| BAppSci UTS, PhD UNSW
Head of Program, Pharmacoproteomics Program
Contact: Associate Professor Maria Kavallaris
Tel: +61 2 9385 2151
Email: mkavallaris 'at' ccia.unsw.edu.au
As Program Head of the Pharmacoproteomics Program, Associate Professor Kavallaris holds conjoint appointments with the Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Sciences, University of New South Wales. She leads a group of researchers focused on identifying the mechanisms of action and resistance to anticancer drugs. Her program's research contributions include the identification of novel mechanisms of resistance to anticancer agents that target key proteins involved in cell division. Studies from A/Professor Kavallaris’ group are utilising proteomics technology to identify functional changes in cancer cells that may be influencing the action of specific anticancer drugs.
A/Professor Kavallaris is a NHMRC Senior Research Fellow and her research contributions have been recognised by international awards and prizes including a Young Tall Poppy Award, IARC-Cancer Research Training Award, Bristol-Myers Squibb Oncology Young Investigator Award, and BG Leventhal Women in Cancer Research Scholar Award. A/Professor Kavallaris has served on international and national committees including; Program Committee, Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research and NHMRC Grant Review Panels. A/Professor Kavallaris is regularly invited to speak at international meetings. She has authored over 50 publications and has established important research collaborations in Australia, USA and France, including an ongoing study into the effectiveness and action of new chemotherapeutic agents in cancer. A/Professor Kavallaris is also the past President of the Australian Society for Medical Research.
Key Publications
1. Kavallaris, M., Kuo, D.Y-S, Burkhart, C.A., Regl, D.L., Norris, M.D., Haber, M. and Horwitz, S.B. (1997). Taxol-resistant epithelial ovarian tumors are associated with altered expression of specific {beta}-tubulin isotypes. J. Clin. Invest. 100: 1282-93.
2. Kavallaris, M., Tait, A.S., Walsh, B.J., He, L., Horwitz, S.B., Norris, M.D., Haber, M. (2001). Multiple microtubule alterations are associated with vinca alkaloid resistance in human leukaemia cells. Cancer Research 61:5803-09.
3. Verrills, N.M., Walsh, B.J., Cobon, G.S., Hains, P.G., Kavallaris, M. (2003). Proteome analysis of Vinca alkaloid response and resistance in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia reveals novel cytoskeletal alterations. J Biol Chem 278 (46): 45082-93.
4. Verrills, N.M., Flemming, C., Liu, M., Ivery, M.T., Cobon, G.S., Norris, M.D., Haber, M. Kavallaris, M. (2003). Microtubule Alterations and Mutations induced by Desoxyepothilone B: Implications for Drug-Target Interactions. Chemistry and Biology 10: 597-607.
5. Verrills, NM, Pouha, ST, Liu, MLM, Y.E. Liaw, TYE, Larsen, MR, Ivery, MT, Marshall, GM, Gunning, PW, Kavallaris, M. (2006). Alterations in g-Actin Mediate Resistance to Tubulin-Targeted Drugs in Childhood Leukemia. J Natl Cancer Inst 4;98 (19):1363-74. |
