Centre for Urology Research (CUR)

Our mission

The mission of the Centre for Urology Research is to enhance our knowledge of the lower urinary tract with the aim of developing new treatments or enhancing current treatments of the following conditions:

Interstitial cystitis
Stress and bladder & bowel dysfunction
Overactive bladder
Bladder and prostate cancer
Ureteral & kidney stones
Stress incontinence
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate)
Erectile dysfunction

About the Centre for Urology Research (CUR)

Academic Staff

Academic	Research interest
Professor Russ Chess-Williams	Drug development for overactive bladder, stress incontinence, benign prostatic hyperplasia, erectile dysfunction and prostate bladder carcinoma
Associate Professor Catherine McDermott	Actions of cytotoxic drugs and their metabolites on bladder function
Associate Professor Donna Sellers	Overactive bladder and diabetes, stress incontinence, bladder pathophysiology
Assistant Professor Anna Lohning	Molecular modelling of uroplakins, drugs to treat prostate cancer
Associate Professor Christian Moro	Overactive bladder and bladder physiology
Assistant Professor Stephanie Schweiker	Development of selective ARTD8 inhibitors for further understanding of androgen independent prostate cancers
Assistant Professor Stephan Levonis	Effects of sialyltransferase inhibitors on bladder cell sialylation for malignancy
Assistant Professor Iris Lim	Kidney stones and ureter physiology and pharmacology
Professor Gordon Wright	Lower urinary tract pathology particularly urothelial carcinoma
Associate Professor Lotti Tajouri	Molecular genetics

National Collaborators

Dr Shailendra Anoopkumar Dukie	Griffith University
Dr Roselyn Rose'Meyer	Griffith University
Dr Alpesh Malde	Griffith University
Dr David Sillar	John Flynn Hospital
Dr Alistair Campbell	John Flynn Hospital
Dr Stephen Bourne	John Flynn Hospital
Dr David Christie	Genesis CancerCare
Dr Vivien Wong	Pindara Private Hospital
Dr Betty Exintaris	Monash University
Dr Karen Kerr	University of Newcastle
Dr Luke Grundy	University of Adelaide

International Collaborators

Professor Hikaru Hashitani	Nagoya City University, Japan
Professor Christopher Chapple	Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK
Professor Dave Grundy	University of Sheffield, UK
Professor Hideaki Yamaguchi	Meijo University, Japan
Dr Michael Winder	University of Gothenburg, Sweden
Dr Patrik Aronsson	University of Gothenburg, Sweden
Dr Donna Daly	University of Central Lancashire, UK
Dr Neil McKay	Sheffield Hallam University, UK
Dr Kim Lawson	Sheffield Hallam University, UK
Dr Bahareh Vahabi	University of Western England, UK

Research Funding
- Australian Bladder Foundation - Moro, 2017-2018
  “Alternative pharmaceutical treatments for bladder management: An investigation into the potential for histamine and prostaglandin targets”
- Quality Use of Medicines Network, Collaborative Research Funding scheme – Chess- Williams, McDermott, Sellers & Dukie, 2017
  “Prostate cancer and alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists”
- Cancer Council Queensland - Chess-Williams, McDermott & Rose Myer, 2012-2014
  "Cytotoxic drugs: cellular and tissue effects and the effects of ageing"
- NHMRC - Chess-Williams, Burcher, Moore, Mansfield, 2009-2012
  “Non-neuronal ATP: regulation of release and action in the bladder”
- Pfizer Overactive Bladder Competitive Grant Program - Chess-Williams, 2008-2010
  "Muscarinic receptor mediated release of nitric oxide, its effect on urothelial spontaneous activity and role in the idiopathic overactive bladder”
- European Commission Framework 7 - Marie Curie Initial Training Networks, 2010-2014
  11 European centres – Sheffield Hallam University centre 2 - Sellers, McKay & Grundy
  “Training for Urology Scientists to develop new Treatments (TRUST)”
- Pfizer Investigator Initiated Research (IIR) Program - Collins, Sellers, McKay, Grundy, Chapple, 2009-2010
  “Antimuscarinics: effects on mucosal-afferent signalling pathways?”

Academic	Research interest
Professor Russ Chess-Williams	Drug development for overactive bladder, stress incontinence, benign prostatic hyperplasia, erectile dysfunction and prostate bladder carcinoma
Associate Professor Catherine McDermott	Actions of cytotoxic drugs and their metabolites on bladder function
Associate Professor Donna Sellers	Overactive bladder and diabetes, stress incontinence, bladder pathophysiology
Assistant Professor Anna Lohning	Molecular modelling of uroplakins, drugs to treat prostate cancer
Associate Professor Christian Moro	Overactive bladder and bladder physiology
Assistant Professor Stephanie Schweiker	Development of selective ARTD8 inhibitors for further understanding of androgen independent prostate cancers
Assistant Professor Stephan Levonis	Effects of sialyltransferase inhibitors on bladder cell sialylation for malignancy
Assistant Professor Iris Lim	Kidney stones and ureter physiology and pharmacology
Professor Gordon Wright	Lower urinary tract pathology particularly urothelial carcinoma
Associate Professor Lotti Tajouri	Molecular genetics

