My name is Gwyneth Roman and I completed my undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences, majoring in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, at the University of Western Australia. Now, I am currently completing a Master’s in Biomedical Sciences with a specialisation in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Western Australia. Though it was quite a learning curve to switch to a different area of study, it was definitely a welcomed change!
I decided to pursue research because I wanted my master’s degree to have a meaningful contribution towards my field while also having the opportunity to develop the skill set needed for me to work in the industry. What really attracted me to the ARC Training Centre was the diversity of research projects on offer– spanning across multiple subject areas like cancer biology, neurodegeneration, antibiotic resistance, and biosensing.
DNA origami is an exciting platform for drug and gene delivery, which uses long single-stranded DNA, called a ‘scaffold’, and is folded into a desired pattern by the addition of short, complementary oligonucleotides, called ‘staples’. What makes DNA origami so great is its high customisability– allowing us to fold 2D and 3D constructs with nanoscale precision.
DNA origami is being developed in collaboration with the Queensland Brain Institute as a potential gene therapeutic for Alzheimer’s disease. Previous attempts at imaging intravenously-delivered DNA origami in brain tissue produced inconclusive results due to limitations in current detection methods.
My research project focuses on developing and validating an imaging technique that would allow the visualisation and localisation of DNA origami in highly auto-fluorescent tissues.
I hope that my project can contribute and add to the knowledge needed to further developments in DNA origami as a gene therapeutic for Alzheimer’s disease. I believe the centre can help me reach my goals by providing me with opportunities, resources and a network of people who can support and guide me through my research project.
