Opening Address
Ms Lisa Briggs
Lung Cancer Patient Advocate, Melbourne
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Lung Cancer Patient Advocate, Melbourne
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Keynote Speakers
Professor Natasha Leighl, BSc, MM,Sc MD
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and University of Toronto, Canada
Prof. Natasha Leighl xxxxxxx
Dr XXX PhD
LabXXX
Catherine Alix-Panabières isXXX
LabXXX
Catherine Alix-Panabières isXXX
Dr Tadayoshi Hashimoto MD, PhD
National Cancer Center Hospital East, Japan
Ellen Heitzer worksx
National Cancer Center Hospital East, Japan
Ellen Heitzer worksx
Professor Sarah-Jane Dawson, MBBS, FRACP, PhD
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Australia
Professor Sarah-Jane Dawson is a clinician-scientist focused on translational cancer research. She is co-lead of the Cancer Therapeutics Program and head of the Molecular Biomarkers and Translational Genomics Laboratory at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne Australia. Professor Dawson also holds a joint appointment with the Centre of Cancer Research at The University of Melbourne and is a fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. Her research program centers on the development of noninvasive blood-based biomarkers ('liquid biopsies') for clinical application, including early detection, risk stratification and disease monitoring in cancer management to improve patient outcomes.
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Australia
Professor Sarah-Jane Dawson is a clinician-scientist focused on translational cancer research. She is co-lead of the Cancer Therapeutics Program and head of the Molecular Biomarkers and Translational Genomics Laboratory at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne Australia. Professor Dawson also holds a joint appointment with the Centre of Cancer Research at The University of Melbourne and is a fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. Her research program centers on the development of noninvasive blood-based biomarkers ('liquid biopsies') for clinical application, including early detection, risk stratification and disease monitoring in cancer management to improve patient outcomes.
International & National Invited Speakers
Dr Lauren Aoude
University of Queensland (UQ) Frazer Institute
Dr Lauren Aoude is an NHMRC Emerging Leadership (EL2) Fellow at the University of Queensland (UQ) Frazer Institute. She has extensive experience in cancer genetics and genomics. As a Research Leader, Lauren’s research primarily focuses on ways to better predict treatment responses and outcomes for patients with cancer, particularly melanoma and oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Her research integrates genomic sequencing data from both tumours and circulating tumour DNA with clinical, pathological and imaging information. The results of her research will inform treatment decisions and improve health outcomes for patients through the integration of genomics into the clinic.
In 2014, based at QIMR Berghofer, Dr Lauren Aoude was awarded a PhD in melanoma genetics from the University of Queensland. Her research incorporated large scale genetic sequencing projects that comprehensively characterised the genetics of melanoma and identified novel genetic drivers of cancer. She was awarded an NHMRC Early Career Fellowship (2016-2021) to investigate precision medicine for the treatment of metastatic melanoma. Upon its completion, she was awarded a UQ Amplify fellowship (2021-2023).
University of Queensland (UQ) Frazer Institute
Dr Lauren Aoude is an NHMRC Emerging Leadership (EL2) Fellow at the University of Queensland (UQ) Frazer Institute. She has extensive experience in cancer genetics and genomics. As a Research Leader, Lauren’s research primarily focuses on ways to better predict treatment responses and outcomes for patients with cancer, particularly melanoma and oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Her research integrates genomic sequencing data from both tumours and circulating tumour DNA with clinical, pathological and imaging information. The results of her research will inform treatment decisions and improve health outcomes for patients through the integration of genomics into the clinic.
In 2014, based at QIMR Berghofer, Dr Lauren Aoude was awarded a PhD in melanoma genetics from the University of Queensland. Her research incorporated large scale genetic sequencing projects that comprehensively characterised the genetics of melanoma and identified novel genetic drivers of cancer. She was awarded an NHMRC Early Career Fellowship (2016-2021) to investigate precision medicine for the treatment of metastatic melanoma. Upon its completion, she was awarded a UQ Amplify fellowship (2021-2023).
Dr Robert Day
Biochemistry Department, The University of Otago, NZ
Dr Day a Senior Research Fellow in the Biochemistry Department at the University of Otago and is a keen advocate for the applied use of genomics-based technologies in medicine. He established short read ctDNA sequencing pipelines at Otago as part of the first Healthier Lives Initiative in 2015 and his subsequent independent research has aimed to overcome both technical and strategic hurdles to provide more effective and accessible cancer diagnostics. The team is currently focused on developing multi-modal assays using circulating DNA on the portable Oxford Nanopore Technology devices.
