Dr Winnie Kam
Staff Profile
Role at ANSTO
Winnie works in radiation biology research focusing on the nucleic acids and mitochondria.
Background
Winnie has both clinical and basic science backgrounds, with experience in radiological sciences, radiation biology, molecular biology, cell biology, functional imaging and cancer research. She obtained her BSc (Hon) in Radiography at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2004 and PhD in Medical Radiation Sciences at the University of Sydney in 2009. Winnie received her 3-year postdoctoral training at the ANSTO, where she has been heavily involved with extra-nuclear radiation research specifically on the mitochondria.
Winnie has strong background in a combined field of medical radiation sciences and molecular biology and is keen to use multidisciplinary approach to examine fundamental radiobiological issues. She forms part of a multidisciplinary team (consisting molecular biologists, radiation technologists, nuclear material scientists, neutron activation analysis scientists and theoretical physicists) and is now undertaking a project using both in vitro and in silico approaches to investigate the radiation effect on an extra-nuclear target (mitochondria) in mammalian cells. The ultimate goal of her research is to improve our understanding of how cells respond to ionizing radiation and to develop methods to modulate such effects in human cells to improve radiotherapy efficacy (promote damage in cancer cells and reduce damage in normal cells).
Winnie is currently an Assistant Professor of the Department of Health Technology and Informatics of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and also holds a role as an Honorary Associate Lecturer in the Department Medical Radiation Sciences of the University of Sydney.
Areas of expertise and Research interests
Winnie’s research interests are in nucleic acids, acute radiation effects, and mitochondria. Her areas of expertise are qPCR, functional imaging (PET), flow cytometry, western blot, and receptor-film autoradiography.
Qualifications & Achievements
PhD in Medical Radiation Sciences, University of Sydney (2009)
BSc in Radiography (Medical Imaging), the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (2004)
Publications
Kam, W.W.Y.; Banati, R.B. The Effects of Ionizing Radiation on Mitochondria, Free Radical Biology & Medicine, Jul (Letter of acceptance), 2013
Impact factor = 5.969 (An invited review)
Kam, W.W.Y.; Lake, V.; Banos, C.; Davies, J.B.; Banati, R.B. Apparent polyploidization after gamma irradiation: Pitfalls in the use of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for the estimation of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA gene copy numbers, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Vol. 14, No 6, pp. 11544-11559, May, 2013
Impact factor = 2.732
Kam, W.W.Y.; Middleton, R.; Lake, V.; Banati, R.B. Green Fluorescent Protein Alters the Transcriptional Regulation of Human Mitochondrial Genes After Gamma Irradiation. Journal of Fluorescence, Vol. 23, No 4, pp. 613-619, Mar, 2013
Impact Factor = 1.789
Kam, W.W.Y.; McNamara, A.L.; Lake, V.; Banos, C.; Davies, J.B.; Kuncic, Z.; Banati, R.B. Predicted ionisation in mitochondria and observed acute changes in the mitochondrial transcriptome after gamma irradiation: A Monte Carlo simulation and quantitative PCR study. Mitochondrion, Feb, 2013 [Epub ahead of print]
Impact Factor = 4.185
Kam W.W.Y.; Banati, R.B.; McNamara, A.L.; Davis, J.B. The response of messenger RNA to ionizing radiation – mitochondrial genes are more susceptible, Radiotherapy and Oncology: Journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, Vol. 102, No Supp 1, pp. S38-S39, Mar, 2012
Kam W.W.Y.; Wu, X.; Chan, S.T. The feasibility of 2-back task with alphabets and functional transcranial Doppler sonography in assessing hemispheric lateralization of working memory in Chinese, Neurology Asia, Vol. 17, No 1, pp. 39-48, Mar, 2012
Impact Factor = 0.19
Kam, W.W.Y.; Meikle, S.R.; Zhou, H.; Zheng, Y.; Blair, J.M.; Seibel, M.; Dunstan, C.R.; Banati, R.B. The 18 kDa Translocator Protein (Peripheral Benzodiazepine Receptor) Expression in the Bone of Normal, Osteoprotegerin or Low Calcium Diet Treated Mice. PLoS ONE, Vol. 7, No 1, pp. e30623, Jan, 2012
Impact Factor = 3.730
Kam W.W.Y. Peripheral benzodiazepine receptor in bone tissue, Journal & Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, Vol. 144, No 439-440, pp. 45, May (letter of acceptance), 2011