Dr Rick Thorne
Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy
New Castle University
Australia
Biography
Dr. Rick Thorne (PhD 1999) is a postdoctoral researcher sponsored by the HMRI Cancer Research Program and contracted lecturer in the School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy at the University of Newcastle. His major interest involves different families of cell adhesion molecules and how these engage signalling pathways, particularly how these contribute to the development and progression of cancer. These interests overlap with CD36, another signalling molecule with disease functions outside cancer, particularly the metabolic syndrome and related disorders such as diabetes. Dr. Thorne has over ten years postdoctoral experience beginning with the award of a two year competitive postdoctoral fellowship Brawn Postdoctoral Research Fellow undertaken at the UoN under Prof. Gordon Burns. During that period he was awarded two competitive overseas training schemes through the UICC, an International Cancer Technology Transfer Fellowships undertaken at the ICRF in London, UK (2000) and a Cancer Research Training Course held in Toronto, Canada (2001). Pursing further training he then relocated the UK to take up a three year post as a Postdoctoral Fellow in Training (2002-2004) at the 5* Institute of Cancer Research (ICR, London). This appointment also led to a number of quality publications and first-hand experience as a PhD supervisor and supervisor of graduate student projects for Imperial College (honours equivalent). Following the ICR appointment he returned to UoN under an ARC Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship awarded from 2004-2007 in connection with an ARC Discovery Project. Subsequent to this award he received a three year Cancer Institute NSW fellowship for the period 2008-2010. After a number of years acting as laboratory manager for the Cancer Research Unit, Dr. Thorne inherited the facilities’ of Prof. Burns and now runs this laboratory on an independent basis. Over the last five years Dr. Thorne has contributed 27 original research articles and one review article. For ten of these publications he is the first, equal contributory or senior author. Within this body of work there is a strong indication of productive collaborations with local, national and international colleagues.
Research Interest
Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Medical Biochemistry and Metabolomics
Publications
-
De Bock CE, Ardjmand A, Molloy TJ, Bone SM, Johnstone D, Campbell DM, Shipman KL, Yeadon TM, Holst J, Spanevello MD, Nelmes G. The Fat1 cadherin is overexpressed and an independent prognostic factor for survival in paired diagnosis-relapse samples of precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Leukemia. 2012 May 1;26(5):918.
-
Thorne RF, Mhaidat NM, Ralston KJ, Burns GF. CD36 is a receptor for oxidized high density lipoprotein: implications for the development of atherosclerosis. FEBS letters. 2007 Mar 20;581(6):1227-32.
-
Mhaidat NM, Alali FQ, Matalqah SM, Matalka II, Jaradat SA, Al-Sawalha NA, Thorne RF. Inhibition of MEK sensitizes paclitaxel-induced apoptosis of human colorectal cancer cells by downregulation of GRP78. Anti-cancer drugs. 2009 Aug 1;20(7):601-6.
