Associate Professor Rick Sturm
Associate Professor

Rick Sturm

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 37380

Background

Our work on human pigmentation genetics has allowed understanding of normal variation in this physical trait and the associated genotypic risk for skin cancer. The genes that determine an individual's skin phototype and the cellular mechanisms that result in the tanning response of melanocytes after UV-exposure of the skin are actively being investigated.

Assoc. Prof Rick Sturm is group leader in the Dermatology Research Centre within the Frazer Institue.

Availability

Associate Professor Rick Sturm is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Biological Sciences Clinical sciences Genetics

Research interests

  • Skin, hair, eye colour and cancer � MC1R/OCA2, the genetic links

    Pigmentary traits such as red hair and fair skin, moles, eye colour, lack of tanning ability and propensity to freckle have been identified as genetic risk factors for skin cancer when combined with the environmental risk factor of high ultraviolet exposure. The major areas of investigation are the role of the OCA2 gene in directing eye colour, and the role of human melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) gene variants in directing skin phototype and response to UV-induced ligand binding and receptor activation. The MC1R coding sequence is highly polymorphic in human populations and we have examined MC1R variant allele frequencies in the general community as well as a collection of adolescent dizygotic and monozygotic twins with defined pigmentation characteristics. Subscription required to access this paper Variant allele frequencies have also been determined in several case-control studies of sporadic melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, and in familial melanoma kindreds collected within Australia. These studies have shown that three MC1R alleles � Arg151Cys, Arg160Trp and Asp294His � were associated with increased risk in all forms of skin cancer and with penetrance and age of onset in familial melanoma in CDKN2A mutation carriers. There is a significant MC1R variant allele heterozygote carrier effect on skin phototype and skin cancer risk, which indicates that these alleles do not behave in a strictly recessive manner.

  • Characterisation of melanoblast stem cell differentiation

    The process of development and differentiation of the melanocytic cell lineage is being investigated using primary melanoblast and melanocyte cells cultured in vitro from human skin. This will provide information to allow the genes and processes involved in melanoma tumour formation and metastasis to be examined. These studies focus on the identification and molecular characterisation of the genes involved in melanocyte function.

  • Mechanisms of melanoma metastasis

    Expression of the �3 integrin gene in melanoma in situ has been found to be the single most important marker of metastasis yet discovered. Experiments to investigate the effects of this expression has involved the use of Adenoviral gene transduction of the �3 integrin subunit into radial growth phase (RGP) melanoma cell lines and differential gene screening. A skin reconstruction model was used to assay the invasivness of RGP melanoma cells after ectopic �3 integrin expression and these studies have discovered induction of the anti-adhesive protein osteonectin is required for melanoma metastasis.

Search Professor Rick Sturm’s works on UQ eSpace

244 works between 1985 and 2024
All (244) Journal Article (199) Book Chapter (6) Conference Publication (37) Other Outputs (2)

81 - 100 of 244 works

2016

Journal Article

Heritability of naevus patterns in an adult twin cohort from the Brisbane Twin Registry: A cross-sectional study

Lee, S., Duffy, D.L., Mcclenahan, P., Lee, K. J., McEniery, E., Burke, B., Jagirdar, K., Martin, N.G., Sturm, R.A., Soyer, H.P. and Schaider, H. (2016). Heritability of naevus patterns in an adult twin cohort from the Brisbane Twin Registry: A cross-sectional study. British Journal of Dermatology, 174 (2), 356-363. doi: 10.1111/bjd.14291

Heritability of naevus patterns in an adult twin cohort from the Brisbane Twin Registry: A cross-sectional study

2016

Journal Article

A distinct expression profile separates Turkish and Australian melanocytic naevi

Fox, Carly, Schaider, Helmut, Akalin, Taner, Turkmen, Meltem, Sturm, Rick, Lambie, Duncan, Karaarslan, Isil K., Soyer, H. Peter, Ozdemir, Fezal and Gabrielli, Brian (2016). A distinct expression profile separates Turkish and Australian melanocytic naevi. Histopathology, 69 (1), 151-154. doi: 10.1111/his.12906

