
Saeed Nourmohammadi
Higher Degree by Research Candidate
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
- My Research
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Aquaporins (AQPs) are a subfamily of the Major Intrinsic Protein (MIP) that facilitate fluid homeostasis across membranes of organisms in all kingdoms of life. The aquaporin family is divided into two groups; classical AQPs selectively carry water, while aquaglyceroporins behave as channels that are permeable to small-uncharged solutes. Recent discoveries in terms of the transport of a wider range of substrates have shed new light on AQP physiological roles. Yet, knowledge on the direct role of specific AQPs in animal pathologies is still limited due to large number of different AQP isoforms and the lack of selective pharmacological modulators.
Using electrophysiology and molecular biology techniques in combination with computational modelling, my work primarily aims to discover new classes of AQPs that serve as dual water and ion channels and then provide better insights into the novel function of AQPs, their mechanism of gating and signaling networks in human-related diseases such as cancer and malaria.
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Saeed has 5+ years of experience in plant and animal membrane protein channels research, and 10+ years of prior involvement in research and industry ranging from RA and TA to supervisor and senior executive roles in Iran, India and Australia.
He secured a role as an RA at Adelaide in 2017 before starting his PhD in 2018 in the School of Biomedicine, investigating the part that is challenging the decades-old paradigm that AQP channels carry only water and glycerol.
He has built comprehensive knowledge base using interdisciplinary combinations of methods, in both “wet” and “dry” labs, comprising Bioinformatics, Cell/Molecular Biology, Electrophysiology, Biochemistry, Molecular Docking to enable the understanding of AQPs as therapeutic targets in a diverse array of diseases.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2022 - ongoing Tutor / Demonstrator (causal) University of Adelaide 2016 - 2017 Research Assistant University of Adelaide 2016 - 2016 Technical Assistant University of Adelaide 2014 - 2015 Laboratory Manager Zar Macaron Company 2012 - 2012 Teaching and Research Assistant (causal) Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences 2011 - 2013 R&D Zar Macaron Company 2006 - 2008 Diagnostic Laboratory Technician Besat Hospital -
Awards and Achievements
Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount 2022 Award PhD Research Training Award (national award) Australian Physiological Society (AuPS) Australia - 2021 Award AMS/Biomedicine Publication Awards The University of Adelaide Australia - 2020 Award Free registration winner for Quality in Postgraduate Research Conference (QPR) The University of Adelaide Australia - 2019 Award School of Medicine Travel Award The University of Adelaide Australia - 2018 Research Award Best Poster Presentation Award Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) Australia - 2014 Recognition ITQI award (International Taste and Quality Institute) Zar Macaron company Iran, Islamic Republic of - 2009 Research Award Best Poster Presentation Award Osmania University India - -
Language Competencies
Language Competency English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review Persian Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2018 - 2022 University of Adelaide Australia Ph.D., Biomedicine 2009 - 2011 Osmania University, Hyderabad India M.Sc., Biotechnology/Genetics
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Journals
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Conference Items
Year Citation 2021 Nourmohammadi, S. (2021). (Oral presentation) Aquaporins- from novel function to malaria. Poster session presented at the meeting of The Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR). 2021 Nourmohammadi, S. (2021). (Poster presentation) Discovering the molecular identity of a cation channel involved in survival and drug resistance of the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Poster session presented at the meeting of Florey Postgraduate Research Conference. 2020 Nourmohammadi, S., & Yool, A. (2020). (Oral presentation) Discovering New Cancer-linked Ion Channels using a Photoswitchable Lithium Porbe. Poster session presented at the meeting of 3-minutes talk competition, The Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS). University of Adelaide. 