People_
Professor Geraldine O'Neill
Professor
Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health
Children's Hospital, Westmead
Faculty of Medicine and Health
Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health
Children's Hospital, Westmead
Faculty of Medicine and Health
Websites
Geraldine O'Neill is Head of the Children's Cancer Research Unit (CCRU) and Conjoint Professor with the University of Sydney. The CCRU is the research-dedicated arm of the Cancer Centre for Children at the Children's Hospital at Westmead. The Unit's research programs are closely aligned with clinical activities and span from fundamental basic cancer cell biology to clinical trials with in-house developed gene therapy vectors. Prof O'Neill has a strong interest in translating research into new clinical therapies. She has attracted over $9 million in peer-reviewed project grant and a further >$5M in equipment funding from national (NHMRC), specialist (Cancer Council and Cancer Institute NSW) and local agencies, contributed highly cited research publications and formed international and national collaborations. Regard for her research is reflected by invited speaker presentations at international and national conferences and institutes and leadership roles in major national conferences including symposia chair and stream coordinator. She is Deputy Director of the Kids Cancer Alliance NSW, Research Advisory Committee member of the Children’s Hospital Foundation – Children’s Health Queensland (2018 - ),Scientific Advisory Committee member of the Cooperative Trials Group for Neuro-oncology and Member, the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee of the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator by ministerial appointment. She is frequently member of grant review panels for major funding bodies including NHMRC and the National Breast Cancer Foundation. In her role as Head of the CCRU she aims to use science to make kids' cancer a disease of the past.
Professor Geraldine O’Neill is an internationally recognized cancer cell biologist.Her body of research has helped elucidate the impact of cancer cell interactions with the external tissue environment. She has a special interest in developing improved pre-clinical models for brain cancer and draws from the latest advances in tissue engineering, cell biology and biophysics to find answers for improved treatments for brain cancer.
Project Grants/Funding (last 5 years)
- Johns, Boyd, McDonald, O'Neill, Rose and Gottardo, Cure for Life Foundation (CLF),Brain Cancer Discovery Collaborative (BCDC), 2013, $1M
- Gaus and O’Neill, ARC Discovery Project, Nano-scale organisation of cellular adhesions, 2013-2015, $455K
- O'Neill and Fabry, NSW Cancer Council Project Grant, A sting in the tail: Focal Adhesion Targetting and Mechanotransduction, 2012-2014, $325K
- O’Neill, University of Sydney Bridging Grant, Investigating Cancer Cell Invasion, 2011, $50K
- O’Neill, NHMRC Project grant, The cell biology of glioblastoma infiltration, 2010-2012, $508K
- O’Neill and Golemis, NSW Cancer Council Project Grant,The signalling switch function of the pro-metastatic, adhesion adaptor protein HEF1, 2009-2011, $350K
- O’Neill and Gunning, NHMRC Project Grant, Understanding focal adhesion dynamics in cell migration, 2008-2011, $267K
Funding to FAB team members (last 5 years)
- Lees, Cure Cancer Australia Foundation & Cancer Australia (Co-funding) Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme, Inhibition of glioblastoma invasion by novel Dynamin ring stabilisers, 2012, $90K
- Bach, The Kids Cancer Project C4 Fellowship, Cytoskeletal regulation of adhesion dynamics in metatastic neuroblastoma, $100K p.a. (2011 - present)
- Lees, Ramaciotti Establishment Grant, The regulation of cancer cell migration within solid tissue, 2010, $75K
- Zhong, NSW Cancer Institute Research Scholar Award, 2010-2012
- Bach, NSW Cancer Institute Research Scholar Award, 2010-2011
HDR SUPERVISION
Within her research team Geraldine aims to stimulate self-motivation, commitment, collaboration and engagement. Comments from team members that she generates an “air of expectation” confirm that she challenges team members to strive to achieve their best. Her students frequently receive awards for their research reflecting the stimulating research environment and exciting projects undertaken by the team members.
UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING
In late 2017 Geraldine was appointed Unit of Study Coordinator for AMED3001 Cancer (2017-2020). This exciting new course is taught at the Westmead campus, taking advantage of the wealth of local cancer experts based at Westmead and exposing students to the latest developments in cancer ranging from the psycho-social aspects of a cancer diagnosis all the way through to the underpinning cellular mechanisms. The course is run using a flipped class-room model and applies the latest in teaching theory to deliver an engaging course to stimulate life-long learning.
