
Overview
Background
I completed a BSc (Hons) and a PhD at the University of Melbourne before undertaking post-doctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston. My research focused on marsupial and eutherian developmental biology. After 6 years in the US I returned to Australia to study Veterinary Science (BVSc) at the University of Queensland (UQ), going on to work in equine and small animal practice. A longing to get back into research lead to my current position as a Teaching & Research academic in the School of Veterinary Science, UQ. My lab has generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from dogs and horses that are being used to model diseases in vitro and as the basis for research into stem cell-based treatments for a variety of diseases. We have also produced iPSCs from the Tasmanian devil and the platypus, the first stem cells ever described from a marsupial and a monotreme, respectively, allowing us to pursue research directed at treating devil facial tumour disease, understanding marsupial and monotreme embryonic development, and the conservation of endangered species.
Education
- BSc (Hons), University of Melbourne (1990)
- PhD, University of Melbourne (1996)
- BVSc (Hons), University of Queensland (2006)
Employment
- Post-doctoral researcher, University of California, Berkeley, USA (1996-1997)
- Post-doctoral researcher, MD Anderson Cancer Centre, Houston, Texas, USA (1997-2002)
- Veterinary Surgeon (2006-present)
- Lecturer, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland (2010-2017)
- Affiliate Senior Research Fellow, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland (2016-present)
- Senior Lecturer, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland (2017-2022)
- Associate Professor, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland (2023-present)
Availability
- Associate Professor Deanne Whitworth is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), University of Melbourne
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Melbourne
- Bachelor (Honours) of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Induced pluripotent stem cells from domestic and native Australian species
Our research uses induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from domestic and native Australian species to address several key areas of research including regenerative medicine, reproduction, species conservation and mammalian evolution.
Works
Search Professor Deanne Whitworth’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2024
Journal Article
Advancing stem cell technologies for conservation of wildlife biodiversity
Hutchinson, Ashlee M., Appeltant, Ruth, Burdon, Tom, Bao, Qiuye, Bargaje, Rhishikesh, Bodnar, Andrea, Chambers, Stuart, Comizzoli, Pierre, Cook, Laura, Endo, Yoshinori, Harman, Bob, Hayashi, Katsuhiko, Hildebrandt, Thomas, Korody, Marisa L., Lakshmipathy, Uma, Loring, Jeanne F., Munger, Clara, Ng, Alex H. M., Novak, Ben, Onuma, Manabu, Ord, Sara, Paris, Monique, Pask, Andrew J., Pelegri, Francisco, Pera, Martin, Phelan, Ryan, Rosental, Benyamin, Ryder, Oliver A., Sukparangsi, Woranop ... Kohler, Timo N. (2024). Advancing stem cell technologies for conservation of wildlife biodiversity. Development, 151 (20) dev203116. doi: 10.1242/dev.203116
Featured
2024
Journal Article
Applying iterative student feedback across flipped classroom and flexible teaching approaches: impact on veterinary students’ learning experience
Singh, Arti A., Shapter, Frances M., Bernard, Anne, Whitworth, Deanne J., Holt, Marnie G., Waller, Philip S. and Bond, Stephanie L. (2024). Applying iterative student feedback across flipped classroom and flexible teaching approaches: impact on veterinary students’ learning experience. Animals, 14 (16) 2335, 1-19. doi: 10.3390/ani14162335
Featured
2024
Journal Article
Bioenergetic shifts in humpback whale fibroblasts upon chemical exposure
Hosen, Md Hafiz All, Whitworth, Deanne J., Leusch, Frederic D. L., Yuen, Nicholas and Bengtson Nash, Susan M. (2024). Bioenergetic shifts in humpback whale fibroblasts upon chemical exposure. Environmental Science and Technology, 58 (28), 12313-12319. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.3c10595
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Novel use of cell profiling technology to visualize mitochondrial responses of humpback whale fibroblasts to chemical exposure
