Staff Profile
Career Summary
Biography
Nicole Verrills is an early career investigator who already has numerous research achievements. Her PhD was awarded from Macquarie University in 2005, for which she received a Vice-Chancellors Commendation for Excellence in Research. Her research interests centre on understanding the molecular changes involved in cancer progression and chemotherapy resistance. By using powerful proteomics techniques, including being one of the first in Australia to use difference in-gel electrophoresis (DIGE) technology, she has discovered novel protein alterations that confer chemotherapy resistance in childhood leukaemia. These proteins are now targets for ongoing investigations to develop improved therapies for relapsed leukaemia patients (Aus Patent PCT/AU2004/000331; US Patent 10/549831 - Determining Drug Resistance). This research is internationally competitive and recognised through continued publications, presentations at international and national meetings, and international and national awards. These include the 2004 Biochemical Journal Young Investigator Award, presented to the best young researcher at the 12th International Conference on Second Messengers and Phosphoproteins, Montreal, Canada; the Merck Sharp Dohm Best of the Best Award and the Cure Cancer Australia Foundation Award, both presented at the 2004 Australian Health and Medical Research (ASMR) Congress. In 2003 Dr Verrills was awarded the University of Sydney Medal for Excellence in Medical Research, presented to the best young researcher at the ASMR NSW Conference, and was a finalist in the Cure Cancer Australia Foundations Young Researcher of the Year Award. Her research publications appear in journals of high impact and are already well cited (over 230 to date). The importance of her work has been featured in opinion articles in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (Fojo, T (2006) JNCI 98: 1363) and Chemistry and Biology (Ojima and Ferlini (2003) Chem Biol 10: 583).
In 2006 Dr Verrills received a highly competitive and prestigious NHMRC Peter Doherty (Biomedical) Postdoctoral Fellowship. Through this fellowship she also received a scholarship to the Australian Academy of Science Science at the Shine Dome meeting. In 2006 she became the inaugural recipient of the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) Competitive Research Fund for Early Career Researchers in Cancer, and she has recently received grant funding from the Cure Cancer Australia Foundation. Her expertise in the field of proteomics and cancer biology results in invitations to peer review manuscripts for a variety of journals and grant applications, and invitations to present seminars. She has a strong determination to translate her research findings into improved clinical outcome for cancer patients, and has experience in patenting research discoveries.
Dr Verrills is currently supervising an Honours and three PhD students. She has a strong commitment to the advancement and promotion of medical research in our society. Dr Verrills was on the organising committee for the HMRI Conference on Translational Cancer Research, Newcastle, 2006, and again for the upcoming 2008 HMRI Cancer Conference. She also convenes local HMRI Cancer Seminars and sits on the HMRI Cancer Research Group Steering committee. As part of her community involvement she has disseminated her research through the print, radio, and television media, and has presented her research to the local community as a guest speaker at Rotary Clubs, the Hunter Seniors Association, and HMRI charity events.
Dr Nicole Verrills has established a number of productive collaborations with researchers both nationally and abroad. During her time at the Childrens Cancer Institute Australia (CCIA), Dr Verrills established collaborative projects with research groups outside her own, including Prof Michelle Haber of the Experimental Therapeutics Program, and Prof Murray Norris of the Molecular Diagnostics Program [NV7,10], Dr Richard Lock of the Leukaemia Biology Program [NV4], and Prof Glen Marshall of the Molecular Carcinogenesis Program [NV3]. She also established collaborations with Prof Peter Gunning from the Oncology Research Unit, The Childrens Hospital at Westmead [NV3,6], and international researchers Prof Brigit Hill from Pierre Fabre Research Institute, France [NV13] and Martin Larsen from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark [NV3], Dr Larsen is an international leader in phospho-proteomics, and Dr Verrills continues to collaborate with him at Newcastle University. During this time, Dr Verrills was also pivotal in establishing an ongoing collaboration between CCIA and APAF [NV8-10].
