Penny Whiley

Areas of interest

Research group

Testis Development and Male Germ Cell Biology

Biography

Dr Penny Whiley is a Postdoctoral Scientist working with Professor Kate Loveland in the Testis Development and Male Germ Cell Biology lab. She specialises in basic research in the field of male reproductive health, with her current research projects focusing on understanding how nuclear import factors, named ‘importins’, and the growth factor activin A support spermatogenesis throughout testis development.

Dr Whiley obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology at Portsmouth University, England. After moving to Australia, she worked as a Senior Research Assistant for several years before starting her PhD in 2019 under the supervision of Professor Kate Loveland, Associate Professor Robin Hobbs and Associate Professor Peter Stanton. In 2023, Dr Whiley was awarded a PhD from Monash University, for her thesis entitled ‘The roles of activin A and Ipo5 in spermatogonial stem cell biology’.

During her PhD candidature, Dr Whiley won the Faculty of Medicine 3-Minute Thesis competition (2021), for her presentation titled: Very ‘Importin’ Proteins make Very Important People. She also received awards for her presentations at international conferences; the DGA Lecture Prize in the experimental field from the German Andrology Society (2020) and the Anna Steinberger Top Trainee Merit Award from the American Society of Andrology (2022).

Publication highlights

Whiley PAF, Nathaniel B, Stanton PG, Hobbs RM, Loveland KL (2023) Spermatogonial fate in mice with increased activin A bioactivity and testicular somatic cell tumours. Front Cell Dev Biol. Jul 26;11:1237273.
Whiley PAF*, Luu MCM*, O’Donnell L, Handelsman DJ, Loveland KL (2023) Testis exposure to elevated activin A in utero affects somatic and germ cells and alters steroid levels, mimicking phthalate exposure in mice. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). Sep 1;14:1234712. (*co-first author)
Moody SC, Whiley PAF, Western PS, Loveland KL (2022) The impact of Activin A on fetal gonocytes: Chronic versus acute exposure outcomes. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). May 31;13:896747.
O’Donnell L, Whiley PAF, Loveland KL (2022) Activin A and sertoli cells: Key to fetal testis steroidogenesis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). May 24;13:898876.
Nathaniel B, Whiley PAF, Miyamoto Y, Loveland KL (2022) Importins: Diverse roles in male fertility. Semin Cell Dev Biol. Jan;121:82-98.
Whiley PAF, O’Donnell L, Moody SC, Handelsman DJ, Young JC, Richards EA, Almstrup K, Western PS, Loveland KL (2020) Activin A determines steroid levels and composition in the fetal testis. Endocrinology. Jul 1;161(7):bqaa058.
Miyamoto Y, Sasaki M, Miyata H, Monobe Y, Nagai M, Otani M, Whiley PAF, Morohoshi A, Oki S, Matsuda J, Akagi KI, Adachi J, Okabe M, Ikawa M, Yoneda Y, Loveland KL, Oka M (2020) Genetic loss of importin α4 causes abnormal sperm morphology and impacts on male fertility in mouse. FASEB J. Dec;34(12):16224-16242.
Miyamoto Y, Whiley PAF, Goh HY, Wong C, Higgins G, Tachibana T, McMenamin PG, Mayne L, Loveland KL (2018) The STK35 locus contributes to normal gametogenesis and encodes a IncRNA responsive to oxidative stress. Biol Open. Aug 6;7(8):bio032631.
Miyamoto Y, Baker MA, Whiley PAF, Arjomand A, Ludeman J, Wong C, Jans DA, Loveland KL (2012) Towards delineation of a developmental α-importome in the mammalian male germline. Biochim Biophys Acta. Mar;1833(3):731-42.
Whiley PAF, Miyamoto Y, McLachlan RI, Jans DA, Loveland KL (2011) Changing subcellular localization of nuclear transport factors during human spermatogenesis. Int J Androl Apr;35(2):158-69.
Ly-Huynh JD, Lieu KG, Major AT, Whiley PAF, Holt JE, Loveland KL, Jans DA (2022) Importin alpha2-interacting proteins with nuclear roles during mammalian spermatogenesis. Biol Reprod. Dec;85(6):1191-202.
Major AT, Whiley PAF, Loveland KL (2011) Expression of nucleocytoplasmic transport machinery: clues to regulation of spermatogenic development. Biochim Biophys Acta. Sep;1813(9):1668-88.
Itman C, Wong C, Whiley PA, Fernando D, Loveland KL (2022) TGFβ superfamily signaling regulators are differentially expressed in the developing and adult mouse testis. Spermatogenesis. Jan;1(1):63-72.
Huynh JD, Efthymiadis A, Whiley PAF, Richards E, Lescesen H, Meier I, Matera GA, Loveland KL, Jans DA (2010) Importin α2 mediates subnuclear targeting of the cajal body component Coilin; A key role in spermatogenesis? Reprod Fert Dev.

Dr Penny Whiley

Areas of interest

Research group

Biography

Publication highlights

‘Goldilocks hormone’ crucial for male fertility

Fertile ground for medical research career

2022 Harold Mitchell Travel Fellowships

Penny Whiley wins first place in the 3-Minute Thesis Faculty Final

Congratulations 2021 SCS 3MT Competition final winners

Students selected for IMNIS mentoring program

Congratulations 2020 SCS 3MT Competition final winners

Reproductive health three minute thesis winners announced

Male reproductive health problems could begin in the womb

Gene could hold vital clues to fertility and eye health

Dr Penny Whiley

Areas of interest

Research group

Biography

Publication highlights

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