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Fetal Development, Stem Cells and Differentiation Group(Incorporating Stem Cells and Differentiation Group of Founding Director Professor Alan Trounson)Group Leader: Professor Graham Jenkin Fetal Development OverviewResearchers: Professor Euan Wallace (Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology), Assoc Professor David Walke (Dept of Physiology), Dr Suzie Miller, Dr Shae-Lee Cox, Dr Ursula Manuelpillai (MIMR, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology) Research Assistants: Jan Loose Students: Veena Supramaniam, Hsin Mei Low, Yang Hsia Yun, Sivapragasam Ravitharan (Dept of Obs & Gynae), Candice Rodrics, Mahalia Chia, Zoe Ireland Our current research interests focus on the control of ovarian function during the cycle and in early pregnancy, the maintenance of early pregnancy, development and well-being of the embryo and fetus and the initiation of normal and premature parturition. Our recent studies on the presence and source of inhibin, activin and related proteins in fetal tissues and fluids indicate that they may be important in prevention of early embryonic loss, in fetal growth and development and, particularly, in fetal compromise in late gestation. This work may lead to novel approaches for the prevention of brain damage during development of at risk fetuses and of clinical monitoring of fetal well being during late gestation Stem Cells and Differentiation OverviewEmbryonic stem cells and embryonic germ cells provide a potentially indefinite renewable source of cells and tissue for research and transplantation Therapeutic products based on stem cell research provide a means for changing paradigms of medical treatment. Activating stem cells that already exist in a patient's own body or delivering therapies containing adult-sourced or embryo-sourced stem cells creates opportunities for regenerating the human body in ways only recently thought impossible. The research undertaken by this group includes studies on the basic biology of stem cells and germ cells, the potential to turn these cells into other cells and their interaction with the biological control systems in the human body. Initially the group will establish methods of precisely identifying stem cells, establish methods to expand stem cells numbers without their losing their pluripotential state and define methods of predictably and reproducibly directing the differentiation of stem cells to produce definable cells able to regenerate the tissues and organs of the human body. The group also has a major research program in the control of germ cell growth and differentiation. Stem Cells in Respiratory Repair OverviewResearchers: Dr Antonietta Giudice, Dr Anna Michalska Students: Hadassa Lewis, Phillipa Milton, Mei Low, Adam Gouldburn, Joanna Lim, Robert Jenny The research program in stem cells and respiratory repair at MISCL involves the study of adult bone marrow stromal stem cells (mesenchymal stem cells) and the umbilical cord blood stem cells in preclinical models of lung repair, and in models of cystic fibrosis. The group is also studying the differentiation of embryonic stem cells into respiratory progenitors using flow sorting of reporter genes and markers of respiratory pneumocytes and airway epithelia. Models of respiratory disease including pulmonary inflammatory disease (Bleomycin treated mice), emphysema (smoking mice) and cystic fibrosis are used as preclinical models to determine the efficiency and efficacy of stem cell repair of lung diseases. Stem cell and respiratory repair (pdf, 104kb) Embryonic Stem Cells - Germ Stem Cells and EmbryosResearch personnelResearch Group Leader: Professor Graham Jenkin Background
The group is deriving new human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and studying the conditions for their growth and expansion in culture. The group is examining a number of disease specific stem cells. The group studies differentiation of embryonic stem cells into germ cells and gametes, and other specific lineages including mesenchyme and neural crest. The differentiation of Huntington’s Disease affected human ESCs is being studied as a model for determination of the cause of disease phenotype in disease specific stem cells. The further growth of maturation of primordial ova, growing oocytes and mature oocytes concentrates on the molecular and cellular aspects in vivo and in vitro – particularly using gene expression microarrays and other molecular methods, proteomics and cellular micromanipulation techniques, including nuclear transfer in animal models. The group is also studying the formation of animal ESCs (horse and other species) and is studying the reprogramming of somatic cell nuclei transfer using cell fusion with ESCs. We are developing assays for the identification of developmental competence in mouse and human oocytes and embryos, and investigating the influence of cell culture and tissue or cell manipulations on the developmental normality and health of offspring produced. Postgraduate studentsMReprodSci, MSC and PhD programs are closely supervised by senior members and there is opportunity for work experience and summer scholarships in the research group. FundingThe research group is funded by: NIH (USA), Monash IVF, JDRF (USA), Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC). Current researchRecent PublicationsMiller SL, Chai M, Loose J, Castillo-Meléndez M, Walker DW, *Jenkin G*, Wallace EM. (2007) The effects of maternal betamethasone administration on the intrauterine growth restricted fetus. Endocrinology. 148(3):1288-95 Wilson TJ, Lacham-Kaplan O, Gould J, Holloway A, Bertoncello I, Hertzog PJ, Trounson A (2007) Comparison of mice born after intracytoplasmic sperm injection with in vitro fertilization and natural mating. Mol Reprod Develop (September 22nd 2006, Epub ahead of print). Jones GM, Song B, Cram DS, Trounson AO (2007) Optimization of a microarray based approach for deriving representative gene expression profiles from human oocytes. Mol Reprod Develop 74: 8-17. Daley GQ,Trounson AO et al (2007) The ISSCR Guidelines for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research. Science 315: 603-604. Trounson A (2007) A fluid means of stem cell generation. Nature Biotech 25: 62-63. Taylor R, Cowin PA, Cunha GR, Pera M, Trounson AO, Pedersen J, Risbridger GP (2006) Formation of human prostate tissue from embryonic stem cells. Nature Methods 3: 179-181. Lacham-Kaplan O, Chy H, Trounson A (2006) Testicular cell conditioned medium supports differentiation of embryonic stem cells into ovarian structures containing oocytes. Stem Cells 24: 266-273. Thouas GA, Trounson AO, Jones GM (2006) Developmental effects of sublethal mitochondrial injury in mouse oocytes. Biol. Reprod. 74: 969-977. Davis T, Song B, Cram DS (2006) Successful preimplantation diagnosis of familial adenatomatous polyposis. Reprod Biomed Online 13: 707-711. Cram DS, Osborne E, McLachlan RI (2006) Y chromosome microdeletions - implications for assisted conception. Med J Aust 185: 433-434. Bott EM, Young IR, Jenkin G, McLaren WJ. (2006) Detection of morphological changes of the ovine cervix in response to sex steroids using a fluorescence confocal endomicroscope. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 194:105-112. Recent Reviews, G JenkinTrounson,A., Cram,D., Jenkin,G., Jones,G., Michalska,A., Manuelpillai,U., Moodley,Y., Tercirlioglu,T., Guo,J. and Wallace,E. (2007) Stem cells and regenerative medicine: An opportunity for the special involvement of fertility services. Human Reproduction, In press Jenkin,G.,and Young,I.R. (2005) Mechanisms responsible for parturition; the use of experimental models. Animal Reproduction Science Special issue: Research and Practice III. 15th International Congress on Animal Reproduction - Edited by M. Henry, P.K. Basrur, P.J. Broadbent and L.E. Pinheiro: 82-83C pp 567-581 Recently awarded Grants, G Jenkin
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