Overview
Hana Starobova is an early career research fellow at the Sensory Neuropharmacology Group at the University of Queensland (UQ). Her research focuses on the understanding of cancer therapy-induced side effects and the development of mechanism-based prevention strategies.
Hana’s long-term goal is to become a leading scientist conducting transformative science with translational potential and to create a research program bringing together researchers, industry, clinicians, and physiotherapists, who will work together towards innovative mechanism-based treatment strategies to improve the outcomes and the long-term impacts for cancer patients. This multidisciplinary collaborative research program will focus on preventing or treating cancer therapy induced-side effects in cancer patients with the long-term view to improve treatment outcomes and quality-of-life.
Hana was the first to discover that the Nod-like receptor 3 (NLRP3) activation and release of interleukin one beta drives the development of vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy and the inhibition of those pathways effectively prevents the development of this debilitating side effect (JEM, 2021). Hana is an internationally recognised expert, and she has extensive experience in pharmacology, innate immunology, transcriptomics, peripheral pain mechanisms, rodent behavioural studies, target identification, development of new in vivo models and in vitro techniques and high throughput imaging. Moreover, her expertise includes the isolation and state of the art imaging of neuronal tissues. The quality of her research is evidenced by her track record, that is extraordinary for an early career researcher (PhD award July 2020), with a total of 18 publications (all Q1 journals) in the last 5 years which have attracted more than 1000 citations.
Hana has also been trained within the Homeward Bound Projects program (HB4, 2019-2020) to gain exceptional skills in leadership, supervision of younger generations, and the management of projects influencing policy and decision-making.
Research Interests
- Development of mechanism based treatments of cancer therapy induced side effects
- NLRP3 Inflammasome and Immunology
- In vivo preclinical models
- High-throughput Fluorescence Imaging
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Publications
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Journal Article: The role of the neuronal microenvironment in sensory function and pain pathophysiology
Starobova, Hana, Alshammari, Ammar, Winkler, Ingrid G. and Vetter, Irina (2022). The role of the neuronal microenvironment in sensory function and pain pathophysiology. Journal of Neurochemistry. doi: 10.1111/jnc.15724
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Journal Article: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in children and adolescent cancer patients
Tay, Nicolette, Laakso, E-Liisa, Schweitzer, Daniel, Endersby, Raelene, Vetter, Irina and Starobova, Hana (2022). Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in children and adolescent cancer patients. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, 9 1015746, 1015746. doi: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.1015746
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Journal Article: A kinase-dead Csf1r mutation associated with adult-onset leukoencephalopathy has a dominant inhibitory impact on CSF1R signalling
Stables, Jennifer, Green, Emma K., Sehgal, Anuj, Patkar, Omkar L., Keshvari, Sahar, Taylor, Isis, Ashcroft, Maisie E., Grabert, Kathleen, Wollscheid-Lengeling, Evi, Szymkowiak, Stefan, McColl, Barry W., Adamson, Antony, Humphreys, Neil E., Mueller, Werner, Starobova, Hana, Vetter, Irina, Shabestari, Sepideh Kiani, Blurton-Jones, Matthew M., Summers, Kim M., Irvine, Katharine M., Pridans, Clare and Hume, David A. (2022). A kinase-dead Csf1r mutation associated with adult-onset leukoencephalopathy has a dominant inhibitory impact on CSF1R signalling. Development, 149 (8) dev200237. doi: 10.1242/dev.200237
Grants
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CAN04: a novel treatment for neuropathic pain
(2024–2025) Research Donations - Ms Pauline Diedre North
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IL-1RAP: novel target for chemotherapy-induced neuropathy
(2024–2025) Cantargia AB
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(2022–2024) Preclinical and Clinical Early Career Research
Supervision
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Immune cell regulation by the microenvironment
Doctor Philosophy
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Understanding pain mechanisms in the path towards target-specific analgesic agent design
Doctor Philosophy
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Reducing long-term side-effects of chemotherapy in cancer survivors
Doctor Philosophy
Available Projects
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Modulating Potassium Channels for Immune Cell Activation
Project available from January 2024
Macrophages are innate immune cells that are crucial for initiating immune response. Macrophage activation is implicated in driving many painful pathological stages, including neuropathy and inflammatory pain. Potassium channels, such as Kv1.3, regulate cell potassium homeostasis, and any dysregulation in intracellular potassium can lead to macrophage activation and resultant cytokine and chemokine release, driving pathogenesis of pain. This project will investigate the effects of specific potassium channel-targeting toxins on macrophage activation using electrophysiology techniques, live cell fluorescent microscopy, and in vivo rodent behavioural studies.
