Dr Amanda Kijas
Senior Research Fellow
Frazer Institute
+61 7 334 64178
Researcher biography
I am a passionate biomedical research scientist leading a multidisciplinary research program focused on advancing wound healing. My work spans the full translational spectrum from uncovering fundamental biological mechanisms to developing clinically relevant prototypes to improve outcomes across the healing continuum, from initial bleeding control to tissue regeneration.
My research draws on expertise in materials science, cell biology and signalling to investigate the dynamic reciprocity between cells and the extracellular matrix and how biophysical cues and biochemical signals together instruct cellular responses. This includes studying both the fundamental biology of wound healing and the complex signalling cascades that govern tissue regeneration with the goal of identifying and developing novel therapeutic agents.
By employing reductionist model systems, we dissect key biological processes to enable the rational design of effective therapeutic prototypes to address unmet clinical needs.
A central focus of the wound healing research program is the control, development and application of fibrin-based biomaterials, which serve as the body's provisional healing scaffold. Serving as proregenerative, resorbable delivery scaffolds. The formulation with innovative active pharmaceutical ingredients, including next-generation RNA therapeutics and bioactive compounds derived from nature, such as venom-based molecules, repurposing natures innovation for therapeutic use to develop targeted prototypes.
Book Chapters
Kijas, Amanda W. and Lavin, Martin F. (2017). Assaying for radioresistant DNA synthesis, the hallmark feature of the intra-S-phase checkpoint using a DNA fiber technique. ATM kinase: methods and protocols. (pp. 13-23) edited by Sergei V. Kozlov. New York, NY, United States: Humana Press. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6955-5_2
Lavin, Martin F., Gatei, Magtouf, Chen, Philip, Kijas, Amanda and Kozlov, Sergei (2010). ATM mediated signaling defends the integrity of the genome. Handbook of Cell Signaling. (pp. 2171-2183) edited by Ralph A. Bradshaw and Edward A. Dennis. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-374145-5.00263-1
Journal Articles
Taylor, Michael A., Choi, Jung Un Ally, Muthuswamy, Shiva, Martinez, Marco A. Enriquez, Lauko, Jan, Kijas, Amanda W. and Rowan, Alan E. (2024). Sensitive label free imaging of 3D cell models with minimal toxicity using confocal reflectance. Biomaterials Science, 12 (22), 5722-5727. doi: 10.1039/d4bm00304g
Malone, Siobhan, Yegappan, Ramanathan, Kijas, Amanda, Gemmell, Anna, Rowan, Alan, Rajah, Divya, Kim, Minjun, Lauko, Jan and Amiralian, Nasim (2024). The potential of sugarcane waste-derived cellulose fibres as haemostatic agents. Polymers, 16 (12) 1654, 1654. doi: 10.3390/polym16121654
Iannotta, Dalila, A, Amruta, Kijas, Amanda W., Rowan, Alan E. and Wolfram, Joy (2023). Entry and exit of extracellular vesicles to and from the blood circulation. Nature Nanotechnology, 19 (1), 137-20. doi: 10.1038/s41565-023-01522-z
Wang, Zhao, Lauko, Jan, Kijas, Amanda W., Gilbert, Elliot P., Turunen, Petri, Yegappan, Ramanathan, Zou, Dongxiu, Mata, Jitendra and Rowan, Alan E. (2023). Snake venom-defined fibrin architecture dictates fibroblast survival and differentiation. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 1029, 1-16. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-36437-9
