our community more than $264 million each year. Moreover, brain tumours remain the most common cause of cancer-related death in children and of these, medulloblastoma is the most commonly diagnosed. Our laboratory has made great progress in understanding the genetic pathways behind the most common form of skin cancer in Australia, Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC), and medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumour that occurs predominantly in children. Having mapped and isolated the Naevoid Basel Cell Carcinoma Syndrome (NBCCS) gene called Patched, which is the driver for a medical condition where affected individuals have a predisposition for developing BCC and medulloblastoma, we were able to identify the Patched gene as a controller of a molecular signalling pathway called the Hedgehog pathway. The Hedgehog pathway is a set of genetic mutations that contribute to the development of a wide range of tumour types, including lung, pancreatic and ovarian cancer. By examining this pathway and how it interacts with other genetic pathways, our scientists have gained a better understanding of the normal development of the skin and cerebellum, a part of the brain that controls motor functions. By manipulating the strength of the Hedgehog pathway we believe stem cell populations can be expanded or can be induced to become cancerous. Our lab has identified the core genetic components that lead to the development of medulloblastoma. This work will enable the therapeutic targeting of every medulloblastoma, not just a subset, leading to more powerful clinical trials and ultimately more effective treatment options.
Works
Search Professor Brandon Wainwright’s works on UQ eSpace
2019
Journal Article
Common Regulatory Targets of NFIA, NFIX and NFIB during Postnatal Cerebellar Development
Fraser, James, Essebier, Alexandra, Brown, Alexander S., Davila, Raul Ayala, Harkins, Danyon, Zalucki, Oressia, Shapiro, Lauren P., Penzes, Peter, Wainwright, Brandon J., Scott, Matthew P., Gronostajski, Richard M., Bodén, Mikael, Piper, Michael and Harvey, Tracey J. (2019). Common Regulatory Targets of NFIA, NFIX and NFIB during Postnatal Cerebellar Development. Cerebellum, 19 (1), 89-101. doi: 10.1007/s12311-019-01089-3
2019
Journal Article
Identification of CD24 as a marker of Patched1 deleted medulloblastoma-initiating neural progenitor cells
Robson, Jonathan P., Remke, Marc, Kool, Marcel, Julian, Elaine, Korshunov, Andrey, Pfister, Stefan M., Osborne, Geoffrey W., Taylor, Michael D., Wainwright, Brandon and Reynolds, Brent A. (2019). Identification of CD24 as a marker of Patched1 deleted medulloblastoma-initiating neural progenitor cells. PLoS ONE, 14 (1) e0210665, e0210665. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210665
2018
Journal Article
Granule neuron precursor cell proliferation is regulated by NFIX and intersectin 1 during postnatal cerebellar development
Fraser, James, Essebier, Alexandra, Brown, Alexander S., Davila, Raul Ayala, Sengar, Ameet S., Tu, YuShan, Ensbey, Kathleen S., Day, Bryan W., Scott, Matthew P., Gronostajski, Richard M., Wainwright, Brandon J., Boden, Mikael, Harvey, Tracey J. and Piper, Michael (2018). Granule neuron precursor cell proliferation is regulated by NFIX and intersectin 1 during postnatal cerebellar development. Brain Structure and Function, 224 (2), 811-827. doi: 10.1007/s00429-018-1801-3
2018
Journal Article
Elongator mutation in mice induces neurodegeneration and ataxia-like behavior
Kojic, Marija, Gaik, Monika, Kiska, Bence, Salerno-Kochan, Anna, Hunt, Sarah, Tedoldi, Angelo, Mureev, Sergey, Jones, Alun, Whittle, Belinda, Genovesi, Laura A., Adolphe, Christelle, Brown, Darren L., Stow, Jennifer L., Alexandrov, Kirill, Sah, Pankaj, Glatt, Sebastian and Wainwright, Brandon J. (2018). Elongator mutation in mice induces neurodegeneration and ataxia-like behavior. Nature Communications, 9 (1) 3195, 3195. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-05765-6
2017
Journal Article
