Emeritus Professor
Leigh AcklandProfile page
Emeritus Professor
Faculty of Science Engineering and Built Environment/Office of the Executive Dean Science, Engineering and Built Environment
Orcid identifier0000-0002-7474-6556
- Emeritus ProfessorFaculty of Science Engineering and Built Environment/Office of the Executive Dean Science, Engineering and Built Environment
BIO
Professor Leigh Ackland has a Personal Chair in Biomolecular Sciences at
Deakin University. She is Director of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular
Biology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences. Over the last 20 years her
research has contributed to advances in understanding the role of metals in
human health and disease, where her work has provided insights into how zinc
and copper are processed at the cellular level. Her team has identified
molecular transporters that control the fluxes of zinc and copper into and out
of cells and has contributed to elucidating the molecular basis of defective
copper and zinc transport seen in inherited disorders of metal metabolism of
humans. Prof Ackland has international projects in China and India to
investigate accumulation heavy metals in plants and bacteria from metal-
contaminated soil and water, with the aim to develop bioremediation strategies
based on the capacity of plants and bacteria to accumulate heavy metals. Prof
Ackland and her team have developed expertise in the manipulation of human
cells in culture to mimic human tissues including the mammary gland, skin, gut
and placenta. A novel human breast cell culture model PMC42-LA generated in
her laboratory has been internationally utilised to investigate the mechanisms
underlying the spread of breast cancer cells termed the epithelial to
mesenchymal transition. Current projects include the identification of novel
markers in tumor tissue and circulating tumor cells to improve diagnosis and
treatment of neuroendocrine tumors. Other projects in Prof Ackland's lab
include a study to elucidate the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on neuronal
cell function and a collaborative project on epigenetic factors in diabetes.
Professor Ackland is involved in undergraduate teaching and training in the
biological and bioimedical courses and supervises PhD and Honours students
After completing postgraduate studies at the Murdoch Childrens' Research
Institute (University of Melbourne), I commenced employment at Deakin
University at the Rusden Campus in 1994. At that time at the Melbourne
campuses there were no facilities for research in laboratory-based biology. I
established the first biology research laboratory and initiated laboratory-
based research at Rusden. In 2000, the Rusden laboratory was transformed into
the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) at the Burwood campus. At
its inception, the CCMB was focussed on metal biology in relation to humans.
Since leading research in this facility from 2013, I have broadened its focus
on metals to include research on plants, fungi, algae and bacteria, and
introduced other aspects of human-based molecular biology including cancer and
diabetes. This has been achieved by strategic appointments of new staff with a
range of skills and experience. As deputy director of the Molecular and
Medical Strategic Research Centre I have played a key role in building
collaborations within and outside the university in the human bioscience
discipline. My supervision of PhD students has been a major factor in
facilitating the building of research projects and teams.
Deakin University. She is Director of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular
Biology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences. Over the last 20 years her
research has contributed to advances in understanding the role of metals in
human health and disease, where her work has provided insights into how zinc
and copper are processed at the cellular level. Her team has identified
molecular transporters that control the fluxes of zinc and copper into and out
of cells and has contributed to elucidating the molecular basis of defective
copper and zinc transport seen in inherited disorders of metal metabolism of
humans. Prof Ackland has international projects in China and India to
investigate accumulation heavy metals in plants and bacteria from metal-
contaminated soil and water, with the aim to develop bioremediation strategies
based on the capacity of plants and bacteria to accumulate heavy metals. Prof
Ackland and her team have developed expertise in the manipulation of human
cells in culture to mimic human tissues including the mammary gland, skin, gut
and placenta. A novel human breast cell culture model PMC42-LA generated in
her laboratory has been internationally utilised to investigate the mechanisms
underlying the spread of breast cancer cells termed the epithelial to
mesenchymal transition. Current projects include the identification of novel
markers in tumor tissue and circulating tumor cells to improve diagnosis and
treatment of neuroendocrine tumors. Other projects in Prof Ackland's lab
include a study to elucidate the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on neuronal
cell function and a collaborative project on epigenetic factors in diabetes.
Professor Ackland is involved in undergraduate teaching and training in the
biological and bioimedical courses and supervises PhD and Honours students
After completing postgraduate studies at the Murdoch Childrens' Research
Institute (University of Melbourne), I commenced employment at Deakin
University at the Rusden Campus in 1994. At that time at the Melbourne
campuses there were no facilities for research in laboratory-based biology. I
established the first biology research laboratory and initiated laboratory-
based research at Rusden. In 2000, the Rusden laboratory was transformed into
the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) at the Burwood campus. At
its inception, the CCMB was focussed on metal biology in relation to humans.
Since leading research in this facility from 2013, I have broadened its focus
on metals to include research on plants, fungi, algae and bacteria, and
introduced other aspects of human-based molecular biology including cancer and
diabetes. This has been achieved by strategic appointments of new staff with a
range of skills and experience. As deputy director of the Molecular and
Medical Strategic Research Centre I have played a key role in building
collaborations within and outside the university in the human bioscience
discipline. My supervision of PhD students has been a major factor in
facilitating the building of research projects and teams.
DEAKIN UNIVERSITY CURRENT APPOINTMENT
- Emeritus ProfessorDeakin University, Office of the Executive Dean Science, Engineering and Built Environment
DEGREES
- Doctor of PhilosophyUniversity of Melbourne
- Master of ScienceUniversity of Melbourne
- Bachelor of ScienceUniversity of Melbourne
AVAILABILITY FOR SUPERVISION
- Masters by Research and PhD supervision
AREA/FACULTY
- Faculty of Science Engineering and Built Environment
DEPARTMENT/SCHOOL/INSTITUTE
- Office of the Executive Dean Science, Engineering and Built Environment