Study level

  • Master of Philosophy
  • Honours

Faculty/School

Faculty of Health

School of Biomedical Sciences

Topic status

We're looking for students to study this topic.

Research centre

Supervisors

Adjunct Professor Murray Mitchell
Position
Adjunct Professor
Division / Faculty
Faculty of Health

Overview

Complications of pregnancy, including preterm birth represent the major causes of fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality and potentially affect childhood and adult susceptibility to both cardiac and metabolic diseases. Early detection of these disorders is, therefore, essential to improve health outcomes for mother and baby.

Exosomes are small (40-120 nm), stable, lipid bilayer nanovesicles identified in biological fluids (e.g. in milk, blood, urine and saliva). They contain a diverse array of signalling molecules, including mRNA, microRNA (miR), proteins, lipids and membrane receptors, and they interact with target cells via multiple pathways. We hypothesise that the identification and analysis of exosomal cargo isolated from complicated pregnancies will be indicative of a specific tissue’s health status, granting the capacity for use of exosomes as a tool for disease diagnosis.

Aim

Employ a discovery approach to evaluate the cargo of exosomes isolated from plasma of women with complicated pregnancies

Techniques to be utilised

  • Exosome isolation and characterisation
  • tissue and cell culture
  • DNA/RNA/miRNA analyses
  • PCR arrays
  • mass spectrometry
  • ELISA.

Contact

Contact the supervisor for more information: Professor Murray Mitchell.