Yegappan, Ramanathan, Lauko, Jan, Wang, Zhao, Lavin, Martin F., Kijas, Amanda W. and Rowan, Alan E. (2022). Snake venom hydrogels as a rapid hemostatic agent for uncontrolled bleeding. Advanced Healthcare Materials, 11 (15) 2200574, 2200574. doi: 10.1002/adhm.202200574
Choi, Jung Un Ally, Kijas, Amanda W., Lauko, Jan and Rowan, Alan E. (2022). The Mechanosensory Role of Osteocytes and Implications for Bone Health and Disease States. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 9 770143, 770143. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2021.770143
Taylor, Michael A., Kijas, Amanda W., Wang, Zhao, Lauko, Jan and Rowan, Alan E. (2021). Heterodyne Brillouin microscopy for biomechanical imaging. Biomedical Optics Express, 12 (10) 6259, 6259-6268. doi: 10.1364/boe.435869
Ovchinnikov, Dmitry A., Withey, Sarah L., Leeson, Hannah C., Lei, U. Wang, Sundarrajan, Ashmitha, Junday, Keerat, Pewarchuk, Michelle, Yeo, Abrey J., Kijas, Amanda W., Lavin, Martin F. and Wolvetang, Ernst J. (2020). Correction of ATM mutations in iPS cells from two ataxia-telangiectasia patients restores DNA damage and oxidative stress responses. Human Molecular Genetics, 29 (6), 990-1001. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa023
Lim, Yi Chieh, Ensbey, Kathleen S., Offenhäuser, Carolin, D'souza, Rochelle C. J., Cullen, Jason K., Stringer, Brett W., Quek, Hazel, Bruce, Zara C., Kijas, Amanda, Cianfanelli, Valentina, Mahboubi, Bijan, Smith, Fiona, Jeffree, Rosalind L., Wiesmüeller, Lisa, Wiegmans, Adrian P., Bain, Amanda, Lombard, Fanny J., Roberts, Tara L., Khanna, Kum Kum, Lavin, Martin F., Kim, Baek, Hamerlik, Petra, Johns, Terrance G., Coster, Mark J., Boyd, Andrew W. and Day, Bryan W. (2020). Simultaneous targeting of DNA replication and homologous recombination in glioblastoma with a polyether ionophore. Neuro-Oncology, 22 (2), 216-228. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noz159
Lavin, Martin F., Yeo, Abrey J., Kijas, Amanda W., Wolvetang, Ernst, Sly, Peter D., Wainwright, Claire and Sinclair, Kate (2016). Therapeutic targets and investigated treatments for Ataxia-Telangiectasia. Expert Opinion on Orphan Drugs, 4 (12), 1263-1276. doi: 10.1080/21678707.2016.1254618
Lavin, Martin F., Kozlov, Sergei, Gatei, Magtouf and Kijas, Amanda W. (2015). ATM-dependent phosphorylation of all three members of the MRN complex: from sensor to adaptor. Biomolecules, 5 (4) A31, 2877-2902. doi: 10.3390/biom5042877
Kijas, Amanda W., Lim, Yi Chieh, Bolderson, Emma, Cerosaletti, Karen, Gatei, Magtouf, Jakob, Burkhard, Tobias, Frank, Taucher-Scholz, Gisela, Gueven, Nuri, Oakley, Greg, Concannon, Patrick, Wolvetang, Ernst, Khanna, Kum Kum, Wiesmuller, Lisa and Lavin, Martin F. (2015). ATM-dependent phosphorylation of MRE11 controls extent of resection during homology directed repair by signalling through Exonuclease 1. Nucleic Acids Research, 43 (17), 8352-8367. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkv754
Gatei, Magtouf, Kijas, Amanda W., Biard, Denis, Dork, Thilo and Lavin, Martin F. (2014). RAD50 phosphorylation promotes ATR downstream signaling and DNA restart following replication stress. Human Molecular Genetics, 23 (16) ddu141, 4232-4248. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddu141
Stewart, Romal, Kozlov, Sergei, Matigian, Nicholas, Wali, Gautam, Gatei, Magtouf, Sutharsan, Ratneswary, Bellette, Bernadette, Kijas, Amanda Wraith, Cochrane, Julie, Coulthard, Mark, Perry, Chris, Sinclair, Kate, Mackay-Sim, Alan and Lavin, Martin F. (2013). A patient-derived olfactory stem cell disease model for ataxia-telangiectasia. Human Molecular Genetics, 22 (12), 2495-2509. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddt101
