Dr Kira Groen
Research Associate
School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy
- Email:kira.groen@newcastle.edu.au
- Phone: (02) 40420304
Career Summary
Biography
Dr Kira Groen was recently awarded her PhD (September 2020) and now works with Dr Kelly Avery-Kiejda on the role p53 isoforms (which regulate the canonical function of p53) in breast cancer and melanoma. With Dr Avery-Kiejda and her research group, Dr Groen is evaluating the potential p53 isoforms have in serving as biomarkers in melanoma, determining the specific function of delta40p53, a p53 isoform, through knockdown and over-expression models, and investigating the possibility of modulating delta40p53 expression to reduce chemotherapy resistance in oestrogen-positive breast cancer.
In addition to her research commitment, Dr Groen is actively involved in community engagement. She is a member of the Community Engagement Committee of the Hunter Cancer Research Alliance. Dr Groen is also a member of the Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR), the Australian Metastasis Research Society (OzMRS), and the International Women in Multiple Sclerosis (iWiMS). Dr Groen also contributes to the research community as a peer-reviewer for Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorder and Molecular Biology Reports.
During her PhD candidature, Dr Groen looked at the role of erythrocyte and erythrocyte-derived extracellular vesicle microRNAs in multiple sclerosis. Dr Groen was interested in epigenetic mechanisms and the role of extracellular vesicles as intercellular messengers in health and disease. Throughout Dr Groen's Honours and PhD, she has developed and optimised erythrocyte purification protocols, RNA extraction from erythrocytes, library preparation and next-generation sequencing techniques. Dr Groen also developed a flow cytometry protocol to quantify extracellular vesicles in plasma. Further, Dr Groen has experience in RNA and DNA extractions, RT-qPCR, blood processing, and cell culture.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy in Medicine, University of Newcastle
- Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, Bond University
- Bachelor of Health Science (Honours), Bond University
Keywords
- delta40p53
- erythrocytes
- extracellular vesicles
- microRNA
- multiple sclerosis
- next-generation sequencing
Languages
- English (Fluent)
- Portuguese (Fluent)
- German (Mother)
- French (Working)
Professional Experience
UON Appointment
| Title | Organisation / Department |
|---|
Professional appointment
| Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
|---|---|---|
| 15/1/2017 - 31/12/2017 |
Laboratory Technician |
School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle Australia |
Teaching appointment
| Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
|---|---|---|
| 15/1/2015 - 31/12/2015 |
Semester Tutor Problem-based learning facilitator for Microbiology and Immunology |
Bond University Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine Australia |
Awards
Award
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2018 |
Best Student Oral Presentation at the Australasian Extracellular Vesicle Meeting International Society for Extracellular Vesicles |
| 2014 |
First in Class Award BMED12-125 “Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Design” Bond University |
| 2014 |
First in Class Award HPER12-101 “Health Research Methods” Bond University |
| 2014 |
First in Class Award CORE11-101 “Public Speaking: Presentation Skills for Leaders” Bond University |
| 2014 |
First in Class Award BMED12-18 “Laboratory Medicine" Bond University |
| 2014 |
First in Class Award HPER11-102 “Health Promotion” Bond University |
| 2014 |
First in Class Award BMED12-120 “Pathophysiology and Pharmacology” Bond University |
| 2014 |
First in Class Award HPER12-103 “Health Communication” Bond University |
| 2013 |
First in Class Award BMED 12-124 “Human Organ Systems 2” Bond University |
| 2013 |
First in Class Award BMED11-110 “Human Organ Systems 1" Bond University |
| 2013 |
First in Class Award BMED11- 207 “Medical and Molecular Genetics” Bond University |
| 2013 |
First in Class Award BMED11-106 “Microbiology” Bond University |
| 2013 |
First in Class Award BMED11-204 “Chemistry" Bond University |
| 2013 |
First in Class Award BMED11-203 “Cell Biology” Bond University |
Distinction
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2016 |
Vice Chancellor’s List of Academic Excellence Bond University |
| 2015 |
Valedictorian of the Faculty of Health Science and Medicine Bond University |
| 2014 |
Vice-Chancellor’s List of Academic Excellence Bond University |
| 2013 |
Vice-Chancellor’s List of Academic Excellence Bond University |
Nomination
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2015 |
Nomination for Pearson Student of the Year Pearson Australia |
Recognition
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2017 |
Three Minute Thesis Pre-Confirmation Finalist The University of Newcastle |
Scholarship
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2015 |
Dean’s Scholarship Bond University Bond University |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Journal article (7 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 |