A distinct expression profile separates Turkish and Australian melanocytic naevi

2016

Conference Publication

On Nevus Research in Southeast Queensland

Soyer, H. Peter and Sturm, Rick A. (2016). On Nevus Research in Southeast Queensland. Joint meeting of the Australasian Wound and Tissue Repair Society (AWTRS) and the Molecular & Experimental Pathology Society of Australasia (MEPSA): Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre,, Melbourne, Australia, 7–9 November 2016. HOBOKEN: Wiley. doi: 10.1111/wrr.12489

On Nevus Research in Southeast Queensland

2016

Conference Publication

Epigenetic remodelling of H3K9Me3 leads to early stress induced drug tolerance in cancer

Emran, A. A., Menon, D. R., Marzese, D., Hammerlindl, H., Brafford, P., Stark, M., Huang, S., Hammerlindl, S., Gupta, D., Soyer, P., Sturm, R., Hoon, D., Gabrielli, B., Herlyn, M. and Schaider, H. (2016). Epigenetic remodelling of H3K9Me3 leads to early stress induced drug tolerance in cancer. Asia‐Pacific Combined Dermatology Research Conference 2016, Noosa, QLD Australia, 25–28 August 2016. Richmond, VIC Australia: Wiley-Blackwell.

Epigenetic remodelling of H3K9Me3 leads to early stress induced drug tolerance in cancer

2016

Conference Publication

A case-control study of the associations of PGC1 beta genotype with melanoma, skin reflectance, and naevus count

Ling, X., Yong, H., Pflugfelder, A., Duffy, D., Jagirdar, K., Lee, K., Garbe, C., Soyer, H. P. and Sturm, R. (2016). A case-control study of the associations of PGC1 beta genotype with melanoma, skin reflectance, and naevus count. Asia‐Pacific Combined Dermatology Research Conference 2016, Noosa, QLD, Australia, 25-28 August 2016. Richmond, VIC, Australia: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia. doi: 10.1111/ajd.12584

A case-control study of the associations of PGC1 beta genotype with melanoma, skin reflectance, and naevus count

2016

Other Outputs

Acquired Melanocytic Nevi Images documented with dermoscopy, pigmentation characteristics and MC1R genotypes in a Han Chinese population

Dong, Huiting, Soyer, H. Peter, Sturm, Richard A., Lee, Katie, Jagirdar, Kasturee and Duffy, David (2016). Acquired Melanocytic Nevi Images documented with dermoscopy, pigmentation characteristics and MC1R genotypes in a Han Chinese population. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.14264/uql.2017.109

Acquired Melanocytic Nevi Images documented with dermoscopy, pigmentation characteristics and MC1R genotypes in a Han Chinese population

2016

Journal Article

The microphthalmia-associated transcription factor p.E318K mutation does not play a major role in sporadic renal cell tumors from Caucasian patients

Stoehr, Christine G., Walter, Bernhard, Denzinger, Stefan, Ghiorzo, Paola, Sturm, Richard A., Hinze, Raoul, Moch, Holger, Junker, Kerstin, Hartmann, Arndt and Stoehr, Robert (2016). The microphthalmia-associated transcription factor p.E318K mutation does not play a major role in sporadic renal cell tumors from Caucasian patients. Pathobiology, 83 (4), 165-169. doi: 10.1159/000443311

The microphthalmia-associated transcription factor p.E318K mutation does not play a major role in sporadic renal cell tumors from Caucasian patients

2016

Conference Publication

Testing of viable clonal human skin cell cultures as an approach to validating microsampling of naevi

Ainger, S., Ling, X., Yong, H., Tan, J. -M., Jagirdar, K., Smit, D., Soyer, H. P. and Sturm, R. (2016). Testing of viable clonal human skin cell cultures as an approach to validating microsampling of naevi. Asia‐Pacific Combined Dermatology Research Conference 2016, Noosa, QLD, Australia, 25-28 August 2016. Richmond, VIC, Australia: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/ajd.12584

