Professor Rebecca Mason
MBBS (Hons), PhD
Professor of Endocrine Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Sydney Medical School
Deputy Director, Bosch Institute
Member of China Studies Centre
Member of the Charles Perkins Centre
Telephone | +61 2 9351 2561 |
Fax | +61 2 9351 2510 |
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Biographical details
Professor Rebecca Mason is a physician with clinical experience in endocrinology and a scientist who leads a research program in the fields of bone and skin, with a particular interest in the study of vitamin D, calcium and phosphate. She notes, “the link between bone and skin is vitamin D, which is synthesised in skin and is critical for bone health, but, as our research has discovered, also important in skin for photoprotection”. Her research interest in calcium underpins her team’s studies on the role of calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) in bone health. Professor Mason is internationally recognised for major contributions to the field of vitamin D research. She developed one of the first assays in Australia for measuring vitamin D compounds in blood and was one of the first scientists to demonstrate extra-renal production of the active hormone made from vitamin D, and among the first to study the role of vitamin D compounds in skin. Her group discovered the ability of vitamin D metabolites to reduce UV-induced DNA damage in skin. Professor Mason’s research has substantially influenced health policy, including the revision of sun exposure guidelines in Australia, which have moved away from total sun avoidance and advise some sun exposure to synthesise vitamin D. She led the process of updating the Vitamin D position statement for Australia and New Zealand and contributed to the revised Vitamin D statement for pregnancy, infants and children. She has received an award from the International Workshop on Vitamin D, recognising her ‘career contributions to vitamin D research’. Professor Mason is Board member of Osteoporosis Australia and a Past President of the ANZ Bone and Mineral Society.
Research interests
Professor Mason leads a long-standing research program in the fields of vitamin D, bone and skin. She leads and collaborates in basic and clinical research in these fields.
Her group has three main areas of research: (a) Studies determining how vitamin D status is maintained in winter, including the potential role of skeletal muscle as a storage repository during times of reduced vitamin D synthesis. (b) the study of vitamin D compounds, including the byproducts of overexposure to the sun and their role in reducing UV-induced DNA damage in skin; (c) The calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of osteoporosis, based on the ligand-dependent signalling bias noted for the CaSR.
With Professor Bruce Armstrong, Dr Robyn Saw and the Melanoma Trials group, she is investigating the effects of rapidly raising vitamin D levels immediately after melanoma diagnosis.
Current research students
Project title | Research student |
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Role of Homer scaffolding proteins in nutrient-sensing by class C and protein-coupled receptors | Kazi Saiful ISLAM |
Novel targets for vitamin D in the inhibition of melanoma cell growth and metastasis | Artur SHARIEV |
Current projects
The role of muscle in the maintenance of vitamin D status. To date there is no explanation for the long half-life in blood of the major vitamin D metabolite, 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]. The long half-life of 25(OH)D is central to maintaining an adequate vitamin D status over winter, when the UV radiation of sunlight, which produces vitamin D in skin, is reduced. From preliminary data in sheep and mice, we propose that rather than fat being the store of vitamin D, skeletal muscle contains the largest pool of 25OHD in the body and that physiological control of uptake, retention and slow release of 25(OH)D by muscle is a mechanism for maintaining vitamin D status, when input of vitamin D is low. This hypothesis is being tested in sheep, mice and in cultured muscle cells.
Selected grants
2017
- UNcle All-in-One Biologics Stability Platform with Robotic High Throughput Screening System for the Open Access, Multi-Disciplinary Bosch Molecular Biology Facility; Richardson D, Scolyer R, Murray M, Long G, Lay P, Mason R, Payne R, Kayser V, Kovacevic Z, Lee C; Cancer Institute NSW/Equipment Grant.
- Does muscle contribute to the maintenance of vitamin D status in winter?; Mason R, Fraser D, Speranza T; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP).
