A/Prof Gemma Kelly, Lab Head | WEHI Researcher Profile

About

My laboratory uses cutting edge molecular and cellular biology techniques to identify vulnerabilities in leukaemia and lymphoma cells that could be exploited for cancer therapy.

Through our research projects we investigate the contribution of key cellular genes that control proliferation and cell death for the growth and chemosensitivity of both normal and malignant cells.

My laboratory also has a strong interest in virus-associated cancers, in particular in Epstein-Barr virus-associated lymphomas. We aim to understand how viral proteins can manipulate host cell proliferation and death to contribute to cancer development, growth and chemoresistance.

We have a wealth of accurate pre-clinical models of leukaemia and lymphoma that we utilise in our experiments, as well as expertise in the following techniques:

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing
lentiviral production and transduction of cells
drug screening
efficacy and toxicity testing of drugs in culture and in preclinical models
analysis of preclinical models of cancer

Education

Grants and funding

Publications

Selected publications from A/Prof Gemma Kelly

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. 2024;:10.1038/s41388-024-03219-6

La Marca JE, Diepstraten ST, Kelly GL, Herold MJ. Awakening the Genome: CRISPR Activation to Unravel the Origin and Vulnerabilities of Cancer. Annual Review of Cancer Biology. 2024;:10.1146/annurev-cancerbio-062624-104149

Thai AA, Young RJ, Bressel M, Kelly GL, Sejic N, Tsao SW, Trigos A, Rischin D, Solomon BJ. Characterizing and Targeting of BCL‐2 Family Members in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. Head & Neck. 2024;:10.1002/hed.27973

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

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

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

Chen T, Lieschke E, Scott L, Boyd D, Sutherland K, Strasser A, Kelly G. Abstract LT06: Understanding the Role of Mutant TP53 in Lung Cancer Using Novel Genetically Engineered Mouse Models. Cancer Research. 2024;84(8_Supplement):10.1158/1538-7445.fcs2023-lt06

Alcolea MP, Alonso-Curbelo D, Ambrogio C, Bullman S, Correia AL, Ernst A, Halbrook CJ, Kelly GL, Lund AW, Quail DF, Ruscetti M, Shema E, Stromnes IM, Tam WL. Cancer Hallmarks: Piecing the Puzzle Together. Cancer Discovery. 2024;14(4):10.1158/2159-8290.cd-24-0097

Wang Z, Burigotto M, Ghetti S, Vaillant F, Tan T, Capaldo BD, Palmieri M, Hirokawa Y, Tai L, Simpson DS, Chang C, Huang AS, Lieschke E, Diepstraten ST, Kaloni D, Riffkin C, Huang DCS, Suen CSNLW, Garnham AL, Gibbs P, Visvader JE, Sieber OM, Herold MJ, Fava LL, Kelly GL, Strasser A. Loss-of-Function but Not Gain-of-Function Properties of Mutant TP53 Are Critical for the Proliferation, Survival, and Metastasis of a Broad Range of Cancer Cells. Cancer Discovery. 2024;14(2):10.1158/2159-8290.cd-23-0402