A/Prof. Derek Laver

Work Phone	(02) 4921 8732
Fax	(02) 4921 7406
Email	Derek.Laver@newcastle.edu.au
Position	Associate Professor School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy The University of Newcastle, Australia
Office	MS407, Medical Sciences

Biography

Within the School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy I am convenor for Research Higher Degrees and the Student Academic Conduct Officer (SACO). Within the University I am coordinator for the Cardiovascular RQF at the University of Newcastle and I represent the Hunter region on the NSW Cardiovascular Research Network. Currently I serve as Chair of the cardiovascular program within the Hunter Medical Research Institute.

My research aims are shared by Mr Paul Johnson (research assistant), and three PhD students (Ms Kafa Walweel, Ms Jiao Li and Ms Devya Mehra). These aims are also shared by collaborators at several Australian Universities and internationally, with current projects involving researchers in the USA (Dr Ikemoto from Harvard School of Medicine, Dr Knollmann from Vanderbilt University and Dr Shtifman from St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Boston) and Sweden (Dr. Birnir from Lund University).

I have been a council member and webmaster for Australian Physiological Society since 2000. I am a reviewer for many international journals (e.g. Journal of General Physiology, Biophysical Journal) and for the funding bodies (ARC, NH&MRC and Wellcome trust). I served as a member on peer review panels in Australia and internationally. I have chaired the organising committees for 2 Australian conferences (Curtin Conference 2000, Australian Physiological Society 2007). My research has attracted a number of highly prised fellowships from the ARC, including a Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship, Senior Research Fellowship and a Professorial Fellowship and also a Brawn Senior Fellowship from the University of Newcastle

Qualifications

PhD, University of New South Wales, 1984
Bachelor of Science (Honours)(Physics), University of New South Wales, 1978

Research

Research keywords

Membrane transport
cardiac muscle
ion channels
skeletal muscle

Research expertise

The theme to my research career has been the use of biophysical methods to study membrane transport and ion channel function. I use electrophysiolological techniques to measure ion channel function. Channel function is analysed using markov theory to unravel and identify the complex mechanisms that control ion channels within cells.

Collaboration

I have had a long standing interest in how ion channels are able to be selective to specific ion species and how they can open and close in response to stimuli from within the cell and the external environment. My understanding of ion channel function is primarily built upon biophysical measurement of ion flow through single ion channels using techniques such as patch-clamp of cell membranes and fusion of ion channels with artificially produced lipid membranes.

Since 1995, I have devoted much of my attention to understanding how intracellular calcium and magnesium ions regulate the opening of calcium release channels in cardiac and skeletal muscle. These calcium release channels (called ryanodine receptors) mediate the release of calcium from internal stores within the cells which, in turn, provides the signal for muscle contraction. In the heart, these channels are important for timing of the heart beat and inherited mutations in these channels are known to lead to cardiac arrhythmia and sudden death.

I have discovered several mechanisms by which calcium release channels are regulated by intracellular Ca2+ and Mg2+ and the key differences between those found in cardiac and skeletal muscle. These discoveries have provided insight into mechanisms for cardiac contraction and rythmicity, how their mal regulation leads to cardiac arrhythmias and how pharmacological modulation of the calcium release channels can reverse cardiac arrhythmias arising from congenital heart diseases such as CPVT.

Fields of Research

Code	Description	Percentage
111599	Pharmacology And Pharmaceutical Sciences Not Elsewhere Classified	60
111699	Medical Physiology Not Elsewhere Classified	20
029900	Other Physical Sciences	20

Centres and Groups

Centre

Group

Hunter Medical Research Institute - Cardiovascular

Memberships

Editorial Board.

Editor for Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology
Editor for Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology

Learned Academy.

Council member 2000-2007

Appointments

ARC - Aust Professorial Fellowship (level D E) ARC (Australia)	01/01/2006
Prestigious fellowship Senior Research Fellow (ARC) (Australia)	01/01/1992 - 01/12/2005
Prestigious fellowship Professorial Research Fellowship (Australia)	01/01/2001 - 01/12/2005

Invitations

Gordon Conference on Muscle Gordon conferences, Australia (Conference Presentation - non published.)	2006
Gordon conference on excitation contraction coupling Gordon conference, Australia (Conference Presentation - non published.)	2003
IUPS satelite confernece IUPS, Australia (Conference Presentation - non published.)	2001
Biomembrane program, AgResearch, Australia (External Reviewer - Programs.)	2004

Administrative

Administrative expertise

2004-present Co- Chairman of the Cardiovascular program of the Hunter Medical Research Institute.

Teaching

Teaching keywords

Ion channels
disease
electrophysiology

Teaching expertise

I have lectured and coordinated small undersgraduate courses (20-50 students) in my research area. I have coordinated and run laboratory classes in physiology and physics. I have supervised post graduate and honours students in physiology and biophysics

Teaching interests

Most of my teaching is in the physiology and biophysics subjects. I am particularly interested in teaching an understanding of the origins of knowledge provided in my various courses. This is based on the philosophy that science is about acquiring knowledge as well as disseminating it.

The University of Newcastle, Australia