Curriculum Vitae of Stuart Skabo
Educational Qualifications
Bachelor
of Science with First Class Honours in Molecular Biology
University of
Tasmania, Hobart, Australia 1992 -
1995
·
Using
immunohistochemical and PCR techniques I investigated the expression and
distribution of the metallothionein proteins in the
nasal mucosa of normal and double knock-out mice and their response to chemical
insult (Skabo 1997).
Relevant Experience
Laboratory Manager / Senior Research Assistant / PhD Sept 2011 – present
Clem Jones Centre for Regenerative Medicine, HSM, Bond University,
Queensland
· Carried out a novel
hESC to RPE adherent differentiation with >90% conversion.
· Designed and
carried out tissue culture based bioengineering experiments using primary
cells, MSCs, RPEs, endometrial, as well as neural stem cells, iPSC and hES
cells. Analysed these experiments using SEM, TEM, Confocal microscopy as well
as qPCR, IHC and FACS.
· Co-developed the
CJRC’s 2013-2015 Research Plan, successfully approved for $1.8M and a project
Extension Proposal which was the basis for a further $1.2M over 2016-2018.
· Co-authored three
published, peer-reviewed papers (Warnke 2012, Alamein 2013a,b).
· Contributed
significantly to and managed submission process for five NHMRC Project Grants
(2013, 2015), an NHMRC LIEF grant (2012), a Smart State grant (QLD, 2012), BUPA
Foundation (2014) and a Macular Degeneration Foundation grant (2015).
· Commenced a PhD
titled “Alternative stem cell sources for retinal tissue engineering.”
Laboratory Manager / Senior Research Assistant March 2008 – May 2011
Stem Cell Engineering Group, AIBN, University
of Queensland
· Designed and
constructed transcription-factor containing lentiviral vectors, produced high
titre lentivirus by transfection and used the viruses to transduce and successfully
reprogram a variety of human primary cell lines into induced pluripotent
stem-cells (iPS).
· Transfected and
selected stable clones of various reporter-gene driven human adult and
stem-cell lines. Maintained and differentiated these lines into lineage
specific cell types. Characterised these lines using qPCR and
immunohistochemistry.
· Produced and
expressed iPS reprogramming factor proteins.
· Equipped and
installed a full, working, molecular biology and tissue culture laboratory on
time and under budget.
· Managed OH&S,
OGTR and training compliance requirements; carried out ordering, financial
management and maintenance for a 12 person/ $3M p.a. laboratory.
Senior Technical Officer July 2002 - July 2007
QABC, Department of
Primary Industries and Fisheries, University of Queensland
· Created a novel method to produce an inverted repeat library in custom designed plasmid vectors for the production of siRNA from arbitrary genomic material.
· Developed a novel sequencing method to sequence several novel circular-DNA viruses including BBTV (Sharman 2007), PSMV and CSMV.
· Used
fluorescent-SSR fingerprinting to identify commercial species (Holton, 2007)
· Undertook many new roles including Radiation Safety Officer, Workplace Health and Safety Representative, Fire Warden and accredited First Aid and Resuscitation Officer.
· Shared Laboratory Manager duties with two colleagues including workplace inductions, budgeting for and procuring large capital items, ordering of consumables, organising and overseeing repairs and writing and maintaining documentation.
·
Supervised visiting scientists, trained students
and colleagues including training for national accreditation (NATA) purposes.
Research Technician October 2000 - June 2002
QABC, SPIRT Research Grant, DPI and Botany
Department, University of Queensland
· Developed novel methods for plastid transformation in agricultural crops.
· Transformed cultured tobacco with novel targeting-peptide+GFP fusion constructs and used fluorescent confocal microscopy to record the successful subcellular localisations.
· Learned a number of molecular biology techniques including, biolistic and agrobacterial plant transformations, plant and animal tissue culture, DNA vector construction, protein expression and purification.
·
Completed a successful
OGTR application for our project's GMO research.
·
Qualified for a
Queensland Government radiation "Use License".
Research Assistant March 1999 – June 2000
Royal Hobart Hospital,
Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory, MEN1 Research Group
·
Developed a genetic
screening protocol for a disease-causing single nucleotide polymorphism, found
in a large Tasmanian family, based on PCR and sequencing.
·
Successfully prepared
the Royal Hobart Hospital’s Molecular Endocrine Laboratory for NATA accreditation
of genetic screening and diagnostic protocols and facilities.
