Professor John Rasko AO

Professor
Medicine, Central Clinical School
Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine & Cell Biology

D06 - Blackburn Building
The University of Sydney
NSW 2006 Australia

T: +61 2 9565 6100
F: +61 2 9565 6101
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W: Related website

Biographical details

BSc(Med), MBBS(Hons), PhD, FRCPA, FRACP Director, Cell and Molecular Therapies, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Head, Gene & Stem Cell Therapy, Centenary Institute Professor, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney

Research interests


Professor Rasko is an Australian pioneer in the application of adult stem cells and genetic therapy. He directs the Department of Cell and Molecular Therapies at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and heads the Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program at the Centenary Institute, University of Sydney.


John Rasko is a clinical hematologist, pathologist and scientist with a productive track record in gene and stem cell therapy, experimental haematology and molecular biology. In over 140 publications he has made major contributions to the understanding of stem cells and haemopoiesis, gene transfer technologies, oncogenesis, human aminoacidurias and non-coding RNAs.


He serves on Hospital, state and national bodies including Chair of GTTAC, Office of the Gene Technology Regulator – responsible for regulating all genetically-modified organisms in Australia - and Chair of the Advisory Committee on Biologicals, Therapeutic Goods Administration. Contributions to scientific organisations include co-founding (2000) and past-President (2003-5) of the Australasian Gene Therapy Society; Vice President, International Society for Cellular Therapy (2008-12) and founder (2009) ISCT-Australia; Scientific Advisory Committees and Board member for philanthropic foundations; and several Ethics Committees. He is the recipient of national and international awards in recognition of his commitment to excellence in medical research, including appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia.

Teaching areas

John Rasko supervises five doctoral students and has supervised well over a dozen successful postgraduate students, some of whom now head their own laboratories. He delivers regular lectures in the Faculties of Science and Medicine as well as a popular introductory lecture in Haematology for the Central Clinical School. He mentors postdoctoral researchers for career development, and Haematology trainees for the RACP/RCPA. He is a widely-sought speaker for seminars and the media in bringing research to a broader audience.

Current national competitive grants*

2012

Development of a treatment algorithm for kinase inhibitor therapy in CML
Rasko J
University of Adelaide Shared Research Support ($220,365 over 3 years)

Designer DNA-binding proteins targeting methylated DNA for research and therapeutic purposes
Mackay J, Segal D, Rasko J
NHMRC Project Grants ($563,675 over 3 years)

* Grants administered through the University of Sydney

Keywords

Cell biology; Haematological malignancy; Medical history; Haematology; Genetic diseases

Publications

2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007

2013

   
  • Larkin, T., Pages, G., Chapman, B., Rasko, J., Kuchel, P. (2013), NMR q-space analysis of canonical shapes of human erythrocytes: stomatocytes, discocytes, spherocytes and echinocytes. European Biophysics Journal. 42(1), 3-16. [Abstract]

2012

   
  • Ritchie, W., Gao, D., Rasko, J. (2012), Defining and providing robust controls for microRNA prediction. Bioinformatics. 28(8), 1058-1061. [Abstract]
  • Ritchie, W., Rasko, J. (2012), Integrated miRNA expression analysis and target prediction. In: Methods in Molecular Biology: Next-Generation MicroRNA Expression Profiling Technology Methods and Protocols. (pp.289-293).United States: Springer.

