Overview
Background
Dr Melanie White heads the Dynamics of Morphogenesis Lab at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB), University of Queensland and is an ARC Future Fellow. She completed a PhD in Neuroscience at University College London followed by postdoctoral research at The University of Edinburgh. During this time Mel engineered viruses to modulate gene expression in the brain to investigate neuronal function and as a therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative disease. Her work was published in Neuron and PNAS, featured in Nature Reviews Neuroscience and received extensive international media coverage (including the BBC and The Guardian).
In 2012 Mel switched fields to apply quantitative imaging in developmental biology. Her work revealed key mechanisms driving the earliest morphogenetic events in mammalian embryogenesis and was published in Cell, Science, Nature Cell Biology, Developmental Cell and Nature Protocols. Her research was featured on the cover of multiple journals including Cell and she was awarded the inaugural American Society for Cell Biology Porter Prize for Research Excellence (2018).
In 2020, Mel joined the IMB where she will combine her passion for neuroscience and developmental biology to investigate the dynamics of neural tube morphogenesis.
Research overview
The brain and the spinal cord control most of the functions of the body and the mind, yet the dynamics of how they first form is poorly understood. Both structures arise from a common precursor, the neural tube, which forms very early in embryonic development. To generate the forces that sculpt and shape the neural tube, changes in cellular architecture must be tightly coordinated in space and time. These morphological rearrangements occur concurrently with biochemical signalling pathways that specify early neural cell fates.
Our research aims to understand how cellular properties and transcriptional regulators interact with mechanical forces in real time to direct vertebrate neural tube formation and neural cell fate specification. We study the dynamics of neural tube formation by applying advanced imaging technologies in transgenic avian models and human stem cell models.
Availability
- Dr Mel White is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of London
Research impacts
Incorrect formation of the neural tube leads to severe congenital malformations called neural tube defects (NTDs). These are amongst the most common birth defects affecting approximately 300,000 babies worldwide every year. Despite their prevalence, mechanisms causing NTDs in humans remain largely unknown. Our research aims to understand the molecular, cellular and mechanical processes directing neural tube formation. This knowledge is essential for determining the specific causes of NTDs and may provide potential avenues for diagnostic testing and future therapeutic treatments.
Works
Search Professor Mel White’s works on UQ eSpace
2017
Conference Publication
A Microtubule Organizing Center Directing Intracellular Transport in the Early Mouse Embryo
Zenker, J., White, M. D., Templin, R. M., Parton, R. G., Thorn-Seshold, O., Bissiere, S. and Plachta, N. (2017). A Microtubule Organizing Center Directing Intracellular Transport in the Early Mouse Embryo. ASCB/EMBO Meeting, Philadelphia Pa United States, 2-6 December 2017. Bethesda, MD United States: American Society for Cell Biology.
2016
Journal Article
Quantitative imaging of mammalian transcriptional dynamics: from single cells to whole embryos
Zhao, Ziqing W., White, Melanie D., Bissiere, Stephanie, Levi, Valeria and Plachta, Nicolas (2016). Quantitative imaging of mammalian transcriptional dynamics: from single cells to whole embryos. BMC Biology, 14 (1) 115, 115. doi: 10.1186/s12915-016-0331-9
2016
Book Chapter
Mouse embryo compaction
White, M. D., Bissiere, S., Alvarez, Y. D. and Plachta, N. (2016). Mouse embryo compaction. Mammalian preimplantation development. (pp. 235-58) edited by Melvin L. DePamphilis. Maryland Heights, MO, United States: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2016.04.005
2015
Book Chapter
How adhesion forms the early mammalian embryo
White, Melanie D. and Plachta, Nicolas (2015). How adhesion forms the early mammalian embryo. Cellular adhesion in development and disease. (pp. 1-17) edited by Alpha S. Yap. Maryland Heights, MO, United States: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2014.11.022
2014
Book Chapter
The first cell fate decision during mammalian development
White, Melanie D. and Plachta, Nicolas (2014). The first cell fate decision during mammalian development. Stem Cells, Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine. (pp. 25-40) World Scientific Publishing Co.. doi: 10.1142/9789814612784_0002
2012
Journal Article
Preparation of parasagittal slices for the investigation of dorsal-ventral organization of the rodent medial entorhinal cortex
Pastoll, Hugh, White, Melanie and Nolan, Matthew (2012). Preparation of parasagittal slices for the investigation of dorsal-ventral organization of the rodent medial entorhinal cortex. Journal of Visualized Experiments (61) e3802. doi: 10.3791/3802
2011
Journal Article
A molecular toolbox for rapid generation of viral vectors to up- or down-regulate neuronal gene expression in vivo
White, Melanie D., Milne, Ruth V. J. and Nolan, Matthew F. (2011). A molecular toolbox for rapid generation of viral vectors to up- or down-regulate neuronal gene expression in vivo. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 4, 1-15. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2011.00008
2009
Journal Article
RNAi for the treatment of prion disease: a window for intervention in neurodegeneration?
