
Overview
Background
Our research focuses on understanding how cells work and what goes wrong in disease. We are studying the role of cellular organelles in defence against pathogens, the molecular changes underlying muscle disease, and optimising methods to deliver therapeutics to specific cell types in whole animals.
Professor Robert Parton is an ARC Laureate Fellow, a group leader in the IMB Centre for Cell Biology of Chronic Disease, and Deputy Director of the Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and an Associate Member of EMBO.
Availability
- Professor Robert Parton is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), University of Edinburgh
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Leicester
Research interests
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Multiscale analysis of cellular membrane function
Each of the cells that make up the organs of our bodies is enclosed by a plasma membrane, a complex sheet made up of lipids (fats) and proteins. The plasma membrane plays a crucial role in detecting signals for growth or in taking nutrients up into the cell. At the same time the plasma membrane protects the cell against unwanted invaders and must remain intact in the face of considerable forces. The properties of the plasma membrane rely on the specialisation of the plasma membrane into regions of specific function. The Parton group are studying caveolae, a specialised domain of the cell surface with a distinct structure (see Figure). Caveolae have been implicated in the regulation of cell growth and in maintaining the balance of lipids in the cell. Defective caveolae in human patients are associated with cancer, lipodystrophies (lack of fat tissue), muscular dystrophy, and cardiac disease. We have shown that caveolae can respond to forces on the plasma membrane by flattening and releasing proteins into the cell. In addition, we have shown that caveolae can respond to other signals, such as oxidative stress. We are now studying how these functions of caveolae are disrupted in human disease conditions. A significant goal of the group is to move from cell culture systems to studying cell biology in the whole organism. For this we extensively use the zebrafish, Danio rerio, as a model system. We are interested in using these systems to dissect how nanoparticles can be targeted to specific cell types, such as cancer cells. Finally, we have a major interest in the way that cells defend against invading pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses. We have shown that cellular organelles that store fat, called lipid droplets, can kill invading bacteria. With our international collaborators, we are now unravelling the mechanisms and molecules involved in this novel defence pathway.
Works
Search Professor Robert Parton’s works on UQ eSpace
2023
Journal Article
A mechanosensing mechanism controls plasma membrane shape homeostasis at the nanoscale
Quiroga, Xarxa, Walani, Nikhil, Disanza, Andrea, Chavero, Albert, Mittens, Alexandra, Tebar, Francesc, Trepat, Xavier, Parton, Robert G., Geli, María Isabel, Scita, Giorgio, Arroyo, Marino, Le Roux, Anabel-Lise and Roca-Cusachs, Pere (2023). A mechanosensing mechanism controls plasma membrane shape homeostasis at the nanoscale. eLife, 12 e72316, 1-35. doi: 10.7554/elife.72316
2023
Conference Publication
Discovery and structural characterization of novel nanobodies targeting the Cavin1 complex essential for forming caveola membrane vesicles
Gao, Ya, Tillu, Vikas A., Wu, Yeping, Rae, James, Hall, Thomas E., Chen, Kai-En, Weeratunga, Saroja, Guo, Qian, Parton, Robert G. and Collins, Brett M. (2023). Discovery and structural characterization of novel nanobodies targeting the Cavin1 complex essential for forming caveola membrane vesicles. XXVI IUCr Congress, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 22-29 August 2023. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1107/s2053273323086825
2023
Journal Article
Apicobasal RNA asymmetries regulate cell fate in the early mouse embryo
Hawdon, Azelle, Geoghegan, Niall D., Mohenska, Monika, Elsenhans, Anja, Ferguson, Charles, Polo, Jose M., Parton, Robert G. and Zenker, Jennifer (2023). Apicobasal RNA asymmetries regulate cell fate in the early mouse embryo. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 2909, 1-18. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-38436-2
2023
Journal Article
Presynaptic targeting of botulinum neurotoxin type A requires a tripartite PSG‐Syt1 ‐ SV2 plasma membrane nanocluster for synaptic vesicle entry
