
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
2006
Journal Article
Flagellin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa inhibits Na+ transport in airway epithelia
Kunzelmann, Karl, Scheidt, Kerstin, Scharf, Birgit, Ousingsawat, Jiraporn, Schreiber, Rainer, Wainwright, Brandon and McMorran, Brendan (2006). Flagellin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa inhibits Na+ transport in airway epithelia. Faseb Journal, 20 (3), 545-546. doi: 10.1096/fj.05-4454fje
2006
Journal Article
Patched1 functions as a gatekeeper by promoting cell cycle progression
Adolphe, Christelle, Hetherington, Rehan, Ellis, Tammy and Wainwright, Brandon (2006). Patched1 functions as a gatekeeper by promoting cell cycle progression. Cancer Research, 66 (4), 2081-2088. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-05-2146
2006
Conference Publication
Iron metabolism in G551D cystic fibrosis mouse incisor ameloblasts
Smid, J. R., Young, W. G., McMorran, B. J. and Wainwright, B. J. (2006). Iron metabolism in G551D cystic fibrosis mouse incisor ameloblasts. IADR ANZ Division 38th Annual Scientific Meeting, Brisbane, Qld, Australia, 28 June - 1 July, 2006. Chicago, Ill. U.S.A: Sage for the American Dental Association.
2005
Journal Article
Pax9 and Jagged1 act downstream of Gli3 in vertabrate limb development
McGlinn, Edwina, Lammerts van Bueren, Kelly, Fiorenza, Salvatore, Mo, Rong, Poh, Alisa M., Forrest, Alistair, Soares, Marcelo Bento, Bonaldo, Maria de Fatima, Grimmond, Sean, Hui, Chi-chung, Wainwright, Brandon and Wicking, Carol (2005). Pax9 and Jagged1 act downstream of Gli3 in vertabrate limb development. Mechanisms of Development, 122 (11), 1218-1233. doi: 10.1016/j.mod.2005.06.012
2005
Journal Article
DHPLC analysis of patients with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome reveals novel PTCH missense mutations in the serol-sensing domain
Marsh, A., Wicking, C. A., Wainwright, B. J. and Chenevix-Trench, G. (2005). DHPLC analysis of patients with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome reveals novel PTCH missense mutations in the serol-sensing domain. Human Mutation, 26 (3) 836, 283-293. doi: 10.1002/humu.9365
2005
Journal Article
Pathways to improving skin regeneration
Adolphe, C. M. and Wainwright, B. J. (2005). Pathways to improving skin regeneration. Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine, 7 (20), 1-14. doi: 10.1017/S1462399405009890
2005
Conference Publication
Proteomic investigations in the young CF lung: new insights into the inflammatory disorder
Armstrong, D., Byrnes, C., Carlin, J., Cooper, P., Francis, P., Grimwood, K., Jones, A., McMorran, B., Robertson, C., Wainwright, B. and Wainwright, C. (2005). Proteomic investigations in the young CF lung: new insights into the inflammatory disorder. 6th Australian and New Zealand Cystic Fibrosis Conference 2005, Adelaide, South Australia, 20-23 August, 2005.
2005
Conference Publication
Patched ablation in neuronal precursors leads to defects in CNS patterning and abnormal regulation of the neuronal stem cell population
Ellis, T., Bourboulas, M., Bull, N. D., Bartlett, P. F. and Wainwright, B. J. (2005). Patched ablation in neuronal precursors leads to defects in CNS patterning and abnormal regulation of the neuronal stem cell population. 15th International Society of Developmental Biologists Congress, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 3-7 September 2005. Shannon, Co. Clare, Ireland: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.mod.2005.06.010
2004
Journal Article
Failure of a medulloblastoma-derived mutant of SUFU to suppress WNT signaling
Taylor, Michael D., Zhang, Xiaoyun, Liu, Ling, Hui, Chi-Chung, Mainprize, Todd G., Scherer, Stephen W., Wainwright, Brandon, Hogg, David and Rutka, James T. (2004). Failure of a medulloblastoma-derived mutant of SUFU to suppress WNT signaling. Oncogene, 23 (26), 4577-4583. doi: 10.1038/sj.onc.1207605
2004
Journal Article
Functional analysis in Drosophila indicates that the NBCCS/PTCH1 mutation G509V results in activation of smoothened through a dominant-negative mechanism
Hime, G. R., Lada, H., Fietz, M. J., Gillies, S., Passmore, A., Wicking, C. A. and Wainwright, B. J. (2004). Functional analysis in Drosophila indicates that the NBCCS/PTCH1 mutation G509V results in activation of smoothened through a dominant-negative mechanism. Developmental Dynamics, 229 (4), 780-790. doi: 10.1002/dvdy.10499
2004
Journal Article
An in vivo comparative study of sonic, desert and Indian hedgehog reveals that hedgehog pathway activity regulates epidermal stem cell homeostasis
Adolphe, C., Narang, M., Ellis, T., Wicking, C., Kaur, P. and Wainwright, B. (2004). An in vivo comparative study of sonic, desert and Indian hedgehog reveals that hedgehog pathway activity regulates epidermal stem cell homeostasis. Development, 131 (20), 5009-5019. doi: 10.1242/dev.01367