Since coming to Newcastle University, Dr Verrills has continued to establish research collaborations. Dr Verrills has established her own research program, Cancer Biology, which collaborates extensively with A/Prof Alistair Sim (Phosphatase Signalling) [NV1] and Prof Leonie Ashman (Oncology Research) at Newcastle University and the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI). She has been pivotal in establishing a proteomics research project as part of the Asthma and Airways CRC, together with A/Prof Ailstair Sim at Newcastle University and Prof Peter Gibson at the John Hunter Hospital. She has also instigated collaborations with international leaders in cancer research, such as A/Prof Danilo Perrotti from the Ohio State University, USA, with whom a co-authored paper on PP2A activating drugs in chronic myeloid leukaemia is currently under review, Dr William Hahn from the Dana-Faber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, USA, and a leader in phosphatase research A/Prof Stefan Strack from the University of Iowa, USA.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science (Honours), Macquarie University, 12/05/1999
Research
Research keywords
- Breast Cancer
- Cancer
- Chemotherapy resistance
- Leukaemia
- Protein phosphatase 2A
- Proteomics
- Signal transduction
Research expertise
Dr Verrills research interests centre on understanding the molecular changes involved in cancer progression and chemotherapy resistance. By using powerful proteomics techniques, including being one of the first in Australia to use difference in-gel electrophoresis (DIGE) technology, she has discovered novel protein alterations that confer chemotherapy resistance in childhood leukaemia. These proteins are now targets for ongoing investigations to develop improved therapies for relapsed leukaemia patients. Dr Verrills is currently investigating the role of the signaling protein, protein phosphatase 2A, in cancer. Using shRNA and overexpression transfection of normal and cancer cell lines, coupled with molecular and biochemical analyses such as PCR, immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, 2D-DIGE and mass spectrometry, she is determining the role of mutant PP2A and specific PP2A subunits in the development of leukaemia and breast cancer.
Fields of Research
| Code | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 060100 | Biochemistry And Cell Biology | 75 |
| 111500 | Pharmacology And Pharmaceutical Sciences | 15 |
| 111200 | Oncology And Carcinogenesis | 10 |
Memberships
Body relevant to professional practice.
- Member - American Association of Cancer Research
- Member - Australian Society for Medical Research
Committee/Associations (relevant to research).
- Committee member - HMRI Cancer Research Group Steering Committee
- Organising committee member - HMRI Conference on Translational Cancer Research
Appointments
| Peter Doherty Biomedical Fellow National Health & Medical Research Council (Australia) | 01/01/2006 - 01/07/2010 |
Awards
Honours.
| 1998 | Bill Cantwell prize for Excellence in Biology Macquarie University (Australia) This award is given to exceptional students who top the honours year. |
|---|
Other
| 2003 | Australian Postgraduate Award 2001-2003 Macquarie University (Australia) |
|---|
PhD Scholarship
| 2003 | Australian Proteome Analysis Facility Scholarship 2001-2003 Australian Proteome Analysis Facility (Australia) This award gave a top-up to the APA for my PhD candidature. |
|---|
Recognition.
| 2005 | 2005 - Doctor of Philosophy, Vice Chancellor Commendation. Macquarie University (Australia) My PhD thesis was passed without need for corrections and I received a letter of commendation from the Vice Chancellor for excellence in research. |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 2003 - Cure Cancer Australia Foundations Young Researcher of the Year Award Finalist. Cure Cancer Australia Foundation (Australia) Cure Cancer Australia Foundation is a major supporter of cancer research, raising funds to provide competitive research funding schemes and research awards. The Young Researcher Awards are a major event within the Australian medical and scientific communities as the process draws the very best young cancer researchers from right around Australia. |
Research Award.
