Dimitrios Cakouros

Dr Dimitrios Cakouros

Lecturer

School of Biomedicine

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

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

The greatest risk factor for all chronic diseases today is aging with stem cell ageing being paramount to tissue degeneration affecting our overall health and life-span . Our epigenome, is defined by enzyme induced chemical modifications of our DNA and histones that alters the function of our genome. All aging organisms studied to date exhibit ‘Epigenetic Drift’, with increasing evidence that diet and lifestyle causes epigenetic changes, which impacts the structure and function of our genome therefore influencing our lifespan. Research within my group has been heavily focused on bone aging and related diseases such as osteoporosis. We use bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to understand how Epigenetic changes occur to drive aging and how diet and life style communicates with our genome via our epigenome. This includes examining all aspects of adult stem cell aging ie senescence, differentiation, metabolomics, gene expression and oxidative stress with the ultimate aim of reversing stem cell aging. In addition we explore other human conditions related with MSC deregulation including craniosynostosis in young children.

Over the years we have discovered epigenetic enzymes that are key regulators of stem cell function and lifespan and our current projects involve both human and mouse work including generating conditional knockout strains, in vivo analysis including Skeletal analysis throughout development, bone fracture, ectopic bone formation, osteoporotic models, isolating and purifying different stem cell populations for in vitro characterisation. This includes RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, Me-DIP/5hMe-DIP to discover epigenetic signatures, novel epigenetic enzymes and chemical inhibitors to modify the behaviour of stem cells with the aim of rejuvinating MSC's and enhance their ability for self renewal. Currently, we are also endeavouring in unraveling the epigenetic changes that drive aging of other stem cells with the hope of discovering common deregulated epigenetic enzymes which are central to stem cell aging. These projects also include the supervision of junior staff, Honours and postgraduate students.

Molecular regulation of Stem Cell Aging Group.

The greatest risk factor for all chronic diseases today is aging with stem cell ageing being paramount to tissue degeneration affecting our overall health and life-span . Our epigenome, is defined by enzyme induced chemical modifications of our DNA and histones that alters the function of our genome. All aging organisms studied to date exhibit ‘Epigenetic Drift’, with increasing evidence that diet and lifestyle causes epigenetic changes, which impacts the structure and function of our genome therefore influencing our lifespan. Research within my group has been heavily focused on bone aging and related diseases such as osteoporosis. We use bone marrow derived  mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to understand how Epigenetic changes occur to drive aging and how diet and life style communicates with our genome via our epigenome. This includes examining all aspects of adult stem cell aging ie senescence, differentiation, metabolomics, gene expression and oxidative stress with the ultimate aim of reversing stem cell aging. In addition we explore other human conditions related with MSC deregulation including craniosynostosis in young children.

Over the years we have discovered epigenetic enzymes that are key regulators of stem cell function and lifespan and our current projects involve both human and mouse work including generating conditional knockout strains, in vivo analysis including Skeletal analysis throughout development, bone fracture, ectopic bone formation, osteoporotic models, isolating and purifying different stem cell populations for in vitro characterisation.  This includes RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, Me-DIP/5hMe-DIP to discover epigenetic signatures, novel epigenetic enzymes and chemical inhibitors to modify the behaviour of stem cells with the aim of rejuvinating MSC's and enhance their ability for self renewal. Currently, we are also endeavouring in unraveling the epigenetic changes that drive aging of other stem cells, including cardiac progenitor cells, neural stem cells and pancreatic stem cells with the hope of discovering common deregulated epigenetic enzymes which are central to stem cell aging. These projects also include the supervision of junior staff, Honours and postgraduate students.

Current Projects available:

1. Deciphering the mechanism of a novel histone demethylase in driving Mesenchymal Stem cell lineage determination, aging and Osteoporosis.

2. Identifying Novel gene targets driving hypergylcaemia induced bone loss and Mesenchymal Stem Cell aging.

3. Deciphering the role of epigenetic enzymes involved in childhood Craniosynostosis.

4. Identifying epigenetic regulators of cardiac progenitor cell aging and their role in heart failure.

1. Transcriptional Control of Programmed Cell Death. (NHMRC)   2006-2008

2. Identifying an Epigenetic enzyme regulating programmed cell death. (Cancer Council Australia) 2009

3. Twist-1 regulation of bone cell differentiation during osteoporosis. (NHMRC) 2013-2015

4. Histone Demethylase KDM6A is a novel target for treating craniosynostosis in children with Saethre Chotzen Syndrome. (NHMRC) 2018-2020.

5. Deregulation of DNA hydroxymethylases Tet1/Tet2 compromises skeletal Integrity during ageing and bone disease. (NHMRC) 2018-2021.

1. Human Biology 1B

2. Human Anatomy and Physiology IA

3. Human Anatomy and Physiology IB

4. Dental Science and Practise

5. Foundations of Medicine

6. Integrated and Applied Systems Physiology

7. Medical Studies 1

8. Physiology IIA

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2022 Co-Supervisor Identification of epigenetic factors deregulated in skeletal stem cells during high glucose medicated inhibition of bone formation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mrs Suzanna Shirazi
    2020 Co-Supervisor Deregulation of the DNA hydroxymethylase Tet2 compromises skeletal integrity during ageing and osteoporosis. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Nicholas John Smith

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2018 - 2022 Co-Supervisor The Role of Epigenetic Modifiers, Kdm6a and Kdm6b, in Calvarial Suture Development and Craniosynostosis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Clara Pribadi
    2012 - 2016 External Supervisor Epignetic Regulation of Histone Three Lysine Twenty Seven Tri Methylation Dictates Mesenchymal Stem Cell Lineage Commitment, Lifespan and Murine Skeletal Development Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Sarah Elizabeth Hemming
    2006 - 2009 Co-Supervisor Analysis of the Function and Regulation of the Centrosomal Protein NEDD1 During Cell Division and Development Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Jantina Manning

  • Committee Memberships
    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2021 - ongoing Member Australian Epigenetics Alliance University of Adelaide Australia
    2015 - ongoing Co-Founder Epigenetics Consortium of South Australia University of Adelaide Australia
    2013 - 2015 Member ASMR University of Adelaide Australia

  • Memberships
    Date Role Membership Country
    2013 - ongoing Member Australian Asian Stem Cell Society Australia

  • Editorial Boards
    Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country
    2014 - ongoing Editor Journal of Stem Cells Research, Reviews and Reports University of Adelaide Australia
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