Joensuu, Merja, Syed, Parnayan, Saber, Saber H., Lanoue, Vanessa, Wallis, Tristan P., Rae, James, Blum, Ailisa, Gormal, Rachel S., Small, Christopher, Sanders, Shanley, Jiang, Anmin, Mahrhold, Stefan, Krez, Nadja, Cousin, Michael A., Cooper‐White, Ruby, Cooper‐White, Justin J., Collins, Brett M., Parton, Robert G., Balistreri, Giuseppe, Rummel, Andreas and Meunier, Frédéric A. (2023). Presynaptic targeting of botulinum neurotoxin type A requires a tripartite PSG‐Syt1 ‐ SV2 plasma membrane nanocluster for synaptic vesicle entry. The EMBO Journal, 42 (13) e112095, e112095. doi: 10.15252/embj.2022112095
2023
Journal Article
FBXL4 suppresses mitophagy by restricting the accumulation of NIX and BNIP3 mitophagy receptors
Nguyen‐Dien, Giang Thanh, Kozul, Keri‐Lyn, Cui, Yi, Townsend, Brendan, Kulkarni, Prajakta Gosavi, Ooi, Soo Siang, Marzio, Antonio, Carrodus, Nissa, Zuryn, Steven, Pagano, Michele, Parton, Robert G, Lazarou, Michael, Millard, S Sean, Taylor, Robert W, Collins, Brett M, Jones, Mathew JK and Pagan, Julia K (2023). FBXL4 suppresses mitophagy by restricting the accumulation of NIX and BNIP3 mitophagy receptors. The EMBO Journal, 42 (13) e112767, e112767. doi: 10.15252/embj.2022112767
2023
Journal Article
Macrophage ACE2 is necessary for SARS-CoV-2 replication and subsequent cytokine responses that restrict continued virion release
Labzin, Larisa I., Chew, Keng Yih, Eschke, Kathrin, Wang, Xiaohui, Esposito, Tyron, Stocks, Claudia J., Rae, James, Patrick, Ralph, Mostafavi, Helen, Hill, Brittany, Yordanov, Teodor E., Holley, Caroline L., Emming, Stefan, Fritzlar, Svenja, Mordant, Francesca L., Steinfort, Daniel P., Subbarao, Kanta, Nefzger, Christian M., Lagendijk, Anne K., Gordon, Emma J., Parton, Robert G., Short, Kirsty R., Londrigan, Sarah L. and Schroder, Kate (2023). Macrophage ACE2 is necessary for SARS-CoV-2 replication and subsequent cytokine responses that restrict continued virion release. Science Signaling, 16 (782) eabq1366, eabq1366. doi: 10.1126/scisignal.abq1366
2023
Journal Article
Integrative omics identifies conserved and pathogen-specific responses of sepsis-causing bacteria
Mu, Andre, Klare, William P., Baines, Sarah L., Ignatius Pang, C. N., Guérillot, Romain, Harbison-Price, Nichaela, Keller, Nadia, Wilksch, Jonathan, Nhu, Nguyen Thi Khanh, Phan, Minh-Duy, Keller, Bernhard, Nijagal, Brunda, Tull, Dedreia, Dayalan, Saravanan, Chua, Hwa Huat Charlie, Skoneczny, Dominik, Koval, Jason, Hachani, Abderrahman, Shah, Anup D., Neha, Nitika, Jadhav, Snehal, Partridge, Sally R., Cork, Amanda J., Peters, Kate, Bertolla, Olivia, Brouwer, Stephan, Hancock, Steven J., Álvarez-Fraga, Laura, De Oliveira, David M. P. ... Walker, Mark J. (2023). Integrative omics identifies conserved and pathogen-specific responses of sepsis-causing bacteria. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 1530, 1-21. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-37200-w
2023
Journal Article
A synthetic organelle approach to probe SNARE-mediated membrane fusion in a bacterial host
Ferreras, Soledad, Singh, Neha Pratap, Leborgne, Remi, Bun, Philippe, Binz, Thomas, Parton, Robert G., Verbavatz, Jean-Marc, Vannier, Christian and Galli, Thierry (2023). A synthetic organelle approach to probe SNARE-mediated membrane fusion in a bacterial host. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 299 (3) 102974, 102974. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.102974
2023
Journal Article
Sugar transporter Slc37a2 regulates bone metabolism in mice via a tubular lysosomal network in osteoclasts
Ng, Pei Ying, Ribet, Amy B. P., Guo, Qiang, Mullin, Benjamin H., Tan, Jamie W. Y., Landao-Bassonga, Euphemie, Stephens, Sébastien, Chen, Kai, Yuan, Jinbo, Abudulai, Laila, Bollen, Maike, Nguyen, Edward T. T. T., Kular, Jasreen, Papadimitriou, John M., Søe, Kent, Teasdale, Rohan D., Xu, Jiake, Parton, Robert G., Takayanagi, Hiroshi and Pavlos, Nathan J. (2023). Sugar transporter Slc37a2 regulates bone metabolism in mice via a tubular lysosomal network in osteoclasts. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 906, 1-23. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-36484-2
2023
Conference Publication
Sugar transporter Slc37a2 regulates bone metabolism via a dynamic tubular lysosomal network in osteoclasts
Ribet, Amy, Ng, Pei Ying, Guo, Qiang, Mullin, Benjamin H., Tan, Jamie W. Y., Landao-Bassonga, Euphemie, Stephens, Sebastien, Chen, Kai, Abudulai, Laila, Bollen, Maike, Nguyen, Edward T. T. T., Kular, Jasreen, Papadimitriou, John M., Soe, Kent, Teasdale, Rohan D., Xu, Jiake, Parton, Robert G., Takanayagi, Hiroshi and Pavlos, Nathan J. (2023). Sugar transporter Slc37a2 regulates bone metabolism via a dynamic tubular lysosomal network in osteoclasts. 2022 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, Austin, TX United States, 9‐12 September 2022. Cary, NC United States: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1002/jbmr.4779
2023
Conference Publication
Stem cell pluripotency - a microtubule cytoskeleton regulated state?
