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Contact Details

Phone
+64 3 479 7797
Email
adele.woolley@otago.ac.nz

University Links

Position
Senior Lecturer
Department
Department of Pathology (Dunedin)
Qualifications
BPhEd BSc PGDipSci PhD(Otago)
Research summary
Cytoskeletal dynamics in cell cycle and cell migration
Teaching
  • PATH 201 Foundations of Human Diseases (course convenor)
  • PATH 302 Cancer Biology
  • MICN 301 Vertical Pathology Module
  • CMC 301 Cancer and Diabetes
Memberships
  • Australian and New Zealand Society for Cell and Developmental Biology
  • Federation of University Women
  • Dunedin Company of Physiologists
  • TEMTIA (Society of Epithelial-Mesenchymal transition)
  • Department of Pathology Teaching committee
  • BBiomedSc Operational Committee
Clinical
Cancer biology, and Inflammatory microenvironment in cancer and other inflammatory diseases

Research

One of our foci is on the cell cycle and cell migration, fundamental cellular processes that underpin many diseases, including cancer.

The cell cycle is the sequence of events by which cells faithfully replicate their DNA and then segregate the duplicated chromosomal DNA equally between two daughter cells. An intricate network of regulatory pathways ensures that each cell cycle event is performed correctly and in proper sequence. In healthy tissues, cell division is a well-controlled process during which both our duplicated genetic and cytoplasmic material is equally distributed over two newly formed daughter cells, such that after a round of cell division each daughter cell has a complete set of 46 chromosomes. Cancer arises as a consequence of uncontrolled cell division resulting in chromosomal instability.

We are also researching Metastasis (the movement of cancer cells to distant parts of the body). This is the primary cause of death in cancer patients. We are interested in understanding the regulation of cell cycle exit and early cell migration. We are also investigating the role of the microenvironment in both cancer and inflammatory diseases such as osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis.

We use experimental approaches to study changes in cellular processes that take place in disease. Ultimately, by understanding the dynamics of these cellular processes, we can provide a platform for intervention in disease. We aim to use these discoveries to develop biomarkers for specific disease states.

Additional details

The Woolley Laboratory

Publications

Wiles, A. K., Mehta, S., Millier, M., Woolley, A. G., Li, K., Parker, K., Kazantseva, M., Wilson, M., Young, K., Bowie, S., Ray, S., Slatter, T. L., Stamp, L. K., Hessian, P. A., & Braithwaite, A. W. (2023). Activated CD90/Thy-1 fibroblasts co-express the Δ133p53β isoform and are associated with highly inflamed rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Research & Therapy, 25, 62. doi: 10.1186/s13075-023-03040-8

Shields, N. J., Peyroux, E. M., Campbell, K., Mehta, S., Woolley, A. G., Counoupas, C., Neumann, S., & Young, S. L. (2022). Calpains released from necrotic tumor cells enhance antigen cross-presentation to activate CD8+ T cells in vitro. Journal of Immunology, 209(9), 1635-1651. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100500

McDougall, L., Kueh, J. T. B., Ward, J., Tyndall, J. D. A., Woolley, A. G., Mehta, S., Stayner, C., Larsen, D. S., & Eccles, M. R. (2021). Chemical synthesis of the PAX protein inhibitor EG1 and its ability to slow the growth of human colorectal carcinoma cells. Frontiers in Oncology, 11, 709540. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.709540

Mehta, S., Algie, M., Al-Jabry, T., McKinney, C., Kannan, S., Verma, C. S., … Parker, K., Henderson, L., Gould, M. L., Bhatia, P., Harfoot, R., … Kleffmann, T., … Woolley, A. G., … Braithwaite, A. (2020). Critical role for cold shock protein YB-1 in cytokinesis. Cancers, 12, 2473. doi: 10.3390/cancers12092473

Mehta, S., McKinney, C., Algie, M., Verma, C. S., Kannan, S., Harfoot, R., … Gould, M. L., Parker, K., … Cunliffe, H. E., … Kleffmann, T., Braithwaite, A. W., & Woolley, A. G. (2020). Dephosphorylation of YB-1 is required for nuclear localisation during G2 phase of the cell cycle. Cancers, 12(2), 315. doi: 10.3390/cancers12020315

Wiles, A. K., Mehta, S., Millier, M., Woolley, A. G., Li, K., Parker, K., Kazantseva, M., Wilson, M., Young, K., Bowie, S., Ray, S., Slatter, T. L., Stamp, L. K., Hessian, P. A., & Braithwaite, A. W. (2023). Activated CD90/Thy-1 fibroblasts co-express the Δ133p53β isoform and are associated with highly inflamed rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Research & Therapy, 25, 62. doi: 10.1186/s13075-023-03040-8

Journal - Research Article

Shields, N. J., Peyroux, E. M., Campbell, K., Mehta, S., Woolley, A. G., Counoupas, C., Neumann, S., & Young, S. L. (2022). Calpains released from necrotic tumor cells enhance antigen cross-presentation to activate CD8+ T cells in vitro. Journal of Immunology, 209(9), 1635-1651. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100500

Journal - Research Article

McDougall, L., Kueh, J. T. B., Ward, J., Tyndall, J. D. A., Woolley, A. G., Mehta, S., Stayner, C., Larsen, D. S., & Eccles, M. R. (2021). Chemical synthesis of the PAX protein inhibitor EG1 and its ability to slow the growth of human colorectal carcinoma cells. Frontiers in Oncology, 11, 709540. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.709540

