Initiatives and funding

Childrens Cancer Institute

Project Title: Tumour-targeted siRNA conjugates for therapeutic gene silencing in brain cancer.

Brief introduction: Amy is a Postdoctoral research officer at the Children’s Cancer Institute. Having completed her PhD in November 2023 under the supervision of Professor Maria Kavallaris, Amy has continued working with Maria on the development of targeted particles to deliver RNA therapeutics to solid tumours, including neuroblastoma and brain cancer. A chemical engineer by training, she enjoys investigating the impact of changing different particle properties on their RNA delivery efficiency.

Brief description of your project funded by the Cancer Theme: Aggressive paediatric brain tumours have limited treatment options and poor survival. New therapies that directly target the genes driving tumour growth are urgently needed. We have identified a key regulator of cell growth and survival, commonly overexpressed in brain cancer, that is an ideal target for gene silencing therapies. In this project, we aim to reduce expression of this key regulator in brain cancer cells using small interfering RNA (siRNA). However, the challenge with using siRNA to treat cancer lies in effectively delivering it to the tumour without affecting other parts of the body. This project aims to develop a new siRNA delivery system that is targeted for therapeutic delivery to brain cancer cells.

How the funding will help your research/project. The funding will be used develop new siRNA delivery vehicles, and to test their ability to pass the blood brain barrier using 3-Dimensional brain organoids.

A fun fact about yourself, OR recommendations for a book to read, show to watch or podcast to stream! Outside of the lab, Amy is currently learning Mandarin. She knows many words related to food – but has yet to learn any science words!

Garvan Institute of Medical Research

Project Title:  Investigating Genomic and Epigenomic Drivers of Chemotherapy Resistance in Oesophageal Adenocarcinoma: A Pilot Study Using Nanopore Sequencing

Brief Introduction Dr. Marjan Naeini, a Computational Biologist at the Garvan Institute and Conjoint Senior Lecturer at UNSW, applies computational approaches to tackle cancer research challenges, utilizing cutting-edge sequencing technologies.

Brief Description of Your Project Our study focuses on oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC), a type of cancer that often does not respond well to chemotherapy. Using advanced Nanopore sequencing technology, we aim to uncover the genetic and epigenetic factors that cause resistance to treatment and identify markers that can predict which treatments will be most effective for individual patients.

How the Funding Will Help Your Research This funding will help us collect essential early data that is critical for identifying the mechanisms behind chemotherapy resistance in OAC. These insights will support the development of targeted treatments and aid in securing further funding for expanded research, which could potentially apply to other cancers as well.

A Fun Fact Aside from my research, I'm a Platinum rank player in the e-sport Apex Legends, and I make a delicious lasagna that you must try!

School of Biomedical Sciences

Project Title: Pre-clinical development of a novel RNA-based therapy for pancreatic cancer.

Brief Introduction: I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at UNSW’s Pancreatic Cancer Translational Research Group. My work focuses on developing novel and clinical translative therapeutics for pancreatic cancer patients.

Brief description of your project funded by the Cancer Theme: Pancreatic cancer is a deadly disease with a low five-year survival rate (13%). A major challenge in treating pancreatic cancer is its resistance to existing therapies. Our team is working on an innovative RNA drug that simultaneously forces cancer cells to release a “suicide” signal, and increases their sensitivity to cell death signals, leading to enhanced cancer cell killing effects. The RNA drug will be delivered using a nano-sized carrier specifically designed to reach the pancreas, ensuring high drug concentration at the disease site while minimising toxicity to healthy tissues.

How will the funding help your research/project? We will test these RNA nanodrugs in clinically relevant models of pancreatic cancer, aiming to increase cancer cell death and slow tumour growth. This funding will support us in the fight against this deadly disease and lay the groundwork for future development of our innovative RNA nanomedicine.

A fun fact about yourself. Prior to joining the team at UNSW, I worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Oncology and Immunology at the University of Hong Kong.

Garvan Institute of Medical Research

Project Title:  Unravelling Genomic Diversity in ALK-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Insights from Paired RNA/DNA Sequencing of Circulating Tumour Cells

Brief Introduction Associate Professor Venessa Chin is a medical oncologist and post-doctoral research officer working at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney and The Garvan Institute of Medical Research.  Her research focuses on utilising single-cell technologies to improve our understanding of cancers of the head and neck and lung.  She is specifically interested in how these technologies can improve diagnostics, treatment choices and therapy monitoring for patients.

Brief Description of Your Project In a subset of patients with lung cancer, a single genomic alteration is responsible for driving cancer cell proliferation. One such alteration is the translocation of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene. These patients are treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy, which, while initially highly effective, ultimately leads to treatment resistance. The emergence of treatment-resistant cancer clones has been observed at the point of therapeutic failure. However, the extent to which these heterogeneous and resistant cancer clones exist prior to the initiation of TKI therapy remains unclear.

Utilising novel circulating tumour cell technology, A/Prof Chin will simultaneously profile the RNA and DNA of circulating tumour cells in patients both before commencing TKI therapy and at the point of resistance. This approach will, for the first time, enable the mapping of clonal heterogeneity at the single-cell level. The findings have the potential to inform diagnostic strategies, guide therapy selection, and facilitate treatment monitoring.

How the Funding Will Help Your Research This funding will allow patient sample collection, CTC identification and isolation and the concurrent RNA and DNA extraction and sequencing.

A Fun Fact Love to cook (especially bake bread), training to run 10kms in a respectable time.  Just finished watching Spy/Master which was excellent

Ingham Institute

Project Title: Mapping Metabolic Dysregulation in Pancreatic Stellate: Implications for Tumour Growth and Immune Evasion in Pancreatic Cancer

Can you give a brief introduction?
I am an early career postdoctoral research scientist and conjoint lecturer at UNSW and the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research. My research focuses on understanding metabolic reprogramming in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), specifically the role of pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) in tumour growth and immune evasion. With over 30 peer-reviewed publications and multiple awards, including the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Thesis, I aim to drive advances in translational cancer research. My most up-to-date list of publications can be found here.

Can you describe the research funded by the Cancer Theme?
Our project focuses on how PSCs metabolically support PDAC progression and create an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment. By using spatial transcriptomics and single-cell RNA sequencing, we aim to map glycolysis and glutaminolysis pathways in PSCs and their role in TME acidification and immune evasion. These insights could lead to novel therapeutic approaches targeting PSC-driven metabolic dysregulation in PDAC.

How is the seed funding supporting your research?
This funding enables us to use advanced technologies, generating critical preliminary data to identify metabolic targets for therapy and build a pathway for larger grants.

Are you looking for collaborations?
Yes, I welcome collaborations on metabolic-immune interactions in cancer, including grants, publications, and student supervision.

A fun fact or recommendation?
I find inspiration in Islamic teachings and recommend The Firsts podcast by Omar Suleiman for lessons on justice, humility, and compassion.