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Dr Bhupinder Pal

Head, Single Cell Cancer Genomics Laboratory

More about Dr Bhupinder Pal

My team is committed to translating research findings into diagnostic tools and effective personalised cancer treatments.

I received my PhD degree from the University of Melbourne in 2009 and pursued postdoctoral training at The Walter & Eliza Hall Institute. In 2018, I joined the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI) to head the Single Cell Cancer Genomics Laboratory.

My research work has primarily focused on characterising epigenetic and transcriptomic changes associated with the normal and malignant epithelium. Through this, I have been involved in developing and applying new molecular techniques in studying single cells. Our research group is currently trying to better understanding why some cancer cells are different from one another, and why such differences can result in resistance to treatment. In order to do this, we are investigating the RNA and DNA of individual cancer cells, as well as looking at important proteins that are associated with individual tumour cells. These insights will collectively enable the design of more effective personalised treatments for cancer patients.

Education

PhD, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Australia. Thesis - "Degradation of the Hac1p transcription factor regulates the unfolded protein response in Saccharomyces cerevisiae", 2009

Master of Science, Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Kurukshetra University, India, 1999

Bachelor of Science (Genetics, Zoology and Chemistry), Kurukshetra University, India, 1997

Current Appointments

Head, Single Cell Cancer Genomics Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute

Adjunct Research Fellow, La Trobe University

Honorary Fellow, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research

Achievements

Austin Medical Research Fund Grant-in-Aid Award, 2019

Kellaway Discovery Award, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, 2017

NHMRC New Investigator Project Grant, 2016-2017

VCA Early Career Seed Grant, 2014–2016

NHMRC Peter Doherty Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, 2011-2015

WEHI Genomics Fund, 2011

Recent Publications

Fu NY, Pal B, Chen Y, et al. (2018) Foxp1 Is Indispensable for Ductal Morphogenesis and Controls the Exit of Mammary Stem Cells from Quiescence. Dev Cell. Dec 3;47(5):629-644.e8.
Pal B, Chen Y, Vaillant F et al. (2017) Construction of developmental lineage relationships in the mammary gland by single-cell RNA profiling. Nature Communications Nov 20;8(1):1627
This is the first description of single-cell RNA profiling of mouse mammary epithelial cells spanning four developmental stages in the post-natal gland. A large–scale shift in gene expression from a relatively homogeneous basal-like program in pre-puberty was revealed. A novel progenitor subset, marked by CD55, a luminal transit population, and a rare mixed-lineage cluster, was also uncovered.
Nolan E, Vaillant F, Branstetter D, Pal B et al. (2016). “RANK ligand as a potential target for breast cancer prevention in BRCA1 mutation carriers”. Nature Medicine. Aug;22(8):933-9
Pal B et al. (2015) "Integration of microRNA signatures of distinct mammary epithelial cell types with their gene expression and epigenetic portraits". Breast Cancer Research. Jun18. 17; 85.
This work describes the relationship between microRNA and target mRNA expression profiles of mouse and human mammary epithelial subsets. The role of histone H3 modifications in regulating the expression of mammary specific miRNA was also revealed for the first time. Among the top 10 most highly accessed articles of 2015.
Pal B, et al. (2013) Global changes in the mammary epigenome are induced by hormonal cues and coordinated by Ezh2. Cell Reports 3(2), 411-26.
The first description of the mammary epigenome and its responsiveness to the steroid hormone progesterone, with important implications for progestin-induced cancer and chemoprevention. The key histone methylase Ezh2 is a potential therapeutic target in breast cancer. The ChIPseq technique was employed on 100-200K cells to map histone H3 modifications.