2004
Journal Article
Krt6a-Cre transgenic mice direct LoxP-mediated recombination to the companion cell layer of the hair follicle and following induction by retinoic acid to the interfollicular epidermis
Smyth, Ian, Ellis, Tammy, Hetherington, Rehan, Riley, Emily, Narang, Monica, Mahony, Donna, Wicking, Carol, Rothnagel, Joseph A. and Wainwright, Brandon J. (2004). Krt6a-Cre transgenic mice direct LoxP-mediated recombination to the companion cell layer of the hair follicle and following induction by retinoic acid to the interfollicular epidermis. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 122 (1), 232-234. doi: 10.1046/j.0022-202X.2003.22122.x
2003
Journal Article
Effector ExoU from the type III secretion system is an important modulator of gene expression in lung epithelial cells in response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection
McMorran, B., Town, L., Costelloe, E., Palmer, J., Engel, J., Hume, D. and Wainwright, B. (2003). Effector ExoU from the type III secretion system is an important modulator of gene expression in lung epithelial cells in response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Infection And Immunity, 71 (10), 6035-6044. doi: 10.1128/IAI.71.10.6035-6044.2003
2003
Journal Article
Genetic control of the innate immune response
Wells, C. A., Ravasi, T., Faulkner, G. J., Carninci, P., Okazaki, Y., Hayashizaki, Y., Sweet, M.J., Wainwright, B. J. and Hume, D. A. (2003). Genetic control of the innate immune response. BMC Immunology, 4 (Article 5) 5, 1-18. doi: 10.1186/1471-2172-4-5
2003
Journal Article
Fraser syndrome and mouse blebbed phenotype caused by mutations in FRAS1/Fras1 encoding a putative extracellular matrix protein (Letter)
McGregor, Lesley, Makela, Vile, Darling, Susan M., Vrontou, Sofia, Chalepakis, Georges, Roberts, Catherine, Smart, Nicola, Rutland, Paul, Prescott, Natalie, Hopkins, Jason, Bentley, Elizabeth, Shaw, Alison, Roberts, Emma, Mueller, Robert, Jadeja, Shalini, Philip, Nicole, Nelson, John, Francannet, Christine, Perez-Aytes, Antonio, Megarbane, Andre, Kerr, Bronwyn, Wainwright, Brandon J., Woolf, Adrian S., Winter, Robin M. and Scambler, Peter J. (2003). Fraser syndrome and mouse blebbed phenotype caused by mutations in FRAS1/Fras1 encoding a putative extracellular matrix protein (Letter). Nature Genetics, 34 (2), 203-208. doi: 10.1038/ng1142
2003
Journal Article
GFP-tagged CFTR transgene is functional in the G551D cystic fibrosis mouse colon
Oceandy, D., McMorran, B., Schreiber, R., Wainwright, B. J. and Kunzelmann, K. (2003). GFP-tagged CFTR transgene is functional in the G551D cystic fibrosis mouse colon. Journal of Membrane Biology, 192 (3), 159-167. doi: 10.1007/s00232-002-1072-y
2003
Journal Article
Rab23, a negative regulator of hedgehog signaling, localizes to the plasma membrane and the endocytic pathway
Evans, T. M., Ferguson, C., Wainwright, B. J., Parton, R. G. and Wicking, C. (2003). Rab23, a negative regulator of hedgehog signaling, localizes to the plasma membrane and the endocytic pathway. Traffic, 4 (12), 869-884. doi: 10.1046/j.1600-0854.2003.00141.x
2003
Journal Article
Overexpression of sonic hedgehog suppresses embryonic hair follicle morphogenesis
Ellis, Tammy, Smyth, Ian, Riley, Emily, Bowles, Josephine, Adolphe, Christelle, Rothnagel, Joseph A., Wicking, Carol and Wainwright, Brandon J. (2003). Overexpression of sonic hedgehog suppresses embryonic hair follicle morphogenesis. Developmental Biology, 263 (2), 203-215. doi: 10.1016/S0012-1606(03)00394-4
2003
Journal Article
Patched 1 conditional null allele in mice
Ellis, Tammy, Smyth, Ian, Riley, Emily, Graham, Scott, Elliot, Kate, Narang, Monica, Kay, Graham F., Wicking, Carol and Wainwright, Brandon (2003). Patched 1 conditional null allele in mice. Genesis, 36 (3), 158-161. doi: 10.1002/gene.10208
2003
Journal Article
A macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor-green fluorescent protein transgene is expressed throughout the mononuclear phagocyte system of the mouse
Sasmono, R. T., Oceandy, D., Pollard, J. W., Tong, W., Pavli, P., Wainwright, B. J., Ostrowski, M. C., Himes, S. R. and Hume, D. A. (2003). A macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor-green fluorescent protein transgene is expressed throughout the mononuclear phagocyte system of the mouse. Blood, 101 (3), 1155-1163. doi: 10.1182/blood-2002-02-1569
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
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
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
Complex neoantigen prediction in cancers
Associate Advisor
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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
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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