General health

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.

Dr Shurong Lu is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Mental Health within The University of Melbourne. Shurong has strong research interests in the development, evaluation and dissemination of evidence-based early intervention approaches, such as Mental Health First Aid training programs.

She is passionate about creating a world where everyone, particularly children, adolescents, and those with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, can receive timely and appreciate support when facing with any mental health challenges.

I am a clinical postdoctoral researcher in the field of child mental health at the Black Dog Institute, having received my Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine) from the University of Sydney, graduating in May 2021 for my thesis titled ‘The design, implementation and evaluation of a mobile application for insomnia’. I am currently a Post-doctoral Research Fellow in the Child Mental Health Research Team at the Black Dog Institute, The University of New South Wales.

Dr Gemma Sicouri is an early career researcher and clinical psychologist at the Black Dog Institute at the University of New South Wales. Her research focuses on understanding the parental and cognitive factors that contribute to children’s anxiety and related disorders to inform the development and evaluation of new and improved psychological treatments. Increasingly her research uses technology to increase the accessibility and cost-effectiveness of treatments for children with anxiety and related disorders.