Medical Science and Pathology

Scott Andrew

PhD (Sydney University, 2002)

Lecturer in Biochemistry
Orange
Building H Room 1

Dr Andrew worked as a research assistant at the Kolling Institute of Medical Research at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney developing genetic tests for patients with Multiple Endocrine neoplasia type II.

He undertook a PhD which identified and characterised the RET proto-oncogene promoter. Obtained a National Cancer Institute of Canada postdoctoral fellowship to work at Queens University in Canada to work on characterisation of the downstream signalling pathways from RET receptor. He took on a second postdoctoral position at the Oncology Research Unit at Westmead Childrens' Hospital working on characterisation of the role of signalling molecules in focal adhesions.

Dr Andrew joined CSU in 2006, teaching Biochemistry and Genetics. He maintains active collaborations with researchers overseas and within Australia.

Teaching

Teaching philosophy

Dr Andrew would consider his teaching successful if, years after a student has left his class, they can research a topic in science, evaluate the information and present it effectively, even though they may not be able to recite Mendel's laws or recall the details of the glycolytic pathway.

Current subjects taught

BCM211 (and DOH231) biochemistry; BMS240 genetics; BMS208 nutrition; BMS310 disease processes and HLT310 problem based learning for clinical science.

Teaching Awards

Praise from students who have attended his classes.

Other

Mastery of course material is important but he would prefer that students were able to think critically about the information presented. To aid in this, he hopes to be able to incorporate my research into my teaching.

Research

Three main areas of active research:

  1. (collaboration with Queens University, Canada)
    The RET proto-oncogene encodes' a receptor tyrosine kinase which has been found to play an important role in development of normal kidneys and the enteric nervous system. Activating mutations in this gene cause certain cancers of the thyroid gland. These activating mutations cause aberrant dimerisation of RET receptor molecules independent of normal ligand interaction. This project investigates defective downregulation of the RET receptor in cancer.
  2. (Collaboration with Gayle Smythe, CSU, Thurgoona)
    Duchene muscular dystrophy is caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. Dystrophin is responsible for connecting the cytoskeleton of each muscle fibre to the underlying extracellular matrix through a protein complex. Several major intracellular pathways are disrupted as a result of dystrophin deficiency. This project investigates the role of SRC family kinases in DMD.
  3. The role of Hypochaeris radicata in equine stringhalt disease
    Stringhalt disease is an example of a distal axonopathy in which a horse loses muscle function usually in the back legs. The most likely cause of this disease is ingestion of toxic substances. Seasonal outbreaks of the disease suggest that a particular weed species may be responsible. We are investigating potential sources of the toxin in plant extracts from the weed, Hypochaeris radicata.