·
Initiated published work on a
mRNA fusion-gene expression study in paraffin embedded tumour tissues involving
technically difficult extraction and RT-PCR procedures.
Research Assistant January
1996 - January 1998
Cooperative Research
Centre for Sustainable Production Forestry, Uni. of Tasmania
·
Performed statistical analysis, co-wrote and
published a population genetics study of Eucalyptus globulus utilising
RAPD markers.
·
Designed, budgeted for, carried out and
published an industry group genetic QC project.
·
Generated novel
microsatellite markers from my own E.globulus clonal library.
Scholarships, Experience and Related Skills
· Highly proficient with office and scientific software as well
as experience with laboratory hardware and software installation, use and
maintenance.
·
Vacation Scholarship Researcher, Summer 1995, CSIRO Marine Laboratories Hobart
·
Summer Research Scholarship Summer 1994 UTAS Chemistry Department
· Divisional election campaign coordinator (‘04, ‘07) and BCC ward candidate (’04,’08).
·
Captained several sporting teams, 1997 Tasmanian
foil fencing champion.
Referees
|
Assistant Professor Dr Qin Liu |
Doctor Annathurai
Gnanasambandam |
|
Dr Venkateswaran
Parameswaran |
|
Bibliography
Alamein
MA, Liu Q, Stephens S, Skabo S, Warnke F, Bourke R, Heiner P, Warnke PH. (2013a)
Nanospiderwebs: artificial 3D extracellular matrix
from nanofibers by novel clinical grade electrospinning for stem cell delivery.
Adv
Healthc Mater. 2013 May;2(5):702-17.
Epub 2012 Nov 1.
Alamein
MA, Stephens S, Liu Q, Skabo S, Warnke PH. (2013b) Mass production of
nanofibrous extracellular matrix with controlled 3D morphology for large-scale
soft tissue regeneration. Tissue Eng
Part C Methods. 2013 Jun;19(6):458-72. Epub
2012 Dec 12.
Warnke
PH, Alamein M, Skabo S, Stephens S, Bourke R, Heiner P, Liu Q (2012) Primordium
of an artificial Bruch's membrane made of nanofibers for engineering of retinal
pigment epithelium cell monolayers. Acta Biomater. 2013 Dec;9(12):9414-22.
Epub 2013 Aug 2.
M
Sharman, JE Thomas, S Skabo, TA Holton (2007) Abacá
bunchy top virus, a new member of the genus Babuvirus
(family Nanoviridae) Archives of Virology, 153
(1). pp. 135-147.
Conference proceeding: TA Holton, SJ Skabo, KF Lowe, K Sinclair (2007)
Genetic fingerprinting of natural kikuyu populations in Australia TROPICAL
GRASSLANDS 41;(3), 236-237
Acknowledgement: Gnanasambandam, A, Ian G. Polkinghorne and
Robert G. Birch (2007) Heterologous signals allow efficient targeting of a
nuclear-encoded fusion protein to plastids and endoplasmic reticulum in diverse
plant species Plant Biotechnology Journal 5 (2): 290-296
Conference proceeding: "ABACA BUNCHY TOP VIRUS – A NEW BABUVIRUS?"
M Sharman, JE Thomas, S Skabo and TA Holton (2004) The
6th Australasian Plant Virology Workshop
Burgess,
JR, Skabo, SJ, McArdle, K, Tucker, P (2003) Temporal trends and clinical
correlates for the RET/PTC1 mutation in papillary thyroid carcinoma. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 73 (1-2): 31-35
S. Skabo, R. E. Vaillancourt
and B. M. Potts (1998) Fine-scale genetic structure of Eucalyptus globulus ssp. globulus
forest. Australian
Journal of Botany. 46 (5,6): 583-594
Vaillancourt, R.E., Skabo, S. and Gore, P.L. (1998) Fingerprinting for quality
control in breeding and deployment. Australian Forestry. 61 (3): 207-210
Brown M.R., Skabo S. and Wilkinson B.
(1998) The enrichment and retention of ascorbic acid
in rotifers fed microalgal diets. Aquaculture
Nutrition 4 (3): 151-156(6)
Skabo, SJ, Chuah, MI and West, AK (1997)
Metallothioneins 1 and 2 are expressed in the
olfactory mucosa of mice in untreated animals and during the regeneration of
the epithelial layer. Biochem Biophys Res Commun
232(1):136-42