Relaxin Laboratory
Group Leader (Neuropeptide Group)
Laboratory Head (Relaxin Laboratory)
Professor Geoffrey W. Tregear BSc (Melb) PhD (Mon) FRACI AM
Contact Details
Email: | |
Phone: | +61 (0)3 8344 1807 |
Fax: | +61 (0)3 9347 0446 |
Number of
Senior Staff: 12
Research Assistants: 7
Students: 12
Research Interests
There are two major teams in the Neuropeptide group
- The Relaxin Laboratory, headed by Professor Geoffrey Tregear
- The Neurochemistry Laboratory, headed by Dr Siew-Yeen Chai.
The main research interests centre around peptide ligand and protein receptor chemistry and biological function. The major research themes are
- Understanding the biology of the relaxin family of peptides and their receptors
- Learning and memory research
Current Projects
The Neuropeptide Group has five sub-groups with the following ongoing research projects
- Dr John Wade - Synthesis and structure function relationships of the relaxin family of peptides
- Dr Ross Bathgate - Determinants of binding and activation of the G protein-coupled receptors for the relaxin family of peptides
- Dr Andrew Gundlach - Relaxin and its receptors in brain: anatomy, regulation and function
- Dr Chrishan Samuel - The antifibrotic actions of relaxin
- Dr Siew Yeen Chai - Development of memory enhancing drugs based on the AT4 receptor/IRAP
Laboratory Techniques
- Molecular biology techniques: gene cloning, sequencing, expression and localisation.
- Peptide and protein chemistry
- Solid-phase peptide synthesis
- Mass spectrometry: MALDI TOF/TOF and SELDI
- Receptor pharmacology
- Receptor signalling techniques
- Biomarker detection
- Molecular modelling
Funding
- National Health & Medical Research Council of Australia (Fellowships, Project Grants and Career Award Grants)
- Australian Research Council (Linkage Grants)
- Howard Florey Biomedical Foundation (USA)
- BAS Medical (San Mateo, CA)
- Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development (San Diego, CA)
- Clive & Vera Ramaciotti Foundation for Biomedical Research
- John T Reid Charitable Trust
- Finkel Foundation
Research