| 2004 | 2004 - Cure Cancer Australia Foundation Award Cure Cancer Australia Foundation (Australia) This prize was awarded for the best postdoctoral or student presentation in cancer research at the National Scientific Meeting of the Australian Society for Medical Research. |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 2004 - Merck Sharp Dohm Best of the Best Award Australian Health and Medical Research Congress Australian Society of Medical Research (Australia) This is a highly competitive and prestigious research award. There were 28 societies represented at this meeting and each society put forward their best candidate, drawn from postdoctoral scientists and students. I shared the overall top prize with one other candidate. |
| 2004 | Biochemical Journal Young Investigator Award - 12th International Conference on Second Messengers an The Biochemical Journal (Canada) The Biochemical Journal is Europes leading scientific journal in the field and gives the award to the most deserving young scientist based upon presentation of their work to a judging panel of international experts. This award is highly competitive and prestigious, with 157 international postdoctoral and student candidates in 2004. |
| 2003 | 2003 - University of Sydney Medal for Excellence in Medical Research Australian Society of Medical Research (Australia) This prestigious award was presented for the best postdoctoral or student research presentation at the NSW state branch ASMR meeting. |
Invitations
| Amersham Biosciences Technical Seminar Series. Brisbane; Adelaide; Melbourne; Sydney. GE Biosciences, Australia (Conference Presentation - non published.) | 2003 |
| Protemics for cancer research Oncology Research Unit, Childrens Hospital, Westmead., Australia (Invitation to give research seminar) | 2003 |
| Proteome analyses reveals novel mechanisms of resistance to anticancer agents. Oncology Research Unit, Childrens Hospital, Westmead., Australia (Invitation to give research seminar) | 2003 |
| New technologies meets functional proteomics. ComBio 2002, Australia (Invited conference presentation) | 2002 |
Administrative
Administrative expertise
Dr Verrills undetakes many administrative tasks, including managing the budgets for her grants. Some duties include obtaining product quotes, ordering, safety and ethics applications, co-ordinating multi investigator grant applications, and organising research seminar series and workshops.
Teaching
Teaching keywords
- Cancer
- Drug resistance
- Proteomics
Teaching expertise
Dr Verrills is a strong supporter of fostering research students. She has supervised two Honours student (both received 1st Class), and is currently supervising one Honours and three PhD students. Dr Verrills is a fulltime research academic, however she does guest lecture for 2nd and 3rd year BBiomed Sci courses in Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Cancer, and Drug Resistance.
Grants and Funding
Summary
| Number of grants | 46 |
|---|---|
| Total funding | $7,592,562 |
For project grants received where the lead institution is other than the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics.
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
2013 (3 grants)
Targeting PP2A to improve the therapeutic efficacy of mutant BRAF inhibitors in melanoma$359,250
Funding Body: Cancer Council NSW
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Xu Dong Zhang, Doctor Nikki Verrills, Doctor Chen Chen Jiang | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Research Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $359,250 | 2013 | 2015 |
| GNo:G1200388 | ||
Ultra-Low Temperature Cryogenic Freezer$24,596
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Jude Weidenhofer, Doctor Rick Thorne, Doctor Kathryn Skelding, Doctor Nikki Verrills, Doctor Pradeep Tanwar, Associate Professor Phillip Dickson, Doctor Murray Cairns, Professor Hubert Hondermarck, Professor Xu Dong Zhang, Associate Professor Estelle Sontag, Doctor Chen Chen Jiang, Associate Professor Liz Milward, Doctor Jean-Marie Sontag, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Doctor Severine Roselli, Doctor Matt Dun, Doctor Chris Dayas, Doctor Lin Kooi Ong, Professor Dirk Van Helden, Mr Ben Copeland, Ms Gabrielle Briggs, Conjoint Professor Leonie Ashman, Professor John Rostas | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Equipment Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $24,596 | 2013 | 2013 |
| GNo:G1201189 | ||
Proteomics of Cancer$6,000
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Matt Dun, Doctor Nikki Verrills, Dr Anoop Enjeti | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $6,000 | 2013 | 2013 |