2016
- Fast Linear Laser Scanning Technology: The ZEISS LSM 800 Confocal Microscope for the Open Access, Bosch Institute Advanced Microscopy Facility; Richardson D, Scolyer R, Braet F, Chan-Ling T, Mason R, Halliday G, Byrne S, Bourne R, Lyons G, Charles (nee Slaviero) K; Cancer Institute NSW/Equipment Grant.
- Identifying the cellular and structural basis for skeletal fragility in Type 2 Diabetes; Speranza T, Mason R, Conigrave A; Rebecca L Cooper Medical Research Foundation/Research Grant.
- Neuroinflammation in the Peripheral and Central Nervous System: Epidemiological Factors, Vitamin D Status and Functional Relevance; Park S, Taylor B, Mason R, Yiannikas C, Hirani V; Brain Foundation of Australia/Research Grants.
- Advanced formulation of curcumin to prevent breast cancer bone metastasis; Rohanizadeh R, Naylor M, Mason R; National Breast Cancer Foundation/Innovator Grant.
2015
- Biacore T200 Molecular Interaction Analysis System for the Open Access, Multi-Disciplinary Sydney Cancer Research Core Facility; Richardson D, Scolyer R, Long G, Halliday G, Murray M, Lee C, Kumar N, Mason R, Payne R, Lay P; Cancer Institute NSW/Equipment Grant.
- EVOS FL Auto Live Cell Imaging System; Mason R, Fraser S, Hambley T, Lovicu F, Cook D; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Equipment Grants.
- Deeper learning engagement through hands-on experience with equipment assembly and collection of electrophysiological data; Protti D, Mason R, Phillips W, Hinton T; DVC Education/Small Educational Innovation Grant.
- Automated High Throughput Hypoxic Live Cell Imaging System; Halliday G, Richardson D, Long G, Mason R, Murphy C; DVC Research/Equipment Grant.
- Engendering biased signalling at the human calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) to correct pathophysiology; Mason R, Conigrave A; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Project Grants.
2014
- La Vision BioTec Ultramicroscope; Murphy C, Braet F, Byrne M, Chan-Ling T, Fraser S, Goldsbury C, Halliday G, Hambly B, Johnstone D, Keay K, Lovelace M, Lyons G, Mason R, Overall R, Owens T, Richardson D, Stone J, Weiss A; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Equipment Grants.
- CLARIOstar Multifunctional Microplate Reader for Shared Used at the Open Access, Multi-User Molecular Biology Core Facility; Huang M, Scolyer R, Fraser S, Sahni S, Speranza T, Owens T, Barrs V, Ju Y, Kovacevic Z, Lu Z, Camp A, Slobedman B, Morris B, Oliver B, Dos Remedios C, Kalinowski D, Fu D, Lai D, Lovicu F, Allbutt H, Triccas J, Burgess J, Kril J, Dixon K, Rendina L, Byrne M, King N, Groundwater P, Williamson P, Ho P, Dong Q, Bao B, Assinder S, McLennan S, Richardson D, Ammit A, Sharland A, Hardikar A, Hong A, Hambly B, Lee C, Murphy C, Goldsbury C, Johnstone D, Lane D, Hibbs D, Joshua D, Huq F, Halliday G, Sutherland G, Zreiqat H, Lok H, Lyons G, Jansson P, Black J, Zhu L, Sunde M, Day M, Naylor M, Buckland M, Murray M, Shafie N, Lay P, Poronnik P, Codd R, Mason R, Ryan R, Christopherson R, de Graaf S; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Equipment Grants.
- Is CYP11A1 critical for the vitamin D photoprotective system in skin; Mason R, Halliday G, Tuckey R, Dixon K, Reeve V; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Project Grants.