Testing of viable clonal human skin cell cultures as an approach to validating microsampling of naevi

2016

Conference Publication

Global histone modifications define early stress induced drug tolerance in cancer

Al Emran, Abdullah, Menon, Dinoop Ravindran, Soyer, Peter, Gabrielli, Brian, Sturm, Rick, Herlyn, Meenhard and Schaider, Helmut (2016). Global histone modifications define early stress induced drug tolerance in cancer. American-Association-for-Cancer-Research (AACR) Special Conference on Chromatin and Epigenetics in Cancer, Atlanta, GA, United States, 24-27 September 2015. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.CHROMEPI15-B34

Global histone modifications define early stress induced drug tolerance in cancer

2016

Conference Publication

Naevus endophenotypes and melanoma risk

McWhirter, S., Lee, K., Wimberley, G., Ong, N., Leikvold, A., Ashley, A., Jagirdar, K., Duffy, D., Soyer, H. P. and Sturm, R. (2016). Naevus endophenotypes and melanoma risk. -, -, -. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

Naevus endophenotypes and melanoma risk

2015

Journal Article

Lack of protection from development of multiple melanomas by an injected melanocortin analogue in a combined high-risk MC1R/CDKN2A genotype patient

Bohm, M., Jagirdar, K., Sturm, R.A., Konig, S., Bauer, J., Metze, D., Luger, T.A. and Weishaupt, C. (2015). Lack of protection from development of multiple melanomas by an injected melanocortin analogue in a combined high-risk MC1R/CDKN2A genotype patient. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 30 (10), e65-e67. doi: 10.1111/jdv.13310

Lack of protection from development of multiple melanomas by an injected melanocortin analogue in a combined high-risk MC1R/CDKN2A genotype patient

2015

Journal Article

TLR3 drives IRF6-dependent IL-23p19 expression and p19/EBI3 heterodimer formation in keratinocytes

Ramnath, Divya, Tunny, Kathryn, Hohenhaus, Daniel M., Pitts, Claire M., Bergot, Anne-Sophie, Hogarth, P. Mark, Hamilton, John A., Kapetanovic, Ronan, Sturm, Richard A., Scholz, Glen M. and Sweet, Matthew J. (2015). TLR3 drives IRF6-dependent IL-23p19 expression and p19/EBI3 heterodimer formation in keratinocytes. Immunology and Cell Biology, 93 (9), 771-779. doi: 10.1038/icb.2015.77

TLR3 drives IRF6-dependent IL-23p19 expression and p19/EBI3 heterodimer formation in keratinocytes

2015

Journal Article

Genetics of skin color variation in Europeans: genome-wide association studies with functional follow-up

Liu, Fan, Visser, Mijke, Duffy, David L., Hysi, Pirro G., Jacobs, Leonie C., Lao, Oscar, Zhong, Kaiyin, Walsh, Susan, Chaitanya, Lakshmi, Wollstein, Andreas, Zhu, Gu, Montgomery, Grant W., Henders, Anjali K., Mangino, Massimo, Glass, Daniel, Bataille, Veronique, Sturm, Richard A., Rivadeneira, Fernando, Hofman, Albert, van IJcken, Wilfred F. J., Uitterlinden, André G., Palstra, Robert-Jan T. S., Spector, Timothy D., Martin, Nicholas G., Nijsten, Tamar E. C. and Kayser, Manfred (2015). Genetics of skin color variation in Europeans: genome-wide association studies with functional follow-up. Human Genetics, 134 (8), 823-835. doi: 10.1007/s00439-015-1559-0

Genetics of skin color variation in Europeans: genome-wide association studies with functional follow-up

2015

Journal Article

Src and SCC: getting to the FAKs

Ainger, Stephen A. and Sturm, Richard A. (2015). Src and SCC: getting to the FAKs. Experimental Dermatology, 24 (7), 487-488. doi: 10.1111/exd.12725

Src and SCC: getting to the FAKs

2015

Conference Publication

The correlation of skin color with dermoscopic nevus patterns in a Queensland high risk melanoma cohort