| GNo:G1300054 | ||
2012 (8 grants)
The Hunter Cancer Biobank (HCB): Maximising community value through validation, annotation and distribution throughout NSW$292,300
Funding Body: Cancer Institute NSW
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor John Forbes, Conjoint Professor Stephen Ackland, Professor Rodney Scott, Conjoint Associate Professor Barbara Young, Professor Hubert Hondermarck, Conjoint Professor Leonie Ashman, Professor Xu Dong Zhang, Doctor Kelly Kiejda, Doctor Nikki Verrills, Doctor Jennette Sakoff, Ms Janine Lombard, Doctor Jude Weidenhofer, Doctor Pradeep Tanwar | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Infrastructure Grants | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $292,300 | 2012 | 2014 |
| GNo:G1200798 | ||
Activating a tumour suppressor for leukaemia therapy$260,000
Funding Body: Cancer Council NSW
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Nikki Verrills, Dr Anthony Don, Dr Anoop Enjeti, Associate Professor Jonathan Morris | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $260,000 | 2012 | 2014 |
| GNo:G1100512 | ||
Activating a tumour suppressor for leukaemia therapy they receive$100,000
Funding Body: Cure Cancer Australia Foundation
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Nikki Verrills, Dr Anthony Don, Dr Anoop Enjeti, Associate Professor Jonathan Morris | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $100,000 | 2012 | 2012 |
| GNo:G1200007 | ||
Microscopic illumination system for advanced fluorescent protein technology$34,000
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Rick Thorne, Professor Xu Dong Zhang, Doctor Murray Cairns, Doctor Nikki Verrills, Doctor Charles De Bock, Doctor Jude Weidenhofer, Doctor Severine Roselli, Doctor Kathryn Skelding, Conjoint Professor Leonie Ashman, Professor Hubert Hondermarck | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Equipment Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $34,000 | 2012 | 2012 |
| GNo:G1100983 | ||
Activating a tumour suppressor for leukaemia therapy$20,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Nikki Verrills | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Near Miss Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $20,000 | 2012 | 2012 |
| GNo:G1200678 | ||
Regulation of the cell cycle by phosphorylation dependent targeting of CaMKII$20,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Nikki Verrills, Doctor Kathryn Skelding, Professor John Rostas, Associate Professor Phillip Dickson, Conjoint Professor Keith Jones | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Near Miss Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $20,000 | 2012 | 2012 |
| GNo:G1200679 | ||
Role of CaMKII targeting in neuronal susceptibility to excitotoxic cell death$20,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor John Rostas, Doctor Neil Spratt, Associate Professor Phillip Dickson, Doctor Nikki Verrills | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Near Miss Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $20,000 | 2012 | 2012 |
| GNo:G1200673 | ||
FASEB Protein Phosphatases, Snowmass, Colorado USA, 15 - 20 July 2012$1,500
Funding Body: University of Newcastle - Faculty of Health
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Nikki Verrills | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $1,500 | 2012 | 2013 |
| GNo:G1200803 | ||
2011 (7 grants)
Molecular characterisation of TRAIL-regulated signal transduction pathways and their role in the development, persistence, and exacerbation of allergic airways disease$615,048
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Joerg Mattes, Doctor Nikki Verrills | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $615,048 | 2011 | 2013 |
| GNo:G1000314 | ||
Targeting a tumour suppressor, PP2AS for new Leukaemia therapies$600,000
Funding Body: Cancer Institute NSW
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Nikki Verrills | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Early Career Fellowship | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $600,000 | 2011 | 2016 |
| GNo:G1000861 | ||
Chemical Biology$444,961
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Adam McCluskey, Doctor Warwick Belcher, Doctor Ian Grainge, Professor Christopher Grof, Professor Peter Lewis, Professor Eileen McLaughlin, Doctor Shaun Roman, Conjoint Professor Ray Rose, Doctor Jennette Sakoff, Doctor Nikki Verrills | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Priority Research Centre | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $444,961 | 2011 | 2015 |