2013
- QX100 Droplet Digital PCR system for Shared Used at the Open Access, Multi-User Molecular Biology Core Facility; Richardson D, Kril J, Murphy C, Vandenberg R, Rendina L, Dos Remedios C, Ju Y, Kovacevic Z, Lyons G, Sutherland G, Lay P, Ammit A, Lai D, Morris B, Day M, Dong Q, Bao B, Huang M, Camp A, Boyer M, Whittington R, Byrne M, Hanrahan J, Fu D, Jansson P, Lane D, Bagley E, Hibbs D, Zhang D, Fraser S, Scolyer R, Black J, Halliday G, Christie M, Zreiqat H, Murray M, Slobedman B, Naylor M, Burgess J, Triccas J, Mason R, Chadban S, Combes V, Lovicu F, McLennan S, Kalinowski D, Sharland A, Johnstone D, Groundwater P, Dixon K, Zhou F, Lovejoy D, Lu Z, Zhu L, Goldsbury C, Witting P, Buckland M, Assinder S, Purdie (Williams) A, Codd R, Owens T, Hambly B; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Equipment Grants.
- Robotic High Throughput Western Analysis for the Open Access, Multi-User Sydney Cancer Research Core Facility; Richardson D, Scolyer R, Boyer M, Halliday G, Damian D, Christopherson R, Joshua D, Kench J, Hong A, Murray M, Lee C, Kalinowski D, Naylor M, Lay P, Lyons G, Kovacevic Z, Mason R, Dixon K, Chan-Ling T, Hawkins C, Sunde M, Lovejoy D, Owens T, Rendina L, Jansson P, Dos Remedios C, Charles (nee Slaviero) K, Lane D, Witting P, Dong Q, Ammit A, Groundwater P, Assinder S, Bao B, Byrne S, Zhou F, Buckland M, Grewal T, Huq F, Lai D, Codd R, Zhang D, Fu D, de Graaf S, Huang M, Payne R, Slobedman B, Barrs V, Ho P, Williamson P, Murphy C; DVC Research/Equipment Grant.
2012
- Bruker Daltonics autoflex speed MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometer; Baxter R, Halliday G, Marsh D, Gill A, Clarke S, Smith R, Little C, Jackson C, O'Neill C, Murphy C, Sharland A, Chadban S, Mason R, Assinder S, Verdurand M, Richardson D, Machaalani R, Hambly B, Chan-Ling T, Dos Remedios C, Holsinger D, Lay P; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Equipment Grants.
- Upgrade of the Palm Duoflex Combi Laser Microdissection and Optical Tweezers System to a High-resolution and Improved Live-cell Imaging Platform using an Apotome.2 Slider and Associated Software; Cole L, Mason R, Richardson D, Phillips W, Bao B, Buckland M, Morris M, Dos Remedios C; Rebecca L Cooper Medical Research Foundation/Equipment Grant.
- GeneAtlas Personal Microarray System; Richardson D, Scolyer R, Stocker R, Weninger W, Black J, Allen D, Murray M, Mason R, Twigg S, King N, Horvath L, Lovicu F, Lee C, Halliday G, Lovejoy D, Joshua D, Sharland A, Roufogalis B, Hambly B, Morris B, Bao B, Bishop A, Hibbs D, Lane D, Zhou F, Hanrahan J, Dixon K, Rendina L, Byrne M, Naylor M, Cole N, Jansson P, Dong Q, Codd R, Payne R, Assinder S, Chadban S, Fraser S, McLennan S, Suryo Rahmanto A, Lai D, Yu Y, Ju Y, Buckland M, Kovacevic Z, Saletta F, Zreiqat H, Kalinowski D, Groundwater P, Simes R, Zhang D, Boyer M, Murphy C; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Equipment Grants.
2011
- Novel strategies for the treatment of bone disease by nutrient activators of calcium-sensing receptors; Mason R, Conigrave A; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Project Grants.
- PyroMark Q96 ID system; Richardson D, Stone J, Black J, King N, Mason R, Hunt N, Kril J, Murray M, Scolyer R, Halliday G, Vandenberg R, McMinn P, Chadban S, Byrne M, Ryan R, Dong Q, Lee C, Bishop A, Haass N, Fraser S, Hambly B, Sharland A, Kalinowski D, Assinder S, Yu Y, Bao B, Ju Y, Lovejoy D, Buckland M, Lane D, Dos Remedios C, Kovacevic Z, Sutherland G, Zhang D, Morris B, Suryo Rahmanto A, Murphy C; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Equipment Grants.