2011

   
  • Balamatsias, D., Kong, A., Waters, J., Sriratana, A., Gurung, R., Bailey, C., Rasko, J., Tiganis, T., Macaulay, S., Mitchell, C. (2011), Identification of P-Rex1 as a novel Rac1-guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) that promotes actin remodeling and GLUT4 protein trafficking in adipocytes. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 286(50), 43229-43240. [Abstract]
  • Wang, Q., Bailey, C., Ng, C., Tiffen, J., Thoeng, A., Minhas, V., Lehman, M., Hendy, S., Buchanan, G., Nelson, C., Rasko, J., Holst, J. (2011), Androgen receptor and nutrient signaling pathways coordinate the demand for increased amino acid transport during prostate cancer progression. Cancer research. 71(24), 7525-36. [Abstract]
  • Power, C., Rasko, J. (2011), Promises and challenges of stem cell research for regenerative medicine. Annals of Internal Medicine. 155(10), 706-713. [Abstract]
  • To, L., Levesque, J., Herbert, K., Winkler, I., Bendall, L., Hiwase, D., Antonenas, V., Rice, A., Gottlieb, D., Mills, A., Rasko, J., Larsen, S., Beligaswatte, A., Nilsson, S., Cooney, J., Cambareri, A., Lewis, I. (2011), Mobilisation strategies for normal and malignant cells. Pathology. 43(6), 547-565. [Abstract]
  • Both, G., Alexander, I., Fletcher, S., Nicolson, T., Rasko, J., Wilton, S., Symonds, G. (2011), Gene therapy: therapeutic applications and relevance to pathology. Pathology. 43(6), 642-56. [Abstract]
  • Rasko, J. (2011), Future Path: frontiers of molecular and cellular pathology. Pathology. 43(6), 523-524. [Abstract]
  • Macpherson, J., Rasko, J. (2011), Cellular therapy in the Asia-Pacific region. A guide for the future pathologist. Pathology. 43(6), 616-26. [Abstract]
  • Herbert, K., Levesque, J., Mills, A., Gottlieb, D., Cooney, J., Szer, J., Rasko, J., To, L. (2011), How we mobilize haemopoietic stem cells. Internal Medicine Journal. 41(8), 588-594. [Abstract]
  • Bröer, A., Juelich, T., Vanslambrouck, J., Tietze, N., Solomon, P., Holst, J., Bailey, C., Rasko, J., Bröer, S. (2011), Impaired Nutrient Signaling and Body Weight Control in a Na+ Neutral Amino Acid Cotransporter (Slc6a19)-deficient Mouse. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 286(30), 26638-26651. [Abstract]
  • Power, C., Rasko, J. (2011), Will cell reprogramming resolve the embryonic stem cell controversy? A narrative review. Annals of Internal Medicine. 155(2), 114-121. [Abstract]
  • Bailey, C., Ryan, R., Thoeng, A., Ng, C., King, K., Vanslambrouck, J., Auray-Blais, C., Vandenberg, R., Bröer, S., Rasko, J. (2011), Loss-of-function mutations in the glutamate transporter SLC1A1 cause human dicarboxylic aminoaciduria. The Journal of clinical investigation. 121(1), 446-53. [Abstract]
  • Choi, P., Rasko, J. (2011), The challenge of investigating thrombocytopenia. Medicine Today. 12(2), 26-35.