| GNo:G1100052 | ||
Preclinical testing of PP2A activating compounds for the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia$40,000
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Nikki Verrills, Dr Anthony Don | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Paediatric Oncology Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $40,000 | 2011 | 2011 |
| GNo:G1001001 | ||
Regulation of Breast Cancer Growth by a Novel Phosphorylation-Dependent Targeting Mechanism$35,000
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Kathryn Skelding, Doctor Nikki Verrills, Professor John Rostas | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Breast Cancer Project Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $35,000 | 2011 | 2011 |
| GNo:G1001005 | ||
Targeting PP2A as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy for mutant FLT3* Acute Myeloid Leukaemia$25,000
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Nikki Verrills, Doctor Kyu-Tae Kim, Dr Anoop Enjeti | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $25,000 | 2011 | 2011 |
| GNo:G1000990 | ||
IMPLEN NanoPhotometer pearl$10,000
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Murray Cairns, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Associate Professor Alan Brichta, Professor John Rostas, Emeritus Professor Patricia Michie, Conjoint Professor Keith Jones, Professor Ulli Schall, Associate Professor Phillip Dickson, Doctor Frederick Walker, Doctor Rick Thorne, Doctor Chris Dayas, Doctor Nikki Verrills, Doctor Janet Holt, Doctor Severine Roselli, Doctor Kathryn Skelding, Doctor Jude Weidenhofer, Associate Professor Liz Milward, Doctor Charles De Bock, Doctor Julie Merriman-Jones, Doctor Jing Qin Wu, Doctor Bing Liu, Mr Dan Johnstone, Ms Belinda Goldie, Ms Natalie Beveridge | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Equipment Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $10,000 | 2011 | 2011 |
| GNo:G1100030 | ||
2010 (4 grants)
An Integrated LC-MS-NMR facility for Applications in Proteomics and Organic Chemistry$500,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Adam McCluskey, Laureate Professor John Aitken, Professor Paul Dastoor, Professor Phillip Robinson, Professor Eileen McLaughlin, Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Lawrance, Professor Marcel Maeder, Professor Hugh Dunstan, Doctor Shaun Roman, Associate Professor Rob Atkin, Doctor Clovia Holdsworth, Doctor Mark Baker, Doctor Nikki Verrills, Professor Gottfried Otting, Associate Professor Brett Nixon, Doctor Xiaojing Zhou, Ms Megan Chircop, Doctor Warwick Belcher | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Linkage Infrastructure Equipment & Facilities (LIEF) | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $500,000 | 2010 | 2010 |
| GNo:G0190402 | ||
An Integrated LC-MS-NMR facility for Applications in Proteomics and Organic Chemistry$280,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Adam McCluskey, Laureate Professor John Aitken, Professor Paul Dastoor, Professor Phillip Robinson, Professor Eileen McLaughlin, Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Lawrance, Professor Marcel Maeder, Professor Hugh Dunstan, Doctor Shaun Roman, Associate Professor Rob Atkin, Doctor Clovia Holdsworth, Doctor Mark Baker, Doctor Nikki Verrills, Professor Gottfried Otting, Associate Professor Brett Nixon, Doctor Xiaojing Zhou, Ms Megan Chircop, Doctor Warwick Belcher | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Equipment Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $280,000 | 2010 | 2010 |
| GNo:G1000873 | ||
ABI 7500 Real Time PCR System
$34,000
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Rick Thorne, Doctor Nikki Verrills, Doctor Murray Cairns, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Doctor Doug Smith, Professor Gordon Burns, Conjoint Professor Leonie Ashman, Conjoint Professor Keith Jones, Doctor Charles De Bock, Doctor Chris Dayas, Doctor Brett Graham, Doctor Martin Horan, Doctor Rebecca Lim, Doctor Severine Roselli, Doctor Larisa Bobrovskaya, Doctor Kathryn Skelding, Doctor Frederick Walker, Doctor Jude Weidenhofer, Associate Professor Philip Bolton, Associate Professor Alan Brichta, Professor Robert Callister, Professor Trevor Day, Associate Professor Phillip Dickson, Professor Manohar Garg, Doctor Phil Jobling, Associate Professor Derek Laver, Associate Professor Eugene Nalivaiko, Professor John Rostas | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Equipment Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $34,000 | 2010 | 2010 |
| GNo:G1000055 | ||
