Katherine Pillman

Research Interests

Bioinformatics Bioinformatics Software Cancer Cell Biology Epigenetics Gene Expression Medical Genetics

Dr Katherine Pillman

Senior Research Fellow

Centre for Cancer Biology

College of Health

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

Dr. Katherine Pillman is a computational biologist focused on gene regulation in cancer, integrating a broad range of transcriptomic analyses to understand neuroblastoma and epithelial cancers. She leads the Gene Regulation Bioinformatics Laboratory at the Centre for Cancer Biology in South Australia. As a molecular biologist, Dr. Pillman studied transcriptional regulation in plants during her PhD at the University of Adelaide and her first postdoc at Oregon State University in the USA. There, she transitioned to bioinformatics and returned to Australia in 2012 to become the Lead Bioinformatician in the Gene Regulatory Section at the Centre for Cancer Biology. In 2022, she established an independent research program.
Career highlights include a seminal paper in Cell identifying the first protein known to control the formation of circular RNAs. This protein, Quaking, was later found to be crucial in circular splicing and linear alternative splicing in cancer (published in EMBO Journal). In other work, she and her collaborators identified genome-wide microRNA regulatory networks controlling cell invasion (also in EMBO Journal) and established the cooperative role of microRNAs in cancer (published in Nucleic Acids Research and Cell Systems).
Dr. Pillman is a current Col Reynolds Fellow for The Kids Cancer Project and Mavis Robertson Fellow for NBCF.

Date Position Institution name
2022 - 2025 Adjunct Lecturer University of Adelaide
2014 - ongoing Affiliate Lecturer University of South Australia

Date Institution name Country Title
2005 - 2009 The University of Adelaide Australia PhD
2004 - 2004 The University of Adelaide Australia B. Biotechnology (Hons)
2001 - 2003 The University of Adelaide Australia B. Biotechnology