Research Students

Current

Aidan McKeon	The Effects of Diabetes on the Bladder.
Caitlin Wunsch	Design and Synthesis of Selective Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase family member 14 (PARP14) inhibitors to potentially inhibit glucose metabolism in cancerous cells.
Charlotte Phelps	Interactions of receptor systems and second messengers in urinary bladder contractions.
Damian Nilsson	The role of the vasculature in bladder function and dysfunction.The role of the vasculature in bladder function and dysfunction.
Hyo Jeong (Minnie) Kim	Design, Synthesis and Evaluation of Sialyltransferase Inhibitors.
Jessica Smith	Effects of psychological stress on bladder function.
Liam O’Callaghan	Quinazoline-based cytotoxic drugs as intravesical treatments for bladder cancer.
Neil Josen Vinulan Delos Reyes	Synthesis and Evaluation of a Novel Rhodamine Dye for Bioimaging with Gold Nanoparticles.
Vineesha Veer	Alternative mechanisms of action for clinical antimuscarinics.

Completions

2022	Amanda Tauber	Design, Synthesis and Evaluation of Selective ADP-Ribosyltransferase Member 8 (ARTD8) Inhibitors.
2022	Caleb Kam	Design, Synthesis, and Application of Selective Inhibitors for Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase Members 1 and 14.
2022	Eleanor West	The effects of inflammation on the afferent and efferent nerve responses of the bladder.
2022	Andy Koh	An Investigation into the Authenticity of Citrus aurantium-Listing Pre-workout Supplements and Functional Evaluations of Their Trace Amines on the Vasculature.
2021	Zane Stromberga	The role of the inflammatory mediators in modulating bladder contractile activity.
2021	Eliza West	Psychological Stress and Bladder Dysfunction.
2020	Mei Khuthir	Amitriptyline: Effects on Normal Bladder Function.
2018	Katrina Smith	The impact of intravesical treatments for bladder pain syndrome on normal bladder function.
2017	Iris Lim	Mechanisms controlling ureteral motility.
2017	Oladayo Folasire	Drug targets for urinary and faecal incontinence and anal fissures.
2016	Amanda Forbes	Quinazoline-based Alpha 1 - Adrenoceptor antagonists and prostate cancer.
2015	Kylie Mills	Cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide: Mechanisms of cytotoxic action and consequences for normal bladder function.
2015	Sung (Stanley) Kang	Cytotoxic drugs and their effects on bladder function.
2015	Stefanie Farr	Intravesical gemcitabine treatment: Repercussions on normal bladder function.
2014	Luke Grundy	Non-neuronal ATP: Regulation of release and action in the bladder.

Prizes and Awards

Charlotte Phelps	Bond University 3-Minute Thesis Competition, August 2022 – winner
Amanda Tauber	Bond University 3-Minute Thesis Competition, August 2019 - winner FameLab national finals, May 2019 – finalist FameLab Queensland semi-final, March 2018 – runner-up
Zane Stromberga	FameLab national finals, May 2018 – finalist FameLab Queensland semi-final, March 2018 - winner
Eleanor West	3-minute Presentation at 9th National Symposium on Advances in Gastrointestinal & Urogenital Research, December 2017 – winner
Andy Koh	Poster Presentation at 9th National Symposium on Advances in Gastrointestinal & Urogenital Research, December 2017 – winner
Iris Lim	Digital Poster Presentation at Gold Coast Health and Medical Research Conference, December 2015 – winner
Oladayo Folasire	3-minute Presentation at 6th National Symposium on Advances in Gastrointestinal & Urogenital Research, December 2014 – winner Bond University 3-Minute Thesis Competition, August 2013 – winner

Aidan McKeon	The Effects of Diabetes on the Bladder.
Caitlin Wunsch	Design and Synthesis of Selective Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase family member 14 (PARP14) inhibitors to potentially inhibit glucose metabolism in cancerous cells.
Charlotte Phelps	Interactions of receptor systems and second messengers in urinary bladder contractions.
Damian Nilsson	The role of the vasculature in bladder function and dysfunction.The role of the vasculature in bladder function and dysfunction.
Hyo Jeong (Minnie) Kim	Design, Synthesis and Evaluation of Sialyltransferase Inhibitors.
Jessica Smith	Effects of psychological stress on bladder function.
Liam O’Callaghan	Quinazoline-based cytotoxic drugs as intravesical treatments for bladder cancer.
Neil Josen Vinulan Delos Reyes	Synthesis and Evaluation of a Novel Rhodamine Dye for Bioimaging with Gold Nanoparticles.
Vineesha Veer	Alternative mechanisms of action for clinical antimuscarinics.