Owen Tang
Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW
Rotary Clubs of Kellyville, Dural, Kurrajong & Gladesville
The Rodney Tilden, Ted Atkinson and Bob McCallum
Kidney Research Scholarship 2009
Owen Tang is a PhD candidate at the University of Sydney. He has a Bachelor of Science (Hons) from the University of Sydney and has worked as Research Assistant in the renal laboratory of the Kolling Institute of Medical Research, located on Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital campus.
Owen’s experiences in the reputable renal lab under Professor Carol Pollock have allowed him to develop a wide variety of skills in perfecting techniques such as DNA microarray, 2D gels, Real-time PCR and Western Blots. These techniques allowed Owen to explore the nature of the regulation of factors that contribute to diabetic nephropathy. His research is looking to find a treatment for diabetic nephropathy- one of the most common and most serious complications of diabetes mellitus. Owen’s interest in the study of renal diseases is clearly reflected in his chosen PhD research project which focuses on the role of transcription factors in regulating diabetic nephropathy.
Owen keeps up to date with new findings in the area of nephrology and renal diseases, attending the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrologists (ANZSN) conference in 2008. He is also the treasurer of the Postgraduate Research Student Society (PReSS).
Owen’s aspirations in scientific research are to:
• advance experimental findings and the refinement of laboratory techniques
• develop personally and professionally as a medical researcher
• find answers for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy- a leading cause of end-stage
renal failure
• alleviate patients’ suffering and the economic burden of diabetic nephropathy
• promote a new outlook for all patients with diabetes mellitus and renal diseases
SUMMARY OF PROJECT:
The molecular roles of Krüppel-like transcription factors in regulating endothelial activation in diabetic nephropathy
Endothelial cells, a thin protective layer of surface tissue lining blood vessels, play a critical role in the progression of disease processes. Endothelial dysfunction can trigger a number of diabetic complications affecting the kidneys, including diabetic nephropathy, the leading cause of end-stage renal disease in people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
Krüppel-like transcription factors (KLF’s) are a family of genes that bind to DNA. Studies have shown they are extensively involved in cell proliferation, differentiation and survival.
In this study, the role of Krüppel-like transcription factors (KLF’s) involved in inflammation and endothelial cell health will be investigated when representative cells are exposed to a simulated environment that is found in diabetics.