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ADELAIDE SA 5000 AUSTRALIA
Biography
Wayne Leifert is a Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO (Australia). He received his PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry (Dept of Physiology) from the University of Adelaide (Australia) and served on the editorial board of the Journal of Biomolecular Screening, Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery, Journal of Bionanoscience and Frontiers in Nutrigenomics as well as other journals in the field of medical biochemistry. He was the first to demonstrate the acute electrophysiological mechanisms of omega3 long chain fatty acids on cardiac ionic currents. Wayne’s research has focused on developing G-protein coupled receptor biosensors (as part of an award-winning CSIRO Nanotechnology initiative; $900K and OzNano2Life; $140K), quantitative imaging microscopy techniques to measure intracellular biomarkers of ageing (via a Transformational Biology Acorn grant), nutritional deficiencies and chronic diseases including cardiovascular and Alzheimer's disease. Wayne has a deep understanding/experience in molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry (including “omics”), physiology and bio-statistics as evidenced by his multidisciplinary publication profile. He has a strong track record in supervising and mentoring staff and students (undergraduate and postgraduate); including 16 students (Hons, Masters & PhD students as well as 3 post-docs). His current research activities are in non-invasive diagnostics for chronic disease, including saliva diagnostics and developing a translational pipeline from recent projects. He is a project leader in the Australia Dementia Network Screening and Trials (ADNeT) in Alzheimer's disease, working with multiple clinicians and research institutes across Australia. He collaborates extensively on projects investigating; medical devices (cold plasma technology with an ARC Future Fellowship, co-investigator); as well as novel diagnostics for cancer and Parkinson's Disease/traumatic brain injury (MRFF funded); development of novel virtual reality software to aid in 3D visualisation of omics data (Australian Research Centre for Interactive and Virtual Environments at UniSA); development of a rapid antibody discovery program; commercialisation of ELISA assays for Alzheimer's disease diagnostics (Biosensis Pty Ltd) and developing a novel genotoxicity cell-based assay. Wayne is an affiliated Professor at the University of Adelaide (Molecular & Biomedical Science) and currently (co)supervises students from the University of Adelaide and UniSA; including three PhD students.
Other Interests
Scuba diver & underwater photographer of marine life and shipwrecks near the coast of Adelaide;
Photographer; night, landscape, underwater, long exposure.
Keen interest in theoretical quantum mechanics (physics).
Community activities-
committee member of Marine Life Society of South Australia (MLSSA)
committee member of St Vinnies; northern region (& active volunteer for 15 years)
Award winning photography-
1. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources - Sea Pixels photo competition 2017
https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/topics/heritage/heritage-news-events/heritage-photo-competitions/sea-pixels-photo-competition-2017
2. Australian Institute of Maritime archaeology “shared histories” photographic competition 2017.
3. The Neville Coleman Memorial Nudibranch Dive - underwater photo competition 2018 - Winner in the category “The largest nudibranch”, and winner in the “Best Seascape” category.
4. Heritage Snaps Photo Competition 2021 Top 20 finalist - Heritage through the lens: photograph of the Excelsior Shipwreck at Mutton Cove, Osborne, South Australia. https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/topics/heritage/heritage-news-events/heritage-photo-competitions/snaps-competition-2021/top-20
Community Reports
The Neville Coleman Memorial Nudibranch Dive Event: NCMND Report 2018
Summary of results of a community dive event in South Australia. J.L. Baker, S. Ruxton, H. Newton, W. Pillen, A. Wood, D. Monceaux, W. Leifert, J. Mackay, R. Paton, M. McLean, M. Chi, N. Strong, J. Bowey, D. Baxter, A. Futterer, D. Kinasz, M. Sutcliffe, D. Jeffrey, B. Battersby, S. Reynolds, B. Richards & J. Baker-Johnson.
Syngnathidae Fishes of Eastern Gulf St Vincent: Utilising citizen science to investigate pipefish distribution and habitat use.
FINAL REPORT FOR GRASSROOTS GRANT PROJECT 2020-21-1-0027, Janine Baker et al. DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.32989.90088
Community contributions (marine photography)
