Dr Rick Thorne

Biography

Dr. Rick Thorne (PhD 1999) is a postdoctoral researcher sponsored by the HMRI Cancer Research Program and contracted lecturer in the School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy at the University of Newcastle. His major interest involves different families of cell adhesion molecules and how these engage signalling pathways, particularly how these contribute to the development and progression of cancer. These interests overlap with CD36, another signalling molecule with disease functions outside cancer, particularly the metabolic syndrome and related disorders such as diabetes.

Dr. Thorne has over ten years postdoctoral experience beginning with the award of a two year competitive postdoctoral fellowship Brawn Postdoctoral Research Fellow undertaken at the UoN under Prof. Gordon Burns. During that period he was awarded two competitive overseas training schemes through the UICC, an International Cancer Technology Transfer Fellowships undertaken at the ICRF in London, UK (2000) and a Cancer Research Training Course held in Toronto, Canada (2001). Pursing further training he then relocated the UK to take up a three year post as a Postdoctoral Fellow in Training (2002-2004) at the 5* Institute of Cancer Research (ICR, London). This appointment also led to a number of quality publications and first-hand experience as a PhD supervisor and supervisor of graduate student projects for Imperial College (honours equivalent). Following the ICR appointment he returned to UoN under an ARC Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship awarded from 2004-2007 in connection with an ARC Discovery Project. Subsequent to this award he received a three year Cancer Institute NSW fellowship for the period 2008-2010. After a number of years acting as laboratory manager for the Cancer Research Unit, Dr. Thorne inherited the facilities’ of Prof. Burns and now runs this laboratory on an independent basis.

Over the last five years Dr. Thorne has contributed 27 original research articles and one review article. For ten of these publications he is the first, equal contributory or senior author. Within this body of work there is a strong indication of productive collaborations with local, national and international colleagues.

Qualifications

• PhD, University of Newcastle, 1999
• Bachelor of Science (Honours), University of Newcastle, 1988
• Bachelor of Science, University of Newcastle, 1987

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Research

Research keywords

• apoptosis
• cell adhesion
• cell signaling

Research expertise

I have been working in laboratory-based science for nearly twenty years with direct hands on experience in vast array of techniques. I have a strong interest in the technical aspects of science, and have been instrumental in obtaining key equipment for my own research work and for the greater benefit of my research colleagues.

A summary of my technical skills and experience is as follows.

Molecular Biology: All DNA manipulations associated with the construction of expression vectors including epitope tagged molecules, fusion proteins, mutants and chimeras, recombinant adenoviruses. DNA and RNA preparation and analysis by southern and northern blotting, PCR, screening assays for cDNA libraries, yeast-2-hybrid assays etc.

Protein analysis and biochemistry: SDS-PAGE, 2D gels, immunoprecipitation, GST-pulldown, immunoblotting, use of radioisotopes, kinase assays, metabolic labeling studies, N-glycan analysis, chromatographic and related biochemical methods, flow cytometry, ELISA assays, protein and enzyme assays.

Imaging: I have developed and manage a microscope facility consisting of a trio of three Zeiss microscopes freely available to all subject to appropriate training. All utilise a common software package (Axiovision) that helps in training of users. I have a great deal of experience in immunofluorescence and confocal microscopic imaging.

The Axioplan 2 is a standard upright miscroscope equipped with colour and monochrome cameras, Apotome imaging device, Colibri 2 illumination system. This is powerful system fitted with a large number of epifluorescence filter sets and high performance objectives. This system is adaptable to almost any specimen on a slide.

The Axiovert 200 is a manual inverted fluorescence microscope fitted with a high resolution monochrome camera. Suitable for general work using cultured cells.

The Cell Observer System is for live cell imaging and more complex scanning tasks. It consists of an automated inverted microscope with scanning stage and an integrated incubator system.

Cell culture and in vitro assays: derivation and maintenance of cell lines, cryopreservation, mycoplasma screening, cell transfection methods, cloning and cell sorting, production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies, cell adhesion, migration and chemotaxis assays, drug toxicity, apoptosis, phagocytosis and cell-mediated immunity assays.

In vivo models: I have developed experimental models for cancer metastasis and immunoscintography in human xenograft models of melanoma, and experimental chemotherapy protocols for an rodent model of acquired drug-resistance in mammary cancer.