Supervisors: Prof Irina Vetter, Dr Hana Starobova
Animal handling and behavioural assessments in rodents are vital for this project.
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Developing Models of Cancer Therapy-Induced Late Effects
Project available from January 2024
Treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy for childhood and adult brain cancers save many lives. However, they also cause long-term debilitating adverse effects, also termed "late effects", such as pain, cognitive disabilities and sensory-motor neuropathies. Currently, no effective treatments are available, and brain cancer survivors are forced to live with long-term disabilities.
Animal models are important for the understanding of disease pathology and for preclinical testing of novel treatment strategies. However, currently there are no appropriate animal models available for the testing of late effects of cancer therapy.
To address this gap, this PhD project aims to develop in-vivo animal models of cancer therapy-induced late effects and to test the efficacy of novel treatment strategies. This project forms a foundation for future clinical studies.
Project will be performed in collaboration with Prof. Irina Vetter (IMB) and A/Prof. Raelene Endersby (Telethon Kids Institute).
Animal handling and behavioral assessments in rodents are vital for this project.
Publications
Journal Article
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The role of the neuronal microenvironment in sensory function and pain pathophysiology
Starobova, Hana, Alshammari, Ammar, Winkler, Ingrid G. and Vetter, Irina (2022). The role of the neuronal microenvironment in sensory function and pain pathophysiology. Journal of Neurochemistry. doi: 10.1111/jnc.15724
-
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in children and adolescent cancer patients
Tay, Nicolette, Laakso, E-Liisa, Schweitzer, Daniel, Endersby, Raelene, Vetter, Irina and Starobova, Hana (2022). Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in children and adolescent cancer patients. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, 9 1015746, 1015746. doi: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.1015746
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Stables, Jennifer, Green, Emma K., Sehgal, Anuj, Patkar, Omkar L., Keshvari, Sahar, Taylor, Isis, Ashcroft, Maisie E., Grabert, Kathleen, Wollscheid-Lengeling, Evi, Szymkowiak, Stefan, McColl, Barry W., Adamson, Antony, Humphreys, Neil E., Mueller, Werner, Starobova, Hana, Vetter, Irina, Shabestari, Sepideh Kiani, Blurton-Jones, Matthew M., Summers, Kim M., Irvine, Katharine M., Pridans, Clare and Hume, David A. (2022). A kinase-dead Csf1r mutation associated with adult-onset leukoencephalopathy has a dominant inhibitory impact on CSF1R signalling. Development, 149 (8) dev200237. doi: 10.1242/dev.200237
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Eagles, David A., Saez, Natalie J., Krishnarjuna, Bankala, Bradford, Julia J., Chin, Yanni K.-Y., Starobova, Hana, Mueller, Alexander, Reichelt, Melissa E., Undheim, Eivind A. B., Norton, Raymond S., Thomas, Walter G., Vetter, Irina, King, Glenn F. and Robinson, Samuel D. (2022). A peptide toxin in ant venom mimics vertebrate EGF-like hormones to cause long-lasting hypersensitivity in mammals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119 (7) e2112630119. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2112630119
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Finol-Urdaneta, Rocio K., Ziegman, Rebekah, Dekan, Zoltan, McArthur, Jeffrey R., Heitmann, Stewart, Luna-Ramirez, Karen, Tae, Han-Shen, Mueller, Alexander, Starobova, Hana, Chin, Yanni K.-Y., Wingerd, Joshua S., Undheim, Eivind A. B., Cristofori-Armstrong, Ben, Hill, Adam P., Herzig, Volker, King, Glenn F., Vetter, Irina, Rash, Lachlan D., Adams, David J. and Alewood, Paul F. (2022). Multitarget nociceptor sensitization by a promiscuous peptide from the venom of the King Baboon spider. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119 (5) e2110932119. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2110932119
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Vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy is driven by canonical NLRP3 activation and IL-1β release
Starobova, Hana, Monteleone, Mercedes, Adolphe, Christelle, Batoon, Lena, Sandrock, Cheyenne J., Tay, Bryan, Deuis, Jennifer R., Smith, Alexandra V., Mueller, Alexander, Nadar, Evelyn Israel, Lawrence, Grace Pamo, Mayor, Amanda, Tolson, Elissa, Levesque, Jean-Pierre, Pettit, Allison R., Wainwright, Brandon J., Schroder, Kate and Vetter, Irina (2021). Vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy is driven by canonical NLRP3 activation and IL-1β release. Journal of Experimental Medicine, 218 (5) e20201452. doi: 10.1084/jem.20201452
