University of Tasmania, Australia

Associate Head of Research, School of Medicine

BSc(Hons), PhD

General Responsibilities

• Associate Head of Medicine (Biomedical Science)
• Lecturer in Biochemistry
• Member of School Executive Committee

Teaching Responsibilities

Units

• CBA341 - Molecular Biology and Protein Biochemistry
• CBA342 - Techniques in Molecular Biology and Protein Biochemistry
• CBA343 - Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• CBA344 - Research Project in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Honours supervision

Publications

• West, A. K., Leung, J. Y., & Chung, R. S. (2011). Neuroprotection and regeneration by extracellular metallothionein via lipoprotein receptor-related proteins.  Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry,  16, 1115-1122.
• Ray, S., Howells, C., Eaton, E. D., Butler, C. W., Shabala, L., Adlard, P. A., West, A. K., Bennett, W. R., Guillemin, G. J., & Chung, R. S. (2011). Tg2576 cortical neurons that express human Aβ are susceptible to extracellular Aβ-induced, K+ efflux dependent neurodegeneration. PLoS One. 6(4), e19026.
• Hale, D. M., Ray, S., Leung, J. Y. K., Holloway, A. F., Chung, R. S., West, A. K., & Chuah, M. I. (2011). Olfactory ensheathing cells moderate nuclear factor kappaB translocation in astrocytes. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. 46, 213-221.
• Chuah, M. I., Hale, D. M., & West, A. K. (2011). Interaction of olfactory ensheathing cells with other cell types in vitro and after transplantation: glial and fibrous scars and inflammation. Experimental Neurology, 229, 46-53.
• Pountney, D. L., Dickson, T. C., Power, J. H., Vickers, J. C., West, A. K., & Gai, W. P. (2011). Association of Metallothionein-III with Oligodendroglial Cytoplasmic Inclusions in Multiple System Atrophy. Neurotox Res., 19(<em>1</em>), 115-122.
• Leung, Y. K. J., Pankhurst, M., Dunlop, S. A., Ray, S., Dittmann, J., Eaton, E. D., Palumaa, P., Sillard, R., Chuah, M. I., West, A. K., & Chung, R. S. (2010). Metallothionein induces a regenerative reactive astrocyte phenotype via JAK/STAT and RhoA signalling pathways. Experimental Neurology: A Journal of Neuroscience Research, 221(1), 98-106.
• Howells, C., West, A. K., & Chung, R. S. (2010). Neuronal growth-inhibitory factor (metallothionein-3): evaluation of the biological function of growth-inhibitory factor in the injured and neurodegenerative brain. The F E B S Journal, 277(14), 2931–2939.
• Shabala, L., Howells, C., West, A. K., & Chung, R. S. (2010). Prolonged Aβ treatment leads to impairment in the ability of primary cortical neurons to maintain K+ and Ca²+ homeostasis. Molecular Neurodegeneration, 5(30).
• Chung, R. S., Howells, C., Eaton, E. D., Shabala, L., Zovo, K., Palumaa, P., Sillard, R., Woodhouse, A., Bennett, W. R., Ray, S., Vickers, J. C., & West, A. K. (2010). The native copper- and zinc-binding protein metallothionein blocks copper-mediated Aβ Aggregation and toxicity in rat cortical neurons. P L o S One, 5(8).

Web Access Research Portal (WARP)

Additional Information

Research Interests

• Neurobiology of metal binding proteins
• Molecular basis of neurodegeneration and regeneration
• Development of new therapeutic agents for treatment of neurodegeneration
• Biology of olfactory ensheathing cells including their use in treatment of neural trauma and infection