We want to introduce you to A/Prof. Louise Cheng, member of Phenomics Australia’s Scientific Director’s team and Co-head of the Phenomics Australia Australian Drosophila Transgenic Facility (ADTF) node at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
Meet Louise:
A/Prof Louise Cheng is a group leader at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and at the Department of Anatomy and Physiology at the University of Melbourne.
She has been an ARC Future Fellow (2019-2022), and was awarded the Marshall and Warren NHMRC Research Excellence award (2024). She leads the cancer cachexia program (CaXI) at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Center. A/Prof Cheng did her PhD at Kings College London and was trained in Prof Alex Gould’s lab at the National Institute for Medical Research, UK. The Cheng lab uses the model organism Drosophila to address fundamental questions in biology such as how differentiation is maintained in post-mitotic neurons and how inter-organ communication plays a role in cancer cachexia.
The ADTF boasts cutting-edge microinjection equipment, ensuring the consistent and efficient production of a diverse array of transgenic Drosophila strains. This state-of-the-art facility offers Australian research centers significant advantages, capitalizing on economies of scale and elevating the overall productivity of their researchers.
ACDT actively fosters collaboration among local researchers, augmenting their appeal to international counterparts. By substantially reducing entry costs and technical barriers associated with Drosophila research, it facilitates a seamless transition for investigators currently immersed in other experimental systems. Moreover, the facility contributes to the expansion of Australia’s research skill set, creating valuable employment and training opportunities in the process.
With an established track record and reputation for excellence, Phenomics Australia In Vivo Genome Engineering and Disease Modelling team uses techniques such as CRISPR-mediated mutagenesis, classical gene targeting, and transgenesis to create optimal tools for your research delivering a comprehensive service in genome modification. To meet the high demand for this platform, Phenomics Australia offers genome editing services through five nodes across Australia, operating at Monash, ANU, ONJCRI, SAHMRI and PeterMac.
