-
Areas
Technologies

About

My research is focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis, with a particular focus on leukaemias and lymphomas. To do this, we use gene-targeting technologies as well as biochemical and molecular biology tools.

This is answering important questions about:

– The regulation of apoptosis and other forms of cell death
– How apoptosis and other forms of cell death are disrupted during development of haematopoietic and epithelial tumours, and autoimmune disease
– The contribution of impaired apoptosis and possibly other forms of cell death to chemoresistance
– How we can manipulate apoptosis and possibly other forms of cell death for therapeutic benefit
– How the tumour suppressor p53 prevents tumour development and how it functions in cancer therapy
– Our long-term ambition is to use this knowledge to develop new approaches to the treatment and prevention of cancer and autoimmune disease.

My group has been set up to encompass a very broad technology base, bringing together expertise in:

– In vivo biology
– Transgenic and gene targeting technology
– Molecular biology, including lentiviral and shRNA vector production as well as CRISPR mediated genome editing in cell lines, primary cells and in mice
– Biochemistry
– Yeast genetics
– Monoclonal antibody production
– Immunology and haematology

This allows us to tackle many important questions in cell death, molecular oncology and immunology and helped to establish our group at the forefront in our area of research.

Publications

Selected publications from Prof Andreas Strasser

Chen T, Ashwood LM, Kondrashova O, Strasser A, Kelly G, Sutherland KD. Breathing new insights into the role of mutant p53 in lung cancer. Oncogene. 2025;44(3):10.1038/s41388-024-03219-6

Luo M-X, Tan T, Trussart M, Poch A, Nguyen TMH, Speed TP, Hicks DG, Bandala-Sanchez E, Peng H, Chappaz S, Slade C, Utzschneider DT, Koldej RM, Ritchie D, Strasser A, Thijssen R, Ritchie ME, Tam CS, Lindeman GJ, Huang DCS, Lew TE, Anderson MA, Roberts AW, Teh CE, Gray DHD. Venetoclax dose escalation rapidly activates a BAFF/BCL-2 survival axis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood. 2024;144(26):10.1182/blood.2024024341

La Marca JE, Kelly GL, Strasser A, Diepstraten ST. Don’t fear the reaper: The role of regulated cell death in tumorigenesis and BH3-mimetics for cancer therapy. Developmental Cell. 2024;59(19):10.1016/j.devcel.2024.06.018

Lieschke E, Thomas AF, Kueh A, Atkin-Smith GK, Baldoni PL, La Marca JE, Young S, Huang AS, Ross AM, Whelan L, Kaloni D, Tai L, Smyth GK, Herold MJ, Hawkins ED, Strasser A, Kelly GL. Mouse models to investigate in situ cell fate decisions induced by p53. The EMBO Journal. 2024;43(19):10.1038/s44318-024-00189-z

Cummings MC, Vaux DL, Strasser A, Kluck R. Correction: John F. R. Kerr (1934–2024). Cell Death & Differentiation. 2024;31(10):10.1038/s41418-024-01373-8

Kelly G, Diepstraten S, Yuan Y, La Marca J, Young S, Chang C, Whelan L, Ross A, Fischer K, Pomilio G, Morris R, Georgiou A, Litalien V, Brown F, Roberts A, Strasser A, Wei A. 2007 – INFORMING THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES FOR P53 DEFECTIVE BLOOD CANCERS. Experimental Hematology. 2024;137:10.1016/j.exphem.2024.104564

Cummings MC, Vaux DL, Strasser A, Kluck R. John F. R. Kerr (1934–2024). Cell Death & Differentiation. 2024;31(8):10.1038/s41418-024-01338-x

Shi Y, Strasser A, Green DR, Latz E, Mantovani A, Melino G. Legacy of the discovery of the T-cell receptor: 40 years of shaping basic immunology and translational work to develop novel therapies. Cellular & Molecular Immunology. 2024;21(7):10.1038/s41423-024-01168-4

Audiger C, Laâbi Y, Nie J, Gibson L, Wilson-Annan J, Brook-Carter P, Kueh A, Harris AW, Naik S, Nutt SL, Strasser A, Adams JM, Bouillet P, Chopin M. Mis-expression of GATA6 re-programs cell fate during early hematopoiesis. Cell Reports. 2024;43(5):10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114159

Diepstraten ST, Yuan Y, La Marca JE, Young S, Chang C, Whelan L, Ross AM, Fischer KC, Pomilio G, Morris R, Georgiou A, Litalien V, Brown FC, Roberts AW, Strasser A, Wei AH, Kelly GL. Putting the STING back into BH3-mimetic drugs for TP53-mutant blood cancers. Cancer Cell. 2024;42(5):10.1016/j.ccell.2024.04.004

Lab research projects

Interested in supporting our research?

Your support will help WEHI’s researchers make discoveries and find treatments to ensure healthier, longer lives for you and your loved ones.

Contact our friendly team to find out how you can help.