Shirly Sieh
Positions
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Contact Details
Related websites and profiles
Qualifications
- PhD in Biomedical Engineering, QUT, 2011
- MSc in Industrial Biotechnology, John Moores University, Liverpool, UK, 2004
- BSc (Hons.) in Biomedical Science, National University of Malaysia, Malaysia, 2001
Biography
Dr Sieh is currently conducting her postdoctoral work at the Australia Prostate Cancer Research Centre-Queensland, QUT. Her recent project involves development and utilization of 3D in vitro culture systems for prostate cancer studies. Microenvironmental factors are not just critically important in recreating an in vivo-like tumor but also are involved in tumor progression, from primary to the metastatic stage. Such factors can only be successfully incorporated into an in vitro culture system by 3D cultures. By exploring and implementing the technology platform of tissue engineering discipline, Dr Sieh focuses on: (1) Assessing the use of biomaterials, such as biomimetic hydrogel, electrospun mesh and fused deposition modeling fabricated scaffolds for culturing cancer cells; (2) developing 3D models that represent different stages of prostate cancer progression; (3) investigating cellular and molecular phenotype of prostate cancer cells in 3D models. This research contributes to a better understanding of the complex signaling networks underlying tumor malignancy and has the potential to assist in anticancer drug development program.
Dr Sieh received her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the Queensland University of Technology. She was also the finalist for Ausbiotech-GSK Student Excellence Awards (2009) and winner of the peer review Warwick video competition (2009). In 2010, she was awarded a travel grant by the Cancer Council of Queensland.
Research interests
microenvironmental factors, in vivo-like tumor, tumor progression, metastatic stage, in vitro culture system, 3D cultures, tissue engineering, biomaterials biomimetic hydrogel, electrospun mesh, fused deposition modeling, fabricated scaffolds for culturing cancer cells, 3D models, prostate cancer progression, investigating cellular, molecular phenotype, complex signaling networks, tumor malignancy, anticancer drug development
Current research projects
Therapeutics
Investigation of the influence of cell density on the LNCaP cell response to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and synthetic androgen (R1881)
Top publications
- Sieh S, Taubenberger AV, Rizzi SC, Sadowski M, Lehman ML, Rockstroh A, Clements JA, Nelson CC, Hutmacher DW. Phenotypic characterization of prostate cancer LNCaP cells cultured within a bioengineered microenvironment. (submitted)
- Sieh S, Lubik AA, Clements JA, Nelson CC, Hutmacher DW. Interactions between human osteoblasts and prostate cancer cells in a 3D novel in vitro model. Organogenesis, 2010; 6(3):181–188
- Hutmacher DW, Horch RE, Loessner D, Rizzi S, Sieh S, Reichert JC, Clements JA, Beier JP, Arkudas A, Bleiziffer O, Kneser U. Translating tissue engineering platforms into cancer research. J. Cell. Mol. Med, 2009; 13(8a):1417-1427
- Graichen R, Xu X, Braam SR, Balakrishnan T, Rahmat SN, Sieh S, Soo SY, Tham SC, Mummery C, Colman A, Zweigerdt R, Davidson BP. Enhanced cardiomyogenesis of human embryonic stem cells by a small molecular inhibitor of p38 MAPK. Differentiation, 2008; 76:357–370
- Xu XQ, Graichen R, Soo SY, Balakrishnan T, Rahmat SN, Sieh S, Tham SC, Freund C, Moore J, Mummery C, Colman A, Zweigerdt R, Davidson BP. Chemically defined medium supporting cardiomyocyte differentiation of human embryonic stem cells. Differentiation, 2008; 76:958–970
Professional memberships and associations
Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS)