2010
- Enhancing sunscreen DNA and proto-ageing protection; Mason R, Heber G, Rohanizadeh R, Halliday G; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Linkage Projects (LP).
- Oxidative Stress Bioanalytical Facility; Stocker R, Hunt N, Mason R, Witting P, Roufogalis B, Lay P, Tiganis T, Davies M, Dawes I, Drummond G, Geczy C, Kachigian L, Hogg P, Lackmann M, Thomas S, Croft K, King N, Tilley L, James D; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF).
2009
- A new Laser Microdissection Microscope with a unique pressure catapulting technique allows isolation of pure samples for subsequent downstream molecular analyses; Halliday G, Morris B, Mason R, Murphy C, Bishop A, Leamey C, Joshua D, Lee C, Iland H, Pamphlett R, Richardson D, King N, Hunt N, Arnold J, Morris M, Protti D; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Equipment Grants.
- Core Resource Facility - application for 7-laser flow cytometer and high content bioimaging system to enhance capabilities and throughput for the NSW Advanced Cytometry Facility; King N, Vadas M, Campbell I, Grau G, Britton W, Fazekas de St Groth B, Richardson D, Halliday G, Christopherson R, Gamble J, Mason R, Rasko J, McCaughan G, Weninger W, Xia P, Gorrell M, Holst J, Pile A, Sword G, McArthur C, Dong Q, Haass N, Sharland A, Saunders B, Triccas J, Norris J, Bertolino P, Bowen D, Sze D; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Equipment Grants.
- 7-laser BD LSR-II and Cellomics Array Scan VTi to Enhance Capability and Throughput for the NSW Advanced Cytometry Facility; King N, Weninger W, Gunning P, Fazekas de St Groth B, Campbell I, Christopherson R, Black J, Mason R, Richardson D, Halliday G, Grau G, Gandevia S, Kachigian L, Geczy C, Jessup W, Vadas M, Britton W, Hunt N; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF).
- A new laser capture microdissection (LCM) instrument is required to facilitate high precision ultraviolet laser cutting of a range of samples.; Mason R; Clive & Vera Ramaciotti Foundation/Awards for Biomedical Research: Major Equipment.
- Drug-delivery coating for a new generation of orthopaedic implants; Rohanizadeh R, Mason R, LeGeros R; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP).
2008
- Mechanisms of photoprotection by vitamin D and analogs; Mason R, Reeve V, Halliday G; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Project Grants.
- The Maintenance of Vitamin D Status: a Possible Role for Skelatal Muscle as a Store for 25-Hydroxyvi; Clemson L, Mason R; University of Sydney/Bridging Support.
2007
- PHERAstar and POLARstar Optima multi-functional plate readers with robotic high throughput screening system for multi-disciplinary cancer research; Halliday G, Ho P, Conigrave A, Iland H, Lee C, Joshua D, Cook D, Richardson D, Reichardt J, Grau G, Lovejoy D, Hunt N, King N, Mason R, Murphy C, Sharland A, Assinder S, Dong Q, Bishop A; Cancer Institute NSW/Infrastructure Grant.
2006
- Oxide Bioceramics for Drug Delivery; Ruys A, Mason R; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Linkage Projects (LP).
- NanoDrop ND-1000 Spectrophotometer; Mason R; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Equipment Grants.
- The FREEDOM Study: A RCT of sunlight and calcium to reduce vitamin D deficiency in older people in residential care; Sambrook P, March L, Cameron I, Cumming R, Seibel M, Simpson J, Mason R; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Project Grants.
2005
- Equipment For Mammilian Cell Culture System In A Multi-User Pc2 Facility; Mason R; Clive & Vera Ramaciotti Foundation/General Grants.
- Photocarcinogenesis (ultraviolet radiation induced skin carcinogenesis); Damian D, Halliday G, Menzies S, Mason R, Reeve V; Cancer Institute NSW/Infrastructure Grant.