Epigenetic methylation of PP2A subunit promoters in breast cancer$25,000
Funding Body: Hunter Children`s Research Foundation
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Nikki Verrills, Doctor Martin Horan | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $25,000 | 2010 | 2010 |
| GNo:G0900148 | ||
2009 (4 grants)
An Advanced Mass Spectrometry Facility for Applications in Proteomics and Organic Chemistry$495,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Laureate Professor John Aitken, Professor Adam McCluskey, Doctor Mark Baker, Doctor Nikki Verrills, Professor Marcel Maeder, Doctor Xiaojing Zhou, Professor Eileen McLaughlin, Associate Professor Brett Nixon, Doctor Shaun Roman, Conjoint Professor Ray Rose, Professor Hugh Dunstan, Professor Christopher Grof, Professor Roger Smith, Conjoint Professor Peter Gibson, Conjoint Professor Alison Jones, Professor Mike Calford, Conjoint Professor Keith Jones, Doctor Rick Thorne, Emeritus Professor Peter Dunkley, Professor Paul Foster, Conjoint Professor Leonie Ashman, Professor Gordon Burns, Associate Professor Phillip Dickson, Professor John Rostas, Professor Rodney Scott, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Professor Phil Hansbro, Professor Pablo Moscato, Professor Paul Dastoor, Professor Peter Lewis | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Linkage Infrastructure Equipment & Facilities (LIEF) | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $495,000 | 2009 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0189122 | ||
Tetraspanin proteins in prostate cancer progression and prognosis$341,000
Funding Body: Cancer Council NSW
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Conjoint Professor Leonie Ashman, Doctor Nikki Verrills, Conjoint Professor Jim Denham | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Research Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $341,000 | 2009 | 2011 |
| GNo:G0188877 | ||
Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy for Live Cell Imaging$275,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Conjoint Professor Keith Jones, Professor Eileen McLaughlin, Laureate Professor John Aitken, Conjoint Professor Ray Rose, Emeritus Professor John Patrick, Conjoint Professor Christina Offler, Associate Professor David McCurdy, Conjoint Professor Leonie Ashman, Professor Gordon Burns, Professor Dirk Van Helden, Doctor Nikki Verrills, Associate Professor Brett Nixon, Doctor Shaun Roman, Associate Professor Yong-Ling Ruan, Doctor Rick Thorne, Professor Mike Calford | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Linkage Infrastructure Equipment & Facilities (LIEF) | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $275,000 | 2009 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0189038 | ||
An Advanced Mass Spectrometry Facility for Applications in Proteomics and Organic Chemistry$50,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Laureate Professor John Aitken, Professor Adam McCluskey, Doctor Mark Baker, Doctor Nikki Verrills, Professor Marcel Maeder, Doctor Xiaojing Zhou, Professor Eileen McLaughlin, Associate Professor Brett Nixon, Doctor Shaun Roman, Conjoint Professor Ray Rose, Professor Hugh Dunstan, Professor Christopher Grof, Professor Roger Smith, Conjoint Professor Peter Gibson, Conjoint Professor Alison Jones, Professor Mike Calford, Conjoint Professor Keith Jones, Doctor Rick Thorne, Emeritus Professor Peter Dunkley, Professor Paul Foster, Conjoint Professor Leonie Ashman, Professor Gordon Burns, Associate Professor Phillip Dickson, Professor John Rostas, Professor Rodney Scott, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Professor Phil Hansbro, Professor Pablo Moscato, Professor Paul Dastoor, Professor Peter Lewis | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Linkage Infrastructure Equipment & Facilities (LIEF) Partner funding | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $50,000 | 2009 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0189948 | ||
2008 (5 grants)
HMRI Cancer Research Program - MRSP Infrastructure$1,031,290
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Conjoint Professor Stephen Ackland, Conjoint Professor Leonie Ashman, Professor John Forbes, Conjoint Professor Jim Denham, Conjoint Professor Peter Hersey, Professor Gordon Burns, Professor Adam McCluskey, Doctor Nikki Verrills | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| MRSP Infrastructure Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $1,031,290 | 2008 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0188622 | ||
PP2A: a novel target for leukaemia therapy$300,000
