Cancer

Sandra Sursock is a PhD student at the University of Melbourne. She completed a Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science Advanced (Honours) Degree in 2021 at Monash University. Following her studies, she worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in the department of Radiation Oncology. Sandra is also currently working as a Project Officer in the Department of General Practice and Primary Care at the University of Melbourne.

Chow qualified as a Paediatric Haematologist, Laboratory Haematologist and Paediatric Oncologist in 2023, having trained at New Zealand, the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne and the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne. Despite having a busy career at Monash Children’s Hospital, his interest in science, which developed during his time at his alma mater, Imperial College London, England, continues.

Having seen how new classes of drugs impacted greatly on patients, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors and chronic myeloid leukaemia, anti-tumour necrosis factor monoclonal antibodies and rheumatology patients, and venetoclax with a myriad of haematological malignancies, Chow aspires to follow in the footsteps of several very successful scientists and clinicians to make similar impacts in the paediatric haematological/oncological world.

Charlie Ffrench is a life-saving enthusiast who completed her undergraduate degree in Laboratory Medicine (Honours) at the University of South Australia in 2021 and during that time she received several academic honours, including University Merit awards and the Martin Hansen award (for the student with the highest aggregate mark in the final two years of the degree).

Charlie started her PhD in 2022 at the Centre for Cancer Biology (University of South Australia and SA Pathology). Working with a supervisory team of scientists and clinicians, her research broadly focuses on advancing our knowledge of pancreatic cancer.

My name is Mikhail Dias, I recently completed an honours year at Monash University where I researched an in silico approach to studying synthetic lethality in cancer to identify novel gene targets.

I am become passionate about cancer biology during my undergraduate studies at RMIT university, where I learned about cancer genomics and how genetic alterations can lead to devastating consequences. I pursued a pathway into research by undertaking an honours year project at Monash University. During my honour’s year, I developed sought after computational skills and experience which I will continue to use throughout my research career.

Dr Dennis Chan is a physician who is undertaking research to improve the management of neuroendocrine tumours. He completed his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery alongside a Master of Bioethics and Health Law at the University of Otago, New Zealand, in 2012. Since then, he has undertaken specialist training with the Royal Australasian College of Physicians as a Specialist Endocrinologist and General Physician.

In 2019, he completed a Master of Science at Barts and the London School of Medicine focusing on Cushing’s Syndrome caused by neuroendocrine tumours. This has led him to pursue a PhD in translational research at the University of Sydney focusing on neuroendocrine tumours and their management.

After completing her 4^th year Psychology thesis in 2006 on the effect of resilience and hope on adolescent academic engagement, Mandy Gibson worked with the Department of Communities Qld, and Child and Youth Mental Health Services (Qld Health). Mandy has over a decade of clinical experience as a Psychologist providing suicide risk assessments to young people following near lethal attempts and treatment to young people experiencing suicidality, complex trauma, self-harm and other mental health issues.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Western Australia, I commenced my medical training at the University of Notre Dame. I have subsequently worked as a doctor in both the public and private health sectors, being involved in the treatment of a number of patients with colorectal cancer.

I am currently involved in medical education at the University of Notre Dame and have completed further post-graduate training in health professional education.

My interest in cancer research began while studying my Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science at the University of Auckland. I was intrigued by the different fields of cancer research and specialised my degree to a research area in Cell Biology and Cancer Therapeutics. I then continued my research at the University of Melbourne and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, completing my Master of Biomedical Science in Prof Grant McArthur’s Molecular Oncology lab.

Under the supervision of Dr Lorey Smith and Dr Karen Sheppard, my project investigated metabolic reprogramming that occurs in response to BRAF/MEK and CDK4/6 targeted therapies in melanoma.

I started medical school at the age of 16. I was actively involved in leadership activities and research throughout medical school. During clinical years, I initiated and coordinated surgical literature and technique based tutorials for medical students. I graduated in 2009 with an overall rated 1st Class Honours for the purpose of entry to the University of Melbourne PhD Program.

I obtained my general surgery fellowship in 2017.Following completion of my PhD, I will pursue further training in colorectal surgery. Subsequently, my long term plan is to work in a tertiary centre as a colorectal surgeon with a university appointment to allow me to stay involved in ongoing research.