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.
Identifying Resistance Mechanisms Of Targeted BRAF Inhibitors In Metastatic Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$379,015.00
Summary
Late-stage melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer for which traditional treatment strategies such as chemotherapy are ineffective. Recently, a new class of targeted drugs (BRAF inhibitors) has become the standard of care for a subset of melanoma patients; however, long term treatment success is complicated by drug resistance. This study will identify the causes of resistance with the purpose to improve targeted drug strategies and increase survival rates for late-stage melanoma patients.
Lung cancer is the commonest cause of cancer death worldwide. There is growing interest in the genetic causes of lung cancer. The overall aim of this research is to gain a better understanding of the steps in the genetic pathway of lung cancer spread. This knowledge is essential in the development of new targeted therapies and improvement in lung cancer prognosis.
Defining The Genomic And Therapeutic Landscape Of Familial Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,146,096.00
Summary
As a cancer develops it accumulates alterations (mutations) in its DNA. Some of these alterations lead to enhanced tumour growth, whilst others provide insight into normal processes that have gone wrong to enable the tumour to arise. We will use DNA sequencing and mathematical approaches to characterise these alterations and to identify therapeutic targets in breast tumours arising in patients with an inherited predisposition to develop cancer.
Ovarian cancer is frequently fatal and an extremely distressing cause of death in women. Our research program draws on the Australian Ovarian Cancer Study (AOCS), involving over 2000 women with ovarian cancer to investigate the genetic causes, and molecular changes that control cancer growth and response to therapy. The program is part of Australia’s $27m commitment to the International Cancer Genomics Consortium, an ambitious, worldwide effort to map the cancer genome.
A Comprehensive Genomic Analysis Of Oesophageal Adenocarcinoma: Understanding The Genetic Aetiology Of OAC Towards Biomarkers Of Progression, Prognosis And Targeted Treatment.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$987,906.00
Summary
Oesophageal cancer (OAC) continues to have poor survival despite surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Selecting patients for the most appropriate therapies and improving survival remain unmet research needs. We propose to undertake a detailed genetic study of OAC, including “next generation” sequencing, in order to catalogue the genetic changes in the disease. This information forms an essential basis for identifying genetic signatures of OAC progression, prognosis and treatment response.
The Intersection Between Hedgehog And Notch Signalling In Medulloblastoma.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$620,647.00
Summary
Brain tumours are the second most common malignancy of childhood and the leading cause of cancer related death and disability in children. Medulloblastoma is the most frequent malignant childhood brain tumour, arising in the cerebellum. This application looks at the relationship between two genetic pathways responsible for medulloblastoma which are also drug targets. Understanding this interaction will lead to better treatment options for the disease.
Novel Therapeutic Approaches To Ovarian Clear Cell Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,920.00
Summary
Our study aims to develop novel therapies for clear cell ovarian cancer, a disease that is generally resistant to conventional therapies. We have found unexpected parallels between kidney cancer and ovarian clear cell cancer, and this has been used to better treat patients. This study investigates the underlying molecular changes the control ovarian clear cell cancer growth.