Funding Body: Cancer Council NSW
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Nikki Verrills, Conjoint Professor Leonie Ashman, Professor Alistair Sim, Associate Professor Danilo Perrotti, Assoc. Prof Timothy Hughes, Dr David Thomas | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $300,000 | 2008 | 2010 |
| GNo:G0187694 | ||
Functional investigations of novel SET splice isoforms in acute myeloid leukaemia and their potential as a therapeutic target.$270,000
Funding Body: Anthony Rothe Memorial Trust
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Nikki Verrills | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $270,000 | 2008 | 2010 |
| GNo:G0188185 | ||
Novel Alternative Splice Isoforms of the SET Oncogene in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia $25,000
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Nikki Verrills | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $25,000 | 2008 | 2008 |
| GNo:G0188462 | ||
PP2A: A new target for asthma therapy$20,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Alistair Sim, Doctor Nikki Verrills, Professor John Scott, Conjoint Associate Professor Peter Wark | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Near Miss Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $20,000 | 2008 | 2008 |
| GNo:G0188395 | ||
2007 (7 grants)
FACSAria - Fluorescence activated cell sorter$300,000
Funding Body: Cancer Institute NSW
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Nikki Verrills, Conjoint Professor Leonie Ashman, Laureate Professor John Aitken, Professor Eileen McLaughlin, Professor Alistair Sim, Doctor Rick Thorne, Doctor Jennette Sakoff | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Infrastructure Grants | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $300,000 | 2007 | 2007 |
| GNo:G0187666 | ||
The role of protein phosphatase 2A in breast cancer$75,000
Funding Body: Cure Cancer Australia Foundation
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Nikki Verrills | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $75,000 | 2007 | 2007 |
| GNo:G0186797 | ||
HMRI Contribution toward FACSAria - Fluorescence activated cell sorter$52,000
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Nikki Verrills, Conjoint Professor Leonie Ashman, Laureate Professor John Aitken, Professor Eileen McLaughlin, Professor Alistair Sim, Doctor Rick Thorne, Doctor Jennette Sakoff | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Equipment Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $52,000 | 2007 | 2007 |
| GNo:G0188207 | ||
Differential regulation of human mast cell degranulation by discrete forms of protein phosphatase 2A$50,000
Funding Body: Asthma Foundation of New South Wales
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Alistair Sim, Doctor Nikki Verrills, Professor Paul Foster, Conjoint Associate Professor Peter Wark, Conjoint Professor Peter Gibson, Dr Gregory Kranias | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Research Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $50,000 | 2007 | 2007 |
| GNo:G0187247 | ||
The tumour suppressor gene, PP2A, in breast cancer and its potential as a new target for therapy$29,930
Funding Body: Ramaciotti Foundations
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Nikki Verrills | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $29,930 | 2007 | 2007 |
| GNo:G0188055 | ||
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine and Spectrophotometer$20,000
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Conjoint Professor Leonie Ashman, Professor Alistair Sim, Doctor Nikki Verrills | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Equipment Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $20,000 | 2007 | 2007 |
| GNo:G0188195 | ||
American Association of Cancer Research, LA Convention Centre, Los Angeles, USA, 14/4/2007 - 18/4/2007$1,700
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Nikki Verrills | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $1,700 | 2007 | 2007 |
| GNo:G0187550 | ||
2006 (6 grants)
The role of protein phosphates in regulating the cytoskeletal dynamics of cancer cells$292,062
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Nikki Verrills | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Training (Postdoctoral) Fellowships - Peter Doherty Biomedical Fellowship (Australia) | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $292,062 | 2006 | 2010 |
| GNo:G0185634 | ||
Live cell imaging facility$149,100
Funding Body: Cancer Institute NSW
