Head, Receptor Biology Laboratory

I am interested in how our bodies function at a cellular level, and how normal developmental processes can become hijacked by tumours – in particular, how key proteins which drive cancer development can be identified and targeted in an effort to specifically kill tumour cells and avoid harmful side-effects.

I focus on cell surface receptors and associated proteins, which are more prominent in tumours than in normal tissues, to develop antibodies which will bind with or block these proteins. I completed my PhD studies on HER/erbB receptors in breast cancer, followed by postdoctoral positions at the National Institute for Medical Research, London, and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne. I worked with the late Martin Lackmann at Monash University and I am continuing with the research focus I started there in my role in the Tumour Targeting Program at the ONJCRI.