2019 Nourmohammadi, S., Nwe Aung, T., Cui, J., Pei, J., De leso, M., Qu, Z., . . . Yool, A. (2019). (Oral presentation) Systematic dissection of the molecular actions of compounds from traditional medicinal mixtures on the migration, invasion and apoptosis of brain, bowel and breast cancer cells. Poster session presented at the meeting of AuPS/ABS Meeting, Canberra, 2019. 2019 Nourmohammadi, S. (2019). (Invited talk) Effect of compound kushen injection, a natural compound mixture, and its identified chemical components on migration and invasion of colon, brain, and breast cancer cell lines. Poster session presented at the meeting of Opening talk at launching a new institute of Zhendong Pharma, Beijing, China. 2019 Nourmohammadi, S., Yool, A., & Adelson, D. (2019). (Poster presentation) Natural Compounds as Potential Anti-metastatic Treatments for Brain, Bowel and Breast Cancer. Poster session presented at the meeting of Florey Postgraduate Conference. 2018 Nourmohammadi, S., Nwe Aung, T., Yool, A., & Adelson, D. (2018). (Poster presentation) Fractional Deletion of Compound Kushen Injection, A Natural Compound Mixture, Indicates Cytokine Signaling Pathways Are Critical for Its Perturbation of The Cell Cycle. Poster session presented at the meeting of Florey Postgraduate Conference. 2018 Nourmohammadi, S., Yool, A., & Adelson, D. (2018). (Poster presentation) Discovery of the Anti-metastasic Activity of a Chinese medicinal herb mixture 'Compound Kushen Injection' and Identification of the Active Components in Brain, Colon and Breast Cancer Cell Lines. Poster session presented at the meeting of Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR). 2017 Nourmohammadi, S., Pie, V. J., Kourghi, M., De leso, M. L., Pak, C., Adelson, D. L., & Yool, A. J. (2017). (Oral presentation) Analysis of effective compounds and mechanisms of action of a Chinese traditional herbal medicine (Compound Kushen Injection) on aquaporins involved in cancer cell migration and metastasis.. Poster session presented at the meeting of Gage Ion Channels and Transporters Conference. Canberra, Australia.
1- (National) AuPS Higher Degrees by Research Student Grant Scheme. (Best PhD project of the year 2022). Source: Australian Physiological Society (AuPs).
2-Associate investigator
Source: International corporation project of traditional Chinese medicine (GZYYGJ2017035) and the University of Adelaide Zhendong Australia China Centre for Molecular Chinese Medicine. Funding: (2018-2022).
Tutor/Demonstrator (2022)
- Foundations of Medicine course, Medical School, the University of Adelaide.
- Human Physiology A and B courses, Department of Physiology, the University of Adelaide.
- Honours Research Communication & Engagement course, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, the University of Adelaide.
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Other Supervision Activities
Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name 2020 - ongoing Co-Supervisor Brain Cancer University of Adelaide The Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences (BHMS) 3rd year Research Placement course-2020 Other - Madison Boda, Annaliese Thompson, Timothy Kwok, Kenny Cao 2020 - ongoing Co-Supervisor Brain Cancer University of Adelaide - Honours - Alanah Varricchio 2012 - 2012 Other The effect of injected allogeneic fibroblasts in patients suffering from Junctional epidermolysis bullosa Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Workshop Master Part Time Pharmacology students -
Mentoring
Date Topic Location Name 2019 - ongoing Endometrial Cancer, Insect pathology University of Adelaide Sidra Khan, Biko Muita 2019 - 2020 Brain and Colorectal cancer University of Adelaide Zein Amro, Sher Lyn Yong
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Community Engagement
Date Title Engagement Type Institution Country 2021 - ongoing National Relations Assistant and Conference Organizer Scientific Community Engagement The Australian Physiological Society - 2020 - ongoing Cultural ambassador Public Community Engagement The University of Adelaide - 2020 - ongoing Journal Reviewer Scientific Community Engagement Frontiers in Pharmacology journal - 2020 - ongoing Board member Scientific Community Engagement The University of Adelaide, Medical School, Helen Mayo Precinct - 2020 - ongoing Events Coordinator Head Scientific Community Engagement The University of Adelaide, Health Sciences Postgraduate Association (HeSPA) - -
Event Participation
Date Event Name Event Type Institution Country 2020 - ongoing Conference Assessor, 3rd Year Research Placement Students Conference The University of Adelaide - 2019 - ongoing Conference Assessor, Florey Undergraduate Research Conference Conference The University of Adelaide -
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