Biochemistry Department, The University of Otago, NZ
Dr Day a Senior Research Fellow in the Biochemistry Department at the University of Otago and is a keen advocate for the applied use of genomics-based technologies in medicine. He established short read ctDNA sequencing pipelines at Otago as part of the first Healthier Lives Initiative in 2015 and his subsequent independent research has aimed to overcome both technical and strategic hurdles to provide more effective and accessible cancer diagnostics. The team is currently focused on developing multi-modal assays using circulating DNA on the portable Oxford Nanopore Technology devices.
Professor Sudha Rao,
Senior Group Leader, Gene Regulation & Translational Medicine Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer
Professor Sudha Rao has extensive experience in transcriptional biology and genomic technologies that spans both pharmaceutical and academic settings. The primary focus of Professor Rao’s research group has been to unravel complex epigenetic-signatures in the immune system, as well as to understand the deregulatory mechanisms operating in cancer settings. She obtained her BSC (Hons.) degree at Keele University, UK and PhD from the University of London, Kings College. At this time, she joined a team of scientists at Rhone Poulenc/Sanofi Pharma, both in UK and France. During this period, she was part of one of the first groups world-wide to establish the clinical genomics platform for therapeutics in the UK. Professor Rao currents heads the Gene Regulation & Translational Medicine laboratory at QIMRB and was recently the recipient of the MTP REDI Fellowship & the inaugural Daniela Dwyer Fellowship. Professor Rao has developed close partnerships with global technology companies and established novel liquid biopsy clinical platforms, first of its kind in Asia, for non-invasive tracking of blood samples from cancer patients. She has attracted highly competitive NHMRC, ARC and commercial funding to advance her cancer work. Professor Rao’s work has yielded national and international patents for both novel diagnostics and therapeutics in the emerging arena of immune-oncology and this work has great potential for cancer patients.
Senior Group Leader, Gene Regulation & Translational Medicine Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer
Professor Sudha Rao has extensive experience in transcriptional biology and genomic technologies that spans both pharmaceutical and academic settings. The primary focus of Professor Rao’s research group has been to unravel complex epigenetic-signatures in the immune system, as well as to understand the deregulatory mechanisms operating in cancer settings. She obtained her BSC (Hons.) degree at Keele University, UK and PhD from the University of London, Kings College. At this time, she joined a team of scientists at Rhone Poulenc/Sanofi Pharma, both in UK and France. During this period, she was part of one of the first groups world-wide to establish the clinical genomics platform for therapeutics in the UK. Professor Rao currents heads the Gene Regulation & Translational Medicine laboratory at QIMRB and was recently the recipient of the MTP REDI Fellowship & the inaugural Daniela Dwyer Fellowship. Professor Rao has developed close partnerships with global technology companies and established novel liquid biopsy clinical platforms, first of its kind in Asia, for non-invasive tracking of blood samples from cancer patients. She has attracted highly competitive NHMRC, ARC and commercial funding to advance her cancer work. Professor Rao’s work has yielded national and international patents for both novel diagnostics and therapeutics in the emerging arena of immune-oncology and this work has great potential for cancer patients.