- mini-brains (cortical organoids) for brain cancer research
- new therapies for inhibition of brain cancer invasion
- a novel reporter of cell mechanics sensing
- exploiting cell mechanics for new insights into brain cancer therapy and response
Major awards received during her research career include an NHMRC Howard Florey Centenary Research Fellowship (2001 - 2002), NSW Cancer Council Career Development Fellowship (2003 - 2008) and AIPS Young Tall Poppy Award (2006).
Cancer
| Project title | Research student |
|---|---|
| Trafficking of Tumour Associated Antigens in Brain Cancer and Implications for Therapy | Teah GOODHAND |
Publications
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Journals
- Sarker, F., Chen, Y., Westhaus, A., Lisowski, L., O'Neill, G. (2024). Identifying adeno‐associated virus (AAV) vectors that efficiently target high grade glioma cells, for in vitro monitoring of temporal cell responses. FEBS Open Bio, , 1-12. [More Information]
- Prior, V., Maksour, S., Miellet, S., Hulme, A., Chen, Y., Mirzaei, M., Wu, Y., Dottori, M., O'Neill, G. (2024). Parsing the effect of co-culture with brain organoids on Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) using quantitative proteomics. International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, 174, 106617-106617. [More Information]
- Böhringer, D., Budday, S., Strissel, P., Strick, R., Malandrino, A., Gerum, R., Mak, M., Rausch, M., Fabry, B., Bauer, A., Grundy, T., O'Neill, G., et al (2023). Fiber alignment in 3D collagen networks as a biophysical marker for cell contractility. Matrix Biology, 124, 39-48. [More Information]
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2024
- Sarker, F., Chen, Y., Westhaus, A., Lisowski, L., O'Neill, G. (2024). Identifying adeno‐associated virus (AAV) vectors that efficiently target high grade glioma cells, for in vitro monitoring of temporal cell responses. FEBS Open Bio, , 1-12. [More Information]
- Prior, V., Maksour, S., Miellet, S., Hulme, A., Chen, Y., Mirzaei, M., Wu, Y., Dottori, M., O'Neill, G. (2024). Parsing the effect of co-culture with brain organoids on Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) using quantitative proteomics. International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, 174, 106617-106617. [More Information]
2023
- Böhringer, D., Budday, S., Strissel, P., Strick, R., Malandrino, A., Gerum, R., Mak, M., Rausch, M., Fabry, B., Bauer, A., Grundy, T., O'Neill, G., et al (2023). Fiber alignment in 3D collagen networks as a biophysical marker for cell contractility. Matrix Biology, 124, 39-48. [More Information]
- Grebstad Tune, B., Sareen, H., Powter, B., Kahana-Edwin, S., Cooper, A., Koh, E., Lee, C., Po, J., McCowage, G., Dexter, M., Karpelowsky, J., et al (2023). From Pediatric to Adult Brain Cancer: Exploring Histone H3 Mutations in Australian Brain Cancer Patients. Biomedicines, 11(11). [More Information]
2022
- Grundy, T., Orcheston-Findlay, L., de Silva, E., Jegathees, T., Prior, V., Sarker, F., O'Neill, G. (2022). Mechanosensitive expression of the mesenchymal subtype marker connective tissue growth factor in glioblastoma. Scientific Reports, 12(1). [More Information]
2021
- Orcheston-Findlay, L., Bax, S., Utama, R., Engel, M., Govender, D., O'Neill, G. (2021). Advanced spheroid, tumouroid and 3d bioprinted in-vitro models of adult and paediatric glioblastoma. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(6), 1-19. [More Information]
- Al-Zubaidi, Y., Chen, Y., Rahman, M., Umashankar, B., Choucair, H., Bourget, K., Chung, L., Qi, J., Witting, P., Anderson, R., O'Neill, G., Dunstan, C., Murray, M., et al (2021). PTU, a novel ureido-fatty acid, inhibits MDA-MB-231 cell invasion and dissemination by modulating Wnt5a secretion and cytoskeletal signaling. Biochemical Pharmacology, 192, 114726. [More Information]
