Bird Laboratory
Cell Development and Death
Welcome to the Bird Lab
A unifying theme in the laboratory is provided by serpins, inhibitor proteins which protect cells from injury and death caused by the uncontrolled action of proteases.
We're part of the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, and a member of the Development & Stem Cells, Immunity and Neuroscience Programs, and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Professor Phillip Bird
My global research connections, partners and funding can be viewed on my Monash Research Profile.
If you are a student interested in doing research in our lab, visit Supervisor Connect.
Click the links below to connect with me on ORCID and LinkedIn.
Our research
Regulation of protease-induced cell death by serpins.
Serpins trap and inactivate proteases preventing damage, injury and death of normal cells. Serpin absence or malfunction can lead to disease. We use cell systems, knockout mouse and zebrafish models to study serpins and cognate proteases linked to human deafness; liver cirrhosis and emphysema.
-
Regulation of proteases by serpins
Serpins dynamically trap, distort and inactivate proteases.
-
SERPINB6 and inherited sensorineural hearing loss
Degeneration of the Organ of Corti in mice lacking SERPINB6.
-
SERPINA1 and inherited liver and lung disease
Transgenic zebrafish expressing Z-AAT in hepatocytes (green) release less protein into the bloodstream.
Lab members
We are committed to excellence in research.
Join Our Lab
We're always interested in collaborating with bright and motivated researchers, clinicians and industry. Whether you want to research, study or partner with us to accelerate our discoveries, find out about the work we do.