Maltby VE, Lea RA, Burnard S, Xavier A, Van Cao T, White N, et al., 'Epigenetic differences at the HTR2A locus in progressive multiple sclerosis patients.', Sci Rep, 10 22217 (2020)
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| 2020 |
Steffens Reinhardt L, Zhang X, Wawruszak A, Groen K, De Iuliis GN, Avery-Kiejda KA, 'Good Cop, Bad Cop: Defining the Roles of 40p53 in Cancer and Aging', Cancers, 12 (2020) [C1]
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| 2020 |
Groen K, Maltby VE, Scott RJ, Tajouri L, Lechner-Scott J, 'Erythrocyte microRNAs show biomarker potential and implicate multiple sclerosis susceptibility genes.', Clinical and translational medicine, 10 74-90 (2020) [C1]
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| 2020 |
Groen K, Maltby VE, Scott RJ, Tajouri L, Lechner-Scott J, 'Concentrations of plasma-borne extracellular particles differ between multiple sclerosis disease courses and compared to healthy controls', Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 45 (2020) [C1]
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| 2018 |
Groen K, Lea RA, Maltby VE, Scott RJ, Lechner-Scott J, 'Letter to the editor: blood processing and sample storage have negligible effects on methylation', CLINICAL EPIGENETICS, 10 (2018) [C1]
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| 2018 |
Groen K, Maltby VE, Lea RA, Sanders KA, Fink JL, Scott RJ, et al., 'Erythrocyte microRNA sequencing reveals differential expression in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.', BMC medical genomics, 11 (2018) [C1]
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| 2016 |
Groen K, Maltby VE, Sanders KA, Scott RJ, Tajouri L, Lechner-Scott J, 'Erythrocytes in multiple sclerosis - forgotten contributors to the pathophysiology?', Multiple Sclerosis Journal Experimental, Translational and Clinical, 2 2055217316649981-2055217316649981 (2016) [C1]
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Conference (7 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 |
Yusof KM, Mahmud R, Abdullah M, Groen K, Avery-Kiejda KA, Rosli R, 'Identification of modifiable and molecular factors associated with breast cancer-related lymphedema in Malaysian breast cancer survivors', ASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY (2020)
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| 2019 |
Maltby VE, Lea RA, Groen K, Burnard S, Sanders K, Seeto R, et al., 'Genome-wide DNA Methylation in Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Patients Reveals Unique Epigenetic Signature.', MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS JOURNAL, Sydney, AUSTRALIA (2019)
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| 2019 |
Groen K, Burnard S, Maltby VE, Scott RJ, Tajouri L, Lechner-Scott J, 'Increased plasma-borne extracellular vesicles in Multiple Sclerosis - Where did they come from?', MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS JOURNAL, Sydney, AUSTRALIA (2019)
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Grants and Funding
Summary
| Number of grants | 2 |
|---|---|
| Total funding | $30,000 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
20191 grants / $5,000
Centre for Brain and Mental Health Infrastructure Grant Round$5,000
Funding body: Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research
| Funding body | Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research |
|---|---|
| Project Team | K. Groen |
| Scheme | Equipment Grant |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2019 |
| Funding Finish | 2019 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | Internal |
| Category | INTE |
| UON | N |
20181 grants / $25,000
Red blood cell-derived extracellular vesicle microRNAs in Multiple Sclerosis - A form of intercellular communication$25,000
Funding body: Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia Limited (MSRA)
| Funding body | Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia Limited (MSRA) |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Conjoint Professor Jeannette Lechner-Scott, Doctor Vicki Maltby, Doctor Kira Groen, Miss Kira Groen, Dr Lotti Tajouri, Dr Lotti Tajouri |
| Scheme | Incubator Grant |
| Role | Investigator |
| Funding Start | 2018 |
| Funding Finish | 2019 |
| GNo | G1800511 |
| Type Of Funding | C3112 - Aust Not for profit |
| Category | 3112 |
| UON | Y |
Research Supervision
Number of supervisions
Current Supervision
| Commenced | Level of Study | Research Title | Program | Supervisor Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | PhD | The Link Between Aberrations in the P53 Pathway and Outcome from DNA-Damaging Therapies in Breast Cancer | PhD (Medical Genetics), College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
Dr Kira Groen
Position
Research Associate
School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy
College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing
Contact Details
| kira.groen@newcastle.edu.au | |
| Phone | (02) 40420304 |
Office
| Room | HMRI, Level 3 West |
|---|---|
| Building | Hunter Medical Research Institute Building |