Ong, Natalie, Duffy, David, Lee, Katie, McClenahan, Phil, Jagirdar, Kasturee, Sturm, Richard and Soyer, H. Peter (2015). The correlation of skin color with dermoscopic nevus patterns in a Queensland high risk melanoma cohort. American Academy of Dermatology 73rd Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, United States, 20-24 March 2015. New York, NY, United States: Elsevier . doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2015.02.722

The correlation of skin color with dermoscopic nevus patterns in a Queensland high risk melanoma cohort

2015

Journal Article

BRAF wild-type melanoma in situ arising in a BRAF V600E mutant dysplastic nevus

Tan, Jean-Marie, Lin, Lynlee L., Lambie, Duncan, Flewell-Smith, Ross, Jagirdar, Kasturee, Schaider, Helmut, Sturm, Richard A., Prow, Tari W. and Soyer, H. Peter (2015). BRAF wild-type melanoma in situ arising in a BRAF V600E mutant dysplastic nevus. JAMA Dermatology, 151 (4), 417-421. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2014.3775

BRAF wild-type melanoma in situ arising in a BRAF V600E mutant dysplastic nevus

2015

Conference Publication

Glutathione S-transferase P1 Ile105Val polymorphism: phenotypic characteristics and melanoma risk

Daley, G. M., Lee, K. J., Jagirdar, K., Smithers, B. M., Duffy, D. L., Sturm, R. A. and Soyer, H. P. (2015). Glutathione S-transferase P1 Ile105Val polymorphism: phenotypic characteristics and melanoma risk. 48th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australasian College of Dermatologists, Adelaide SA, Australia, 16 May 2015. Richmond, VIC Australia: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia. doi: 10.1111/ajd.12337

Glutathione S-transferase P1 Ile105Val polymorphism: phenotypic characteristics and melanoma risk

2015

Journal Article

High incidence of primary melanomas in an MC1R RHC homozygote/CDKN2A mutant genotype patient

Sinnya, Sudipta, Jagirdar, Kasturee, De'Ambrosis, Brian, McMeniman, Erin, Sturm, Richard A. and Soyer, H. Peter (2015). High incidence of primary melanomas in an MC1R RHC homozygote/CDKN2A mutant genotype patient. Archives of Dermatological Research, 307 (8), 741-745. doi: 10.1007/s00403-015-1582-y

High incidence of primary melanomas in an MC1R RHC homozygote/CDKN2A mutant genotype patient

2015

Conference Publication

Molecular profiles of reticular and globular naevus patterns: a pilot study

Ong, N., Duffy, D., Leikvold, A., Lee, K., Jagirdar, K., Lin, Lynlee L., Yamada, M., Sturm, R. A., Prow, T. W., Schaider, H. and Soyer, H. P. (2015). Molecular profiles of reticular and globular naevus patterns: a pilot study. 48th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australasian College of Dermatologists, Adelaide SA, Australia, 16 May 2015. Richmond, VIC Australia: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia. doi: 10.1111/ajd.12337

Molecular profiles of reticular and globular naevus patterns: a pilot study

2015

Conference Publication

Feasibility of genotyping melanocytic lesions by microsampling

Tan, Jean-Marie, Lin, Lynlee L., Lambie, Duncan, Ong, Natalie, Flewell-Smith, Ross, Jagirdar, Kasturee, Schaider, Helmut, Sturm, Richard A., Prow, Tarl W. and Soyer, H. Peter (2015). Feasibility of genotyping melanocytic lesions by microsampling. 73rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, San Francisco, California, 20–24 March 2015. Philadelphia, PA United States: Mosby.