- Bradbury, P., Nader, C., Sylvester, D., Rutting, S., Cidem, A., He, P., Rezcallah, M., O'Neill, G., Ammit, A. (2021). Tropomyosin 2.1 collaborates with fibronectin to promote TGF-β1-induced contraction of human lung fibroblasts. Respiratory Research, 22(1), 129. [More Information]
2020
- Mark, C., Grundy, T., Strissel, P., Böhringer, D., Grummel, N., Gerum, R., Steinwachs, J., Hack, C., Beckmann, M., Eckstein, M., O'Neill, G., et al (2020). Collective forces of tumor spheroids in three-dimensional biopolymer networks. eLife, 9, 1-22. [More Information]
- Niño, J., Pageon, S., Tay, S., Colakoglu, F., Kempe, D., Hywood, J., Mazalo, J., Cremasco, J., Govendir, M., Dagley, L., Prior, V., O'Neill, G., Read, M., et al (2020). Cytotoxic T cells swarm by homotypic chemokine signalling. eLife, 9, 1-40. [More Information]
- Sarker, F., Prior, V., Bax, S., O'Neill, G. (2020). Forcing a growth factor response - tissue-stiffness modulation of integrin signaling and crosstalk with growth factor receptors. Journal of Cell Science, 133(23), jcs242461. [More Information]
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2019
- Han, P., Frith, J., Gomez, G., Yap, A., O'Neill, G., Cooper-White, J. (2019). Five Piconewtons: The Difference between Osteogenic and Adipogenic Fate Choice in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells. ACS Nano, 13(10), 11129-11143. [More Information]
- Mitchell, C., Black, B., Sun, F., Chrzanowski, W., Cooper-White, J., Maisonneuve, B., Stringer, B., Day, B., Biro, M., O'Neill, G. (2019). Tropomyosin Tpm 21 loss induces glioblastoma spreading in soft brain-like environments. Journal of Neuro-Oncology, 141(2), 303-313. [More Information]
2018
- Mitchell, C., Stehn, J., O'Neill, G. (2018). Small molecule targeting of the actin associating protein tropomyosin Tpm3.1 increases neuroblastoma cell response to inhibition of Rac-mediated multicellular invasion. Cytoskeleton, 75(7), 307-317. [More Information]
2017
- Greenall, S., Lim, Y., Mitchell, C., Ensbey, K., Stringer, B., Wilding, A., O'Neill, G., McDonald, K., Gough, D., Day, B., et al (2017). Cyclin-dependent kinase 7 is a therapeutic target in high-grade glioma. Oncogenesis, 6(5), 1-13. [More Information]
- Mitchell, C., O'Neill, G. (2017). Rac GTPase regulation of 3D invasion in neuroblastomas lacking MYCN amplification. Cell Adhesion and Migration, 11(1), 68-79. [More Information]
2016
- Mitchell, C., O'Neill, G. (2016). Cooperative cell invasion: Matrix metalloproteinase-mediated incorporation between cells. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 27(21), 3284-3292. [More Information]
- Grundy, T., De Leone, E., Griffin, K., Stringer, B., Day, B., Fabry, B., Cooper-White, J., O'Neill, G. (2016). Differential response of patient-derived primary glioblastoma cells to environmental stiffness. Scientific Reports, 6, 1-10. [More Information]
2015
- Lees, J., Gorgani, N., Ammit, A., McCluskey, A., Robinson, P., O'Neill, G. (2015). Role of dynamin in elongated cell migration in a 3D matrix. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1853 (3), 611-618. [More Information]
- Cheung, B., Tan, O., Koach, J., Liu, B., Shum, M., Carter, D., Sutton, S., Po’uha, S., Chester, L., Haber, M., O'Neill, G., et al (2015). Thymosin-β4 is a determinant of drug sensitivity for Fenretinide and Vorinostat combination therapy in neuroblastoma. Molecular Oncology, 9(7), 1484-1500. [More Information]
2014
- Tabarin, T., Pageon, S., Bach, C., Lu, Y., O'Neill, G., Gooding, J., Gaus, K. (2014). Insights into Adhesion Biology Using Single-Molecule Localization Microscopy. ChemPhysChem, 15(4), 606-618. [More Information]
- Zhong, J., Bach, C., Shum, M., O'Neill, G. (2014). NEDD9 Regulates 3D Migratory Activity Independent of the Rac1 Morphology Switch in Glioma and Neuroblastoma. Molecular Cancer Research, 12(2), 264-273. [More Information]
