Robert K. P. Sullivan

Email: r.sullivan@aussci.com

About my research:

I am a PhD student at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. My PhD research examines retinal degeneration and plasticity after insults such as bright-light damage and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a common blinding disease in humans. The reactive plasticity events that occur in the retinas from eyes after such insults have been the main focus of my research, since my novel discovery of glial and neuronal remodelling in retinas of adult albino rats (Sullivan et al 2003). I showed that in response to the loss of photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelial cells, Müller glial cells extend processes along Bruch’s membrane (BM) to form a glial scar. These glial processes extend out of the retina and into the choroid through small breaks in BM. Retinal neurons are thought to migrate out of the retina along these remodelled glial processes and have been observed in the choroid where they have formed new synaptic connections. Studying these light-damaged albino rat eyes and retinas from human eyes affected by AMD will provide great insight into repair mechanisms of the adult CNS.

Tertiary Education:

Bachelor of Applied Science with Honours (Class IIA), Queensland University of Technology, 1999. Thesis Title: An ultrastructural study of Blastocystis hominis.

Technical skills:

Through my employment as a Research Assistant and my postgraduate education, I have gained proficiency in a variety of laboratory techniques, including: immunocytochemistry and histology; iontophoretic cell injection; tissue processing and sectioning; light microscopy, confocal microscopy, electron microscopy and imaging; antibody production; animal-related procedures (euthanasia, surgery etc); animal handling.

Awards received:

Student poster prize - Highly Commended, 2006, Australian Neuroscience Society.
Student travel award, 2005, Australian Neuroscience Society.

List of Publications

Journal Articles:

Sullivan RKP, WoldeMussie E and Pow DV. Aged Human CNS Neurons Exhibit Dendritic and Synaptic Plasticty. IOVS. 48:2782-91 (2007)

Diaz CM, Macnab LT, Williams SM, Sullivan RK, Pow DV. EAAT1 and D-serine expression are early features of human retinal development. Exp Eye Res.84:876-85. (2007).

Pow DV, Sullivan RK. Nuclear kinesis, neurite sprouting and abnormal axonal projections of cone photoreceptors in the aged and AMD-afflicted human retina. Exp Eye Res. 84:850-7.(2007)

Sullivan RKP, WoldeMussie E, Macnab L, Ruiz G and Pow DV. Evoked Expression of the Glutamate Transporter GLT-1c in Retinal Ganglion Cells in Human Glaucoma and in a Rat Model. IOVS. 47:3853: 3858 (2006)

Williams SM, Diaz CM, Macnab LT, Sullivan RK, Pow DV. Immunocytochemical Analysis of D-serine Distribution in the Mammalian Brain Reveals Novel Anatomical Compartmentalizations in Glia and Neurons. Glia. 53:401-11 (2006).

Williams SM, Sullivan RKP, Scott H, Finkelstein D, Colditz P, Lingwood B, Dodd P, and Pow DV. Glial Glutamate Transporter Expression Patterns in Brains from Multiple Mammalian Species. Glia 49: 520-541 (2005).

Pow DV, Sullivan RKP, Williams S, Scott HL, Dodd P, Finkelstein D. Differential Expression of the GABA Transporters GAT-1 and GAT-3 in Brains of Rats, Cats, Monkeys and Humans. Cell and Tissue Res 320:379-392 (2005).

Rauen T, Wießner M, Sullivan RKP, Lee A, Pow DV. GLT-1C -the Missing Pre-synaptic Glutamate Transporter of the Retina. Neurochemistry Int 45: 1095-1106 (2004).

Pow DV, Naidoo T, Lingwood B, Healy, G, O’Driscoll S, Williams S, Sullivan RKP and Colditz P. Loss of Glial Glutamate Transporters and Induction of Neuronal Expression of GLT-1B in the Hypoxic Neonatal Pig Brain. Brain Res Dev Brain Res. 153:1-11 (2004).

Sullivan, R., Rauen, T., Fischer, F., Wießner, M., Grewer,C., Bicho, A. and Pow DV. Cloning, Transport Properties, and Differential Localization of Two Splice Variants of GLT-1 in the Rat CNS: Implications for CNS Glutamate Homeostasis. Glia 45: 155-169 (2004).

Sullivan, R., Penfold, P., and Pow DV. Neuronal Migration and Glial Remodelling in Degenerating Retinas of Aged Rats and Humans. IOVS.44: 856-865 (2003).