Professor Majid Warkiani
School of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Technology Sydney
Dr. Warkiani is a Professor and Cancer Institute NSW Fellow in the School of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Australia. He earned his PhD in Engineering from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore and completed postdoctoral research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the USA. Dr. Warkiani is the co-director of the Institute for Biomedical Materials & Devices (IBMD) at UTS and co-founder of two Australian biotech companies, NeoGenix Biosciences and SMART MCs. Dr. Warkiani's research focuses on microfluidic technologies, specifically for isolating and analyzing rare cells such as circulating tumor cells, fetal cells, and stem cells. His work has applications in diagnostics and therapeutics. Additionally, he develops organ-on-a-chip systems to model the physiological functions of various tissues and organs. Group webpage: www.warkianilab.com
School of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Technology Sydney
Dr. Warkiani is a Professor and Cancer Institute NSW Fellow in the School of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Australia. He earned his PhD in Engineering from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore and completed postdoctoral research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the USA. Dr. Warkiani is the co-director of the Institute for Biomedical Materials & Devices (IBMD) at UTS and co-founder of two Australian biotech companies, NeoGenix Biosciences and SMART MCs. Dr. Warkiani's research focuses on microfluidic technologies, specifically for isolating and analyzing rare cells such as circulating tumor cells, fetal cells, and stem cells. His work has applications in diagnostics and therapeutics. Additionally, he develops organ-on-a-chip systems to model the physiological functions of various tissues and organs. Group webpage: www.warkianilab.com
Dr Ann-Katrin Piper
Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong
Dr Piper completed her undergraduate training (BSc and MSc, Biology) in Germany at the University of Hamburg and Oldenburg respectively. Dr Piper moved to Australia and completed her PhD at the University of Sydney, where she focused on the enzymatic cleavage of ferlins and their role in membrane repair and cancer. She graduated in 2018 and has since been working as a post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Wollongong, Australia using circulating tumour cell lines as a tool to study the cancer cell metastasis. In 2021 Dr Piper worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany where she established zebrafish embryos as a model system for in vivo metastasis research. She has since started her own zebrafish facility in Wollongong and is interested in using zebrafish embryo xenografts to decipher the role of ion channels during the metastatic process. In addition to being a passionate scientist, Dr Piper is also a devoted mother of three young children. She enjoys the challenge of organising her family life while also accelerating her research career.
Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong
Dr Piper completed her undergraduate training (BSc and MSc, Biology) in Germany at the University of Hamburg and Oldenburg respectively. Dr Piper moved to Australia and completed her PhD at the University of Sydney, where she focused on the enzymatic cleavage of ferlins and their role in membrane repair and cancer. She graduated in 2018 and has since been working as a post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Wollongong, Australia using circulating tumour cell lines as a tool to study the cancer cell metastasis. In 2021 Dr Piper worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany where she established zebrafish embryos as a model system for in vivo metastasis research. She has since started her own zebrafish facility in Wollongong and is interested in using zebrafish embryo xenografts to decipher the role of ion channels during the metastatic process. In addition to being a passionate scientist, Dr Piper is also a devoted mother of three young children. She enjoys the challenge of organising her family life while also accelerating her research career.
Professor Carlos Salomon
UQ Centre for Extracellular Vesicle Nanomedicine, UQCCR
Professor Carlos Salomon (PhD, DMedSc, MSc, BSc (Hons) is the Director of the UQ Centre for Extracellular Vesicle Nanomedicine, Head of the Translational Extracellular Vesicles (EV) in Obstetrics and Gynae-Oncology Group, NHMRC Investigator Fellow (EL2) and a worldwide authority on EV biomarkers (>170 publications, H index 56, i10-index = 131, >13,000 citations). In the last 10 years, Professor Salomon’s primary research and commercialisation activities have focused on the identification and validation of biomarkers, and development of In Vitro Multivariate Index Assays for clinically relevant complications (including ovarian cancers, and obstetrical syndromes) and their translation into clinical applications. He is a pioneer on investigation the release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) by the placenta and tumour cells and their utility as a biomarker for a wide range of pregnancy complications and ovarian cancer (OC). These outcomes of the research program provide a novel conceptual basis, and evidence for translation, resulting in changes in clinical practice and management.
UQ Centre for Extracellular Vesicle Nanomedicine, UQCCR
Professor Carlos Salomon (PhD, DMedSc, MSc, BSc (Hons) is the Director of the UQ Centre for Extracellular Vesicle Nanomedicine, Head of the Translational Extracellular Vesicles (EV) in Obstetrics and Gynae-Oncology Group, NHMRC Investigator Fellow (EL2) and a worldwide authority on EV biomarkers (>170 publications, H index 56, i10-index = 131, >13,000 citations). In the last 10 years, Professor Salomon’s primary research and commercialisation activities have focused on the identification and validation of biomarkers, and development of In Vitro Multivariate Index Assays for clinically relevant complications (including ovarian cancers, and obstetrical syndromes) and their translation into clinical applications. He is a pioneer on investigation the release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) by the placenta and tumour cells and their utility as a biomarker for a wide range of pregnancy complications and ovarian cancer (OC). These outcomes of the research program provide a novel conceptual basis, and evidence for translation, resulting in changes in clinical practice and management.