Greaney, J., Hawdon, A., Li, Y., Aberkane, A., Stathatos, G., Parton, R. and Zenker, J. (2023). Stem cell pluripotency - a microtubule cytoskeleton regulated state?. Annual Meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology/ European Molecular Biology Organisation (ASCB/EMBO), Washington DC, United States, 3-7 December 2022. Rockville, MD United States: American Society for Cell Biology.
2022
Other Outputs
A role for caveolar proteins in regulation of the circadian clock
Fonseka, Sachini, Weger, Benjamin D., Weger, Meltem, Martel, Nick, Hall, Thomas Edward, Varasteh Moradi, Shayli, Gabriel, Christian H., Kramer, Achim, Ferguson, Charles, Fernández-Rojo, Manuel A., Alexandrov, Kirill, Rawashdeh, Oliver, McMahon, Kerrie-Ann, Gachon, Frederic and Parton, Robert G. (2022). A role for caveolar proteins in regulation of the circadian clock.
2022
Journal Article
Author Correction: Volume electron microscopy
Peddie, Christopher J., Genoud, Christel, Kreshuk, Anna, Meechan, Kimberly, Micheva, Kristina D., Narayan, Kedar, Pape, Constantin, Parton, Robert G., Schieber, Nicole L., Schwab, Yannick, Titze, Benjamin, Verkade, Paul, Weigel, Aubrey and Collinson, Lucy M. (2022). Author Correction: Volume electron microscopy. Nature Reviews Methods Primers, 2 (1) 72, 1-1. doi: 10.1038/s43586-022-00163-1
2022
Journal Article
Hydrocephalus in Nfix−/− mice is underpinned by changes in ependymal cell physiology
Harkins, Danyon, Harvey, Tracey J., Atterton, Cooper, Miller, Ingrid, Currey, Laura, Oishi, Sabrina, Kasherman, Maria, Davila, Raul Ayala, Harris, Lucy, Green, Kathryn, Piper, Hannah, Parton, Robert G., Thor, Stefan, Cooper, Helen M. and Piper, Michael (2022). Hydrocephalus in Nfix−/− mice is underpinned by changes in ependymal cell physiology. Cells, 11 (15) 2377, 1-27. doi: 10.3390/cells11152377
2022
Journal Article
The structure of caveolin finally takes shape
Parton, Robert G. and Collins, Brett M. (2022). The structure of caveolin finally takes shape. Science Advances, 8 (19) eabq6985, eabq6985. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abq6985
2022
Journal Article
βIII-tubulin structural domains regulate mitochondrial network architecture in an isotype-specific manner
Parker, Amelia L., Teo, Wee Siang, Brayford, Simon, Moorthi, Ullhas K., Arumugam, Senthil, Ferguson, Charles, Parton, Robert G., McCarroll, Joshua A. and Kavallaris, Maria (2022). βIII-tubulin structural domains regulate mitochondrial network architecture in an isotype-specific manner. Cells, 11 (5) 776, 776. doi: 10.3390/cells11050776
2022
Journal Article
ContactJ: characterization of lipid droplet-mitochondrial contacts using fluorescence microscopy and image analysis
Martín, Gemma, Calvo, Maria, Bosch, Marta, Coll, Elisenda, Parton, Robert G. and Pol, Albert (2022). ContactJ: characterization of lipid droplet-mitochondrial contacts using fluorescence microscopy and image analysis. F1000Research, 10 263, 1-25. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.51900.2
2022
Journal Article
Publisher Correction: Cargo-specific recruitment in clathrin- and dynamin-independent endocytosis (Nature Cell Biology, (2021), 23, 10, (1073-1084), 10.1038/s41556-021-00767-x)
Moreno-Layseca, Paulina, Jäntti, Niklas Z., Godbole, Rashmi, Sommer, Christian, Jacquemet, Guillaume, Al-Akhrass, Hussein, Conway, James R. W., Kronqvist, Pauliina, Kallionpää, Roosa E., Oliveira-Ferrer, Leticia, Cervero, Pasquale, Linder, Stefan, Aepfelbacher, Martin, Zauber, Henrik, Rae, James, Parton, Robert G., Disanza, Andrea, Scita, Giorgio, Mayor, Satyajit, Selbach, Matthias, Veltel, Stefan and Ivaska, Johanna (2022). Publisher Correction: Cargo-specific recruitment in clathrin- and dynamin-independent endocytosis (Nature Cell Biology, (2021), 23, 10, (1073-1084), 10.1038/s41556-021-00767-x). Nature Cell Biology, 24 (9), 1445-1445. doi: 10.1038/s41556-022-00952-6
2022
Book Chapter
Epithelial mechanosensing at cell-cell contacts and tight junctions
Brooks, John W., Parton, Robert G., Yap, Alpha S. and Duszyc, Kinga (2022). Epithelial mechanosensing at cell-cell contacts and tight junctions. Tight Junctions. (pp. 27-50) edited by Lorenza González-Mariscal. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-97204-2_3
2021
Journal Article
Loss of YhcB results in dysregulation of coordinated peptidoglycan, LPS and phospholipid synthesis during Escherichia coli cell growth
