Christina Bursill

Dr Christina Bursill

Senior Research Fellow

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, Department of Health and Medical Science. 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.

 

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, Department of Health and Medical Science. 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.

 

 

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  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2017 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.

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  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    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 Principal Supervisor The Role of Metabolic Reprogramming in Diabetes-Impaired Angiogenesis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Khalia Rose Primer
    2018 Co-Supervisor A Study of the Angiogenic Capacity and Endothelial Plasticity of a New Population of Vascular Adventitial Macrophage Progenitor Cells Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Anna Emilie Williamson
    2018 Principal Supervisor Investigating the Wound Healing Properties of Reconstituted High-Density Lipoprotein (rHDL) in Diabetes Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Zahra Lotfollahi
    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
    2017 Co-Supervisor Role of HDL in diabetes impaired angiogenesis and vascular calcification Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Jocelyne Mulangala
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  • Editorial Boards
    Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country
    2014 - ongoing Associate Editor Journal of Biochemistry — —
    2013 - ongoing Associate Editor PLoS ONE — —
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