Lim, Yi Chieh, Roberts, Tara L., Day, Bryan W., Harding, Angus, Kozlov, Sergei, Kijas, Amanda W., Ensbey, Kathleen S., Walker, David G. and Lavin, Martin F. (2012). A role for homologous recombination and abnormal cell-cycle progression in radioresistance of glioma-initiating cells. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, 11 (9), 1863-1872. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-11-1044
Gatei, Magtouf, Jakob, Burkhard, Chen, Philip, Kijas, Amanda W., Becherel, Olivier J., Gueven, Nuri, Birrell, Geoff, Lee, Ji-Hoon, Paull, Tanya T., Lerenthal, Yaniv, Fazry, Shazrul, Taucher-Scholtz, Gisela, Kalb, Reinhard, Schindler, Detlev, Waltes, Regina, Doerk, Thilo and Lavin, Martin F. (2011). ATM protein-dependent phosphorylation of Rad50 protein regulates DNA repair and cell cycle control. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 286 (36), 31542-31556. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.258152
Kozlov, Sergei V., Graham, Mark E., Jakob, Burkhard, Tobias, Frank, Kijas, Amanda W., Tanuji, Marcel, Chen, Philip, Robinson, Phillip J., Taucher-Scholz, Gisela, Suzuki, Keiji, So, Sairai, Chen, David and Lavin, Martin F. (2011). Autophosphorylation and ATM activation: Additional sites add to the complexity. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 286 (11), 9107-9119. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.204065
Becherel, Olivier J., Jakob, Burkhard, Cherry, Amy L., Gueven, Nuri, Fusser, Markus, Kijas, Amanda W., Peng, Cheng, Katyal, Sachin, McKinnon, Peter J., Chen, Junjie, Epe, Bernd, Smerdon, Stephen J., Taucher-Scholz, Gisela and Lavin, Martin F. (2010). CK2 phosphorylation-dependent interaction between aprataxin and MDC1 in the DNA damage response. Nucleic Acids Research, 38 (5) gkp1149, 1489-1503. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkp1149
Waltes, R., Kalb, R., Gatei, M., Kijas, A.W., Stumm, M., Sobeck, A., Wieland, B., Varon, R., Lerenthal, Y., Lavin, M. F., Schindler, D. and Dörk, T. (2009). Human RAD50 deficiency in a Nijmegen breakage syndrome-like disorder.. American Journal of Human Genetics, 84 (5), 605-616. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2009.04.010
Gueven, N., Chen, P., Nakamura, J., Becherel, O.J., Kijas, A.W., Grattan-Smith, P. and Lavin, M.F. (2007). A subgroup of spinocerebellar ataxias defective in DNA damage responses. Neuroscience, 145 (4), 1418-1425. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2006.12.010
Kijas, Amanda W., Harris, Janelle L., Harris, Jonathan M. and Lavin, Martin F. (2006). Aprataxin forms a discrete branch in the HIT (Histidine Triad) superfamily of proteins with both DNA/RNA binding and nucleotide hydrolase activities. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 281 (20), 13939-13948. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M507946200
Kijas, Amanda Wraith, Studamire, Barbara and Alani, Eric (2003). msh2 separation of function mutations confer defects in the initiation steps of mismatch repair. Journal of Molecular Biology, 331 (1), 123-138. doi: 10.1016/S0022-2836(03)00694-6
Alani, Eric, Lee, Jae Young, Schofield, Mark J., Kijas, Amanda W., Hsieh, Peggy and Yang, Wei (2003). Crystal structure and biochemical analysis of the MutS dot ADP dot beryllium fluoride complex suggests a conserved mechanism for ATP interactions in mismatch repair. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 278 (18), 16088-16094. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M213193200