Year Citation
2025 Orang, A., Warnock, N. I., Migault, M., Dredge, B. K., Bert, A. G., Bracken, J. M., . . . Bracken, C. P. (2025). Chasing non-existent "microRNAs" in cancer. Oncogenesis, 14(1, article no. 10), 10-1-10-9.
DOI Scopus4 WoS4 Europe PMC4
2025 McAllan, A. L., Pillman, K. A., Gearing, L. J., & Gantier, M. P. (2025). IsomiR stoichiometry changes as disease biomarkers. Molecular Therapy Nucleic Acids, 36(3, article no. 102578), 1-13.
DOI
2025 Kachooei, S. A., Bracken, J. M., Pillman, K. A., Gregory, P. A., & Bracken, C. P. (2025). Half of annotated human microRNAs are expressed at levels of questionable biological significance. Iscience, 28(9), 14 pages.
DOI
2024 Liu, D., Dredge, B. K., Bert, A. G., Pillman, K. A., Toubia, J., Guo, W., . . . Goodall, G. J. (2024). ESRP1 controls biogenesis and function of a large abundant multiexon circRNA. Nucleic Acids Research, 52(3), 1387-1403.
DOI Scopus16 WoS15 Europe PMC13
2024 Neumann, D. P., Pillman, K. A., Dredge, B. K., Bert, A. G., Phillips, C. A., Lumb, R., . . . Gregory, P. A. (2024). The landscape of alternative polyadenylation during EMT and its regulation by the RNA-binding protein Quaking. RNA Biology, 21(1), 1-11.
DOI Scopus8 WoS7 Europe PMC24
2024 Ngo, L. H., Bert, A. G., Dredge, B. K., Williams, T., Murphy, V., Li, W., . . . Wickramasinghe, V. O. (2024). Nuclear export of circular RNA. Nature, 627(8002), 212-220.
DOI Scopus74 WoS68 Europe PMC61
2024 Ngo, L. H., Bert, A. G., Dredge, B. K., Williams, T., Murphy, V., Li, W., . . . Wickramasinghe, V. O. (2024). Publisher Correction: Nuclear export of circular RNA.. Nature, 627(8005), E12.
DOI
2024 Khetan, R., Eldi, P., Lokman, N. A., Ricciardelli, C., Oehler, M. K., Blencowe, A., . . . Albrecht, H. (2024). Unveiling G-protein coupled receptors as potential targets for ovarian cancer nanomedicines: from RNA sequencing data analysis to in vitro validation.. J Ovarian Res, 17(1), 156.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC2
2023 Smith, M. D., Leemaqz, S. Y., Jankovic-Karasoulos, T., McCullough, D., McAninch, D., Arthurs, A. L., . . . Pillman, K. A. (2023). DraculR: A Web-Based Application for In Silico Haemolysis Detection in High-Throughput microRNA Sequencing Data. Genes, 14(2), 1-10.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC2
2023 Sapkota, S., Pillman, K. A., Dredge, B. K., Liu, D., Bracken, J. M., Kachooei, S. A., . . . Goodall, G. J. (2023). On the rules of engagement for microRNAs targeting protein coding regions. Nucleic Acids Research, 51(18), 9938-9951.
DOI Scopus12 WoS12 Europe PMC12
2023 Orang, A., Dredge, B. K., Liu, C. Y., Bracken, J. M., Chen, C. -H., Sourdin, L., . . . Bracken, C. P. (2023). Basonuclin-2 regulates extracellular matrix production and degradation. Life Science Alliance, 6(10), e202301984-1-e202301984-17.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC7
2022 Zhang, Y., Liu, L., Pillman, K. A., Hayball, J., Su, Y. W., & Xian, C. J. (2022). Differentially expressed miRNAs in bone after methotrexate treatment. Journal of Cellular Physiology, 237(1), 965-982.
DOI Scopus4 WoS6 Europe PMC6
2022 Smith, M., Leemaqz, S., Jankovic-Karasoulos, T., McCullough, D., McAninch, D., Breen, J., . . . Pillman, K. (2022). DraculR: A web based application for <i>in silico</i> haemolysis detection in high throughput small RNA sequencing data.
DOI
2022 Smith, M., Leemaqz, S., Jankovic-Karasoulos, T., McAninch, D., McCullough, D., Breen, J., . . . Pillman, K. (2022). Haemolysis detection in microRNA-seq from clinical plasma samples.
DOI
2022 Smith, M. D., Leemaqz, S. Y., Jankovic-Karasoulos, T., McAninch, D., McCullough, D., Breen, J., . . . Pillman, K. A. (2022). Haemolysis Detection in MicroRNA-Seq from Clinical Plasma Samples. Genes, 13(7), 1288-1-1288-15.
DOI Scopus15 WoS14 Europe PMC12
2021 Arcucci, V., Ishaq, M., Roufail, S., Dredge, K., Bert, A., Hackett-Jones, E., . . . Achen, M. (2021). The microRNA miR-132 is a key regulator of lymphatic vascular remodelling.
DOI
2021 Fernandes, R. C., Toubia, J., Townley, S., Hanson, A. R., Dredge, B. K., Pillman, K. A., . . . Selth, L. A. (2021). Post-transcriptional gene regulation by microRNA-194 promotes neuroendocrine transdifferentiation in prostate cancer. Cell Reports, 34(1), 1-17.
DOI Scopus41 WoS41 Europe PMC41
2021 Smith, M. D., Pillman, K., Jankovic-Karasoulos, T., McAninch, D., Wan, Q., Bogias, K. J., . . . Roberts, C. T. (2021). Large-scale transcriptome-wide profiling of microRNAs in human placenta and maternal plasma at early to mid gestation. RNA biology, 18(Suppl. 1), 507-520.
DOI Scopus22 WoS25 Europe PMC29
2020 Smith, M., Pillman, K., Jankovic-Karasoulos, T., McAninch, D., Wan, Q., Bogias, J., . . . Roberts, C. (2020). Large-scale transcriptome-wide profiling of microRNAs in human placenta and maternal plasma at early to mid gestation.
DOI
2020 Saunders, K., Bert, A. G., Dredge, B. K., Toubia, J., Gregory, P. A., Pillman, K. A., . . . Bracken, C. P. (2020). Insufficiently complex unique-molecular identifiers (UMIs) distort small RNA sequencing. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 1-9.
DOI Scopus13 WoS11 Europe PMC9
2019 Pillman, K. A., Goodall, G. J., Bracken, C. P., & Gantier, M. P. (2019). miRNA length variation during macrophage stimulation confounds the interpretation of results: implications for miRNA quantification by RT-qPCR. RNA, 25(2), 232-238.
DOI Scopus16 WoS16 Europe PMC16
2019 Pillman, K. A., Scheer, K. G., Hackett-Jones, E., Saunders, K., Bert, A. G., Toubia, J., . . . Bracken, C. P. (2019). Extensive transcriptional responses are co-ordinated by microRNAs as revealed by Exon-Intron Split Analysis (EISA). Nucleic Acids Research, 47(16), 14 pages.
DOI Scopus8 WoS7 Europe PMC9
2018 Nejad, C., Pillman, K., Siddle, K., Pépin, G., Anko, M., McCoy, C., . . . Gantier, M. (2018). miR-222 isoforms are differentially regulated by type-I interferon. RNA, 24(3), 332-341.
DOI Scopus30 WoS28 Europe PMC30
2018 Pillman, K. A., Phillips, C. A., Roslan, S., Toubia, J., Dredge, B. K., Bert, A. G., . . . Gregory, P. A. (2018). miR-200/375 control epithelial plasticity-associated alternative splicing by repressing the RNA-binding protein Quaking. EMBO Journal, 37(13), 20 pages.
DOI Scopus90 WoS88 Europe PMC79
2018 Cursons, J., Pillman, K. A., Scheer, K. G., Gregory, P. A., Foroutan, M., Hediyeh-Zadeh, S., . . . Davis, M. J. (2018). Combinatorial targeting by MicroRNAs co-ordinates post-transcriptional control of EMT. Cell Systems, 7(1), 77-91.
DOI Scopus74 WoS70 Europe PMC68
2017 Cursons, J., Pillman, K., Scheer, K., Gregory, P., Foroutan, M., Zadeh, S. H., . . . Davis, M. (2017). Post-transcriptional control of EMT is coordinated through combinatorial targeting by multiple microRNAs.
DOI
2017 Yu, F., Pillman, K., Neilsen, C., Toubia, J., Lawrence, D., Tsykin, A., . . . Bracken, C. (2017). Naturally existing isoforms of miR-222 have distinct functions. Nucleic Acids Research, 45(19), 11371-11385.
DOI Scopus63 WoS59 Europe PMC59
2015 Yu, F., Bracken, C., Pillman, K., Lawrence, D., Goodall, G., Callen, D., & Neilsen, P. (2015). p53 represses the oncogenic Sno-MiR-28 derived from a SnoRNA. PLoS One, 10(6), e0129190-1-e0129190-20.
DOI Scopus64 WoS60 Europe PMC54
2015 Thomson, D., Pillman, K., Anderson, M., Lawrence, D., Toubia, J., Goodall, G., & Bracken, C. (2015). Assessing the gene regulatory properties of Argonaute-bound small RNAs of diverse genomic origin. Nucleic Acids Research, 43(1), 470-481.
DOI Scopus37 WoS35 Europe PMC38
2015 Conn, S., Pillman, K., Toubia, J., Conn, V., Salmanidis, M., Phillips, C., . . . Goodall, G. (2015). The RNA binding protein quaking regulates formation of circRNAs. Cell, 160(6), 1125-1134.
DOI Scopus1810 WoS1717 Europe PMC1645
2014 Salmanidis, M., Pillman, K., Goodall, G., & Bracken, C. (2014). Direct transcriptional regulation by nuclear microRNAs. The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 54, 304-311.
DOI Scopus69 WoS59 Europe PMC60
2014 Jeknic, Z., Pillman, K., Dhillon, T., Skinner, J., Veisz, O., Cuesta-Marcos, A., . . . Stockinger, E. (2014). Hv-CBF2A overexpression in barley accelerates COR gene transcript accumulation and acquisition of freezing tolerance during cold acclimation. Plant Molecular Biology, 84(1-2), 67-82.
DOI Scopus51 WoS45 Europe PMC36
2014 Bracken, C. P., Li, X., Wright, J. A., Lawrence, D., Pillman, K. A., Salmanidis, M., . . . Goodall, G. (2014). Genome-wide identification of miR-200 targets reveals a regulatory network controlling cell invasion. The EMBO Journal, 33(18), 1979-2134.
DOI Scopus124 WoS121 Europe PMC115
2013 Attema, J., Bert, A., Lim, Y., Kolesnikoff, N., Lawrence, D., Pillman, K., . . . Goodall, G. (2013). Identification of an enhancer that increases miR-200b~200a~429 gene expression in breast cancer cells. PLoS One, 8(9), 1-15.
DOI Scopus21 WoS19 Europe PMC19
2013 Eini Gandomani, O., Yang, N., Pyvovarenko, T., Pillman, K., Bazanova, N., Tikhomirov, N., . . . Lopato, S. (2013). Complex regulation by Apetala2 domain-containing transcription factors revealed through analysis of the stress-responsive TdCor410b promoter from durum wheat. PLoS One, 8(3), 1-19.
DOI Scopus30 WoS28 Europe PMC25

Year Citation
2025 Khetan, R., Eldi, P., Lokman, N., Ricciardelli, C., Oehler, M., Blencowe, A., . . . Albrecht, H. (2025). Leveraging GPCR overexpression for personalized nanomedicine: A novel approach in ovarian cancer therapy. In CANCER RESEARCH Vol. 85 (pp. 2 pages). IL, Chicago: AMER ASSOC CANCER RESEARCH.
DOI
2024 Smith, M., Plasier, S., Jankovic-Karasoulos, T., Williamson, J., Leemaqz, S., Arthurs, A., . . . Pillman, K. (2024). TOWARDS ESTABLISHING COMMUNITY STANDARDS FOR BIOINFORMATIC ANALYSIS OF THE HUMAN PLACENTA. In PLACENTA Vol. 154 (pp. E59). CANADA, Montreal: W B SAUNDERS CO LTD.
2023 Smith, M., Pillman, K., Leemaqz, S., Arthurs, A., McCullough, D., Williamson, J., . . . Roberts, C. (2023). SEX-SPECIFIC ANALYSIS OF PLACENTAL GENE EXPRESSION IN LATE-ONSET PREECLAMPSIA. In PLACENTA Vol. 140 (pp. E16-E17). Rotorua, NEW ZEALAND: W B SAUNDERS CO LTD.

Year Citation
2014 Conn, S. J., Pillman, K. A., & Goodall, G. J. (2014). Identification of nuclear RNA-binding proteins as critical factors in circular RNA (circRNA) biogenesis. Poster session presented at the meeting of FEBS JOURNAL. Paris, FRANCE: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
WoS1

Year Citation
2022 Neumann, D., Pillman, K., Dredge, K., Bert, A., Bracken, C., Hollier, B., . . . Gregory, P. (2022). The landscape of alternative polyadenylation during EMT and its regulation by the RNA-binding protein Quaking.
DOI
2019 Fernandes, R. C., Toubia, J., Townley, S., Hanson, A. R., Dredge, B. K., Pillman, K. A., . . . Selth, L. A. (2019). MicroRNA-194 promotes lineage plasticity in advanced prostate cancer.
DOI

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2025 Principal Supervisor Uncovering Drivers of High Risk Mesenchymal-Type Neuroblastoma Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Tayla Louise Albertini
2025 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Roopan Giri
2025 Principal Supervisor Uncovering Drivers of High Risk Mesenchymal-Type Neuroblastoma Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Tayla Louise Albertini
2025 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Josefanny Josefanny
2024 Principal Supervisor Identification and assessment of new treatment options for childhood brain cancers Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Dione Anne Gardner-Stephen
2024 Principal Supervisor Identification and assessment of new treatment options for childhood brain cancers Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Dione Anne Gardner-Stephen
2023 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Jasleen Rajpal
2023 Principal Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Aayushi Notra
2023 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Fakhira Nazki
2022 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Saba Ataei Kachooei

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2020 - 2022 External Supervisor Monitoring Placental Development and Function in the Age of Multi-Omic High Throughput Sequencing Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Melanie Denise Smith

Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
2016 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Nuclear microRNAs Centre for Cancer Biology University of South Australia Doctorate Part Time Klay Saunders
2015 - 2015 Co-Supervisor Direct Transcriptional Regulation by Nuclear microRNAs Centre for Cancer Biology University of South Australia Honours Full Time Klay Saunders

Connect With Me

External Profiles

Other Links