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Subcutaneous ω-conotoxins alleviate mechanical pain in rodent models of acute peripheral neuropathy
Hasan, Md. Mahadhi, Starobova, Hana, Mueller, Alexander, Vetter, Irina and Lewis, Richard J. (2021). Subcutaneous ω-conotoxins alleviate mechanical pain in rodent models of acute peripheral neuropathy. Marine Drugs, 19 (2) 106, 1-15. doi: 10.3390/md19020106
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Small cyclic sodium channel inhibitors
Peigneur, Steve, da Costa Oliveira, Cristina, de Sousa Fonseca, Flávia Cristina, McMahon, Kirsten L., Mueller, Alexander, Cheneval, Olivier, Cristina Nogueira Freitas, Ana, Starobova, Hana, Dimitri Gama Duarte, Igor, Craik, David J., Vetter, Irina, de Lima, Maria Elena, Schroeder, Christina I. and Tytgat, Jan (2021). Small cyclic sodium channel inhibitors. Biochemical Pharmacology, 183 114291, 114291. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114291
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The NLRP3 inflammasome: role and therapeutic potential in pain treatment
Starobova, Hana, Nadar, Evelyn Israel and Vetter, Irina (2020). The NLRP3 inflammasome: role and therapeutic potential in pain treatment. Frontiers in Physiology, 11 1016, 1016. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.01016
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Mueller, Alexander, Dekan, Zoltan, Kaas, Quentin, Agwa, Akello J., Starobova, Hana, Alewood, Paul F., Schroeder, Christina I., Mobli, Mehdi, Deuis, Jennifer R. and Vetter, Irina (2020). Mapping the molecular surface of the analgesic NaV1.7-selective peptide Pn3a reveals residues essential for membrane and channel interactions. ACS Pharmacology and Translational Science. doi: 10.1021/acsptsci.0c00002
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Mueller, Alexander, Starobova, Hana, Morgan, Michael, Dekan, Zoltan, Cheneval, Olivier, Schroeder, Christina I., Alewood, Paul F., Deuis, Jennifer R. and Vetter, Irina (2019). Antiallodynic effects of the selective NaV1.7 inhibitor Pn3a in a mouse model of acute postsurgical pain: evidence for analgesic synergy with opioids and baclofen. Pain, 160 (8), 1766-1780. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001567
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Starobova, H., Mueller, A., Allavena, R., Lohman, R. J., Sweet, M. J. and Vetter, I. (2019). Minocycline prevents the development of mechanical allodynia in mouse models of vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 13 (JUN) 653, 653. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00653
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Starobova, Hana, Mueller, Alexander, Deuis, Jennifer R., Carter, David A. and Vetter, Irina (2019). Inflammatory and neuropathic gene expression signatures of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy induced by vincristine, cisplatin and oxaliplatin in C57BL/6J mice. The Journal of Pain, 21 (1-2), 182-194. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2019.06.008
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Transcriptomics in pain research: insights from new and old technologies
Starobova, H., S. W. A., Himaya, Lewis, R. J. and Vetter, I. (2018). Transcriptomics in pain research: insights from new and old technologies. Molecular Omics, 14 (6), 389-404. doi: 10.1039/c8mo00181b
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Robinson, Samuel D., Mueller, Alexander, Clayton, Daniel, Starobova, Hana, Hamilton, Brett R., Payne, Richard J., Vetter, Irina, King, Glenn F. and Undheim, Eivind A. B. (2018). A comprehensive portrait of the venom of the giant red bull ant, Myrmecia gulosa, reveals a hyperdiverse hymenopteran toxin gene family. Science Advances, 4 (9) eaau4640, eaau4640. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aau4640
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Pathophysiology of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
Starobova, Hana and Vetter, Irina (2017). Pathophysiology of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 10 174. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00174
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NaV1.7 as a pain target – from gene to pharmacology
Vetter, Irina, Deuis, Jennifer, Mueller, Alexander, Israel, Mathilde R., Hana Starobova, Zhang, Alan, Rash, Lachlan D. and Mobli, Mehdi (2016). NaV1.7 as a pain target – from gene to pharmacology. Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 172, 73-100. doi: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2016.11.015
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α-conotoxin MrIC is a biased agonist at α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
