02 9541 3500SPIN TO WIN LORNE PROTEINS 2025 – WINNER!!!
Our ‘SPIN TO WIN” Young Scientist competition returned this year at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Lorne Conference on Protein Structure and Function, held at Lorne Mantra Hotel, 8-12 February 2025.
Once again, our spinning wheel competition featured the popular $2000 Young Scientist Award. Our winner was announced following the final round on Tuesday evening – Prof Barry Slim could feel it in his bones – some body was feeling lucky tonight !!!
Congratulations to Alexandra Sundman, PhD student (King group) Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland.
Alexandra is currently studying for her PhD at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience in Prof. Glenn King’s lab. Her research focuses on developing peptides derived from spider venom to treat an epilepsy caused by mutations in a potassium ion channel called KCNH1. Ion channels are gates on the surfaces of neurons that allow the passage of electrical signals. Mutations in KCNH1 cause the channel to open too readily, which can result in seizures. Spider venoms are a rich source of molecules that modulate the activity of ion channels, providing a library of potential therapeutics to correct brain overexcitability in epilepsy.
To find potential peptide candidates, Alexandra milks venom from spiders and screens the venoms to identify those that have an inhibitory effect on KCNH1. She then separates out the components of ‘hit’ venoms to isolate the inhibitory peptide, optimises the peptide’s activity with in vitro assays, then works with collaborators who can test these peptides on patient-derived brain organoids, which are like human “mini-brains.”
Alexandra previously worked on the mechanism by which recluse spider venom causes dermonecrotic lesions. She has now shifted to harnessing venoms to develop therapeutics.
“I enjoy understanding the molecular and structural mechanisms underpinning toxicity and disease. After my PhD, I will work as a postdoc to continue my career in biomolecular research” said Alexandra.
Alexandra plans to use her $2000 award to attend the Australian Peptide Conference held this October in Tasmania, which is an exciting opportunity to connect with renowned peptide and venom scientists, share her work, and potentially look for rare Tasmanian cave spiders.
ATA Scientific continues to motivate scientists
ATA Scientific has established a high reputation for supporting and promoting scientific research within Australia and New Zealand. 
Our Encouragement Awards are competitions intended to promote the interests of young scientists early in their science career. The Awards provide an opportunity for young scientists to win financial assistance to further their education, including attending scientific conferences and meetings. The Awards were established 11 years ago and since then over 100 winners and runners-up have received financial assistance. We are enthusiastic about our awards program as we can see the practical contribution it is making.
The SPIN to WIN award is part of the ATA Scientific Encouragement award program that is promoted annually to assist scientists that attend the Annual Lorne Proteins structure and function conference.
The intent is to provide financial support to enable further collaborations with peers at scientific meetings and to launch scientific careers. The $2000 award is usually a single prize awarded at the conference at the end of the SPIN to WIN competition.
If you missed out this year, be sure to check us out next year or enter our Encouragement award competition on now!
For more information regarding our award or to enter the next competition, contact us or visit our webpage at https://www.atascientific.com.au/awards-events-training/current-award/