Hosen, Md Hafiz All, Sykes, Alex M., Wood, Stephen A., Leusch, Frederic D. L., Whitworth, Deanne J. and Bengtson Nash, Susan M. (2023). Novel use of cell profiling technology to visualize mitochondrial responses of humpback whale fibroblasts to chemical exposure. Environmental Science and Technology, 57 (24), 8975-8982. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.2c07159
Featured
2022
Journal Article
Monodelphis domestica induced pluripotent stem cells reveal metatherian pluripotency architecture
Kumar, Satish, De Leon, Erica M., Granados, Jose, Whitworth, Deanne J. and VandeBerg, John L. (2022). Monodelphis domestica induced pluripotent stem cells reveal metatherian pluripotency architecture. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23 (20) 12623, 12623. doi: 10.3390/ijms232012623
Featured
2021
Journal Article
Innovations and advances in schistosome stem cell research
You, Hong, Jones, Malcolm K., Whitworth, Deanne J. and McManus, Donald P. (2021). Innovations and advances in schistosome stem cell research. Frontiers in Immunology, 12 599014, 1-9. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.599014
Featured
2021
Journal Article
Pluripotency and immunomodulatory signatures of canine induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stromal cells are similar to harvested mesenchymal stromal cells
Shahsavari, Arash, Weeratunga, Prasanna, Ovchinnikov, Dmitry A. and Whitworth, Deanne J. (2021). Pluripotency and immunomodulatory signatures of canine induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stromal cells are similar to harvested mesenchymal stromal cells. Scientific Reports, 11 (1) 3486, 3486. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-82856-3
Featured
2020
Journal Article
Laser assisted blastomere extrusion biopsy of in vitro produced cattle embryos—A potential high throughput, minimally invasive approach for sampling pre-morula and morula stage embryos
Tutt, Desmond A. R., Passaro, Claudia, Whitworth, Deanne J. and Holland, Michael K. (2020). Laser assisted blastomere extrusion biopsy of in vitro produced cattle embryos—A potential high throughput, minimally invasive approach for sampling pre-morula and morula stage embryos. Animal Reproduction Science, 219 106546, 106546. doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2020.106546
Featured
2020
Journal Article
Blubber cortisol levels in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae): a measure of physiological stress without effects from sampling
Mingramm, Fletcher M. J., Keeley, Tamara, Whitworth, Deanne J. and Dunlop, Rebecca A. (2020). Blubber cortisol levels in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae): a measure of physiological stress without effects from sampling. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 291 113436, 113436. doi: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2020.113436
Featured
2020
Journal Article
The influence of physiological status on the reproductive behaviour of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)
Mingramm, F. M.J., Keeley, T., Whitworth, D. J. and Dunlop, R. A. (2020). The influence of physiological status on the reproductive behaviour of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Hormones and Behavior, 117 104606, 104606. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2019.104606
Featured
2020
Journal Article
Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells from the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) express immunomodulatory factors and a tropism toward devil facial tumor cells
Weeratunga, Prasanna, Shahsavari, Arash, Fennis, Evelien, Wolvetang, Ernst J., Ovchinnikov, Dmitry A. and Whitworth, Deanne J. (2020). Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells from the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) express immunomodulatory factors and a tropism toward devil facial tumor cells. Stem Cells and Development, 29 (1), 25-37. doi: 10.1089/scd.2019.0203
Featured
2019
Journal Article
Relationships between blubber and respiratory vapour steroid hormone concentrations in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)
Mingramm, Fletcher M. J., Keeley, Tamara, Whitworth, Deanne J. and Dunlop, Rebecca A. (2019). Relationships between blubber and respiratory vapour steroid hormone concentrations in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Aquatic Mammals, 45 (5), 465-477. doi: 10.1578/AM.45.5.2019.465
Featured
2019
Journal Article
Evaluation of respiratory vapour and blubber samples for use in endocrine assessments of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.)