White, Melanie D. and Mallucci, Giovanna R. (2009). RNAi for the treatment of prion disease: a window for intervention in neurodegeneration?. CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets, 8 (5), 342-352. doi: 10.2174/187152709789541934
2009
Journal Article
Therapy for prion diseases: insights from the use of RNA interference
White, Melanie D. and Mallucci, Giovanna R. (2009). Therapy for prion diseases: insights from the use of RNA interference. Prion, 3 (3), 121-8. doi: 10.4161/pri.3.3.9289
2008
Journal Article
Tuning of synaptic integration in the medial entorhinal cortex to the organization of grid cell firing fields
Garden, Derek L. F., Dodson, Paul D., O'Donnell, Cian, White, Melanie D. and Nolan, Matthew F. (2008). Tuning of synaptic integration in the medial entorhinal cortex to the organization of grid cell firing fields. Neuron, 60 (5), 875-89. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2008.10.044
2008
Journal Article
Single treatment with RNAi against prion protein rescues early neuronal dysfunction and prolongs survival in mice with prion disease
White, Melanie D., Farmer, Michael, Mirabile, Ilaria, Brandner, Sebastian, Collinge, John and Mallucci, Giovanna R. (2008). Single treatment with RNAi against prion protein rescues early neuronal dysfunction and prolongs survival in mice with prion disease. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 105 (29), 10238-10243. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0802759105
2007
Journal Article
Targeting cellular prion protein reverses early cognitive deficits and neurophysiological dysfunction in prion-infected mice
Mallucci, Giovanna R., White, Melanie D., Farmer, Michael, Dickinson, Andrew, Khatun, Husna, Powell, Andrew D., Brandner, Sebastian, Jefferys, John G. R. and Collinge, John (2007). Targeting cellular prion protein reverses early cognitive deficits and neurophysiological dysfunction in prion-infected mice. Neuron, 53 (3), 325-35. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2007.01.005
2003
Journal Article
Positional cloning of a quantitative trait locus on chromosome 13q14 that influences immunoglobulin E levels and asthma
Zhang, Youming, Leaves, Nicholas I, Anderson, Gavin G., Ponting, Chris P., Broxholme, John, Holt, Richard, Edser, Pauline, Bhattacharyya, Sumit, Dunham, Andy, Adcock, Ian M., Pulleyn, Louise, Barnes, Peter J., Harper, John I., Abecasis, Gonçalo, Cardon, Lon, White, Melanie, Burton, John, Matthews, Lucy, Mott, Richard, Ross, Mark, Cox, Roger, Moffatt, Miriam F. and Cookson, William O. C. M. (2003). Positional cloning of a quantitative trait locus on chromosome 13q14 that influences immunoglobulin E levels and asthma. Nature Genetics, 34 (2), 181-6. doi: 10.1038/ng1166
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Mel White is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
-
How remodelling of actomyosin networks drives neural tube formation in the living embryo.
The brain and the spinal cord control most of the functions of the body and the mind, yet the dynamics of how they first form is poorly understood. Both structures arise from a common precursor, the neural tube, which forms very early in embryonic development. Changes in cellular architecture must be tightly coordinated in space and time to generate the forces that sculpt and shape the neural tube. These morphogenetic forces are dependent on the correct regulation of the actin cytoskeleton and many actin-related proteins have been associated with neural tube defects. This PhD project will use quantitative live imaging of developing avian embryos to understand how actin networks are remodelled at the subcellular level to shape the neural tube and which are the key molecules controlling this process.
Expressions of interest from prospective postgraduate students are welcome. For information on available research higher degree projects, please email melanie.white@imb.uq.edu.au with the following: (1) CV, including a summary of academic qualifications, work and research experience, and publication list; (2) studies report or academic transcript for undergraduate and honours degree(s); and (3) a letter outlining your research interests and career aspirations.
-
How do tissue-scale forces direct neural tube formation in the living embryo.
Most tissues and organs are built using a toolbox of common changes in cellular properties such as polarity, adhesion, migration and division, combined with alterations in mechanical forces at the cellular and tissue scales. Not only do cellular properties drive mechanical events within tissues, but mechanical forces also feedback to alter gene expression, signalling pathways and cellular behaviours. These reciprocal interactions are integral to development. This PhD project will utilise high-resolution long-term imaging to link events at the cellular scale to tissue scale forces during neural tube formation in developing avian embryos. Use of tissue tectonics analyses and quantification of cellular behaviours will reveal how different cellular events contribute to morphogenesis of the neural tube. Combining spatiotemporal manipulation of force generation with live cell tracking will demonstrate how the regulation of mechanical forces affects subsequent cell fate and neural tube morphogenesis.
Expressions of interest from prospective postgraduate students are welcome. For information on available research higher degree projects, please email melanie.white@imb.uq.edu.au with the following: (1) CV, including a summary of academic qualifications, work and research experience, and publication list; (2) studies report or academic transcript for undergraduate and honours degree(s); and (3) a letter outlining your research interests and career aspirations.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Modelling the dynamics of neural tube development
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding how PCP signalling drives junctional neural tube formation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Michael Piper, Dr Yanina Alvarez
-
Doctor Philosophy
Revealing how the junctional neural tube forms
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alpha Yap, Dr Yanina Alvarez
-
Doctor Philosophy
Quantitative live imaging of junctional neural tube formation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alpha Yap, Dr Yanina Alvarez
-
Doctor Philosophy
How the interaction between blood flow forces and ECM controls vessel assembly and function during development
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Anne Lagendijk
-
Doctor Philosophy
Revealing the mechanobiology of neural tube formation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Robert Parton, Dr Yanina Alvarez
-
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the effect of microgravity on 3D cellular mechanisms
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alan Rowan
-
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding Cytoskeletal-Golgi cross talk in cellular pathfinding in crowded tissue environments
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Robert Parton, Dr Samantha Stehbens
-
Doctor Philosophy
THE ROLE OF EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX AND FOCAL ADHESION DYNAMICS IN STEM CELL COMMITMENT
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alan Rowan
Media
Enquiries
For media enquiries about Dr Mel White's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team: