Dr Melissa Pitman

Senior Lecturer

School of Biological Sciences

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

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

Dr Melissa Pitman is the head of the newly established Ovarian Cancer and Drug Discovery Laboratory at the University of Adelaide. She gained her research training in enzymology, protein biochemistry and in silico-based drug discovery during her PhD at Flinders University. With a keen interest in cancer, Dr Pitman moved to the Centre for Cancer Biology to study the role of the sphingolipid pathway with the Molecular Therapeutics Laboratory. During her post-doctoral work she studied links between sphingolipid regulation and ovarian cancer, identifying key targets for therapeutic intervention. She utilised her skills in drug discovery to identify and validate small-molecule inhibitors that target sphingolipid signalling. Her work has led to the development of a spin-off company, Cincera Therapeutics, that is focussed on the development of anti-fibrotic agents. Dr Pitman’s work is focussed on the identification and testing of novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of ovarian cancer and includes the development and use of powerful preclinical models of this disease.

Career
Publications
Grants and Funding
Supervision
Professional Activities
Contact

Appointments

Date Position Institution name
2021 - ongoing Senior Lecturer University of Adelaide
2019 - ongoing Consultant Cincera Therapeutics

Date	Position	Institution name
2021 - ongoing	Senior Lecturer	University of Adelaide
2019 - ongoing	Consultant	Cincera Therapeutics

Education

Date	Institution name	Country	Title
2005 - 2009	Flinders University	Australia	Doctor of Philosophy
2004 - 2004	Flinders University	Australia	Bsc Honours
2001 - 2003	Flinders University	Australia	Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology

Postgraduate Training

Date Title Institution Country
2021 - 2021 Medical Research Commercialisation Internship Medical Research Commercialisation Fund Australia
Research Interests

Cancer Cell Biology Cancer Therapy Drug discovery Enzymes Medical Biochemistry: Lipids Medical Biochemistry: Proteins and Peptides

Date	Title	Institution	Country
2021 - 2021	Medical Research Commercialisation Internship	Medical Research Commercialisation Fund	Australia

Journals

Year	Citation
2023	Nguyen, T. M., Jambhrunkar, M., Wong, S. S., Ross, D. M., Joyce, P., Finnie, J. W., . . . Prestidge, C. A. (2023). Targeting Acute Myeloid Leukemia Using Sphingosine Kinase 1 Inhibitor-Loaded Liposomes.. Molecular pharmaceutics, 20(8), 3937-3946. DOI
2022	Mahabaleshwar, H., Asharani, P. V., Loo, T. Y., Koh, S. Y., Pitman, M. R., Kwok, S., . . . Carney, T. J. (2022). Slit-Robo signalling establishes a Sphingosine-1-phosphate gradient to polarise fin mesenchyme. EMBO reports, 23(8), 1-14. DOI Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC2
2022	Pitman, M. R., Lewis, A. C., Davies, L. T., Moretti, P. A. B., Anderson, D., Creek, D. J., . . . Pitson, S. M. (2022). The sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 2/4 antagonist JTE-013 elicits off-target effects on sphingolipid metabolism. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 454-1-454-12. DOI Scopus4 WoS3 Europe PMC3
2022	Lewis, A. C., Pope, V. S., Tea, M. N., Li, M., Nwosu, G. O., Nguyen, T. M., . . . Pitson, S. M. (2022). Ceramide-induced integrated stress response overcomes Bcl-2 inhibitor resistance in acute myeloid leukemia.. Blood, 139(26), 3737-3751. DOI Scopus11 WoS9 Europe PMC8
2021	Mahabaleshwar, H., Asharani, P. V., Yi Jun, T. L., Koh, S. Y., Pitman, M., Kwok, S., . . . Carney, T. (2021). Slit-Robo Signalling Establishes a Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Gradient to Polarise Fin Mesenchyme and Establish Fin Morphology. DOI
2021	Pitman, M., Oehler, M. K., & Pitson, S. M. (2021). Sphingolipids as multifaceted mediators in ovarian cancer. Cellular Signalling, 81, 1-18. DOI Scopus5 WoS5 Europe PMC3
2021	Pham, D. H., Pitman, M. R., Sharma, R., Jolly, L., Schulz, R., Gardner, A., . . . Gecz, J. (2021). Integrated in silico and experimental assessment of disease relevance of PCDH19 missense variants. Hum Mutat, 42(8), 1030-1041. DOI
2021	Bennett, M. K., Li, M., Tea, M. N., Pitman, M. R., Toubia, J., Wang, P. P. -S., . . . Pitson, S. M. (2021). Resensitising proteasome inhibitor-resistant myeloma with sphingosine kinase 2 inhibition.. Neoplasia, 24(1), 1-11. DOI Scopus10 WoS9 Europe PMC9
2019	Neubauer, H. A., Tea, M. N., Zebol, J. R., Gliddon, B. L., Stefanidis, C., Moretti, P. A. B., . . . Pitson, S. M. (2019). Cytoplasmic dynein regulates the subcellular localization of sphingosine kinase 2 to elicit tumor-suppressive functions in glioblastoma. Oncogene, 38(8), 1151-1165. DOI Scopus16 WoS15 Europe PMC10
2019	Al-Shujairi, W. H., Clarke, J. N., Davies, L. T., Pitman, M. R., Calvert, J. K., Aloia, A. L., . . . Carr, J. M. (2019). In vitro and in vivo roles of sphingosine kinase 2 during dengue virus infection. Journal of General Virology, 100(4), 629-641. DOI Scopus7 WoS6 Europe PMC4
2019	Powell, J. A., Pitman, M. R., Zebol, J. R., Moretti, P. A., Neubauer, H. A., Davies, L. T., . . . Pitson, S. M. (2019). Kelch-like protein 5-mediated ubiquitination of lysine 183 promotes proteasomal degradation of sphingosine kinase 1. The Biochemical Journal, 476(21), 3211-3226. DOI Scopus9 WoS9 Europe PMC6
2017	Powell, J., Lewis, A., Zhu, W., Toubia, J., Pitman, M., Wallington-Beddoe, C., . . . Pitson, S. (2017). Targeting sphingosine kinase 1 induces MCL1-dependent cell death in acute myeloid leukemia.. Blood, 129(6), 771-782. DOI Scopus61 WoS58 Europe PMC43
2017	Zhu, W., Gliddon, B., Jarman, K., Moretti, P., Tin, T., Parise, L., . . . Pitson, S. (2017). CIB1 contributes to oncogenic signalling by Ras via modulating the subcellular localisation of sphingosine kinase 1. Oncogene, 36(18), 2619-2627. DOI Scopus27 WoS23 Europe PMC12
2017	Wallington-Beddoe, C., Bennett, M., Vandyke, K., Davies, L., Zebol, J., Moretti, P., . . . Pitson, S. (2017). Sphingosine kinase 2 inhibition synergises with bortezomib to target myeloma by enhancing endoplasmic reticulum stress. Oncotarget, 8(27), 43602-43616. DOI Scopus35 WoS34 Europe PMC23
2017	Pitman, M., Davies, L., & Pitson, S. (2017). An improved isoform-selective assay for sphingosine kinase 1 activity. Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.), 1697, 9-20. DOI Scopus2 Europe PMC2
2017	Zhu, W., Jarman, K., Lokman, N., Neubauer, H., Davies, L., Gliddon, B., . . . Pitson, S. (2017). CIB2 negatively regulates oncogenic signaling in ovarian cancer via sphingosine kinase 1. Cancer Research, 77(18), 4823-4834. DOI Scopus26 WoS24 Europe PMC17
2017	Tran, H., Jersmann, H., Truong, T., Hamon, R., Roscioli, E., Ween, M., . . . Hodge, S. (2017). Disrupted epithelial/macrophage crosstalk via Spinster homologue 2-mediated S1P signaling may drive defective macrophage phagocytic function in COPD. PLoS ONE, 12(11), e0179577-1-e0179577-14. DOI Scopus23 WoS23 Europe PMC14
2016	Neubauer, H. A., Pham, D. H., Zebol, J. R., Moretti, P. A. B., Peterson, A. L., Leclercq, T. M., . . . Pitson, S. M. (2016). An oncogenic role for sphingosine kinase 2. Oncotarget, 7(40), 64886-64899. DOI Scopus49 WoS47 Europe PMC37
2016	Aurelio, L., Scullino, C. V., Pitman, M. R., Sexton, A., Oliver, V., Davies, L., . . . Flynn, B. L. (2016). From sphingosine kinase to dihydroceramide desaturase: a structure-activity relationship (SAR) study of the enzyme inhibitory and anticancer activity of 4-((4-(4-chlorophenyl)thiazol-2-yl)amino)phenol (SKI-II). Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 59(3), 965-984. DOI Scopus50 WoS47 Europe PMC27
2016	McNaughton, M., Pitman, M., Pitson, S. M., Pyne, N. J., & Pyne, S. (2016). Proteasomal degradation of sphingosine kinase 1 and inhibition of dihydroceramide desaturase by the sphingosine kinase inhibitors, SKi or ABC294640, induces growth arrest in androgen-independent LNCaP-AI prostate cancer cells. Oncotarget, 7(13), 16663-16675. DOI Scopus60 WoS57 Europe PMC46
2016	Sun, W. Y., Dimasi, D. P., Pitman, M. R., Zhuang, Y., Heddle, R., Pitson, S. M., . . . Bonder, C. S. (2016). Topical application of fingolimod perturbs cutaneous inflammation. Journal of Immunology, 196(9), 3854-3864. DOI Scopus13 WoS12 Europe PMC11
2016	Pitman, M. R., Costabile, M., & Pitson, S. M. (2016). Recent advances in the development of sphingosine kinase inhibitors. Cellular Signalling, 28(9), 1349-1363. DOI Scopus71 WoS73 Europe PMC41
2015	Pitman, M., Powell, J., Coolen, C., Moretti, P., Zebol, J., Pham, D., . . . Pitson, S. (2015). A selective ATP-competitive sphingosine kinase inhibitor demonstrates anti-cancer properties. Oncotarget, 6(9), 7065-7083. DOI Scopus56 WoS53 Europe PMC37
2013	Wilson, C. H., Indarto, D., Doucet, A., Pogson, L. D., Pitman, M. R., McNicholas, K., . . . Abbott, C. A. (2013). Identifying natural substrates for dipeptidyl peptidases 8 and 9 using terminal amine isotopic labeling of substrates (TAILS) reveals in vivo roles in cellular homeostasis and energy metabolism. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 288(20), 13936-13949. DOI Scopus51 WoS46 Europe PMC39
2012	Pitman, M., Woodcock, J., Lopez, A., & Pitson, S. (2012). Molecular targets of FTY720 (Fingolimod). Current Molecular Medicine, 12(10), 1207-1219. DOI Scopus60 WoS58 Europe PMC44
2011	Pitman, M., Barr, R., Gliddon, B., Magarey, A., Moretti, P., & Pitson, S. (2011). A critical role for the protein phosphatase 2A B′α regulatory subunit in dephosphorylation of sphingosine kinase 1. International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 43(3), 342-347. DOI Scopus22 WoS18 Europe PMC16
2010	Pitman, M., & Pitson, S. (2010). Inhibitors of the sphingosine kinase pathway as potential therapeutics. Current Cancer Drug Targets, 10(4), 354-367. DOI Scopus68 WoS66 Europe PMC45
2010	Pitman, M. R., Menz, R. I., & Abbott, C. A. (2010). Hydrophilic residues surrounding the S1 and S2 pockets contribute to dimerisation and catalysis in human dipeptidyl peptidase 8 (DP8). Biological Chemistry, 391(8), 959-972. DOI Scopus12 WoS12 Europe PMC7
2009	Yu, D. M. T., Ajami, K., Gall, M. G., Park, J., Lee, C. S., Evans, K. A., . . . Gorrell, M. D. (2009). The in vivo expression of dipeptidyl peptidases 8 and 9. Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry, 57(11), 1025-1040. DOI Scopus75 WoS72 Europe PMC51
2009	Pitman, M. R., Sulda, M. L., Kuss, B., & Abbott, C. A. (2009). Dipeptidyl peptidase 8 and 9 - Guilty by association?. Frontiers in Bioscience, 14(10), 3619-3633. DOI Scopus21 WoS20 Europe PMC9
2008	Ajami, K., Pitman, M. R., Wilson, C. H., Park, J., Menz, R. I., Starr, A. E., . . . Gorrell, M. D. (2008). Stromal cell-derived factors 1α and 1β, inflammatory protein-10 and interferon-inducible T cell chemo-attractant are novel substrates of dipeptidyl peptidase 8. FEBS Letters, 582(5), 819-825. DOI Scopus77 WoS74 Europe PMC54
2008	Ajami, K., Pitman, M. R., Wilson, C. H., Park, J., Menz, R. I., Starr, A. E., . . . Gorrell, M. D. (2008). Corrigendum to "Stromal cell-derived factors 1α and 1β, inflammatory protein-10 and interferon-inducible T cell chemo-attractant are novel substrates of dipeptidyl peptidase 8" [FEBS Lett. 582 (2008) 819-825] (DOI:10.1016/j.febslet.2008.02.005). FEBS Letters, 582(7), 1168. DOI
2006	Pitman, M. R., Menz, R. I., & Abbott, C. A. (2006). Prediction of dipeptidyl peptidase (DP) 8 structure by homology modelling. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 575, 33-42. DOI Scopus4 WoS3 Europe PMC1

Book Chapters

Year	Citation
2013	Pitman, M., Jarman, K., Leclercq, T., Pham, D., & Pitson, S. (2013). Sphingosine Kinases: Biochemistry, Regulation, and Roles. In J. Chun, T. Hla, W. Moolenaar, & S. Spiegel (Eds.), Lysophospholipid Receptors: Signaling and Biochemistry (pp. 153-183). Hoboken, New Jersey; USA: Wiley. DOI Scopus1
2012	Pitman, M., Pham, D., & Pitson, S. (2012). Isoform-selective assays for sphingosine kinase activity. In A. Pebay, & K. Turksen (Eds.), Sphingosine-1-Phosphate: Methods and Protocols (Vol. 874, 1 ed., pp. 21-31). United States: Springer. DOI Scopus31 Europe PMC22
2006	Pitman, M. R., & Menz, R. I. (2006). Methods for protein homology modelling. In Applied Mycology and Biotechnology (Vol. 6, pp. 37-59). Elsevier. DOI Scopus16

Conference Items

Year	Citation
2017	Hodge, S., Tran, H. B., Jersmann, H., Tung, T. T., Hamon, R., Roscioli, E., . . . Reynolds, P. N. (2017). Differential expression of the S1P transporter, Spinster homologue 2 (Spns2), in airway epithelial cells and macrophages may drive defective macrophage function in COPD. Poster session presented at the meeting of EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL. Milan, ITALY: EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY SOC JOURNALS LTD. DOI

Year

Citation

2017

Hodge, S., Tran, H. B., Jersmann, H., Tung, T. T., Hamon, R., Roscioli, E., . . . Reynolds, P. N. (2017). Differential expression of the S1P transporter, Spinster homologue 2 (Spns2), in airway epithelial cells and macrophages may drive defective macrophage function in COPD. Poster session presented at the meeting of EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL. Milan, ITALY: EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY SOC JOURNALS LTD.
DOI

Fellowships:

RAH Research Fund 2019 Florey Fellowship (2019-2022)	$348,000
RAH Research Fund 2013 Early Career Fellowship (2013-2017)	$252,000

Research Grants:
Ray and Shirl Norman Trust “Assessing novel therapeutics for the treatment of chemotherapy-resistant ovarian cancer” CIA Pitman MR, Oehler MK, Flynn B, Pitson SM (2021)	$360,000
UniSA RTIS funding "Nanomedicine to enhance sphingosine kinase 1 targeting in acute myeloid leukaemia and improve patient outcomes" Nguyen T, Prestidge C, CIC Pitman MR, Pitson SM (2019)	$40,000
Neurosurgical Research Foundation “Evaluating the use of FTY720 to permeabilise the blood-brain barrier to anti-neoplastic drugs for brain tumour therapy" Gliddon B, CIB Pitman MR, Pitson SM (2019)	$30,000
RAH Clinical Research Grant “Harnessing sphingosine kinase regulation of Mcl-1 to re-sensitise chemoresistant ovarian cancer” CIA Pitman MR, Oehler M, Pitson SM (2019)	$49,966
Neurosurgical Research Foundation “Targeting sphingosine kinases to improve glioblastoma therapy” Pitson SM, Powell JA, CIC Pitman MR (2016)	$68,462
RAH Clinical Research Grant “Defining the CIB2/SK1 axis as a prognostic indicator and chemosensitizing agent in ovarian cancer” Oehler M, Pitson SM, CIC Pitman MR (2016)	$50,575
RAH Clinical Research Grant "CIB2 as a potential tumour suppressor with prognostic significance in ovarian cancer” CIA Pitman MR, Oehler M, Pitson SM (2015)	$49, 975
Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation “Targeting sphingosine kinase as a therapy for a childhood leukemia” Pitson SM, CIB Pitman MR, Powell JA, D’Andrea R (2012)	$75,000

Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

Date	Role	Research Topic	Program	Degree Type	Student Load	Student Name
2023	Co-Supervisor	Revealing the role metabolite solute carriers in AML stem cells	Doctor of Philosophy	Doctorate	Full Time	Ms Mahta Moraghebi
2023	Principal Supervisor	Investigation of transcriptional regulators as a novel approach to treat ovarian cancer	Doctor of Philosophy	Doctorate	Full Time	Ms Suet Yee Too
2022	Principal Supervisor	New treatments to overcome chemoresistant ovarian cancer	Master of Philosophy	Master	Full Time	Miss Nicola Sian Louisa Jones

Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

Date	Role	Research Topic	Program	Degree Type	Student Load	Student Name
2012 - 2018	External Supervisor	Regulation of Sphingosine Kinase 1 Oncogenic Signalling by Calcium and Integrin Binding Proteins	Doctor of Philosophy	Doctorate	Part Time	Ms Wenying Zhu

Committee Memberships

Date Role Committee Institution Country
2020 - ongoing Representative Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology South Australian Representative Australia
Consulting/Advisories

Date Institution Department Organisation Type Country
2019 - ongoing Cincera Therapeutics Mechanism of Action Scientific research Australia

Date	Role	Committee	Institution	Country
2020 - ongoing	Representative	Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	South Australian Representative	Australia

Date	Institution	Department	Organisation Type	Country
2019 - ongoing	Cincera Therapeutics	Mechanism of Action	Scientific research	Australia

Position: Senior Lecturer
Phone: 83135980
Email: melissa.pitman@adelaide.edu.au
Campus: North Terrace
Building: Molecular Life Sciences, floor 3
Org Unit: Molecular and Biomedical Science

Dr Melissa Pitman

Appointments

Education

Postgraduate Training

Research Interests

Journals

Book Chapters

Conference Items

Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

Committee Memberships

Consulting/Advisories

Connect With Me

External Profiles