Mueller, Alexander, Starobova, Hana, Inserra, Marco C., Jin, Ai-Hua, Deuis, Jennifer R., Dutertre, Sebastien, Lewis, Richard J., Alewood, Paul F., Daly, Norelle L. and Vetter, Irina (2015). α-conotoxin MrIC is a biased agonist at α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Biochemical Pharmacology, 94 (2), 155-163. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2015.01.011
Conference Publication
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Subcutaneous analgesic actions and mode of action of binding of ω-conotoxins at Cav2.2
Hasan, Mahadhi, Abraham, Nikita, Cardoso, Fernanda C., Ragnarsson, Lotten, Starobova, Hana, Mueller, Alexander, Vetter, Irina and Lewis, Richard J. (2021). Subcutaneous analgesic actions and mode of action of binding of ω-conotoxins at Cav2.2. Venom to Drugs, Daydream Island, QLD Australia, 15 - 19 March 2021.
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Hasan, Mahadhi, Mueller, Alexander, Starobova, Hana, Vetter, Irina, Cardoso, Fernanda C. and Lewis, Richard J. (2019). New insights in ω-conotoxin analgesic efficacy in postsurgical pain and oxaliplatin/cisplatin induced peripheral neuropathy. Brisbane Pain Research Symposium: Multidisciplinary Perspectives & Therapeutics 2019, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 29 November 2019.
Other Outputs
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Novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of vincristine induced peripheral neuropathy
Starobova, Hana (2020). Novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of vincristine induced peripheral neuropathy. PhD Thesis, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2020.972
Grants (Administered at UQ)
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CAN04: a novel treatment for neuropathic pain
(2024–2025) Research Donations - Ms Pauline Diedre North
-
IL-1RAP: novel target for chemotherapy-induced neuropathy
(2024–2025) Cantargia AB
-
(2022–2024) Preclinical and Clinical Early Career Research
-
Reducing long-term side-effects of chemotherapy in cancer survivors
(2022–2024) The Kid's Cancer Project
PhD and MPhil Supervision
Current Supervision
-
Immune cell regulation by the microenvironment
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
-
Understanding pain mechanisms in the path towards target-specific analgesic agent design
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
-
Reducing long-term side-effects of chemotherapy in cancer survivors
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Possible Research Projects
Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.
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Modulating Potassium Channels for Immune Cell Activation
Project available from January 2024
Macrophages are innate immune cells that are crucial for initiating immune response. Macrophage activation is implicated in driving many painful pathological stages, including neuropathy and inflammatory pain. Potassium channels, such as Kv1.3, regulate cell potassium homeostasis, and any dysregulation in intracellular potassium can lead to macrophage activation and resultant cytokine and chemokine release, driving pathogenesis of pain. This project will investigate the effects of specific potassium channel-targeting toxins on macrophage activation using electrophysiology techniques, live cell fluorescent microscopy, and in vivo rodent behavioural studies.
Supervisors: Prof Irina Vetter, Dr Hana Starobova
Animal handling and behavioural assessments in rodents are vital for this project.
-
Developing Models of Cancer Therapy-Induced Late Effects
Project available from January 2024
Treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy for childhood and adult brain cancers save many lives. However, they also cause long-term debilitating adverse effects, also termed "late effects", such as pain, cognitive disabilities and sensory-motor neuropathies. Currently, no effective treatments are available, and brain cancer survivors are forced to live with long-term disabilities.
Animal models are important for the understanding of disease pathology and for preclinical testing of novel treatment strategies. However, currently there are no appropriate animal models available for the testing of late effects of cancer therapy.
To address this gap, this PhD project aims to develop in-vivo animal models of cancer therapy-induced late effects and to test the efficacy of novel treatment strategies. This project forms a foundation for future clinical studies.
Project will be performed in collaboration with Prof. Irina Vetter (IMB) and A/Prof. Raelene Endersby (Telethon Kids Institute).
Animal handling and behavioral assessments in rodents are vital for this project.