- Bradbury, P., Bach, C., Paul, A., O'Neill, G. (2014). Src Kinase Determines the Dynamic Exchange of the Docking Protein Neural precursor cell Expressed Developmentally Down-regulated gene 9 (NEDD9) at Focal Adhesions. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 289(36), 24792-24800. [More Information]
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2013
- Lees, J., Ching, Y., Adams, D., Bach, C., Samuels, M., Kee, A., Hardeman, E., Gunning, P., Cowin, A., O'Neill, G. (2013). Tropomyosin regulates cell migration during skin wound healing. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 133(5), 1330-1339. [More Information]
- Baquiran, J., Bradbury, P., O'Neill, G. (2013). Tyrosine Y189 in the Substrate Domain of the Adhesion Docking Protein NEDD9 Is Conserved with p130Cas Y253 and Regulates NEDD9-Mediated Migration and Focal Adhesion Dynamics. PloS One, 8(7), 1-10. [More Information]
2012
- Zhong, J., Baquiran, J., Bonakdar, N., Lees, J., Ching, Y., Pugacheva, E., Fabry, B., O'Neill, G. (2012). NEDD9 stabilizes focal adhesions, increases binding to the extra-cellular matrix and differentially effects 2D versus 3D cell migration. PloS One, 7(4), 1-10. [More Information]
- Bradbury, P., Fabry, B., O'Neill, G. (2012). Occupy tissue: The movement in cancer metastasis. Cell Adhesion and Migration, 6(5), 424-432. [More Information]
- Bradbury, P., Mahmassani, M., Zhong, J., Turner, K., Paul, A., Verrills, N., O'Neill, G. (2012). PP2A phosphatase suppresses function of the mesenchymal invasion regulator NEDD9. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids, 1823 (2), 290-297. [More Information]
2011
- Cowell, L., Zhong, J., Bradbury, P., Mahmassani, M., Smith, J., Ammit, A., O'Neill, G. (2011). Estradiol stabilizes the 105kD phospho-form of the adhesion docking protein NEDD9 and suppresses NEDD9-dependent cell spreading in breast cancer cells. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1813 (2), 340-345. [More Information]
- Lees, J., Bach, C., O'Neill, G. (2011). Interior decoration: Tropomyosin in actin dynamics and cell migration. Cell Adhesion and Migration, 5(2), 181-186. [More Information]
- Kopecki, Z., O'Neill, G., Arkell, R., Cowin, A. (2011). Regulation of focal adhesions by flightless i involves inhibition of paxillin phosphorylation via a Rac1-dependent pathway. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 131(7), 1450-1459. [More Information]
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2010
- Zhong, J., Paul, A., Kellie, S., O'Neill, G. (2010). Mesenchymal Migration as a Therapeutic Target in Glioblastoma. Journal of Oncology, 2010 (430142), 430142-1-430142-17. [More Information]
- Lees, J., Bach, C., Bradbury, P., Paul, A., Gunning, P., O'Neill, G. (2010). The actin-associating protein Tm5NM1 blocks mesenchymal motility without transition to amoeboid motility. Oncogene, 30(10), 1241-1251. [More Information]
- Bach, C., Schevzov, G., Bryce, N., Gunning, P., O'Neill, G. (2010). Tropomyosin isoform modulation of focal adhesion structure and cell migration. Cell Adhesion and Migration, 4(2), 226-234. [More Information]
2009
- Garron, M., Arsenieva, D., Zhong, J., Bloom, A., Lerner, A., O'Neill, G., Arold, S. (2009). Structural insights into the association between BCAR3 and Cas family members, an atypical complex implicated in anti-oestrogen resistance. Journal of Molecular Biology, 386(1), 190-203. [More Information]
- O'Neill, G. (2009). The coordination between actin filaments and adhesion in mesenchymal migration. Cell adhesion & migration, 3(4), 355-7. [More Information]
- Bach, C., Creed, S., Zhong, J., Mahmassani, M., Schevzov, G., Stehn, J., Cowell, L., Naumanen, P., Lappalainen, P., Gunning, P., O'Neill, G. (2009). Tropomyosin isoform expression regulates the transition of adhesions to determine cell speed and direction. Molecular and Cellular Biology, 29(6), 1506-1514. [More Information]