Mingramm, F.M.J., Dunlop, R.A., Blyde, D., Whitworth, D.J. and Keeley, T. (2019). Evaluation of respiratory vapour and blubber samples for use in endocrine assessments of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.). General and Comparative Endocrinology, 274, 37-49. doi: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2018.12.015
Featured
2019
Journal Article
Platypus induced pluripotent stem cells: the unique pluripotency signature of a monotreme
Whitworth, Deanne J., Limnios, Ioannis J., Gauthier, Marie-Emilie, Weeratunga, Prasanna, Ovchinnikov, Dmitry A., Baillie, Gregory, Grimmond, Sean M., Graves, Jennifer A. Marshall and Wolvetang, Ernst J. (2019). Platypus induced pluripotent stem cells: the unique pluripotency signature of a monotreme. Stem Cells and Development, 28 (3), 151-164. doi: 10.1089/scd.2018.0179
Featured
2019
Journal Article
Lifetime extension of humpback whale skin fibroblasts and their response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and a mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls (Aroclor)
Burkard, Michael, Bengtson Nash, Susan, Gambaro, Gessica, Whitworth, Deanne and Schirmer, Kristin (2019). Lifetime extension of humpback whale skin fibroblasts and their response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and a mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls (Aroclor). Cell Biology and Toxicology, 35 (4), 387-398. doi: 10.1007/s10565-018-09457-1
Featured
2018
Journal Article
Identification of on-target mutagenesis during correction of a beta-thalassemia splice mutation in iPS cells with optimised CRISPR/Cas9-double nickase reveals potential safety concerns
Alateeq, Suad, Ovchinnikov, Dmitry, Tracey, Timothy, Whitworth, Deanne, Al-Rubaish, Abdullah, Al-Ali, Amein and Wolvetang, Ernst (2018). Identification of on-target mutagenesis during correction of a beta-thalassemia splice mutation in iPS cells with optimised CRISPR/Cas9-double nickase reveals potential safety concerns. APL Bioengineering, 2 (4) 046103, 046103. doi: 10.1063/1.5048625
Featured
2018
Journal Article
Cortical neurons derived from equine induced pluripotent stem cells are susceptible to neurotropic flavivirus infection and replication: an in vitro model for equine neuropathic diseases
Fortuna, Patrick R. J., Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, Ovchinnikov, Dmitry A., Wolvetang, Ernst Jurgen and Whitworth, Deanne Jeanette (2018). Cortical neurons derived from equine induced pluripotent stem cells are susceptible to neurotropic flavivirus infection and replication: an in vitro model for equine neuropathic diseases. Stem Cells and Development, 27 (10), 704-715. doi: 10.1089/scd.2017.0106
Featured
2018
Journal Article
Induced pluripotent stem cells from a marsupial, the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii): insight into the evolution of mammalian pluripotency
Weeratunga, Prasanna, Shahsavari, Arash, Ovchinnikov, Dmitry A., Wolvetang, Ernst J. and Whitworth, Deanne J. (2018). Induced pluripotent stem cells from a marsupial, the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii): insight into the evolution of mammalian pluripotency. Stem Cells and Development, 27 (2), 112-122. doi: 10.1089/scd.2017.0224
Featured
2016
Journal Article
The X factor: X chromosome dosage compensation in the evolutionarily divergent monotremes and marsupials
Whitworth, Deanne J. and Pask, Andrew J. (2016). The X factor: X chromosome dosage compensation in the evolutionarily divergent monotremes and marsupials. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology, 56, 117-121. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2016.01.006
Featured
2015
Journal Article
Establishment of the first humpback whale fibroblast cell lines and their application in chemical risk assessment
Burkard, Michael, Whitworth, Deanne, Schirmer, Kristin and Nash, Susan B. (2015). Establishment of the first humpback whale fibroblast cell lines and their application in chemical risk assessment. Aquatic Toxicology, 167, 240-247. doi: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2015.08.005
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Deanne Whitworth is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
-
Projects working with marsupial (Tasmanian devil) and horse stem cells are currently available
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic engineering in Tasmanian devil stem cells to deliver targeted anti-tumour activity against devil facial tumour cells
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Gry Boe-Hansen
-
Doctor Philosophy
In vitro modelling and treatment of laminitis using equine stem cells
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Francois-Rene Bertin, Dr Albert Sole Guitart
-
Doctor Philosophy
The Oncogenic and Immunosuppresive Potency of Novel Flying Fox Gammaretrovirus : Uncover The Species-Shifting of Bat Virus Origin
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Joanne Meers, Dr Lee McMichael
Completed supervision
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
A stem cell-based approach to the treatment of devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) in the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ernst Wolvetang
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
A pre-clinical trial using bio-material-based delivery of in vitro-derived mesenchymal stem cells to effect cartilage repair in a canine model of osteoarthritis
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ernst Wolvetang
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Improving Efficiency of Embryo Technologies to Expedite Livestock Genetic Gain
Associate Advisor
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Multi-matrix endocrine analysis of cetaceans: Development and examination of reproductive and adrenal monitoring techniques
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Rebecca Dunlop
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
CRISPR/Cas9-mediated traceless gene correction and activation of the HBB locus in iPSCs with the beta thalassaemia mutation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ernst Wolvetang
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Deanne Whitworth directly for media enquiries about:
- regenerative medicine
- stem cells
- stem cells in animals
- use of stem cells in veterinary medicine
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