About
Introduction
Current interests and goals
Ghrelin, a.k.a. the hunger hormone, is important in the regulation of growth hormone, appetite and glucose homeostasis. In collaboration with start-up pharma companies we are a working on an analogue of ghrelin that antagonises its metabolic effects. Initially, the goal is to develop the analogue as an appetite suppressant in humans but eventually as an approach to treat obesity related diseases.
My main role is to discover the mechanism of action of this analogue since it does not directly antagonise the ghrelin receptor. We are using a range of in vitro screening methods to achieve this. In addition, we have developed a mouse model of binge-eating using our metabolic/behavioural screening system in which we will test the function of the analogue in vivo.
Ghrelin, a.k.a. the hunger hormone, is important in the regulation of growth hormone, appetite and glucose homeostasis. In collaboration with start-up pharma companies we are a working on an analogue of ghrelin that antagonises its metabolic effects. Initially, the goal is to develop the analogue as an appetite suppressant in humans but eventually as an approach to treat obesity related diseases.
My main role is to discover the mechanism of action of this analogue since it does not directly antagonise the ghrelin receptor. We are using a range of in vitro screening methods to achieve this. In addition, we have developed a mouse model of binge-eating using our metabolic/behavioural screening system in which we will test the function of the analogue in vivo.
Field(s) of expertise
- Animal physiology/metabolism
- Metabolic/behavioural screening in mice
- Cell/molecular biology
- G-protein coupled receptor function
- Cellular signaling pathways
Education and career
PhD, 1990, Western University, Canada, Cell Biology
Positions, Employment and Research:
2002-present Senior Scientist, with Prof AJ van der Lely and A/Prof JA Visser, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam
Research collaborations with:
- Alizé Pharma (Lyon, France) and Millendo (Ann Arbor, MI)
- RG. Smith & Y. Sun (Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX)
- M. Tauber and others (PWS Reference Centre, Toulouse, France)
- Several clinical groups within Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- The Centre for Healthy Weight, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
1993-2002 Senior Research Fellow, with Prof R Baxter, Department of Medicine, University of Sydney
1989-1993 Post Doctoral Fellow, with Prof V Han, Department of Pediatrics, University of Western Ontario, Canada
Publications
Teaching activities
- Supervision of several PhD and Masters students, Sydney University and Erasmus MC.
- 2015-2017 MolMed lectures to graduate students at Erasmus MC.
Other positions
2014-present: Editor, Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports
2009-2012: Editorial Board of Endocrinology
Grant review: NH&MRC project grants, Channel 7 project grants, Cancer Council project grants, Wellcome Grants, FWF, FWO, BBSRC.
Manuscript reviews: Endocrinology, American Journal of Physiology, Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, Journal of Endocrinology, Kidney International, Gene, Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, Growth Hormone and IGF Research, Clinical Endocrinology, etc.
2009-2012: Editorial Board of Endocrinology
Grant review: NH&MRC project grants, Channel 7 project grants, Cancer Council project grants, Wellcome Grants, FWF, FWO, BBSRC.
Manuscript reviews: Endocrinology, American Journal of Physiology, Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, Journal of Endocrinology, Kidney International, Gene, Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, Growth Hormone and IGF Research, Clinical Endocrinology, etc.
Scholarships, grants, and awards
- 2013-2016 European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes Research Grant
- 2006-2015 Collaborative grants from Alizé Pharma, Lyon France
- 1996-2000, NH&MRC (Australia) Project Grants. AU$860 000
- 1985-1988 Science & Engineering Research Council Overseas Studentship (UK)