Dr John Lock
School of Biomedical Sciences, UNSW
Dr John Lock leads the Cancer Systems Microscopy lab at UNSW, with a focus on quantitative imaging-based analyses of cell phenotype heterogeneity arising in disease, during fundamental processes such as cell state plasticity (e.g. EMT / MET), and in response to chemical perturbations as part of drug discovery screening. These research foci build on John’s pioneering role in the development of imaging-based single cell systems biology, or Systems Microscopy, at the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm as a postdoc, where he studied cell adhesion, migration and mitosis. This followed his PhD at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, where he explored the dynamical regulation of protein trafficking during cell polarisation and immune cell activation.
School of Biomedical Sciences, UNSW
Dr John Lock leads the Cancer Systems Microscopy lab at UNSW, with a focus on quantitative imaging-based analyses of cell phenotype heterogeneity arising in disease, during fundamental processes such as cell state plasticity (e.g. EMT / MET), and in response to chemical perturbations as part of drug discovery screening. These research foci build on John’s pioneering role in the development of imaging-based single cell systems biology, or Systems Microscopy, at the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm as a postdoc, where he studied cell adhesion, migration and mitosis. This followed his PhD at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, where he explored the dynamical regulation of protein trafficking during cell polarisation and immune cell activation.
Dr Lesley Cheng
La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS), La Trobe University
Dr. Lesley Cheng is presently the Group Leader of the Neurodegeneration EV Biomarkers and Biology Lab at the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS), La Trobe University. Currently, her major focus is to develop a minimally invasive blood test for the early detection and monitoring of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. She has developed a stream-lined biomarker platform that uses next-generation sequencing to profile small RNA molecules extracted from extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from biological fluids or tissues. Her lab uses this platform to identify various small RNA biomarkers for translational and commercial potential including applying this knowledge to understanding the role of EVs in disease pathology. She was awarded a Bachelor of Medical Science with Honours and a PhD from Monash University. She is Deputy Director of the Research Centre of Extracellular Vesicles, La Trobe University and Principal Scientist at Carrier Biomed, China. She presented at TEDx Melbourne about her breakthrough work and her take on the ‘21st Century Innovator’.
La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS), La Trobe University
Dr. Lesley Cheng is presently the Group Leader of the Neurodegeneration EV Biomarkers and Biology Lab at the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS), La Trobe University. Currently, her major focus is to develop a minimally invasive blood test for the early detection and monitoring of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. She has developed a stream-lined biomarker platform that uses next-generation sequencing to profile small RNA molecules extracted from extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from biological fluids or tissues. Her lab uses this platform to identify various small RNA biomarkers for translational and commercial potential including applying this knowledge to understanding the role of EVs in disease pathology. She was awarded a Bachelor of Medical Science with Honours and a PhD from Monash University. She is Deputy Director of the Research Centre of Extracellular Vesicles, La Trobe University and Principal Scientist at Carrier Biomed, China. She presented at TEDx Melbourne about her breakthrough work and her take on the ‘21st Century Innovator’.
Associate Professor Paul Leo
Australian Translational Genomics Center (ATGC), Princess Alexandria Hospital
Dr Leo is a Principal Research Fellow and Senior Bioinformatician, he is deputy director of the Australian Translational Genomics Center (ATGC). ATGC is located within the Princess Alexandria Hospital (PA) and provides clinical sequencing for cancer patients at Metro South Hospitals in Brisbane and the only Queensland laboratory to supporting the MoST and PrOSPeCT clinical trials. A/Prof Leo’s research areas included Cancer Immunology, discovery of disease-causing genes using GWAS and NGS sequencing.
Australian Translational Genomics Center (ATGC), Princess Alexandria Hospital
Dr Leo is a Principal Research Fellow and Senior Bioinformatician, he is deputy director of the Australian Translational Genomics Center (ATGC). ATGC is located within the Princess Alexandria Hospital (PA) and provides clinical sequencing for cancer patients at Metro South Hospitals in Brisbane and the only Queensland laboratory to supporting the MoST and PrOSPeCT clinical trials. A/Prof Leo’s research areas included Cancer Immunology, discovery of disease-causing genes using GWAS and NGS sequencing.
Selected Speakers
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Industry Speakers
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