We have entered an era where it is now possible to sequence an individual's genetic blueprint. In the case of cancer this can be used to determine the genetic damage that has occurred in cancer cells. This fellowship seeks to carry out large scale sequencing of cancer patient and map out the genetic damage that is common to get a handle on what drives the disease. It will also investigate how personalized mutation detection might improve cancer treatment selection for individual patients.
Defining Genomic Mechanisms Associated With Treatment Response, Drug Resistance And Early Blast Crisis In Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,370.00
Summary
Chronic myeloid leukaemia is a fatal disease if untreated. Most patients now survive with new drugs, but some still rapidly die. I aim to understand these differences by investigating the genetic makeup of patients at diagnosis. Some may have gene mutations that prevent drugs from working effectively. Mutations will be detected using technology that can search more than 30,000 genes at the same time. This work could lead to improved survival for more patients by finding new targets for therapy.
I am a biochemical geneticist working on inherited disorders that affect the musculoskeletal system. My major focus is determining the molecular basis of muscular dystrophies and bone and cartilage disorders.
There is a need to improve early detection, monitoring of relapse, and treatments for melanoma, to increase long-term survival. My research vision is to use innovative and cutting edge approaches to conduct a range of complementary studies under three broad but inter-related themes: Theme 1 – Genetic predisposition to melanoma in the general population; Theme 2 – Genetic predisposition to melanoma in high-density families; Theme 3 – Somatic aberrations underlying melanoma development.
Genetics And Genomics Of Breast And Ovarian Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$714,745.00
Summary
Our knowledge of the number and nature of the genes involved in breast and ovarian cancer is limited. To rapidly define the critical breast and ovarian cancer-causing genes my laboratory uses an integrative genomics approach whereby information from several genome-wide platforms are combined. A key initiative that will underpin much of our work is Lifepool, which is a unique cohort of 100,000 Victorian women attending BreastScreen that will support a range of research into breast cancer.
New genomic technologies are revolutionizing biological research. RNA-seq is a recently developed high-throughput sequencing technology that provides scientists with much more detail how genes are regulated and expressed than any earlier technology. New tools developed by Professor Gordon Smyth are allowing researchers to use RNA-Seq technology to more accurately determine which genes are genuinely changing in the development of cancers and in response to cancer treatments.
Chronic Disease Epidemiology In Different Populations: Risk Factors, Detection And Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$621,458.00
Summary
To investigate causes, detection and prevention of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease in Aboriginal and international populations, I will maintain a long-term cohort with a 20-year follow-up in Aboriginal people and to analyse several large repeated cross-sectional data collected over 25 years in China. For the next 5 years, I will continue to to provide critical epidemiological evidence for the development of health policies and clinical guidelines related to chronic diseases ....To investigate causes, detection and prevention of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease in Aboriginal and international populations, I will maintain a long-term cohort with a 20-year follow-up in Aboriginal people and to analyse several large repeated cross-sectional data collected over 25 years in China. For the next 5 years, I will continue to to provide critical epidemiological evidence for the development of health policies and clinical guidelines related to chronic diseases in different populations.Read moreRead less
The majority of deaths from cancers are due to metastasis. MicroRNAs are gene regulators involved in shaping cellular properties and are known to control metastasis. My work will lead to understanding how the production of microRNAs in cancer cells is controlled, what the major functions of microRNAs are in cancer cells and the discovery of pathways that may be amenable to new forms of therapeutic intervention in cancer.