Activated Hedgehog-GLI Signaling Causes Congenital Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction
Sheybani-Deloui, Sepideh, Chi, Lijun, Staite, Marian V., Cain, Jason E., Nieman, Brain J., Henkelman, R. Mark, Wainwright, Brandon J., Potter, S. Steven, Bagli, Darius J., Lorenzo, Armando J. and Rosenblum, Norman D. (2017). Activated Hedgehog-GLI Signaling Causes Congenital Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN, 29 (2), 532-544. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2017050482
2017
Journal Article
A compartmentalized phosphoinositide signaling axis at cilia is regulated by INPP5E to maintain cilia and promote Sonic Hedgehog medulloblastoma
Conduit, S. E., Ramaswamy, V., Remke, M., Watkins, D. N., Wainwright, B. J., Taylor, M. D., Mitchell, C. A. and Dyson, J. M. (2017). A compartmentalized phosphoinositide signaling axis at cilia is regulated by INPP5E to maintain cilia and promote Sonic Hedgehog medulloblastoma. Oncogene, 36 (43), 5969-5984. doi: 10.1038/onc.2017.208
2017
Journal Article
Inhibition of CDK4/6 by palbociclib significantly extends survival in medulloblastoma patient-derived xenograft mouse models
Sangar, Michelle L. Cook, Genovesi, Laura A., Nakamoto, Madison W., Davis, Melissa J., Knobluagh, Sue E., Ji, Pengxiang, Millar, Amanda, Wainwright, Brandon J. and Olson, James M. (2017). Inhibition of CDK4/6 by palbociclib significantly extends survival in medulloblastoma patient-derived xenograft mouse models. Clinical Cancer Research, 23 (19), 5802-5813. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-16-2943
2017
Journal Article
Patched1 patterns fibroblast growth factor 10 and forkhead box F1 expression during pulmonary branch formation
Ho, Uda Y. and Wainwright, Brandon J. (2017). Patched1 patterns fibroblast growth factor 10 and forkhead box F1 expression during pulmonary branch formation. Mechanisms of Development, 147, 37-48. doi: 10.1016/j.mod.2017.09.001
2017
Journal Article
Downregulation of the Sonic Hedgehog/Gli pathway transcriptional target Neogenin-1 is associated with basal cell carcinoma aggressiveness
Casas, Bárbara S., Adolphe, Christelle, Lois, Pablo, Navarrete, Nelson, Solís, Natalia, Bustamante, Eva, Gac, Patricio, Cabané, Patricio, Gallegos, Ivan, Wainwright, Brandon J. and Palma, Verónica (2017). Downregulation of the Sonic Hedgehog/Gli pathway transcriptional target Neogenin-1 is associated with basal cell carcinoma aggressiveness. Oncotarget, 8 (48), 84006-84018. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.21061
2016
Journal Article
The many faces of elongator in neurodevelopment and disease
Kojic, Marija and Wainwright, Brandon (2016). The many faces of elongator in neurodevelopment and disease. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 9 (NOV2016) 115, 115. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2016.00115
2016
Journal Article
MicroRNA biogenesis and hedgehog-patched signaling cooperate to regulate an important developmental transition in granule cell development
Constantin, Lena, Constantin, Myrna and Wainwright, Brandon J. (2016). MicroRNA biogenesis and hedgehog-patched signaling cooperate to regulate an important developmental transition in granule cell development. Genetics, 202 (3), 1105-1118. doi: 10.1534/genetics.115.184176
2016
Journal Article
Cell-type-specific expression of NFIX in the developing and adult cerebellum
Fraser, James, Essebier, Alexandra, Gronostajski, Richard M., Boden, Mikael, Wainwright, Brandon J., Harvey, Tracey J. and Piper, Michael (2016). Cell-type-specific expression of NFIX in the developing and adult cerebellum. Brain Structure and Function, 222 (5), 1-20. doi: 10.1007/s00429-016-1340-8
2016
Conference Publication
Targeting Apoptosis as a Novel Therapy for Myc-Driven Medulloblastoma
Ji, Pengxiang, Genovesi, Laura, He, Yaowu, Hooper, John and Wainwright, Brandon (2016). Targeting Apoptosis as a Novel Therapy for Myc-Driven Medulloblastoma. 17th International Symposium on Pediatric Neuro-Oncology (ISPNO), Liverpool England, 12-15 June 2016. United States: Oxford University Press.
