Peter J. Parker

Professor Parker's research interests are broadly based in defining signal transduction pathways, their action, functional status, prognostic and therapeutic potential in cancer. The research is particularly focused around the protein kinase C superfamily and growth factor receptor action and pathophysiology. As membrane and protein complex associated protein kinases, these signal transducers operate in spatially restricted compartments and serve highly localised roles in controlling signal outputs. Recent studies have focused on spatial and dynamic aspects of signalling propagated through and/or influenced by these kinases, including the conformational nature of nucleotide binding (and the influence of interventions at this binding site), single molecule analysis of growth factor receptor behaviour, controls acting on the HGF-cMet growth factor signalling pathway, integrin actions in migration, the localisation of signals during migration and general roles in proliferation and survival. Application of molecular insights derived from the studies on these kinases and the methods developed for this purpose are significant current objectives. This includes drug development activities, biomarker discovery and biomarker methodologies.