Journal - Research Article

Mehta, S., Algie, M., Al-Jabry, T., McKinney, C., Kannan, S., Verma, C. S., … Parker, K., Henderson, L., Gould, M. L., Bhatia, P., Harfoot, R., … Kleffmann, T., … Woolley, A. G., … Braithwaite, A. (2020). Critical role for cold shock protein YB-1 in cytokinesis. Cancers, 12, 2473. doi: 10.3390/cancers12092473

Journal - Research Article

Mehta, S., McKinney, C., Algie, M., Verma, C. S., Kannan, S., Harfoot, R., … Gould, M. L., Parker, K., … Cunliffe, H. E., … Kleffmann, T., Braithwaite, A. W., & Woolley, A. G. (2020). Dephosphorylation of YB-1 is required for nuclear localisation during G2 phase of the cell cycle. Cancers, 12(2), 315. doi: 10.3390/cancers12020315

Journal - Research Article

Lasham, A., Mehta, S. Y., Fitzgerald, S. J., Woolley, A. G., Hearn, J. I., Hurley, D. G., Ruza, I., Algie, M., … Braithwaite, A. W., & Print, C. G. (2016). A novel EGR-1 dependent mechanism for YB-1 modulation of paclitaxel response in a triple negative breast cancer cell line. International Journal of Cancer, 139(5), 1157-1170. doi: 10.1002/ijc.30137

Journal - Research Article

Roth, I., Campbell, H., Rubio, C., Vennin, C., Wilson, M., Wiles, A., Williams, G., Woolley, A., … Fleming, N., Baird, M., & Braithwaite, A. W. (2016). The Δ133p53 isoform and its mouse analogue Δ122p53 promote invasion and metastasis involving pro-inflammatory molecules interleukin-6 and CCL2. Oncogene, 35, 4981-4989. doi: 10.1038/onc.2016.45

Journal - Research Article

Fleming, J. S., Ruza, I., Thompson, B. A., Lee, K.-F., & Woolley, A. G. (2015). Effects of BRCA1 knockdown on CYP19a1/aromatase and steroid receptor expression in ovarian and tubal cells. Journal of Molecular & Genetic Medicine, 9(4), 185. doi: 10.4172/1747-0862.1000185

Journal - Research Article

Awasthi, A., Woolley, A. G., Lecomte, F. J., Hung, N., Baguley, B. C., Wilbanks, S. M., Jeffs, A. R., & Tyndall, J. D. A. (2013). Variable expression of GLIPR1 correlates with invasive potential in melanoma cells. Frontiers in Oncology, 3, 225. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2013.00225

Journal - Research Article

Lasham, A., Print, C. G., Woolley, A. G., Dunn, S. E., & Braithwaite, A. W. (2013). YB-1: Oncoprotein, prognostic marker and therapeutic target? Biochemical Journal, 449, 11-23. doi: 10.1042/bj20121323

Journal - Research Article

Lasham, A., Samuel, W., Cao, H., Patel, R., Mehta, R., Stern, J. L., … Woolley, A. G., … Black, M. A., Shelling, A. N., Print, C. G., & Braithwaite, A. W. (2012). YB-1, the E2F Pathway, and regulation of tumor cell growth. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 104(2), 133-146. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djr512

Journal - Research Article

Woolley, A. G., Algie, M., Samuel, W., Harfoot, R., Wiles, A., Hung, N. A., … Royds, J. A., Perez, D., Yoon, H.-S., … Braithwaite, A. W. (2011). Prognostic association of YB-1 expression in breast cancers: A matter of antibody. PLoS ONE, 6(6), e20603. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0020603

Journal - Research Article

Cohen, S. B., Ma, W., Valova, V. A., Algie, M., Harfoot, R., Woolley, A. G., … Braithwaite, A. W. (2010). Genotoxic stress-induced nuclear localization of oncoprotein YB-1 in the absence of proteolytic processing. Oncogene, 29, 403-410. doi: 10.1038/onc.2009.321

Journal - Research Article

Sheard, P. W., Bewick, G. S., Woolley, A. G., Shaw, J., Fisher, L., Fong, S. W., & Duxson, M. J. (2010). Investigation of neuromuscular abnormalities in neurotrophin-3-deficient mice. European Journal of Neuroscience, 31(1), 29-41. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2009.07032.x

Journal - Research Article

Jeffs, A. R., Glover, A. C., Slobbe, L. J., Wang, L., He, S., Hazlett, J. A., Awasthi, A., Woolley, A. G., … Print, C. G., … Eccles, M. R. (2009). A gene expression signature of invasive potential in metastatic melanoma cells. PLoS ONE, 4(12), e8461. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0008461

Journal - Research Article

Woolley, A. G., Tait, K. J., Hurren, B. J., Fisher, L., Sheard, P. W., & Duxson, M. J. (2008). Developmental loss of NT-3 in vivo results in reduced levels of myelin-specific proteins, a reduced extent of myelination and increased apoptosis of Schwann cells. GLIA, 56(3), 306-317. doi: 10.1002/glia.20614

Journal - Research Article

Woolley, A. G., Sheard, P. W., & Duxson, M. J. (2005). Neurotrophin-3 null mutant mice display a postnatal motor neuropathy. European Journal of Neuroscience, 21, 2100-2110.

Journal - Research Article

Woolley, A., Sheard, P. W., Dodds, K. G., & Duxson, M. J. (1999). Alpha motoneurons are present in normal numbers but with reduced soma size in neurotrophin-3 knockout mice. Neuroscience Letters, 272, 107-110.

Journal - Research Article

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