2016
Conference Publication
Basal cell carcinoma development is promoted by ablation of the dermal papilla mesenchymal niche
Villani, R., Sim, S. L., Greaney, J., Wainwright, B. and Khosrotehrani, K. (2016). Basal cell carcinoma development is promoted by ablation of the dermal papilla mesenchymal niche. Asia-Pacific Combined Dermatology Research Conference 2016, Noosa, QLD, Australia, 25–28 August 2016. Richmond, VIC, Australia: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia. doi: 10.1111/ajd.12584
2016
Journal Article
Patched receptors sense, interpret and establish an epidermal Hedgehog signalling gradient
Adolphe, Christelle, Junker, Jan Phillipp, Lyubimova, Anna, van Oudenaarden, Alexander and Wainwright, Brandon (2016). Patched receptors sense, interpret and establish an epidermal Hedgehog signalling gradient. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 137 (1), 179-186. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2016.06.632
2015
Journal Article
Nuclear factor one transcription factors: divergent functions in developmental versus adult stem cell populations
Harris, Lachlan, Genovesi, Laura A., Gronostajski, Richard M., Wainwright, Brandon J. and Piper, Michael (2015). Nuclear factor one transcription factors: divergent functions in developmental versus adult stem cell populations. Developmental Dynamics, 244 (3), 227-238. doi: 10.1002/dvdy.24182
2015
Conference Publication
Dominant negative mutation of Sox18 inhibits normal dermal papilla development during embryogenesis and regeneration
Villani, R. M., Hodgson, S., Legrand, J., Greaney, J., Wong, H., Pichol-Thievend, C., Adolphe, C., Wainwright, B., Francois, M. and Khosrotehrani, K. (2015). Dominant negative mutation of Sox18 inhibits normal dermal papilla development during embryogenesis and regeneration. 45th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Dermatological Research, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 9-12 September 2015. London, United Kingdom: Nature Publishing Group. doi: 10.1038/jid.2015.272
2015
Journal Article
MicroRNAs promote granule cell expansion in the cerebellum through Gli2
Constantin, Lena and Wainwright, Brandon J. (2015). MicroRNAs promote granule cell expansion in the cerebellum through Gli2. Cerebellum, 14 (6), 688-698. doi: 10.1007/s12311-015-0672-x
2014
Journal Article
Zfx facilitates tumorigenesis caused by activation of the hedgehog pathway
Palmer, Colin J., Galan-Caridad, Jose M., Weisberg, Stuart P., Lei, Liang, Esquilin, Jose M., Croft, Gist F., Wainwright, Brandon, Canoll, Peter, Owens, David M. and Reizis, Boris (2014). Zfx facilitates tumorigenesis caused by activation of the hedgehog pathway. Cancer Research, 74 (20), 5914-5924. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-14-0834
2014
Journal Article
Patched 1 and Patched 2 redundancy has a key role in regulating epidermal differentiation
Adolphe, Christelle, Nieuwenhuis, Erica, Villani, Rehan, Li, Zhu Juan, Kaur, Pritinder, Hui, Chi-chung and Wainwright, Brandon J. (2014). Patched 1 and Patched 2 redundancy has a key role in regulating epidermal differentiation. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 134 (7), 1981-1990. doi: 10.1038/jid.2014.63
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Brandon Wainwright is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
New treatments for children with medulloblastoma.