2010

   
  • Sen, S., Merchan, J., Dean, J., Ii, M., Gavin, M., Silver, M., Tkebuchava, T., Yoon, Y., Rasko, J., Aikawa, R. (2010), Autologous transplantation of endothelial progenitor cells genetically modified by adeno-associated viral vector delivering insulin-like growth factor-1 gene after myocardial infarction. Human gene therapy. 21(10), 1327-1334. [Abstract]
  • Einecke, G., Kayser, D., Vanslambrouck, J., Sis, B., Reeve, J., Mengel, M., Famulski, K., Bailey, C., Rasko, J., Halloran, P. (2010), Loss of solute carriers in T cell-mediated rejection in mouse and human kidneys: an active epithelial injury-repair response. American Journal of Transplantation. 10(10), 2241-2251. [Abstract]
  • Holst, J., Watson, S., Lord, M., Eamegdool, S., Bax, D., Nivison-Smith, L., Kondyurin, A., Ma, L., Oberhauser, A., Weiss, A., Rasko, J. (2010), Substrate elasticity provides mechanical signals for the expansion of hemopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Nature biotechnology. 28(10), 1123-8. [Abstract]
  • Tang, C., Russell, P., Martiniello-Wilks, R., Rasko, J., Khatri, A. (2010), Nanoparticles and Cellular Carriers - Allies in Cancer Imaging and Cellular Gene Therapy?. Stem cells (Dayton, Ohio). 28(9), 1686-702. [Abstract]
  • Taft, R., Simons, C., Nahkuri, S., Oey, H., Korbie, D., Mercer, T., Holst, J., Ritchie, W., Wong, J., Rasko, J., Rokhsar, D., Degnan, B., Mattick, J. (2010), Nuclear-localized tiny RNAs are associated with transcription initiation and splice sites in metazoans. Nature structural & molecular biology. 17(8), 1030-4. [Abstract]
  • Flamant, S., Ritchie, W., Guilhot, J., Holst, J., Bonnet, M., Chomel, J., Guilhot, F., Turhan, A., Rasko, J. (2010), Micro-RNA response to imatinib mesylate in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. Haematologica. 95(8), 1325-33. [Abstract]
  • Vanslambrouck, J., Bröer, A., Thavyogarajah, T., Holst, J., Bailey, C., Bröer, S., Rasko, J. (2010), Renal imino acid and glycine transport system ontogeny and involvement in developmental iminoglycinuria. The Biochemical journal. 428(3), 397-407. [Abstract]
  • Rasko, J. (2010), A gene therapy renaissance?. Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology. 25(5), 848-850. [Abstract]
  • Ritchie, W., Flamant, S., Rasko, J. (2010), mimiRNA: a microRNA expression profiler and classification resource designed to identify functional correlations between microRNAs and their targets. Bioinformatics (Oxford, England). 26(2), 223-7. [Abstract]
  • Tiffen, J., Bailey, C., Ng, C., Rasko, J., Holst, J. (2010), Luciferase expression and bioluminescence does not affect tumor cell growth in vitro or in vivo. Molecular Cancer. 9, 299. [Abstract]
  • Gunter, K., Caplan, A., Mason, C., Salzman, R., Janssen, W., Nichols, K., Bouzas, L., Lanza, F., Levine, B., Rasko, J., Shimosaka, A., Horwitz, E. (2010), Cell therapy medical tourism: Time for action. Cytotherapy. 12(8), 965-968. [Abstract]
  • Khalafallah, A., Dennis, A., Bates, J., Bates, G., Robertson, I., Smith, L., Ball, M., Seaton, D., Brain, T., Rasko, J. (2010), A prospective randomized, controlled trial of intravenous versus oral iron for moderate iron deficiency anaemia of pregnancy. Journal of Internal Medicine. 268(3), 286-295. [Abstract]

2009

   
  • Ritchie, W., Rajasekhar, M., Flamant, S., Rasko, J. (2009), Conserved expression patterns predict microRNA targets. PLoS Computational Biology. 5(9), e1000513. [Abstract]
  • Ritchie, W., Flamant, S., Rasko, J. (2009), Predicting microRNA targets and functions: traps for the unwary. Nature Methods. 6(6), 397-398. [Abstract]
  • Viiala, N., Larsen, S., Rasko, J. (2009), Gene therapy for hemophilia: clinical trials and technical tribulations. Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis. 35(1), 81-92. [Abstract]

2008

   
  • Bröer, S., Bailey, C., Kowalczuk, S., Ng, C., Vanslambrouck, J., Rodgers, H., Auray-Blais, C., Cavanaugh, J., Bröer, A., Rasko, J. (2008), Iminoglycinuria and hyperglycinuria are discrete human phenotypes resulting from complex mutations in proline and glycine transporters. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 0(0), 0. [Abstract]
  • Larsen, S., Chng, K., Battah, F., Martiniello-Wilks, R., Rasko, J. (2008), Improved G-Csf Mobilization of Hemopoietic Progenitors Using Cytokine Combinations in Primates. Stem cells (Dayton, Ohio). 26(0), 2974-80. [Abstract]
  • Power, C., Rasko, J. (2008), Whither prometheus' liver? Greek myth and the science of regeneration. Annals of Internal Medicine. 149(6), 421-426. [Abstract]
  • Ritchie, W., Flamant, S., Rasko, J., Marcucci, G., Radmacher, M., Bloomfield, C. (2008), MicroRNA in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. The New England Journal of Medicine. , 653-654. [Abstract]
  • Kowalczuk, S., Bröer, A., Tietze, N., Vanslambrouck, J., Rasko, J., Bröer, S. (2008), A protein complex in the brush-border membrane explains a Hartnup disorder allele. FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 22(8), 2880-7. [Abstract]
  • Baoutina, A., Alexander, I., Rasko, J., Emslie, K. (2008), Developing strategies for detection of gene doping. The journal of gene medicine. 10(1), 3-20. [Abstract]
  • Azmanov, D., Kowalczuk, S., Rodgers, H., Auray-Blais, C., Gigurere, R., Rasko, J., Broer, S., Cavanaugh, J. (2008), Further Evidence for Allellic Heterogeneity in Hartnup Disorder. Human Mutation. 29(10), 1217-1221. [Abstract]