1. Brochure: Seadragons: South Australia - Victor Harbor Visitor Information Centre (2023).
2. Edithburgh Jetty Sign (2022), South Australia.
Professional Areas
Current Roles
-
2023-ongoing Industry PhD student/project supervisor
https://www.csiro.au/en/careers/scholarships-student-opportunities/postgraduate-programs-and-scholarships/industry-phd/iphd-university-partner -
Committee Member
2024-ongoing Biofluid Based Biomarkers Professional Interest Area [of the Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART)], an international working group of leading AD scientists. -
Project Leader
Australia Dementia Network Screening and Trials (ADNeT) -
2022-2023 Defining the salivaomic profile of people with cancer and its association with treatment side effects
Project Leader -
Virtual Reality Data Visualisation
2022 UniSA student supervisor 2 x Engineering students -
Project Leader APaIRS translational pathway
Commercialisation of Alzheimer's disease diagnostics (ongoing) -
Coinvestigator
Forecasting Impairment and Neurodegenerative Disease risk following Traumatic Brain Injury (FIND-TBI): A computational neurology-driven method to predict long-term prognosis. -
2022 Scientific Management Committee Member for the TACKLE study
Study coinvestigator -
Project leader
Project Management Fundamentals 2021 -
Conference convenor
Saliva Symposium Australia SalSA 2021 -
Project Leader
2018-2023 Probing Biosystems - Future Science Platform - Saliva biomarkers of healthy aging -
Biomarkers Project
2009-2017 The Australian Imaging, Biomarker & Lifestyle Flagship Study of Ageing (AIBL) -
Project Leader
Prostate cancer/Vitamin D supplementation trial (ProsD) 2017-2021 -
2018 Project Leader - Alzheimer's disease risk & non-invasive biomarkers
SAND, South Australian Neurodegenerative Disease study -
Project Leader - PhD student supervisor
2015 Guanine quadruplexes and folate deficiency -
Project leader
2009-2017 Buccal cell cytome and proteome in Alzheimer's Disease
Academic Qualifications
-
2001
PhD
University of Adelaide -
1997
BSc Hons
Flinders University -
1993
Dip Med Lab Sc
University of South Australia -
1991
Cert Med Lab Sc
UniSA
Professional Experiences
-
8/8/88-current
Scientific research
CSIRO
Achievements and Awards
-
2024-2024
Editor’s Choice award in "Metabolites" journal
https://aehrc.csiro.au/alzheimers-disease-paper-recognised-with-editors-choice-award/ -
2015-current
Honorary Associate Professor
University of Adelaide -
2009-2009
Registered Nutritionist (RNutr)
NSA -
2002-
Australian Academy of Science Travel Award to University of Michigan
-
2002-
CSIRO Chief's Study Tour Award to University of Michigan
-
2001-
International Society for Heart Research
-
2001-
National Heart Foundation of Australia
-
2001-
World Congress of the International Society for Heart Research
-
2001-
Australian Research Council Career Development Award
-
2000-
Walter and Dorothy Duncan Trust Award
-
2000-
University of Adelaide, Department of Physiology
-
2000-
University of Adelaide, Department of Physiology
-
2000-
Meadow Lea Foods Ltd
-
1999-
University of Adelaide, Department of Physiology
-
1999-
Ross Wishart Memorial Award (Australian Society for Medical Research)
-
1998-
WG Nayler Prize (best presentation-International Society for Heart Research)
-
1998-
National Heart Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship
-
1993-
WR O'Dell Award (Australian Institute of Medical Scientists)
Other highlights
-
2009
Published Book - G Protein-Coupled Receptors in Drug Discovery
Grants
-
2023-2023
$26K (MOSH; CSIRO Principal Investigator) "Salivary microbiome signature of Alzheimer’s disease".
-
May 2022-August 2022
$30K (Investigator) Biosecurity Mission: Pathfinder - Novel diagnostic for detection
-
2022-2023
$82,125 University of Adelaide - Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Strategic Research Support Scheme, University of Adelaide – Defining the salivaomic profile of people with cancer and its association with treatment side effects (with Dr Hannah Rose Wardill).
-
2021-2023
$1.98M MRFF (University of Adelaide, Dr Lyndsey Collins-Praino/Leader) - Forecasting Impairment and Neurodegenerative Disease risk following Traumatic Brain Injury (FIND-TBI): A computational neurology-driven method to predict long-term prognosis. (AI in project, $70K)
-
2021-2023
$51K CSIRO Research plus scholarship top-up
-
2020-2023
$40K UniSA - ARC Future Fellowship, co-investigator.
-
2017-2022
$156,800 Prostate cancer/Vitamin D supplementation trial (ProsD)
-
2017-2019
$799K Probing Biosystems Future Science Platform project
-
2014-2015
$19,750 P-Health Postgraduate top-up for AIBL project
-
2013-2014
$30,000 (Principal Investigator) Wicking & Mason trust (ANZ trustees)
-
2012-2014
$209,000 NHMRC/Nutritech (associate investigator). “Application of new technologies and methods in nutrition research – the example of phenotypic flexibility”.
-
2010-2011
$30,000 (Principal Investigator) JO & JR Wicking trust (ANZ trustees)
-
2009-2010
$16,900 (Principal Investigator) OCE Cutting Edge Science Symposia
-
2009-2010
$25K (Principal Investigator) Acorn Transformational Biology
-
2010-2013
$612K (Principal Investigator) HAL - Irradiation-induced DNA damage in Q-fly
-
2004-2006
$140K (Principal Investigator) OzNano2Life
-
2003-2006
$900K (Primary Investigator) CSIRO Nanotechnology Emerging Science initiative
Community and Corporate Citizenship
-
2024-2024
Grant funding reviewer NSW Health
-
2023-2024
CSIRO's Future Science & Technology 20-year vision (multi-omics)
-
2018-2024
Research Supervisor in the industry PhD (iPhD) Program
-
2023-ongoing
Biofluid Based Biomarkers Professional Interest Area [of the Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART)]
-
2015-ongoing
Associate Editor - Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
-
2006-ongoing
Affiliated (Assoc Professor) with School of Biological Sciences - University of Adelaide
-
2005-ongoing
Editorial Board - Journal of Biomolecular Screening
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2002-2003
Visiting Scientist - University of Michigan
-
2007-2013
Editorial Board - Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery
-
2006-2013
Editorial Board - Journal of Bionanoscience
-
2006-ongoing
Formal Affiliation - Flinders University
-
2010-ongoing
St Vincent de Paul Society
Attachments
Related links
- The Conversation "The 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry – what are G protein-coupled receptors?" by Wayne R. Leifert
- Methods in Molecular Biology (MIMB, volume 552) by Wayne R. Leifert
- Annual Review of Nano Research: Volume 3 (Chapter 1; Wayne R. Leifert)
- Springer Handbook of Nanotechnology (Chapter 17; Wayne R. Leifert)
- Cutting-edge science symposium on saliva/non-invasive diagnostics
- Google scholar
- Underwater photography
- Fine-art photography
We have publications by Prof Wayne Leifert