2008
- Schevzov, G., Fath, T., Vrhoski, B., Vlahovich, N., Rajan, S., Hook, J., Joya, J., Lemckert, F., Puttur, F., Lin, J., Hardeman, E., O'Neill, G., Gunning, P., et al (2008). Divergent regulation of the sarcomere and the cytoskeleton. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 283(1), 275-283. [More Information]
- Schevzov, G., O'Neill, G. (2008). Tropomyosin gene expression in vivo and in vitro. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 644, 45-59. [More Information]
- Gunning, P., O'Neill, G., Hardeman, E. (2008). Tropomyosin-Based Regulation of the Actin Cytoskeleton in Time and Space. Physiological Reviews, 88(1), 1-35. [More Information]
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2007
- O'Neill, G., Seo, S., Serebriiskii, I., Lessin, S., Golemis, E. (2007). A New Central Scaffold for Metastasis: Parsing HEF1/Cas-L/NEDD9. Cancer Research, 67(19), 8975-8979. [More Information]
- Singh, M., Cowell, L., Seo, S., O'Neill, G., Golemis, E. (2007). Molecular basis for HEF1/NEDD9/Cas-L action as a multifunctional co-ordinator of invasion, apoptosis and cell cycle. Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics, 48(1), 54-72. [More Information]
2006
- Stehn, J., Schevzov, G., O'Neill, G., Gunning, P. (2006). Specialisation of the tropomyosin composition of actin filaments provides new potential targets for chemotherapy. Current Cancer Drug Targets, 6(3), 245-256. [More Information]
- Cowell, L., Graham, J., Bouton, A., Clarke, C., O'Neill, G. (2006). Tamoxifen treatment promotes phosphorylation of the adhesion molecules, p130Cas/BCAR1, FAK and Src, via an adhesion-dependent pathway. Oncogene, 25(58), 7597-7607. [More Information]
2005
- Graham, J., Yager, M., Hill, H., Byth Wilson, K., O'Neill, G., Clarke, C. (2005). Altered progesterone receptor isoform expression remodels progestin responsiveness of breast cancer cells. Molecular Endocrinology, 19(11), 2713-2735. [More Information]
- Bargon, S., Gunning, P., O'Neill, G. (2005). The Cas family docking protein, HEF1, promotes the formation of neurite-like membrane extensions. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1746 (2), 143-154. [More Information]
- Schevzov, G., Vrhovski, B., Bryce, N., Elmir, S., Qiu, M., O'Neill, G., Yang, N., Verrills, N., Kavallaris, M., Gunning, P. (2005). Tissue-specific Tropomyosin Isoform Composition. Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry: imaging the spectrum of cell biology, 53(5), 557-570. [More Information]
2003
- McGowan, E., Weinberger, R., Graham, J., Hill, H., Hughes, J., O'Neill, G., Clarke, C. (2003). Cytoskeletal responsiveness to progestins is dependent on progesterone receptor A levels. Journal of Molecular Endocrinology, 31(2), 241-253. [More Information]
- Yager, M., Hughes, J., Lovicu, F., Gunning, P., Weinberger, R., O'Neill, G. (2003). Functional analysis of the actin-binding protein, tripomyosin 1, in neuroblastoma. British Journal of Cancer, 89(5), 860-863. [More Information]
Selected Grants
2023
- The E2CAR Trial:A Phase I clinical trial to evaluate administration of EphA2 targeted CAR T cells to children with sarcoma., McCowage G, Alexander I, Gowrishankar K, Gottschalk S, Shaw P, Bateman C, O'Neill G, Cain L, Kahana-Edwin S, Karpelowsky J, Department of Health and Aged Care (Federal - administered by NHMRC)/2021 Clinical Trials Activity
2022
- A flagship lightsheet, confocal and live cell 4D microscope to turbocharge translational cancer research at the Westmead Health Precinct, George J, Graham J, Robinson P, O'Neill G, Hau E, Fernandez Penas P, Gottlieb D, Ahern V, Cesare A, Schlegel P, Cancer Institute NSW/Equipment Grant
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