- Post menopausal testing: preclinical study; Mason R, Conigrave A; Institut De Recherches Internationales (France)/BLO Project.
- Photoprotection by vitamin D and analogs; Reeve V, Halliday G, Mason R; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Project Grants.
- FACS Aria for the University of Sydney Flow Cytometry Facility; King N, Pollard J, Rasko J, Lovicu F, Bishop A, Bertolino P, Briscoe H, Gillies M, Madigan M, McAvoy J, Murphy C, Balcar V, Armour C, Hughes M, Reeve V, Christopherson R, Halliday G, Christie M, Pollock C, McCaughan G, Gorrell M, Dong Q, Abendroth A, Menzies S, Barnetson R, Byrne S, Hunt N, Hambly B, Cook D, Mason R, Day M, Black J; University of Sydney/Equipment Grant.
2004
- 2004-Linkage LP 0455741 - Functionally graded fibre-polymer composites: a novel material for spinal disk prostheses; Ruys A, Mason R, Martin J; Australian Surgical Design and Manufacture Pty Ltd/Project Support.
- 2004-Linkage LP 0455745 - Surface Engineering of Biomaterials for optimal bone bonding characteristi; Ruys A, Mason R; Australian Surgical Design and Manufacture Pty Ltd/Project Support.
- Surface engineering of biomaterials for optimal bone bonding characteristics; Yin Y, Martin P, Ruys A, Mason R, Rohanizadeh R; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Linkage Projects (LP).
- Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors Enchance Bone Mass (PDE4 inhibitation) - Altana Pharma Pty Ltd; Rasmussen M, Seale J, Mason R; Altana Pharma Pty Ltd, Germany/BLO Project.
- Functionally graded fibre-polymer composites: a novel material for spinal disk prostheses; Ruys A, Mason R, Rohanizadeh R; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Linkage Projects (LP).
2003
- Ultrasec 3100 pro: UV-vis spectrophotmeter; Mason R, Byrne M, Dos Remedios C, Keay K, Lovicu F; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Equipment Grants.
2002
- Role of 1,25dihydroxyvitamin D3 in photoprotection; Mason R; Cancer Council New South Wales/Research Project Grants.
- ABI PRISM 7000 sequence detection system; Stone J, Keay K, Martin P, Mason R; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Equipment Grants.
- Cellular regulation of tooth matrix deposition and remineralisation; Swain M, Mason R; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Strategic Research Development Committee (SDRC): Oral Health Research Grant.
- An animal model of tissue-specific antagonism of calcium signalling: targeting a dominant negative calcium sensing receptor to bone; Mason R; DVC Research/Research and Development Scheme: Research and Development (R&D).
- Nutrient dependent signalling in bone via calcium sensing receptors; Mason R, Conigrave A; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Project Grants.
2001
- Luminometer; Mason R, McAvoy J; Clive & Vera Ramaciotti Foundation/Project Support.
2000
- Vitamin D and pig bone; Mason R; Research Donations/Generic Research.
- Luminometer, fluorescence and absorbance reader; Mason R; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Equipment Grants.
- A novel regulator of phosphate transport in oncogenic osteomalacia; Mason R, Robinson B; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Project Grants.
- Role of phytoestrogens in bone biology; Muir M, Thurn M, Mason R; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Strategic Partnerships with Industry - Research and Training (SPIRT).
- Novel regulators of phosphate homeostasis in phosphate wasting disorders; Mason R, Robinson B, Nelson A; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Project Grants.
- Fluorescence activated cell sorter; Morris B, Dos Remedios C, Mason R; Clive & Vera Ramaciotti Foundation/Awards for Biomedical Research: Major Equipment.
- Mechanisms of corticosteroid osteoporosis; Sambrook P, Mason R, Robinson B; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Project Grants.
1998
- SPIRT 1999: Role of Phytoestrogens in Bone Biology C09906974; Mason R, Muir M.
Selected publications
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