Feasibility of genotyping melanocytic lesions by microsampling

Past funding

  • 2018
    Targeted and personalised early detection of melanoma using a 3D teledermatology network
    PA Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2024
    ACRF Cancer Ultrastructure and Function Facility
    Australian Cancer Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Epigenetic remodelling driving acquired permanent drug resistance in melanoma cells
    PA Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2021
    Centre of Research Excellence for the Study of Naevi
    NHMRC Centres of Research Excellence
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Human pigmentation pathway in UV-protection and mechanisms of melanoma risk
    Cancer Council Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Investigation of the molecular basis of human nevogenesis and melanoma initiation
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Next-generation cell analysis: Automated high-throughput 3D microscope and multimode microplate reader
    NHMRC Equipment Grant
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Genetic polymorphisms associated with clinical and dermoscopic naevus signature patterns
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Investigating the role of NR4A nuclear receptors in melanocytic DNA repair and tumorigenicity
    Cancer Council Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2017
    NHMRC Research Fellowship: Human pigmentation genetics, melanocyte biology and skin cancer
    NHMRC Research Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Functional assessment of new melanoma genomic mutations
    Worldwide Cancer Research
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Analytical flow cytometer for cell and developmental biology and drug discovery applications
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Ligand interactions of the MC1R receptor and cellular consequences for melanocyte responses to UV-damage
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Quantitave real-time PCR instrumentation for rapid, high-throughput gene expression studies.
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Effects of nevogenesis susceptibility genes and phenotypic correlation with dermoscopic characteristics of nevi
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    Investigating the BRN2/MITF axis in melanoma sphere formation and as a therapeutic target for metastatic melanoma
    Cancer Council Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Quantitative real-time PCR instrumentation for rapid, high-throughput gene expression studies
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Real time cell analysis for biological and drug discovery applications
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Investigating the role of the NR4A nuclear receptor family in melanocyte function and tumorigenesis
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Molecular, genetic and cellular analysis of melanisation in human pigmentation
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2016
    The ACRF Cancer Biology Imaging Facility
    Australian Cancer Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Analytical flow cytometer for high throughput cell biology and drug discovery applications
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2010
    Spheroid cell growth in melanocytic development and differentiation
    Cancer Council Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2008
    A high-throughput facility for the identification and analysis of gene regulatory elements and factors
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2010
    MC1R polymorphisms associated with skin cancer risk phenotypes
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    Combined genetic and cellular analysis of melanisation to study variation in human pigmentation
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    Melanocytic spheroids as a model for melanoma development and metastasis
    Queensland Cancer Fund
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2007
    Elucidating PPARgamma regulations of melanocytic cell function and tumorigenesis
    Queensland Cancer Fund
    Open grant
  • 2005
    Elucidating PPARy function: implications for melanocytic cell function
    University of Queensland Research Development Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2006
    Parallel genetic and cellular analysis of melanogensis: A new paradigm to study variation in pigmentation
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2005
    Role of Beta3 integrin induced osteonectin expression in melanoma metastasis
    Queensland Cancer Fund
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2006
    The role of MC1R Polymorphism in skin cancer risk phenotypes
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2007
    NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship
    NHMRC Research Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2004
    Pathways from genotype and environment to melanoma
    Queensland Institute of Medical Research
    Open grant
  • 2001 - 2003
    Functional Analysis of Human MC1R Polymorphisms in Directing Melanocyte Phenotype
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 1999 - 2000
    MSHR Gene Variation in Skin Cancer
    Queensland Cancer Fund
    Open grant
  • 1998
    Human Pigmentation Genes and Skin Cancer
    Cancer Bequest Fund
    Open grant
  • 1998
    Skin colour and cancer
    Government Employees Medical Research Fund
    Open grant
  • 1997 - 1999
    Role of the Brn-2 POU-transcription factor in directing the melanocytic cell phenotype
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 1995 - 1997
    Human pigmentation gene alleles
    NHMRC Project Grant - Standard
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Rick Sturm is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Associate Professor Rick Sturm directly for media enquiries about:

  • Basal cell carcinoma
  • Carcinoma
  • Eye colour
  • Genetics
  • Hair colour
  • Human pigmentation
  • Melanoma
  • Pigmentation - human skin
  • Skin cancer
  • Skin colour
  • Skin tanning
  • Squamous cell carcinoma
  • Sun cancer
  • Sun damage
  • Sun exposure
  • Tanning - of skin

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