Publications

  • Akladios FN, Andrew SD, Parkinson CJ. Cytotoxic activity of expanded coordination bis-thiosemicarbazones and copper complexes thereof. J Biol Inorg Chem. 2016 Dec;21(8):931-944. ePub 2016 Sep 19.
  • Akladios FN, Andrew SD, Parkinson CJ. Investigation of the cytotoxic implications of metal chelators against melanoma and approaches to improve the cytotoxicity profiles of metal coordinating agents. Biometals. 2016 Oct;29(5):789-805. doi: 10.1007/s10534-016-9945-1. ePub 2016 Jul 7.
  • Akladios FN, Andrew SD, Parkinson CJ. Increased generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species initiates selective cytotoxicity against the MCF-7 cell line resultant from redox active combination therapy using copper-thiosemicarbazone complexes. J Biol Inorg Chem. 2016 Jun;21(3):407-19. doi: 10.1007/s00775-016-1350-2.
  • Akladios FN, Andrew SD, Parkinson CJ. Improved cytotoxicity of pyridyl-substituted thiosemicarbazones against MCF-7 when used as metal ionophores. Biometals. 2016 Feb;29(1):157-70. doi: 10.1007/s10534-015-9905-1. ePub 2015 Dec 18
  • Akladios FN, Andrew SD, Parkinson CJ. Selective induction of oxidative stress in cancer cells via synergistic combinations of agents targeting redox homeostasis. Bioorg Med Chem. 2015 Jul 1;23(13):3097-104. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2015.05.006. ePub 2015 May 11.
  • Kudinha T, Johnson JR, Andrew SD, Kong F, Anderson P, Gilbert GL. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2013 Feb 20.Genotypic and Phenotypic Characterization of Escherichia coli Isolates from Children with Urinary Tract Infection and from Healthy Carriers.
  • Kudinha T, Johnson JR, Andrew SD, Kong F, Anderson P, Gilbert GL. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2013 Distribution of phylogenetic groups, sequence type ST131, and virulence-associated traits among Escherichia coli isolates from men with pyelonephritis or cystitis and healthy controls. Apr;19(4):E173-80. doi: 10.1111/1469-0691.12123. ePub 2013 Feb 7.
  • Kudinha T, Kong F, Johnson JR, Andrew SD, Anderson P, Gilbert GL. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2012 Feb;78(4):1198-202. doi: 10.1128/AEM.06921-11. ePub 2011 Dec 9.Multiplex PCR-based reverse line blot assay for simultaneous detection of 22 virulence genes in uropathogenic Escherichia coli.
  • Hickey JG, Myers SM, Tian X, Zhu SJ, V Shaw JL, Andrew SD, Richardson DS, Brettschneider J, Mulligan LM. RET-mediated gene expression pattern is affected by isoform but not oncogenic mutation. Genes Chromosomes Cancer. 2009 May;48(5):429-40.
  • Clarke JC, Patel SR, Raymond RM Jr, Andrew S, Robinson BG, Dressler GR, Brophy PD (2006). Regulation of c-Ret in the developing kidney is responsive to Pax2 gene dosage. Hum Mol Genet. Oct 17.
  • Vanhorne JB, Andrew SD*, Harrison KJ, Taylor SAM, Thomas B, McDonald TJ, Ainsworth PJ and Mulligan LM (2005). A model for GFRalpha4 function and a potential modifying role in MEN 2.  Oncogene (24), 1091-1097.
    (*joint first authorship)
  • Andrew SD, Kuiper MJ, Wride MA, Mansergh,FC, Rancourt DE and Mulligan LM (2002). Structural variation in a novel zinc finger protein and investigation of its role in Hirschsprung disease. Gene Function and Disease, Vol. 3, 3-4, 69-76. ( later incorporated into Comparative and Functional Genomics)
  • Andrew SD, Capes-Davis A, Delhanty PJD, Marsh DJ, Mulligan LM and Robinson BG (2002). Transcriptional repression of the RET proto-oncogene by a mitogen activated protein-kinase dependent signalling pathway. Gene. Sep 18; 298(1):9-19.
  • Andrew SD, Delhanty P, Mulligan L.M. and Robinson BG (2000). Sp1 and Sp3 transactivate the RET proto-oncogene promoter. Gene 256, 283-291.
  • Capes-Davis A, , Andrew SD, Hyland VJ, Twigg S, Learoyd DL, Dwight T, Marsh DJ and Robinson BG (1999) Glucocorticoids differentially inhibit expression of the RET proto-oncogene. Gene Expression, Vol 8,no. 5-6, 311-327.
  • Marsh DJ, Andrew SD, Learoyd DL, Pojer R, Eng C and Robinson B (1998). Deletion-Insertion Mutation Encompassing RET Codon 634 is associated with Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma. Human Mutation, supplement 1, S3.
  • Gimm O, Marsh DJ, Andrew SD, Frilling A , Dahia PL, Mulligan LM, Zajac JD, Robinson BG and Eng C. (1997) . Germline dinucleotide mutation in codon 883 of the RET proto-oncogene in MEN 2B without codon 918 mutation. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 82 (11): 3902-4.
  • Marsh DJ , Zheng Z, Arnold A, Andrew SD, Learoyd D, Frilling A, Kominoth P, Neumann HP, Ponder BA, Rollins BJ, Shapiro GI, Robinson BG, Mulligan LM, Eng C. (1997) Mutation analysis of glial cell line- derived neurotrophic factor, a ligand for an RET/ coreceptor complex, in MEN2 and sporadic neuroendocrine tumors. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 82 (9): 3025-8.
  • Evans JP, Bambach CP, Andrew S, Dwight T, Richardson AL, Robinson BG, Delbridge L. ( 1997) MEN type 2a presenting as an intra-abdominal emergency. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Surgery. 67(11): 824-6.
  • Marsh DJ, McDowall D, Hyland VJ, Andrew SD, Schnitzler M, Gaskin EL, Nevell DF, Diamond T, Delbridge L, Clifton-Bligh P, Robinson BG. (1996). The identification of false positive responses to the pentagastrin stimulation test in RET mutation negative members of MEN 2A families. Clinical Endocrinology 44 (2): 213-20.
  • Marsh DJ, Learoyd DL, Andrew SD, Krishnan L, Pojer R, Richardson AL, Delbridge L, Eng C, Robinson BG. (1996). Somatic mutations in the RET proto-oncogene in sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma. Clinical Endocrinology. 44 (3) : 249-257.
  • Marsh DJ, Andrew SD, Eng C, Learoyd DL, Capes AG, Pojer R, Richardson AL, Houghton C, Mulligan LM, Ponder BA, Robinson BG. (1996) . Germline and somatic mutations in an oncogene: RET mutations in inherited medullary thyroid carcinoma. Cancer Research. 56 (6):1241-3.
  • Marsh DJ, Robinson BG, Andrew S, Richardson AL, Pojer R, Schnitzler M, Mulligan LM, Hyland VJ. (1994) A rapid screening method for mutations in the RET proto-oncogene in MEN 2A and FMTC families. Genomics 23: 477-479.
  • Ward J, Marsh D, Andrew S, Clifton-Bligh P, Hyland V, Robinson B. (1992) MEN Type 2: Australian experience with genetic testing. Henry Ford Hospital Medical Journal 40: 220-223.
  • Kudinha T, Johnson JR, Andrew SD, Kong F, Anderson P, Gilbert GL.
    Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2013 Feb 20.  Genotypic and Phenotypic Characterization of Escherichia coli Isolates from Children with Urinary Tract Infection and from Healthy Carriers.
  • Kudinha T, Johnson JR, Andrew SD, Kong F, Anderson P, Gilbert GL.
    Clin Microbiol Infect. 2013 Apr;19(4):E173-80. doi: 10.1111/1469-0691.12123. ePub 2013 Feb 7.  Distribution of phylogenetic groups, sequence type ST131, and virulence-associated traits among Escherichia coli isolates from men with pyelonephritis or cystitis and healthy controls.
  • Kudinha T, Kong F, Johnson JR, Andrew SD, Anderson P, Gilbert GL.
    Appl Environ Microbiol. 2012 Feb;78(4):1198-202. doi: 10.1128/AEM.06921-11. ePub 2011 Dec 9.  Multiplex PCR-based reverse line blot assay for simultaneous detection of 22 virulence genes in uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

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