The research interest of this group is in the field of kidney fibrosis on profibrotic role of MMPs, gene modified DNA vaccines, TGF-β signaling and genetic engineering of immune cells for novel cell therapies.
The group focuses on understanding and combating the mechanisms underlying kidney disease progression, with particular emphasis on:
- Obesity, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease as drivers of kidney dysfunction
- Cellular and Molecular Biology, with a focus on inflammation and cellular signaling in kidney disease
Approaches and Expertise
- Animal Models: Utilizing in vivo systems to replicate chronic kidney disease conditions
- Cellular Signaling: Exploring pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin, TGF-β, and epithelial/endothelial-mesenchymal transition
- Molecular Techniques: Targeting molecules like β-catenin and E-cadherin to investigate kidney fibrosis mechanisms
Key Research Collaborations
The group maintains international ties, including collaboration with the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Research Center at the University of Southern California to study the Wnt/β-catenin inhibitor ICG001.
Recent Achievements
- 2023 NHMRC Ideas Grant: Preventing kidney failure using BMP-7 engineered macrophages in chronic kidney disease, Zheng G, National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Ideas Grant
Recent publications

TGF-β in Human Disease: Friend or Foe? Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
September 2021

Renal tubular cell binding of β-catenin to TCF1 versus FoxO1 is associated with chronic interstitial fibrosis in transplanted kidneys. American journal of transplantation
February 2021

The Role of Macrophages in Kidney Fibrosis. Frontiers in physiology
August 2021

Promotion of β-Catenin/Forkhead Box Protein O Signaling Mediates Epithelial Repair in Kidney Injury. Am J Pathol 2
June 2021

Promotion of beta-catenin/Foxo1 signaling ameliorates renal interstitial fibrosis. Lab Invest
November 2019
Group Members
NAME | ROLE |
Guoping Zheng | Group Leader |
Taoran Zhao | Visiting Scholar |
Aram Kahramanian | Research experience student (Macquarie University) |
Endeshaw C. Abebe | PhD student |
Heng Wang | PhD student |
David Harris | AI and supervisor |
Stephen Alexander | AI and supervisor |
Mohammed Eslam | Collaborator (AI) from Storr Liver Unit, WIMR |