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
New treatments for children with medulloblastoma.
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
The role of the blood brain barrier in the successful treatment of brain tumours in children
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
A new therapy for paediatric brain tumours.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Joseph Yunis
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigation into network-defined novel targeted therapies for medulloblastoma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Laura Genovesi
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigation into network-defined novel targeted therapies for medulloblastoma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Laura Genovesi
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Doctor Philosophy
Complex neoantigen prediction in cancers
Associate Advisor
Completed supervision
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Targeting Apoptosis as A Novel Therapy for Medulloblastoma
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Laura Genovesi
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
The Relationship between Patched and Sox9 in Regulating Skin Stem Cells, Wound Response and Skin Tumorigenesis
Principal Advisor
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic Regulation of Development and Disorders of the Cerebellum
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Laura Genovesi
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Dicer in Cerebellar Development and Hedgehog-Mediated Medulloblastoma
Principal Advisor
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of N-myc and C-myc in Skin Development and in Hedgehog Pathway-Induced Tumorigenesis
Principal Advisor
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2011
Doctor Philosophy
The role of Patched1 during development of the mouse cerebellum and regulation of neural stem cells in medulloblastoma
Principal Advisor
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
The molecular basis of medulloblastoma: interaction of hedgehog and Notch signalling in brain development and cancer
Principal Advisor
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
Hedgehog signalling in lung development and airway regeneration
Principal Advisor
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2007
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation of the Host Immune Response in Cystic Fibrosis Mice.
Principal Advisor
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2006
Doctor Philosophy
IDENTIFICATION OF NOVEL DOWNSTREAM TARGETS OF SONIC, INDIAN AND DESERT HEDGEHOG
Principal Advisor
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2005
Doctor Philosophy
THE STRUCTURE-FUNCTION ANALYSIS OF THE PATCHED PROTEIN
Principal Advisor
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2003
Doctor Philosophy
EFFECTS OF SONIC, DESERT AND INDIAN HEDGEHOG SIGNALLING IN SKIN
Principal Advisor
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2003
Doctor Philosophy
DOWNSTREAM TARGETS OF PATCHED, THE GENE RESPONSIBLE FOR NEVOID BASAL CELL CARCINOMA SYNDROME
Principal Advisor
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation into network-defined novel targeted therapies for medulloblastoma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Laura Genovesi
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
An exploration of unsolved central nervous system white matter disorders with next-generation sequencing
Associate Advisor
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
The role of Nuclear Factor One transcription factors in cerebellar development
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Michael Piper
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
A computational analysis of transcription factor interactions and binding guided by epigenetics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Michael Piper, Professor Mikael Boden
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
Novel genes regulated by the hedgehog pathway, and their contribution to limb and craniofacial development
Associate Advisor
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2006
Doctor Philosophy
THE GENETICS OF TYPE 2 DIABETES
Associate Advisor
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2005
Doctor Philosophy
MOLECULAR EVENTS IN HEDGEHOG SIGNALLING: REGULATION BY VESICULAR TRAFFICKING AND STEROLS
Associate Advisor
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2004
Doctor Philosophy
TRANSCRIPTIONAL ANALYSIS OF MACROPHAGE SIGNALLING IN RESPONSE TO LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Hume
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2004
Doctor Philosophy
IDENTIFICATION OF NOVEL GLI3 DEPENDENT TRANSCRIPTS IN THE DEVELOPING VERTEBATE LIMB
Associate Advisor
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2004
Doctor Philosophy
THE MOLECULAR GENETICS OF MAMMALIAN SEX DETERMINATION
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Brandon Wainwright directly for media enquiries about:
- brain cancer
- brain tumour
- genetics
- genomics
- health research
- medical research
- medulloblastoma
- science policy
- scientific leadership
- skin cancer
- tumours
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