Conjoint Prof. Leonie Ashman

Biography

Professor Ashman is a NHMRC Principal Research Fellow and Gladys Brawn Professorial Fellow. She came to the University of Newcastle in 2002 from the Hanson Centre for Cancer Research and the University of Adelaide. In her career spanning 35 years she has published 150 papers in refereed international journals and conference proceedings. Career highlights include identification at the protein level of the receptor tyrosine kinase c-KIT, publication of the first monoclonal antibody to it, and the first description of c-KIT expression by haemopoietic progenitor cells in bone marrow. She has an ongoing interest in the role of mutant c-KIT in acute myeloid leukaemia and other cancers and in new drugs that target this receptor. Prof Ashman's group also identified a novel tetraspanin protein, CD151, cloned the gene, and generated the first CD151 knock-out mice. Work in this and other laboratories has shown that the CD151 protein modifies cell adhesion and migration and plays an important role in the spread (metastasis) of cancer.

Qualifications

• PhD, University of Adelaide
• Bachelor of Science (Honours), Flinders University

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Research

Research keywords

• Cell and Molecular biology of cancer

Research expertise

I was trained as a biochemist but worked for many years in immunology. In now consider myself as a cell and molecular biologist. The underlying theme of my research has always been cancer, its cellular and molecular biology and development of novel approaches to diagnosis and treatment. Major themes have been haemopoiesis and leukaemia, regulation of cellular behaviour by cell surface receptors, cellular signalling and development of novel targetted therapeutics.

Fields of Research

Code	Description	Percentage
060100	Biochemistry And Cell Biology	60
111299	Oncology And Carcinogenesis Not Elsewhere Classified	30
110199	Medical Biochemistry And Metabolomics Not Elsewhere Classified	10

Centres and Groups

Centre

• Hunter Medical Research Institute

Group

• Hunter Medical Research Institute - Cancer

Memberships

Committee/Associations (relevant to research).

• Joint convenor - Hunter Medical Research Institute International Conferences on Translational Cancer Research, 2004, 2006, 2008

NHMRC Committee

• Member - Grant Review Panel - Cell Biology 2005,2006
• Member, 2001, 2002 - Research Fellowship Advisory Panel A

Appointments

Recipient University of Newcastle (Australia)	01/01/2006 - 01/12/2010
Fellowship National Health & Medical Research Council (Australia)	01/01/2006 - 01/12/2011

Invitations

Glivec Solid Tumour Advisory Board Novartis Pharma, United States (Conference Presentation - non published.)	2001
Summer Research Conference: tetraspanins Federation of American Societies of Experimental Biology, United States (Conference Presentation - non published.)	2004

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Administrative

Administrative expertise

Initiated and coordinated B Health Sci (Hons) program in Experimental Medicine at Adelaide University,

Member, Graduate Studies Committee and Board of Research Education and Development at Adelaide University

Elected Staff Representative, Hanson Centre Executive

Member, Hanson Institute Strategic Advisory Committee

Member, NHMRC Research Fellowships Advisory Panel, 2001, 2002.

Member NHMRC Grant Review panel, 2005, 2006.

At University of Newcastle:

Member, Faculty of Health Research Management Committee (2002, 2003).

Research Portfolio Committee, 2004 (casual vacancy)

Member of multiple appointments committess and grant review panels.

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Teaching

Teaching keywords

• Cancer Biology

Teaching expertise

While I have always been employed in "Research Only" positions I have contributed extensively to teaching both at the University of Adelaide and the University of Newcastle. Currently I teach into the B Biomed Sci program in my areas of research expertise (Cancer biology and novel drug development).

Teaching interests

• Cell and molecular biology of cancer
• New anti-cancer drugs

Programs

• Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences
• Doctor of Philosophy

Courses

• HUBS3205