2007

   
  • Horan, K., Watanabe, K., Kong, A., Bailey, C., Rasko, J., Sasaki, T., Mitchell, C. (2007), Regulation of FcgammaR-stimulated phagocytosis by the 72-kDa inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase: SHIP1, but not the 72-kDa 5-phosphatase, regulates complement receptor 3 mediated phagocytosis by differential recruitment of these 5-phosphatases to the phagocytic cup. Blood. 110(13), 4480-4491. [Abstract]
  • Azmanov, D., Rodgers, H., Auray-Blais, C., Giguère, R., Bailey, C., Bröer, S., Rasko, J., Cavanaugh, J. (2007), Persistence of the common Hartnup disease D173N allele in populations of European origin. Annals of human genetics. 71(6), 755-761. [Abstract]
  • Baoutina, A., Alexander, I., Rasko, J., Emslie, K. (2007), Potential Use of Gene Transfer in Athletic Performance Enhancement. Molecular therapy : the journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy. 15(10), 1751-66. [Abstract]
  • Iyengar, L., Wang, Q., Rasko, J., McAvoy, J., Lovicu, F. (2007), Duration of ERK1/2 phosphorylation induced by FGF or ocular media determines lens cell fate. Differentiation; Research in Biological Diversity. 75(7), 662-668. [Abstract]
  • Hayward, M., Pötgens, A., Drewlo, S., Kaufmann, P., Rasko, J. (2007), Distribution of human endogenous retrovirus type W receptor in normal human villous placenta. Pathology. 39(4), 406-412. [Abstract]
  • Mingozzi, F., Maus, M., Hui, D., Sabatino, D., Murphy, S., Rasko, J., Ragni, M., Manno, C., Sommer, J., Jiang, H., Pierce, G., Ertl, H., High, K. (2007), CD8(+) T-cell responses to adeno-associated virus capsid in humans. Nature medicine. 13(4), 419-422. [Abstract]
  • Kovacic, J., Macdonald, P., Freund, J., Rasko, J., Allan, R., Fernandes, V., Ma, D., Moore, J., Graham, R. (2007), Profound thrombocytopenia related to G-CSF. American journal of hematology. 82, 229-30. [Abstract]
  • Bailey, C., Rasko, J. (2007), Autofluorescent proteins for flow cytometry. Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.). 411, 99-110. [Abstract]
  • Holst, J., Rasko, J. (2007), The Use of Retroviral Vectors for Gene Transfer into Hematopoietic Stem Cells. Methods in Enzymology. 420, 82-100.
  • Chng, K., Larsen, S., Zhou, S., Wright, J., Martiniello-Wilks, R., Rasko, J. (2007), Specific adeno-associated virus serotypes facilitate efficient gene transfer into human and non-human primate mesenchymal stromal cells. The journal of gene medicine. 9, 22-32. [Abstract]
  • Lévesque, J., Winkler, I., Larsen, S., Rasko, J. (2007), Mobilization of bone marrow-derived progenitors. Handbook of experimental pharmacology. 180(0), 3-36. [Abstract]
  • Martiniello-Wilks, R., Rasko, J. (2007), Cell and gene therapy in Australia. Cytotherapy. 9(3), 209-221. [Abstract]