Goodall, Emily C. A., Isom, Georgia L., Rooke, Jessica L., Pullela, Karthik, Icke, Christopher, Yang, Zihao, Boelter, Gabriela, Jones, Alun, Warner, Isabel, Da Costa, Rochelle, Zhang, Bing, Rae, James, Tan, Wee Boon, Winkle, Matthias, Delhaye, Antoine, Heinz, Eva, Collet, Jean-Francois, Cunningham, Adam F., Blaskovich, Mark A., Parton, Robert G., Cole, Jeff A., Banzhaf, Manuel, Chng, Shu-Sin, Vollmer, Waldemar, Bryant, Jack A. and Henderson, Ian R. (2021). Loss of YhcB results in dysregulation of coordinated peptidoglycan, LPS and phospholipid synthesis during Escherichia coli cell growth. PLoS Genetics, 17 (12) e1009586, 1-40. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009586
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Robert Parton is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Zebrafish as a model to understand human muscle diseases
Contact Prof. Parton for further details
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Structure and function of a new family of caveolar coat proteins
Contact Prof. Parton for further details
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Novel pathways of endocytosis in cultured cells and in tissues
Contact Prof. Parton for further details
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Bioengineering of novel nanovesicles for drug delivery
Contact Prof. Parton for further details
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Functional Analysis of Caveolae
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicholas Ariotti, Dr Harriet Lo
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Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation of The Role of Caveolar Coat Proteins in Breast Cancer
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Brett Collins, Dr Harriet Lo
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Doctor Philosophy
Tracking Nanoparticles in Cells and Tissues
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tom Hall
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Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Caveolar Proteins in Cancer
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Brett Collins, Dr Harriet Lo
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Doctor Philosophy
Molecular and Functional Characterisation of the Lipid Droplet as an Innate Immunity Hub
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Harriet Lo, Dr Tom Hall
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding Cytoskeletal-Golgi cross talk in cellular pathfinding in crowded tissue environments
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Mel White, Dr Samantha Stehbens
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Doctor Philosophy
Revealing the mechanobiology of neural tube formation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Yanina Alvarez, Dr Mel White
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Doctor Philosophy
Mechanical and biological determinants of epithelial homeostasis.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alpha Yap
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Doctor Philosophy
Uncovering why CCM vascular malformations are restricted to the brain.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Anne Lagendijk
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Doctor Philosophy
A lipid sensing nexus between endocytosis and cardiovascular disease: characterising a new regulation pathway for eNOS
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicholas Ariotti
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
DEVELOPMENT OF A NOVEL MODULAR ENCAPSULATION SYSTEM FOR TARGETED DRUG DELIVERY
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tom Hall
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation of the cavin proteins role in the circadian rhythm
Principal Advisor
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Proteomic mapping of cavin-associated proteins in muscle: in vitro and in vivo proteomic approaches
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Harriet Lo, Dr Tom Hall
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Functional characterisation of caveolae: in vivo investigations using the zebrafish
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Harriet Lo, Dr Tom Hall
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation of the function of caveolar coat cavin proteins in cancer progression
Principal Advisor
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Cell-free caveola formation as a system for high throughput interaction analysis
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicholas Ariotti
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Structural and functional characterisation of the cavin membrane coat complex
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Brett Collins
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular and Functional Characterization of a Clathrin-Independent Endocytic pathway, the CLIC/GEEC pathway
