Dr. Peter Gunning

Biography

Professor Peter Gunning completed his PhD at Monash University and has extensive experience in gene expression research related to the nervous system. He spent nine years at Stanford University, focusing on neuronal differentiation and the regulation of muscle gene expression. His research group has made significant discoveries regarding tropomyosins, a family of proteins that specify the spatial and temporal properties of the cell skeleton. This work has provided a new model for understanding various architectural structures found in cells, allowing the dissection of these structures using genetically modified mice. His studies revealed the links between cell architecture and diseases such as cancer and obesity, thereby facilitating the development of new therapeutic options for childhood cancer malignancies. Professor Gunning has published over 200 research papers and edited the book 'Tropomyosin'. He has served on the Board of the NSW Cancer Institute for 10 years and was the inaugural Chair of the Division of Research at the Children's Hospital Westmead, Sydney. His research primarily focuses on the application of mechanobiology to understand cell architecture principles in human disease, and he has developed novel drugs targeting the actin cytoskeleton, contributing to significant advancements in cancer research and platelet production.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards