Overview
Background
Dr Laura Leighton is an RNA biologist with extensive experience in functional characterisation of RNA. Laura is leading the development of next-generation mRNA therapeutics for the treatment of liver cancer. Because mRNA encapsulated within lipid nanoparticles is effectively delivered inside cells, this technology is uniquely suited to targeting the two-thirds of proteins which are only found inside cells, including several notorious drivers of cancer. Laura's research will create drug candidates which are able to inhibit intracellular pro-cancer proteins for the first time. In addition to drug development, Laura is working on mRNA drug delivery in mouse models of liver disease and cancer.
Laura completed her PhD at the Queensland Brain Institute, working on uncovering the role of small noncoding RNAs in fear-related learning and memory in mice, supported by the Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship (2017). She joined the laboratory of Dr Seth Cheetham at AIBN as a postdoctoral researcher in March 2023.
Availability
- Dr Laura Leighton is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, The University of Queensland
Works
Search Professor Laura Leighton’s works on UQ eSpace
2017
Journal Article
A Functional Role for the Epigenetic Regulator ING1 in Activity-induced Gene Expression in Primary Cortical Neurons
Leighton, Laura J., Zhao, Qiongyi, Li, Xiang, Dai, Chuanyang, Marshall, Paul R., Liu, Sha, Wang, Yi, Zajaczkowski, Esmi L., Khandelwal, Nitin, Kumar, Arvind, Bredy, Timothy W. and Wei, Wei (2017). A Functional Role for the Epigenetic Regulator ING1 in Activity-induced Gene Expression in Primary Cortical Neurons. Neuroscience, 369, 248-260. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.11.018
2017
Journal Article
Experience-dependent neural plasticity, learning, and memory in the era of epitranscriptomics
Leighton, L. J., Ke, K., Zajaczkowski, E. L., Edmunds, J., Spitale, R. C. and Bredy, T. W. (2017). Experience-dependent neural plasticity, learning, and memory in the era of epitranscriptomics. Genes, Brain, and Behavior, 17 (3) e12426, e12426. doi: 10.1111/gbb.12426
2016
Journal Article
Experience-dependent accumulation of N6-methyladenosine in the prefrontal cortex is associated with memory processes in mice
Widagdo, Jocelyn, Zhao, Qiong-Yi, Kempen, Marie-Jeanne, Tan, Men Chee, Ratnu, Vikram S., Wei, Wei, Leighton, Laura, Spadaro, Paola A., Edson, Janette, Anggono, Victor and Bredy, Timothy W. (2016). Experience-dependent accumulation of N6-methyladenosine in the prefrontal cortex is associated with memory processes in mice. Journal of Neuroscience, 36 (25), 6771-6777. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4053-15.2016
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Laura Leighton is:
- Available for supervision
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Media
Enquiries
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