Reye, P., Sullivan, R., Fletcher, E.L., and Pow, D.V. Distribution of Two Splice Variants of the Glutamate Transporter GLT-1 in the Retinas of Humans, Monkeys, Rabbits, Rats, Cats and Chickens. J. Comp. Neurol 445: 1-12 (2002).

Reye P, Sullivan R, Pow, D.V. Distribution of Two Splice Variants of the Glutamate Transporter GLT-1 in the Developing Rat Retina. J. Comp Neurol 447:323-330 (2002).

Pow D.V., Sullivan, R., Reye, P., and Hermanussen, S. Localisation of Taurine Transporters, Taurine, and 3H Taurine Accumulation in the Rat Retina, Pituitary and Brain. Glia. 37: 153-168 (2002).

Reye, P., Sullivan, R., Scott, H., and Pow, D.V. Distribution of Two Splice Variants of the Glutamate Transporter GLT-1 in the Adult Rat Brain. Glia 38: 246-255 (2002).

Research Articles In Submission:

Sullivan, S.M., Lee, A., Björkman, S.T., O’Driscoll, S.M., Sullivan, R.K.P., Poronnik, P., Colditz, P.B., and Pow, D.V. Cytoskeletal Anchoring of GLAST Determines Susceptibility to Brain Damage: An Identified Role for GFAP. Journal of Biological Chemistry.

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Book Chapters:

Pow DV, Sullivan RKP, Williams SM and WoldeMussie E. Transporters and Oxidative Stress in AMD. Chapter 8. In Macular Degeneration, eds Provis and Penfold, Springer, ISBN 3-540-20058-4 (2005).

Pow DV, Sullivan R. and Scott H. Antibody Production and Immunocytochemical Localization of Amino Acid Transporters. Methods Mol Biol. 227:213-44. Humana Press ISBN 159259-387-9 (2003).

Conference Abstracts:

Sullivan RKP, Macnab LT, WoldeMussie E and Pow DV. Evoked expression of glutamate transporter EAAT2c in retinal ganglion cells of degenerating retinae. (December 2006). AOVS Conference (Canberra Australia).

Sullivan RKP and Pow DV. Glial and Neuronal Remodeling in the Rat and Human Retinas. Australian Neuroscience Society Meeting. (Sydney Australia) (2006). (Awarded a Highly Commended Student Poster Prize).

Pow DV, Sullivan RKP and Poronnik P. Genesis of Blood Vessels in the Light Damaged Retina: A Guiding Role for Glial Cells? The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) USA. (2005).

Diaz CM, Williams SM, Sullivan RKP and Pow DV. Early Expression of Glutamate Transpoters in the Developing Human Retina. The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) USA (2005).

Diaz CM, Williams SM, Sullivan RKP and Pow DV. Localisation of D-serine in the Developing Human Retina. Australian Neuroscience Society Meeting. (Perth, Australia) (2005).

Sullivan RKP, Poronnik P and Pow DV. Glia Directed Vasculogenesis in the Degenerate Retina. Australian Neuroscience Society Meeting. (Perth, Australia) (2005).

Sullivan RKP, Pow DV and Penfold P. Sequential Patterns of Cellular Re-organisation and Migration in Light-Induced Retinal Degeneration of the Albino Rat. Australian Neuroscience Society Meeting (Melbourne, Australia) (2004).

Sullivan RKP, Williams SM, Rauen T, Scott H, Finkelstein D, Colditz P, Lingwood B and Pow DV. Glutamate Transporter Expression Patterns Vary in Mammals with Differing Levels of Cortical Complexity. Society for Neuroscience Meeting (San Diego, USA) (2004).

Sullivan RKP, Penfold P and Pow DV. Adult Neurons in Aged Human and Rat can Migrate and Establish New Synaptic Connections. Neuron Conference, The Cell Biology of the Neuron, New Orleans, LA, USA (2003).

Sullivan R and Pow DV. Distribution of Glutamate, Glycine and GABA Transporters Related to Synaptic Markers in Rat Brain. Australian Neuroscience Society Conference. (Adelaide) (2003).

Sullivan R. Degeneration and Neuronal Migration in the Albino Rat Retina. Australian Neuroscience. Society Conference. (Sydney) Australia (2002).

Pow DV and Sullivan RKP. Abnormal Myelination, and Migration of Adult Neurons Along Glial Scaffolds in Degenerating Adult Rat Retinas. The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) USA (2720/B717) (2002).

Sullivan R, Reye P and Pow DV. Immunoreactivity for some Glutamate Transporter Epitopes in the Rat Retina may be Modulated by Light and Phosphorylation. Australian Neuroscience Society Conference. (Brisbane) Australia (2001).