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alpha Yap
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Towards the development of a prokaryotic system for the in vitro study of caveola formation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Brett Collins
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
The cavin proteins as regulators of caveolae formation and function
Principal Advisor
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
Clathrin Independent Carriers: Molecular characterisation of a novel clathrin-independent endocytic pathway
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Fiona Simpson
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2006
Doctor Philosophy
THE ROLE OF CAVEOLIN IN ENDOCYTOSIS AND CAVEOLAE BIOGENESIS
Principal Advisor
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2004
Doctor Philosophy
EFFECTS OF CELLULAR INTERACTIONS ON MICROTUBULE - DEPENDENT EVENTS IN MYELINATION
Principal Advisor
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2004
Doctor Philosophy
FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL EXPRESSION OF CAVEOLIN
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Noakes
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2004
Doctor Philosophy
PROTEIN-LIPID INTERACTIONS WITHIN THE CELL
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Noakes
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2003
Doctor Philosophy
ENTRY OF ONCOGENIC DNA VIRUSES INTO ANIMAL CELLS
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Noakes
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Caveolae Respond to Acute Mechanical Stress by Activating a Novel Signalling Pathway for Reinforcement of Actomyosin
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alpha Yap
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Caveolae/Caveolin-1: A regulator of monolayer tension and oncogenic cell extrusion
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alpha Yap
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the role of caveolae in the uptake process of Streptococcus pyogenes into non-phagocytic host cells
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Walker
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular characterisation of the adiponectin receptors, AdipoR1 and AdipoR2
Associate Advisor
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Biomechanics of Epithelial Interactions: From Multicellular Cohesion to Oncogenic Transformation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alpha Yap
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Biodiscovery Search for Marine-Derived Inhibitors of P-gp, BCRP and MRP1 as a Means to Improve Cancer Chemotherapy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Angela Salim, Professor Rob Capon
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation into the Regulation of Iosine- Monophophate Dehydogenase (IMPDH)
Associate Advisor
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
Hypervariable regions of Ras isoforms dictate distinct functionality by targeting to specific protein complexes at microdomains
Associate Advisor
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
The Functional Characterisation of Centrobin in Endocytic Trafficking and Microtubule Dynamics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Kum Kum Khanna, Honorary Professor Nathan Subramaniam
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
A Proteomic Analysis of Ras-Containing Nanodomains & The Investigation of Endogenous Ras Signalling
Associate Advisor
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
Cadherin-Microtubule Cooperativity
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alpha Yap
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2006
Doctor Philosophy
A STUDY OF THE MEMBRANE INTERACTIONS OF K-RAS
Associate Advisor
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2005
Doctor Philosophy
CO-OPERATION BETWEEN E-CADHERIN, PHOSPHATIDYLINOSITOL-3-KINASE, RAC AND THE WASP FAMILY PROTEIN, WAVE, IS NECESSARY FOR PRODUCTIVE CADHERIN-DEPENDENT CONTACT FORMATION.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alpha Yap
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2004
Doctor Philosophy
A NOVEL ROLE FOR THE NUCLEAR GROWTH HORMONE RECEPTOR IN CELLULAR PROLIFERATION
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Robert Parton directly for media enquiries about:
- Cancer development
- Caveolae
- Cell surface
- Cells
- Muscular dystrophy
- Plasma membrane
- Tumour formation
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