Argueso, Juan Lucas, Kijas, Amanda Wraith, Sarin, Sumeet, Heck, Julie, Waase, Marc and Alani, Eric (2003). Systematic mutagenesis of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae MLH1 gene reveals distinct roles for Mlh1p in meiotic crossing over and in vegetative and meiotic mismatch repair. Molecular and Cellular Biology, 23 (3), 873-886. doi: 10.1128/MCB.23.3.873-886.2003
Larhammar, Dan, Wraith, Amanda, Berglund, Magnus M., Holmberg, Sara K. S. and Lundell, Ingrid (2001). Origins of the many NPY-family receptors in mammals. Peptides, 22 (3), 295-307. doi: 10.1016/S0196-9781(01)00331-X
Söderberg, Charlotte, Wraith, Amanda, Ringvall, Maria, Yan, Yi-Lin, Postlethwait, John H., Brodin, Lennart and Larhammar, Dan (2000). Zebrafish genes for neuropeptide Y and peptide YY reveal origin by chromosome duplication from an ancestral gene linked to the homeobox cluster. Journal of Neurochemistry, 75 (3), 908-918. doi: 10.1046/j.1471-4159.2000.0750908.x
Wraith, Amanda, Törnsten, Anna, Chardon, Patrick, Harbitz, Ingrid, Chowdhary, Bhanu P., Andersson, Leif, Lundin, Lars-Gustav and Larhammar, Dan (2000). Evolution of the neuropeptide Y receptor family: gene and chromosome duplications deduced from the cloning and mapping of the five receptor subtype genes in pig. Genome Research, 10 (3), 302-310. doi: 10.1101/gr.10.3.302
Sharma, Parul, Arvidsson, Ann-Kristin, Wraith, Amanda, Beck-Sickinger, Annette G., Jönsson-Rylander, Ann-Cathrine and Larhammar, Dan (1999). Characterization of the cloned Atlantic cod neuropeptide Y-Yb receptor: peptide-binding requirements distinct from known mammalian Y receptors. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 115 (3), 422-428. doi: 10.1006/gcen.1999.7332
Starbäck, P., Lundell, I., Fredriksson, R., Berglund, M. M., Yan, Y. L., Wraith, A., Söderberg, C., Postlethwait, J. H. and Larhammar, D. (1999). Neuropeptide Y receptor subtype with unique properties cloned in the zebrafish: the zYa receptor. Molecular Brain Research, 70 (2), 242-252. doi: 10.1016/S0169-328X(99)00152-7
Arvidsson, Ann-Kristin, Wraith, Amanda, Jönsson-Rylander, Ann-Cathrine and Larhammar, Dan (1998). Cloning of a neuropeptide Y/peptide YY receptor from the Atlantic cod: the Yb receptor. Regulatory Peptides, 75-76, 39-43. doi: 10.1016/S0167-0115(98)00051-2
Wang, S. Z., Xu, H., Wraith, A., Bowden, J. J., Alpers, J. H. and Forsyth, K. D. (1998). Neutrophils induce damage to respiratory epithelial cells infected with respiratory syncytial virus.. European Respiratory Journal, 12 (3), 612-618. doi: 10.1183/09031936.98.12030612
Törnsten, A., Wraith, A., Larhammar, D. and Chowdhary, B. P. (1998). FISH mapping of the porcine NPY5 gene to chromosome 8p11. Mammalian Genome, 9 (3), 262-263. doi: 10.1007/s003359900742
Conference Paper
Lim, Y. C., Roberts, T., Day, B., Harding, A., Ensbey, K., Kozlov, S., Kijas, A., Walker, D. and Lavin, M. (2012). Response of glioma initiating cells to ionising radiation. Targeting Cancer from Diagnosis to Cure & 5th Annual COGNO Annual Scientific Meeting, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 8-10 August 2012. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-7563.2012.01586_2.x
Data Collection
Taylor, Michael, Lauko, Jan, Choi, Jung, Rowan, Alan, Kijas, Amanda, Enriquez Martinez, Marco, Wang, Zhao and Muthuswamy, Shiva (2024). Data: confocal reflectance imaging as a highly sensitive imaging modality for 3D cell culture. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/7f3ae88