Fields of Research

Code	Description	Percentage
060100	Biochemistry And Cell Biology	40
110399	Clinical Sciences Not Elsewhere Classified	30
110199	Medical Biochemistry And Metabolomics Not Elsewhere Classified	30

Centres and Groups

Centre

• PRC - Priority Research Centre for Cancer

Group

• Hunter Medical Research Institute - Information Based Medicine Program

Memberships

Committee/Associations (relevant to research).

• Member - American Association of Cancer Research
• Lifetime fellow of organisation - International Union against Cancer (UICC)

Appointments

Gladys M Brawn Memorial Fellowship The University of Newcastle (Australia)

01/01/2000 - 01/04/2001

Awards

Research Award.

2007	UICC (Australia) International award to undertake UICC Cancer Research Training Course: Molecular Biology of Solid Tumour Therapeutics. (2001) Sponsored travel and accommodation to Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Invitations

Dr. A. Obaidat, Department of Pharmacy Jordan University of Science and Technology, King Abdullah II Hospital, Jordan (Invitation to give lectures in Jordan to JUST and to the affiliated King Abdullah II Hospital)

2006

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Administrative

Administrative expertise

Membership of the Steering committee of the HMRI Cancer Research Program (2005-current)

Organising committee member and session chairs for the HMRI Translational Cancer Conferences held in 2006 and 2008

Convener of the HMRI CRP seminar program from 2005-2009

HMRI Grant Review Panel Member 2009

Ad hoc representation on various committees at the School and Faculty level acting on behalf of Cancer Researchers and/or the discipline of Medical Biochemistry

Reviewer of project grant applications in Research Infrastructure Block Grant (RIBG) Scheme (2006)

Peer reviewer for both ARC Discovery and NHMRC Project grants since 2007

Peer reviewer for a number of scientific journals including Biochemical Journal, Journal of Lipid Research, Experimental Cell Research, Immunology and Cell Biology, Journal of Signal Transduction, Stem Cell Reviews & Reports and the British Journal of Cancer

Member of the NHMRC GRPs in 2011 and 2012 assessing grants for Cancer Biology & Oncology

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Teaching

Teaching expertise

Research Higher Degree Completions

Mr. George Tzircotis (PhD 2005, University of London, UK) co-supervisor

Ms. Kristy Shipman (PhD 2009, University of Newcastle, Australia) co-supervisor

Mr. Mohammad Alkhatatbeh (thesis accepted December, 2012) primary supervisor

Current Research Higher Degree Students

As primary supervisor

Ms. Camila Oliveira (enrolment confirmed, thesis submission due November 2012)

Mr. Alireza Arjmand (enrolment confirmed, thesis submission due February 2012)

Ms. Elham Sadeqzadeh (enrolment confirmed, thesis submission due February 2012)

Mr. Abdulrzag Ahmed (enrolment confirmed, thesis submission due February 2014)

As co-supervisor

Ms. Jiao Li (other supervisors A/Prof. Derek Laver and A/Prof. Dirk Van Helden)

Additionally I have sat on a number of RHD confirmation panels for students from both the School of Biological Sciences and the School of Medicine and Public Health.

Honours (and equivalent) supervision

Ms. Ka Man Emily Chu (Final Year Project, Imperial College London, 2003)

Ms. Dale Anne Boyce (Honours, Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, University of Newcastle, 2005)

Mr. Andrew James William Weir (Honours, Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, University of Newcastle, 2007)

Mr. Simon Bone (Honours, Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, University of Newcastle, 2007)

Mr. Steven Alley (Honours, Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, University of Newcastle, 2009)

Mr. Tim Kelso (Honours, Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, University of Newcastle, 2010)

Ms. Anna Timofeeva (Final Year Project, Karolinska Institute, Sweden, 2011)

Undergraduate Teaching experience

Contracted 0.5 lecturing appointment for undergraduate teaching in the School of Biomedical Sciences Bachelor’s program in 2001 and 2012 where I lectured major components of HUBS 2206 (Human Biochemistry and Cell Biology), HUBS 2209 (Human Molecular Science) and supervised associated Laboratory Practical Classes

Course coordinator of HUBS 3409 (Project in Biomedical Sciences) in 2011 and 2012