Dr Gordon’s research is focused on the formation and maintenance of the blood and lymphatic vascular systems. Vessels form complex branched networks that supply oxygen and nutrients to all body tissues. The signals controlling blood vessel expansion, identity and migration are all downstream of a single, common complex at the cell surface, yet exactly how this diverse range of functions is differentially regulated, depending on the physiological need, remains unknown.
The specific focus of Dr Gordon’s research is to determine the precise molecular signals that control cell adhesion within the vessel wall the surrounding environment. If the signals controlling cell adhesion become deregulated, normal vessel growth and function is lost. This contributes to the progression of a wide range of human diseases, including cancer growth and metastasis, diabetic eye disease and stroke. Dr Gordon aims to use novel biological models, biochemical assays and imaging techniques to better understand vessel biology, which will enable improved treatment of disease and aid in the development of vascularised, bioengineered organs.
Dr Gordon received her Bachelor of Science (2005) and PhD (2011) from The University of Adelaide, after which she undertook six years of postdoctoral studies at Yale University in the USA and Uppsala University in Sweden. With the support of an ARC DECRA Fellowship, Dr Gordon relocated to IMB in 2017 to establish her independent research career as an IMB Fellow. In 2019, she was appointed as Group Leader of the Vessel Dynamics Laboratory.
Journal Article: The precise molecular signals that control endothelial cell–cell adhesion within the vessel wall
Schimmel, Lilian and Gordon, Emma (2018) The precise molecular signals that control endothelial cell–cell adhesion within the vessel wall. Biochemical Society Transactions, 46 6: . doi:10.1042/bst20180377
Journal Article: Shear stress and VE-cadherin
Caolo, Vincenza, Peacock, Hanna M., Kasaai, Bahar, Swennen, Geertje, Gordon, Emma, Claesson-Welsh, Lena, Post, Mark J., Verhamme, Peter and Jones, Elizabeth A. V. (2018) Shear stress and VE-cadherin. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 38 9: 2174-2183. doi:10.1161/ATVBAHA.118.310823
Journal Article: Mechanisms and regulation of endothelial VEGF receptor signalling
Simons, Michael, Gordon, Emma and Claesson-Welsh, Lena (2016) Mechanisms and regulation of endothelial VEGF receptor signalling. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 17 10: 611-625. doi:10.1038/nrm.2016.87
Mechanisms to promote vascular normalisation and barrier integrity
(2019–2022) NHMRC Project Grant
Molecular cues guiding cell dynamics during pathological blood vessel sprouting
(2018) UQ Early Career Researcher
Molecular signals guiding dynamic cell movement during blood vessel growth
(2017–2020) ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
The precise molecular signals that control endothelial cell–cell adhesion within the vessel wall
Schimmel, Lilian and Gordon, Emma (2018) The precise molecular signals that control endothelial cell–cell adhesion within the vessel wall. Biochemical Society Transactions, 46 6: . doi:10.1042/bst20180377
Caolo, Vincenza, Peacock, Hanna M., Kasaai, Bahar, Swennen, Geertje, Gordon, Emma, Claesson-Welsh, Lena, Post, Mark J., Verhamme, Peter and Jones, Elizabeth A. V. (2018) Shear stress and VE-cadherin. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 38 9: 2174-2183. doi:10.1161/ATVBAHA.118.310823
Mechanisms and regulation of endothelial VEGF receptor signalling
Simons, Michael, Gordon, Emma and Claesson-Welsh, Lena (2016) Mechanisms and regulation of endothelial VEGF receptor signalling. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 17 10: 611-625. doi:10.1038/nrm.2016.87
Gordon, Emma J., Fukuhara, Daisuke, Westrom, Simone, Padhan, Narendra, Sjostrom, Elisabet O., van Meeteren, Laurens, He, Liqun, Orsenigo, Fabrizio, Dejana, Elisabetta, Bentley, Katie, Spurkland, Anne and Claesson-Welsh, Lena (2016) The endothelial adaptor molecule TSAd is required for VEGF-induced angiogenic sprouting through junctional c-Src activation. Science Signaling, 9 437: . doi:10.1126/scisignal.aad9256
Novel affinity binders for neutralization of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling
Fleetwood, Filippa, Guler, Rezan, Gordon, Emma, Stahl, Stefan, Claesson-Welsh, Lena and Lofblom, John (2016) Novel affinity binders for neutralization of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 73 8: 1671-1683. doi:10.1007/s00018-015-2088-7
VEGFR2 pY949 signalling regulates adherens junction integrity and metastatic spread
Li, Xiujuan, Padhan, Narendra, Sjostrom, Elisabet O., Roche, Francis P., Testini, Chiara, Honkura, Naoki, Sainz-Jaspeado, Miguel, Gordon, Emma, Bentley, Katie, Philippides, Andrew, Tolmachev, Vladimir, Dejana, Elisabetta, Stan, Radu V., Vestweber, Dietmar, Ballmer-Hofer, Kurt, Betsholtz, Christer, Pietras, Kristian, Jansson, Leif and Claesson-Welsh, Lena (2016) VEGFR2 pY949 signalling regulates adherens junction integrity and metastatic spread. Nature Communications, 7 . doi:10.1038/ncomms11017
Alk1 and Alk5 inhibition by Nrp1 controls vascular sprouting downstream of Notch
Aspalter, Irene Maria, Gordon, Emma, Dubrac, Alexandre, Ragab, Anan, Narloch, Jarek, Vizan, Pedro, Geudens, Ilse, Collins, Russell Thomas, Franco, Claudio Areias, Abrahams, Cristina Luna, Thurston, Gavin, Fruttiger, Marcus, Rosewell, Ian, Eichmann, Anne and Gerhardt, Holger (2015) Alk1 and Alk5 inhibition by Nrp1 controls vascular sprouting downstream of Notch. Nature Communications, 6 1: . doi:10.1038/ncomms8264
Netrin-1 controls sympathetic arterial innervation
Brunet, Isabelle, Gordon, Emma, Han, Jinah, Cristofaro, Brunella, Broqueres-You, Dong, Liu, Chun, Bouvree, Karine, Zhang, Jiasheng, del Toro, Raquel, Mathivet, Thomas, Larrivee, Bruno, Jagu, Julia, Pibouin-Fragner, Laurence, Pardanaud, Luc, Machado, Maria J. C., Kennedy, Timothy E., Zhuang, Zhen, Simons, Michael, Levy, Bernard I., Tessier-Lavigne, Marc, Grenz, Almut, Eltzschig, Holger and Eichmann, Anne (2014) Netrin-1 controls sympathetic arterial innervation. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 124 7: 3230-3240. doi:10.1172/JCI75181
Deciphering the roles of macrophages in developmental and inflammation stimulated lymphangiogenesis
Harvey, Natasha L. and Gordon, Emma J. (2012) Deciphering the roles of macrophages in developmental and inflammation stimulated lymphangiogenesis. Vascular Cell, 4 1: 15. doi:10.1186/2045-824X-4-15
Semaphorin3A, Neuropilin-1, and PlexinA1 are required for lymphatic valve formation
Bouvree, Karine, Brunet, Isabelle, del Toro, Raquel, Gordon, Emma, Prahst, Claudia, Cristofaro, Brunella, Mathivet, Thomas, Xu, Yunling, Soueid, Jihane, Fortuna, Vitor, Miura, Nayoki, Aigrot, Marie-Stephane, Maden, Charlotte H., Ruhrberg, Christiana, Thomas, Jean Leon and Eichmann, Anne (2012) Semaphorin3A, Neuropilin-1, and PlexinA1 are required for lymphatic valve formation. Circulation Research, 111 4: 437-445. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.112.269316
ALK1 signaling inhibits angiogenesis by cooperating with the Notch pathway
Larrivee, Bruno, Prahst, Claudia, Gordon, Emma, del Toro, Raquel, Mathivet, Thomas, Duarte, Antonio, Simons, Michael and Eichmann, Anne (2012) ALK1 signaling inhibits angiogenesis by cooperating with the Notch pathway. Developmental Cell, 22 3: 489-500. doi:10.1016/j.devcel.2012.02.005
Gordon, Emma J., Rao, Sujata, Pollard, Jeffrey W., Nutt, Stephen L., Lang, Richard A. and Harvey, Natasha L. (2011) Erratum: Macrophages define dermal lymphatic vessel calibre during development by regulating lymphatic endothelial cell proliferation (Development 137, (3899-3910)). Development, 138 4: 797-797. doi:10.1242/dev.064022
Gordon, Emma J., Rao, Sujata, Pollard, Jeffrey W., Nutt, Stephen L., Lang, Richard A. and Harvey, Natasha L. (2010) Macrophages define dermal lymphatic vessel calibre during development by regulating lymphatic endothelial cell proliferation. Development, 137 22: 3899-3910. doi:10.1242/dev.050021
Gordon, Emma J., Gale, Nicholas W. and Harvey, Natasha L. (2008) Expression of the hyaluronan receptor LYVE-1 is not restricted to the lymphatic vasculature; LYVE-1 is also expressed on embryonic blood vessels. Developmental Dynamics, 237 7: 1901-1909. doi:10.1002/dvdy.21605
Mechanisms to promote vascular normalisation and barrier integrity
(2019–2022) NHMRC Project Grant
Molecular cues guiding cell dynamics during pathological blood vessel sprouting
(2018) UQ Early Career Researcher
Molecular signals guiding dynamic cell movement during blood vessel growth
(2017–2020) ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award