Christina Bursill

Associate Professor Christina Bursill

Grant-Funded Researcher (D)

Adelaide Medical School

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Christina Bursill started as leader of the Plaque biology and New blood vessel area in January 2017 at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute and as a Senior Research Fellow at The University of Adelaide, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. She recently received the inaugural Lin Huddleston National Heart Foundation fellowship. Dr Bursill is a vascular biologist with interests and expertise in vascular inflammation, atherosclerosis and angiogenesis. She completed her PhD at The University of Adelaide in lipid metabolism then headed to Oxford University for five years to undergo a postdoctoral post in the Departments of Cardiovascular Medicine and Pathology. Her postdoctoral time triggered her interest in the mechanisms that cause atherosclerosis and in particular the role of small inflammatory proteins called Chemokines. Christina returned to Australia in 2007 at the Heart Research Institute (HRI) in Sydney where she led the Immunobiology Group. In 2008, Dr Bursill was awarded a National Heart Foundation Career Development Fellowship. At the HRI Dr Bursill developed an interest in high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and through NHMRC/NHF funding investigates novel mechanisms of their action in models of stent biocompatibility, diabetes and wound healing. She also has an interest in using viral gene transfer techniques to over-express proteins that attenuate chemokine activity to suppress atherosclerosis and inflammatory-driven diseases. In 2015 she was awarded the University of Sydney Thompson Fellowship.

Our group is interested in investigating new mechanisms and targets that underlie the development of fatty deposits in the arteries of the heart, a process called atherosclerosis, that causes heart attacks. We also undertake research looking at the regulation of new blood vessel formation (angiogenesis), which can determine how well a heart attack patient recovers. We have a host on pathophysiologically relevant in vitro and in vivo models established in our laboratory. 

Project 1

Title: The effect of fenofibrate on wound healing

Description: Human trials have found that the risk of amputation following a foot ulcer is reduced with fenofibrate (Vitamin B) supplementation. In vitro and in vivo studies have also shown that angiogenesis is increased with the addition of fenofibrate. This study will determine if topically applied fenofibrate increases would healing in an in vivo model established in our laboratory.

Project available for: Honours

Location: SAHMRI

Research project start: Semester 1

Project 2

Title: The role of the glycoprotein receptor ASGR1 in unstable atherosclerosis

Description: A GWAS study has identified that a mutation in ASGR1 reduces the risk of a cardiovascular event by 34%. The mechanisms for this are poorly understood and will be investigated using in vitro and in vivo models in this project.

Project available for: Honours

Location: SAHMRI

Research project start: Semester 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2017 - ongoing Heart Foundation Lin Huddleston Senior Research Fellow University of Adelaide
    2017 - ongoing Senior Research Fellow The University of Adelaide

  • Language Competencies
    Language Competency
    English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    The University of Adelaide Australia BSc
    The University of Adelaide Australia Hons 1
    University of Adelaide, Adelaide Australia PhD

  • Postgraduate Training
    Date Title Institution Country
    2017 Leader Plaque Biology and New Blood Vessel Area South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide Australia
    2010 - 2016 Leader Immunobiology Group The Heart Research Institute, Newtown Australia
    2007 - 2010 Senior Research Officer The Heart Research Institute, Newtown Australia
    2001 - 2006 Postdoctoral Fellow University of Oxford, Oxford United Kingdom

  • Research Interests
    Cardiovascular Medicine and Haematology

·National Heart Foundation Lin Huddleston Foundation Fellowship (2017-2022)

            Chief Investigator: Christina Bursill (CIA)

            Amount: ~$750,000 over 5 years

 

·Diabetes Australia Research (DART) grant (2017)

Title: ‘Micromanaging’ high-density lipoprotein-induced rescue of diabetes-impaired angiogenesis

Chief Investigators: Joanne Tan and Christina Bursill

            Amount: $60,000

 

· NAB Career Re-start Grant (2016)

Title: Reversing the progression of atherosclerosis

Chief Investigators: Christina Bursill (CIA),

            Amount: $60,000 over one year

 

· ARC Discovery Grant (2016)

Title: Dynamics of atherosclerotic plaque formation, growth and regression

Chief Investigators: Mary Myerscough (CIA), Charlie Macaskill (CIB), Christina Bursill (PI).

            Amount: $218,768 over three years

 

· University of Sydney - Thompson Fellowship (2016)

            Title: Using the "Good Cholesterol" to increase stent longevity

            Chief Investigator: Christina Bursill (CIA)

            Amount: $90, 000 over one year

 

· University of Sydney Bridging Grant (2015)

            Title: Different athero-protective properties of HDL in early versus late atherosclerosis

            Chief Investigators: Christina Bursill (CIA)

            Amount: $30, 000 over 1 year

 

· NHMRC Project Grant (2015)

Title: Oxidative Regulation of the Na pump – a new player in vascular function in health and disease.

