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Garvan Institute

Sections
 

Signal Transduction

 

Group Leader
Professor Roger Daly

 

The Signal Transduction Group studies mechanisms of hormone and growth factor signalling and how these are altered in disease states, particularly cancer. Our current research focuses on three proteins involved in either the transmission of signals within the cell or the regulation of these signalling events: Gab2, cortactin and Grb14. Overexpression of Gab2, which is found in a subset of breast cancers, increases not only the proliferation of cancer cells but also their invasive properties. The latter effect suggests that Gab2 may promote cancer cell spread throughout the body. High levels of cortactin are found in some breast and head and neck cancers, and we have identified that this protein increases resistance to a new drug currently in clinical development. Together with researchers in the Diabetes Program, we are studying how Grb14, and related proteins, regulate the metabolic and growth-promoting effects of insulin and insulin-like growth factors.

Staff

David CroucherResearch Officer
Dr David Croucher
Falcko HochgraefeResearch Officer
Dr Falko Hochgrafe
b_browne90.jpgResearch Officer
Dr Brigid Browne
Ruth LyonsSenior Research Assistant
Ruth Lyons

Luxi ZhangResearch Assistant
Luxi Zhang
Danny RickwoodResearch Assistant
Danny Rickwood
Brian LeePhD Student
Brian Lee
a_porta-cubas90.jpgPhD Student
Ana Porta Cubas
Emily StoddartPhD Student
Emily Stoddart
Carole TactacanPhD Student
Carole Tactacan
Visiting Student
Caroline Ortiz-Padilla


 

 

 

News

 

First step towards switching off breast cancer and leukaemia

MEDIA RELEASE: 08 Aug 2008
Garvan scientists have identified a way to ‘switch off’ a molecule, a key player in the molecular processes that trigger breast cancer and certain forms of leukaemia. The molecule, known as Gab2, operates downstream of a major breast cancer oncogene, HER2, the target of the drug Herceptin.
 
 

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