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Rick Thorne, Doctor Nikki Verrills, Professor Alistair Sim, Professor Gordon Burns | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Infrastructure Grants | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $149,100 | 2006 | 2006 |
| GNo:G0186146 | ||
Investigating the functional role of altered expression and point mutations in the tumour suppressor gene PP2A$50,000
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Nikki Verrills | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Special Competitive Research Fund for Early Career Researchers in Cancer | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $50,000 | 2006 | 2007 |
| GNo:G0186082 | ||
Novel protein phosphatase interactions in cancer$10,000
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Nikki Verrills, Professor Alistair Sim | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $10,000 | 2006 | 2006 |
| GNo:G0186480 | ||
High speed computer for a live cell imaging system$3,000
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Rick Thorne, Professor Gordon Burns, Doctor Nikki Verrills, Professor Alistair Sim | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Equipment Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $3,000 | 2006 | 2006 |
| GNo:G0187279 | ||
BioRad Mini-PROTEAN3 Electrophoresis system$995
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Conjoint Professor Leonie Ashman, Associate Professor Phillip Dickson, Emeritus Professor Peter Dunkley, Professor John Rostas, Professor Judith Scott, Professor Alistair Sim, Doctor Nikki Verrills | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Equipment Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $995 | 2006 | 2006 |
| GNo:G0187280 | ||
2005 (1 grants)
Europhosphatases Conference 2005, 10-14 July 2005$2,430
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Nikki Verrills | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,430 | 2005 | 2005 |
| GNo:G0185546 | ||
2004 (1 grants)
12th International Conference on Second Messenger and Phosphoproteins, 3-7 August 2004$2,400
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Nikki Verrills | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,400 | 2004 | 2004 |
| GNo:G0184543 | ||
Research Supervision
| Number of current supervisions | 4 |
|---|---|
| Total current UoN PhD EFTSL | 0.45 |
For supervisions undertaken at an institution other that the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics, and the institution name is listed below the program name.
Current Supervision
| Commenced | Proposed Completion | Program | Supervisor Type | Research Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 2012 | PhD (Medical Biochemistry) | Principal Supervisor | Targeting PP2A Activation as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy for Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Driven Leukemia |
| 2007 | 2010 | PHD Biochemistry & Cell Biology University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor | The role of protein phosphatases in breast cancer |
| 2006 | 2009 | PHD Biochemistry & Cell Biology University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor | Role of PP2A in cancer |
| 2006 | 2009 | PHD Biochemistry & Cell Biology University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor | PP2A in mast cell function |
Past Supervision
| Year | Program | Supervisor Type | Research Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | PhD (Medical Biochemistry) | Principal Supervisor | The Role of Protein Phosphatase 2A as a Tumour Suppressor in Breast Cancer |
| 2011 | PhD (Medical Biochemistry) | Principal Supervisor | Regulation of Mast Cell Degranulation by Protein Phosphatase 2A |
| 2010 | PhD (Medical Biochemistry) | Principal Supervisor | Regulation of the Tumour Suppressor PP2A by Oncogenic Tyrosine Kinases |
Dr (Nikki) Verrills
| Work Phone | (02) 4921 5619 |
|---|---|
| Fax | (02) 4921 6903 |
| Nikki.Verrills@newcastle.edu.au | |
| Position | Research Fellow School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy Faculty of Health and Medicine |
| Focus Area | Medical Biochemistry |
| Office | LS3-46, Life Sciences, Callaghan University Drive Callaghan NSW 2308 Australia |
| URL: | www.newcastle.edu.au/profile/nikki-verrills |
Research Networks
- Hunter Medical Research Institute
- PRC - Priority Research Centre for Asthma & Respiratory Diseases
- PRC - Priority Research Centre for Bioinformatics, Biomarker Discovery and Information-Based Medicine
- PRC - Priority Research Centre for Cancer
- PRC - Priority Research Centre for Chemical Biology
- Hunter Medical Research Institute - Cancer
