It's all about sugars (and platelets!)

Cartoon by Pearl Lei

LET'S TALK PLATELETS

The smallest blood cells crucial for bleeding cessation

WHO AM I?

I am a senior cell biologist and my research passion is the smallest blood cells, the platelets, which I've been studying for almost 13 years! Platelets are crucial for cessation of bleeding, however have many unexpected roles in cancer, cardiovascular and many other diseases.

I currently work as researcher at the ANZAC Research Institute in Sydney, Australia where I have been working with the cells that make up the blood vessels, the endothelial cells for 1,5 years. However, it's still all about platelets! Over time, science communication became one of my passions, hence this website.

For almost 8 years I was a senior leader in Industry, working at the R&D within Australian Red Cross Lifeblood (national blood bank). I studied all factors influencing platelet quality during storage for real-world bleeding patients. During my career, I always tried to link fundamental science with a translational angle. My Ph.D. changed the way platelets are stored in blood banks.

My best achievement so far is the discovery of novel diagnostic and treatment tools for bleeding disorder Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). ITP patients have very low platelet numbers due to antibody mediated platelet destruction in the spleen. These patients are prone to life-treatening bleeding; 20% don't respond to current treatments that target the spleen. I found that antibodies against GPIb (main adhesion receptor on platelets) induced removal of the carbohydrate (glycan) sialic acid on the platelet surface, leading to clearance of platelets by the liver, instead of the spleen. This research has led to novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches including repurposing of Tamiflu. The global impact of this work triggered many follow up projects (US, Europe and Australia) and clinical trials. This work has been published in Nature Communications.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

I am a biomedical platelet biologist with a breadth of technical skills over >20 years. I am specialising in carbohydrates (glycans), membrane receptors, extracellular vesicles, cell clearance mechanisms, cell death and Transfusion medicine. I demonstrated novel platelet clearance mechanisms (removal of sialic acid) leading to development of diagnostic tools and treatments for patients suffering from bleeding disorder Immune thrombocytopenia.

I am passionate about science communication for early career researchers and the public (thrombosis awareness), educating complex biological systems.

My strengths are complex project management in new environments, developing out-of-the-box translational research ideas and bridging research disciplines. I have moved overseas 4 times, worked in a non-academic role, and have received external research funding and international awards within each role.

Bringing various stakeholders together, is demonstrated by my various leadership positions within the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) and the (inter)national research collaborations I set up.

I am passionate about facilitating ECR and staff to reach their full potential and seeing them grow over time, demonstrated by 1st Class Honours, Dean’s Merit list for Academic Excellence, authorships on publications and travel award.