Chief Investigators: Gemma Figtree (CIA), Christina Bursill (CIB), A/Prof Ravinay Bhindi (CIC), Prof Keith Channon (CID), A/Prof Clare Hawkins (CIE), Dr Ben Davies (CIF), Prof Richard Cohen (CIG).

            Amount: $488,816 over three years

 

· University of Sydney Bridging Grant (2013)

            Title: Differential Regulation of Angiogenesis by CC-Chemokines

            Chief Investigators: Christina Bursill (CIA)

            Amount: $30, 000 over 1 year

 

· NHMRC project grant (2010-2013)

            Title: Multifunctional regulation of Angiogenesis by High Density Lipoproteins

            Chief Investigators:  Martin Ng (CIA), Christina Bursill (CIB)

            Amount: $476, 000 over 3 years

 

· Heart Foundation Career Development Fellowship (2008-2013)

Title: The Role of Chemokines in the Anti-Atherosclerotic Effects of HDL

Chief Investigator: Christina Bursill

Amount: $515,000 – includes 5 years salary, travel funds and equipment support.

 

·Bushell Foundation (2008-2011)

Title: Understanding the Anti-Atherosclerotic Properties of High Density Lipoproteins

            Investigator: Christina Bursill

Amount: $250, 000 over 3 years

 

· British Heart Foundation Program Grant (2005-2007):

Title: Evaluation of Broad Spectrum Chemokine agonists to Inhibit Atherosclerosis

Investigators: Keith Channon, David Greaves, and Christina Bursill

Amount: £715,961 over 5 years

 

· British Heart Foundation Project Grant (2001-2004):

Title: Evaluation of Broad Spectrum CC-Chemokine antagonists to Inhibit Inflammatory Cell Recruitment in Atherogenesis.

Investigators: David Greaves, Keith Channon, and Christina Bursill

Amount: £152,326 over 3 years. Based on the success of the project, the initial grant was extended for a further 2.5 years (£126,939) based on my research.

 

Undergraduate Teaching:

·1997-98: Tutor for 1st year Medical students in Problem Based Learning, Department of Medicine, University of Adelaide.

·1998-2000: Demonstrator for 2nd year Science students in Cardiovascular Physiology, Department of Physiology, University of Adelaide.

·2001: Lecturer to 2nd year Medical students on Lipoprotein Metabolism, Department of Pathology, University of Oxford, UK.

·2001, 2002: Demonstrator for 2nd year Medical Students in Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis, Department of Pathology, University of Oxford, UK.

·2004-2006: Lecturer to 3rd year Medical students in ‘Methods and Approach in Scientific Research’. Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, UK.

·2015-2026: Lecturer to 3rd year Physiology students on “Vascular Inflammation”, University of Sydney, NSW.

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2023 Principal Supervisor Immune Subsets in Chronic Rhinosinusitis in Relation to the Sinonasal Microbiome Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Demeke Geremew Debebe
    2022 Co-Supervisor Multimodal imaging probe for atherosclerotic plaque detection Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Rouyan Chen
    2019 Principal Supervisor The Role of Metabolic Reprogramming in Diabetes-Impaired Angiogenesis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Khalia Rose Primer
    2019 Co-Supervisor MicroRNA-181c - A Novel Therapeutic Target for te Rescue of Diabetes-Impaired Angiogenesis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Emma Louise Solly
    2019 Co-Supervisor Investigating Novel Mediators of Angiogenesis and Inflammation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Sanuri Rashmitha Liyanage
    2018 Principal Supervisor Tracking Apolipoprotein Linked Porphyrin Liposomes in Atherosclerosis and Stent Models Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Victoria Ann Nankivell
    2018 Principal Supervisor Investigation of the LIPID-Independent Cardioprotective effects elicited by loss of function of the Asialoglycoprotein Receptor Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Benjamin James Pullen

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2018 - 2022 Principal Supervisor The Anti-Inflammatory and Pro-Angiogenic Capacity of High-Density Lipoproteins in Diabetic Wound Healing Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Zahra Lotfollahi
    2018 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Discovery and characterisation of yolk-sac derived Endothelial-Macrophage progenitor cells in postnatal murine tissues Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Anna Emilie Williamson
    2017 - 2021 Co-Supervisor Vascular Calcification as a Risk Factor for Peripheral Arterial Disease and its Effects on Angiogenesis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Jocelyne Mulangala

  • Committee Memberships
    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2018 - ongoing President Australian Atherosclerosis Society N/A Australia

  • Editorial Boards
    Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country
    2014 - ongoing Associate Editor Journal of Biochemistry - -
    2013 - ongoing Associate Editor PLoS ONE - -
  • Position: Grant-Funded Researcher (D)
  • Phone: 0881284788
  • Email: christina.bursill@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: SAHMRI
  • Org Unit: Medical Specialties
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