CHIRI Masters student Aleshanee Paxman gave an award winning presentation at the Perth Protein Group (PPG) AGM. She is pictured receiving her award from PPG Chair Associate Professor Joshua Mylne.

As Western Australia’s research community gathered for the inaugural Annual General Meeting of the Perth Protein Group (PPG) in Albany this month, several of the Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI) team were on hand to contribute their expertise and to celebrate an award-winning presentation by one of our students.

CHIRI Masters student Aleshanee Paxman delivered the Best Student Talk of the three-day event. Aleshanee’s presentation was on cell biology and cancer research she’s undertaking at CHIRI, as part of her Masters studies within Curtin University’s School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences.

Aleshanee is conducting the first known research investigation of cancer-associated mutations within the protein import channel, known as the translocon, in the membrane of the cellular compartment known as the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. This channel also allows the limited movement of small molecules in and out of this compartment. Mutations within the translocon can make the channel more open or closed; increasing or decreasing the flow of molecules through it.

Numerous channels in the endoplasmic reticulum are known to have significant roles in cancer and its progression, so Aleshanee is hopeful her research, which has already revealed a series of mutations that alter the stability of the transcolon channel, will improve understanding of cancer pathologies and contribute to better outcomes for cancer patients.

Aleshanee’s win at the meeting was a particularly proud moment for her CHIRI co-supervisors Dr Carl Mousley and Dr Rob Steuart. Carl was among the presenters in the Chemical Biology Session of the AGM, sharing his research on protein folding in the endoplasmic reticulum. PPG Secretary Dr Mark Agostino is also a CHIRI researcher and was a session chair on the day.

With the meeting having a strong focus on research by students and early career researchers, most of the meeting’s 20 presentations were by students.

CHIRI’s PhD research was well represented with Joanne Rowles, Melissa Eccles, Krushna Sonar, Lamprini Baklous, Christopher Witham, Lina Rozano, Tahlia Bastholm and Callum Verdonk giving presentations, and Amy Woodfield and Mark Bieniawski presenting posters on their projects.

CHIRI researcher A/Prof Giuseppe Verdile and PhD students Mike Wildie and Jessica Murray attended the AGM.

According to Aleshanee, who has been busy developing her research translation skills through involvement in Curtin’s STEM Outreach program, there was some tough competition for the meeting’s Best Student Talk prize.

“There were a lot of people deserving of the award,” Aleshanee said. “It was nice to be among them and to be recognised, and to know that people left the meeting with an understanding of my research and its importance.”